Ok, I've got the Vex 18, I've turned it on, got it tuned to the jig, got the jig to where it is a thin green line. Now what happens? I see the bottum as a wide red mark, but what changes when a fish appears? I seem to do better if I just pay attention to the action of the float(just bouyancy enough to keep it about the water) than if I watch the screen. I'm fishing perch with this and haven't used it with walleyes.

Max - with the fl-18
I pretty much always run mine in the AZ (auto zoom) mode. Depending upon depth 0-20 ft. I run the 19 degree cone and then adjust the sensitivy just below the point of clutter.

Fish will appear very similar in appearance to your jig or bait, unless it's a larger fish then instead of a green line it'll appear as a red line somewhere in the water column. When operating in the AZ mode, I typically focus on the left side which is the bottom 6 ft. of the water column....when you seen other lines present your bait just above them.

If you have further questions, email me and I'll do my best to help.

Travis J.

Just to add to what T said, say you are fishing in 15 ft of water. You have your jig at 10 ft. You have your gain adjusted so your jig is a green line. Normally what you will see when a fish approaches your jig is a line will rise from the bottom and move up the dial towards your jig. The line will turn from green to red the closer it gets, because the signal gets stronger. Its not really coming from the bottom, it just looks that way. What its showing you is a fish who is farther away from the center of the cone, as it moves closer to the center it will show shallower on your dial, until both lines meet and he is either right next to your jig or has hit it.

Sometimes you will get interference, it might show up as a line that starts at the bottom and moves smoothly up the dial and dissappears at the zero mark. After a few times, you will recongize that right away.

There are good explanations on the vexilar website, just look for the tips page.

I just got back from one of those perchfishing days when you can only handle one line because they are biting so fast and so had a great chance to experiment with it. Great advice and everything you said was true.
I got a chance to try everything in the tackle box also. Some lures bring them in to take a look, but they don't even nip at it. Others, they take it first swipe and don't play around.
It's great to have some idea what is down there and this gives you one more tool to put fish in the frying pan as well as do something besides stare at the bobber.
Thanks for the replys.

mac

More thoughts on what I learned today.

No meat, no bite! No exceptions and this was on a day when they were biting like piranhas.

I'll put my deadstick holes closer to where I am jigging and see if the attracted fish will take the deadstick offerings and also have additional jigging holes close to the outlying dead stick holes to take advantage of schools that show up at those locations.

Glad to hear your doing well with it. The thing is a lot of fun to use. I dont know how many times over the years someone who has never seen one in action wanders over and gets a kick out of it.

I think the best thing about it is the quick resopnse and the sensivity. It amazes me how well it can pick up the tinest split shot.

Can you buy a whole package and adapt this Vex 18 to be on the end of the trolling motor, using boat battery in soft water and then have the set up for hard water.
I have a Zercom flasher for troller but with all thats been talked about, I wonder if it is worth the change and use for all seasons?
Thanks
Joe

Sure can. All you would need is the ice transducer and a carry case and battery. I made my own case and use a motorcycle battery.

Thanks Scott, from here I found a great web site: www.sona-graf.com/products/fl18. Down loaded manual and articles which answered many questions. I may choose this over a new unit for the dashboard, since I am not sure what to replace my Marintex with at this time. I can use this Vex winter and summer.
Thanks
Joe

correction on the site only put www.sona.graf.com and not the rest, otherwise it take you to the wrong site. Probably operator error.
Joe

I give up and have to get back to work. I simly did a search for the unit and check them out. Still not sure what I did wrong in passing the site on. enough
Joe