Does anybody like the Vexilar Fl-8?

[Brian]

I am thinking about getting an Fl-8 but i dont have a lot of extra cash. Can anybody tell me if they are worth it or just a dud. Thanks

[eye_guide]

As a guide on Devils Lake, ND who hunts jumbo perch all winter I can tell you that the vexilar fl-8 is an invaluable tool that no serious ice fisherman should be without. I have sold a huge amount of clients on these units after I have taught them how to use them, which is pretty easy to learn. You can track the smallest jig and watch it as you work it to see what the fish react to the best. It is very easy to distinguish fish, bait, etc.. with this unit and it can also tell you what kind of bottom you are fishing on. You should be able to find some great deals on these now that the fl-18 is coming out. You can't go wrong with this unit. Once you have used it you will not want to be without one again.

[bobco]

Dud? you must be kidding, when we go ice fishing it is a battle to see who gets to use it. They are pricy but are unbelevable ice fishing, I don't even watch my ice fishing rods anymore until I see a fish coming into the zone, I have never regretted buying it, kind of like my jiffy auger, should have bought them both years ago.....

[dser]

This is an outstanding piece of equipment and one I do not leave the house without. I too fish Devils Lake during the winter and simply cannot imagine being out there without it. Once you figure out how to read the bottom, fish, lure, and at times even the forage, it is really easy to use. My 8 yr old has it down pretty well and is always trying to put it into his hole. I will be holding on to my Fl-8 and not upgrading to the newer model just quite yet, but like what was posted earlier, now would be the time to purchase one.

[Eyez]

I don't think that there's anyone that doesn't like it. I bought a zercom flasher once, stupid move, I'm saving for a vexilar right now.


Eyez

[Greg C.]

Save up your money and buy what's the best. I've been using the Vexilar FL-8 for several seasons and have tried all the others. If there's anything better, I want it and I need it. Being a professional ice-guide, I want the best equipment, which enables me to put my clints on fish, and catch them! It's easy to use and the best thing out there. Check out E-Bay every once in a while, you might pick up a deal but don't wait too long, it's making ice here in northern MN. Greg C.

[Dave S]

Brian: The Vexilar FL-8 are fantastic fish finders for ice fishing and open water fishing. My sons fight over who gets to use the FL-8 when we are ice fishing. You can easily see your tear drop / lure as you lower it to the bottom along with any approaching fish. Some one with a Vexilar can easily catch 2 - 3 times the number of fish as compared to someone fishing blind. Without the Vexilar you never see the suspended crappies, blue gills which otherwise would just swim over your bait. When you see walleye on the screen knowing that they are there allows you to give them a little extra teasing which can make the difference between getting a bite and not. I have an extra mount and extra transducer for the bow mounted trolling motor so use the Vexilar year round. The self leveling transducers for the Vexilar work fantastic when ice fishing. The transducer automatically vertically aligns itself. Great unit and I promise if your ever fish with one and forget it you will turn around on the way to the lake and go back and get it.

[Backwater Eddy]

I'll second that Eye_guide.

I find the FL-8 SLT my most reliable fishing tool on the waters I fish in all four seasons, open water and through the ice DA Vex be DE man.

My plan is to run the Vexilar EDGE LC-507 & the FL-8 SLT on my river guiding rig next season. Should be a hard combo to beat for my needs.

Walleyes don't want to find you, go find them...><,GO PIGGY,>

Backwater Eddy......><, ,>

[curt quesnell]

my fl8 must be 5 years old and it is fantastic....the new ones are
even better. I have used the zercoms too and i think they are fine.
we are lucky to have to choose between excellent products.


curt quesnell

[Gregg]

I bought a Vexilar FL-8 at the end of last winter and used it once where I perch fish. Since it is only five feet deep, I had trouble getting a good reading. Even with the sensitivity low. There are springs and in the past my lcd would show the bubbles coming up. So is there any way to get a good reading in that shallow of water and near springs?

Thanks,

Gregg

[Backwater Eddy]

The Vexilar S-cable (Suppression cable) should help you under those conditions. The S-cable was designed to aid in shallow water clutter removal on the ice.

I seldom use it on the ice, but I do use the s-cable all season on rivers as it tunes out air clutter in turbulent areas resulting in a clear signal.

Air bubbles or any biologic materials that may build up on the transducer will mess with the signal too, more so in the shallows it seams to me. Try to keep the surface of the transducer clean and ice free for your best reading.

[Xplorer]

Brian,
Had my vex now for three years and love it. If you are short on cash you could check around with any pawn shops in your area, a buddy found a colorpoint for $125 last year at one (obviously gotta weigh to risk of possible damage and no warranty tho). I would expect you'll see guys upgrading to the FL-18 all winter and selling the 8's so watch ads too. I especially love to use it for winter lake trout fishing, watching a laker come up from 50' to 15 to slam a bucktail is awesome. you wont believe how many suspended fish you were missing out on before. Good luck to ya on the ice.
Xplorer

[Brian_MN]

Brian,

There are a couple FL-8's for sale on Ebay right now. You should be able to pick one up for under $200 there.

[Lip RIPPER]

I cannot imagine ever fishing without one again. I think it has totally changed the ice fishing world. People ask me why I use one and the big reason is that it makes you fish that much harder and you can adapt to the conditions and mood of the fish better. Best $279 bucks I ever spent.

[Schmakes]

You won't be disappointed. I own two. I had to get another one because I was tired of friends borrowing mine when we went out. A must have for ice fishing.

