Vexilar on the bow

[coryb1980]

I spend a lot of time in the bow of my boat vertical jigging. I used to have a cheap Lowrance mounted up front until I broke the transducer cable attached to my bow mount electric. I'm thinking about buying another ducer from Vexilar to mount on my bow mount instead of replacing the Lowrance. Now I can put my FL-18 to use in the summer time. I'm just wondering if anyone else does this and how it works for them?

Cory

[Mattman]

I use my Vexilar. Love doing that. Since it gets used during the ice season I'm already good at reading it. And there are plenty of times I actually get to fish Walleye or Crappie that are directly under the boat and its just like ice fishing. Seeing the fish...dropping down to their level...jigging them in closer...coaxing them to take the bait...



Matt Davis

Better to have and not need than to need and not have!

[Meat Hunter Unlogged]

If you think you're going to be moving around using it, forget it.

It works best if you can get on one spot in calm waters.

I use my FL-18 before the ice when anchored.


Don't even try it if you don't have a 19 degree ice ducer.


Meat Hunter.

[Auggie264]

I run an FL-18 and Lowrance LCX-20 on the bow. I maily use the Lowrance as a GPS. That Vex is much better at showing fish. I have the 12 degree on it for vertical jigging and its almost like ice fishing. Some people put the transducer at an angle and use it to find fish from the distance. I think Lowrance is the best GPS/Sonar combo unit made, but I won't fish without a flasher.

[Tom B]

I only have flashers in my boat, been that way for at least 6 years. I doubt that I will ever go back to a graph.

Tom B

[coryb1980]

>If you think you're going to be moving around using it,
>forget it.
>
>It works best if you can get on one spot in calm waters.
>
>I use my FL-18 before the ice when anchored.
>
>
>Don't even try it if you don't have a 19 degree ice ducer.
>
>
>Meat Hunter.



I guess I don't understand why it won't work while moving. I vertical jig while moving slowly with the electric. I thought the vexi had a bottom lock feature for this exact reason. I dunno, please enlighten me.

[reelman1]

IMHO a better option would be to sell you Vexlar and buy a Lowrance 5" Graph/GPS combo to use on your bow. The Lowrance will work better on the ice than your Vex will on open water. And quite possibly better than the Vex on the ice as well!

[lokt]

Been vert jigging, ice/open water via bow mount, with the Vex for many, many years. Can't be beat. Over the course of a season, you save a ton on gas and motor wear/tear when vert jigging instead of trolling.
I just hammer the fish with jigging raps/nils-masters swimming minnows, blades, spoons, and jigs/twisters. This presentation tech
works year around and I've caught fish as shallow as 8-10 fow.
Once the fish are marked, the bait is always in the strike zone/fishes face. Unlimited hangtime.
The attitude of the fish can be guaged by watching how they respond to the bait. If they only approach and sniff, usually a change in action, color, or lure type will turn sniffers into biters.
This is my first string presentation tech if the wind is'nt to strong.
No live bait hassles/expense, leaders, bb's, trolling accesories, (disks, jets, snap weights, boards/clips, etc., tuning cranks, and crowds are irrelevant. No guestimates as to the depth the bait is running. No questions as to whether or not the fish see/feel the bait or even if your on fish.
No guesses, questions, or approximates. No not knowing for sure. All variables as to fish location in proximity to bait are removed.
An ultra efficient way to fish and tons of fun watching the fish and being a puppeteer.

[gce]

Sure, I have an FL-18 on my bow and have it hooked to my MinnKota with a universal sonar transducer. Works great at any depth I chose to fish. No problems, no complaints, trolling, drifting or whatever.

Good luck,

Jawjerker

[cc unlogged]

I had a FL18 on the bow hooked up to MK univ sonar - came on used
boat. Maxxum 80lb. I got a lot of "noise" on the screen (dial?)
when using the motor above say, 25 percent, or with the top knob
over 1 or 1 1/2. Maybe just a rigging problem, don't know. Anyway
I sold it, was sort of disappointed in how the Vex would not "wrap
around" when you went deeper than the range you had it set on.
I fish a lot of breaks around 20' and was constantly flip-flopping
between the 20 and 40 scales. Then having to do the math, doubling
when on the 40 scale... too much thinking:banghead:
Granted if I had stuck with it, would have eventually got used to it.

[Chuckles]

It works great for me! I use mine on several boats and on the ice. The transducers were bought used for very reasonable and I absolutely love the bottom lock and the auto zoom feature on the FL-18. No reason to buy anything else - unless you have extra money for it. I find the vex to be adequate for my needs on lakes and rivers. That and a handheld gps/chips and I have the bases covered to fish many different places without a big investment. Put me on PLENTY of fish and they tell me the info I need. Your results may vary - but I would tell you to go for it! The mo0re you use your vex the more it talks to you - (well it at least indicates what is happening below... and the bottom type etc). Best of luck in your decision, Chuckles

[old school]

have 4 units on the boat but 2 are vexilar 18's front and back for me they are a must have.

[FlyInOnH20]

Have both on the front Flasher and a graph
The Vex rocks for vertical jiggin and marks more fish than the graph in calm to semi calm water. The FL8 doesn't have a bottom lock. That option would be a plus! This past year got the magnifier/cover which I plan to put on the next time I'm using the Vex. Neck gets to hurtin cause ya don't want to miss a fish!
Like both the vex for fish and graph for structure.
Love the VEX!