[Gregg]

BE,

Thanks for the reply. Is the supression cable an after-market product or did it come with my unit? I'm not at home right now to look at it. I used my Fl-8 this year on Erie (open water)and it showed a lot more activity than my graph. Although, I had to try and interpret what was what. Being stationary should be a little easier to read the bottom than at speed.

Gregg

[eyewinder]

I'm gonna hop onto this thread and ask if anyone has ever had to replace the float (closed-cell foam) on their FL-8. . .last winter, after three or four winters of use, mine began to sink!!

I'm just wondering if there's something in the plumber's shop that I cound use to replace it. Otherwise, I, too, am totally in love w/my Vex. . .it turned a half-hearted, once-or-twice-a-season ice fisherman into an addict!

[Backwater Eddy]

You should be able to get it at most Vexilar electronics suppliers for $20, or order it from the Vexilar web site.

It is a add on type deal for most package deals, it came with certain Pro Pack Deluxe models originally.

[waterfowler]

Brian,

Check out the classified adds on www.fishtheriver.com I see a guy has one out there. The add is from September, but you never know. By the way, you can't go wrong with a vexilar.

[waterfowler]

I would go to menards and get a piece of pipe insulation and try that.

[Backwater Eddy]

I had a new one that began to sink slowly too, with one call Vexilar had a new one at my door in less than 3 days. Not bad service if you ask me?

I think my model was black, and they replaced it with a white model?

Some were cut too short, or something like that, so they didn't have enough positive buoyancy to hold up the transducer even when completely free of ice.

Try giving them a call once, they will help you out I am certain of it.


Walleyes don't want to find you, go find them...><,GO PIGGY,>

Backwater Eddy......><, ,>

[Bobr]

I watched a guy use his one time and it was the coolest thing. It was like he was playing a video game. He lowered the jig to where the fish were and you could see the fish come after the jig. He let me drill a hole two feet away and I tried fishing blind using the same jig and bait and he kicked my butt 10 to 1. The Vecxilar is on my wish list!

[TBO/MN]

I feel this is the best flasher unit on the market. So much so, I advertise for them. Check out the Vexilar ad in the November Mid-West Outdoors mag. the fat guy with the very simple name. :-) :-)

Good Fishin"
TBO/MN

[Backwater Eddy]

COOL!

ATA BOY TBO!

[eyewinder]

Yep, my sinking transducer float is black, too. I just got off the phone with a Vexilar customer service rep, and she said a replacement float is on it's way. . .ANOTHER reason to buy a Vexilar! ;-)

[Backwater Eddy]

There ya go, bada-bing bada-boom, no problem.

The folks at Vexilar are good eggs.

[Amdahl]

My wife got me one for xmas last year. Had more fun last year than ever because of it. Go for it!

Amdahl

[perchjerker]

Of course, I had to chime in!!!
'Ol Vex is my best is fishin' buddy, dosent drink my beer, dosent smoke in the shanty, keeps me entertained, shows me where the fish are, never lets me down, dosent drink my beer...

I am waiting for someone to say its a "dud"!!!

[curt quesnell]

i would fish with zero confidence without one. i know that fishing
was done without electronics (in still is i guess) with success
but, i think it would really suck for me.

dont be angry with me if you think electronics arent necessary. but
dont start using them until you have saved up the money to buy one
because it only takes a time or too to get hooked on your eyes
below the surface.

am i right?

curt quesnell

[Gregg]

BE,

Thanks again. Their web site has a good explanation of it. It sounds like that's what I'll need.

Gregg

[cooper]

Well it seems that there is no argument here about what you think of the vex,...so can I ask what will be I'm sure a stupid question? I have only had experience with VERY old non color flashers, years go,..can some of the new LCD do the same? What about the Zercom 2000 with the flasher type screen? (or in the reg screen??) I'm sure I'm missing something in never using this Vexilar can anyone enlighten?

[curt quesnell]

i have an old "green box" flasher that i still use once in a while
and it works pretty good. it seems that they had a good idea right
from the start on this technology. if you used flashers years ago you will love these new ones. the different colors tell you much more
about what you are actually seeing

zercom makes an lcd "flasher" i have used one. they are quiet since
there is no motor spinning and the unit seems to do the job. zercom
also came out with a new actual flasher unit that is amazingly
like the vexilar.

zercom-vexliar....jiffy/strikemaster...all are top quality and
dependable. i dont think you can make a bad decision if you get
one of the above brands.


curt quesnell

[cooper]

Thanks Curt,
I guess what else I am wondering,..can the Zercom LGP 2000 do as well ,NEARLY as well,.or not nearly as well,...in the flasher mode or the reg one? I found my old flasher rather confusing,..the screen on the Zercom seems to respond pretty fast,..I'm still missing the need for a flasher but I'm sure that its because I am unfamiliar with their use,..esp the new ones,...but why a fasher and not something like the Zercom (even if you did use the flasher feature)

Coop

[curt quesnell]

flashers give instantaneous information...thats why they have
survived all the new fancy depth finders.

i havent used the new zercom in flasher mode but i just got off
the phone with a buddy of mine who has one. and he says the
flasher is real time on the zercom.

the only knock on the old ones i have is the batter connections
never worked very well and the reading i would get were always
different...much brighter then much less bright. the new flashers
are rock solid.

if you are trying to pick from a real flasher or lcd...both will
work fine....you just gotta pick one.

curt quesnell

[curt quesnell]

i THINK the extreme right side of the screen is either real
time or real close even in non flasher mode....
(still trying to answer your question)

curt quesnell