I just got back from ice fishing a small lake here in Mn. and used the vexilar fl-8 that I bought from one of the regular users here on W.C. and WOW! what a huge difference! I caught so many Crappies today I lost count- no exaggeration. This is my first flasher and I have to say to anyone that ice fishes and doesn't have a flasher- GET ONE! They are worth every penny! Just had to brag I guess.:rock-on: :hail:

I used one for the first time last year and after 10 minutes called my buddy and said, "these things should be illegal". I just went out and bought my own Fri. and wouldn't you know it our ice went south. Even the small lakes here in central Wisc. are dangerous at best. Well I will be ready for the next cold snap.

Fishing in the sonar cone has open water applications too. I frequently fish docks with ice gear during open water. The fish will stay in the shady corners. Many docks get lots of pressure and using the lighter ice type of presentations really helps. And of course, you can watch all the action on the Vex.

Question: Do you think that the flasher function on an Eagle Ultra protable would suffice?

I've been using my FL-18 jigging off the boat now because of no ice. I love my Vexilar, but right now we're having a little problem, there is so much bait in this cove we're fishing, you can't see your jig/spoon/rapala. We drove around with the Lowrance before putting out the anchor and there is like countless numbers of giant balls of alewife.

Any ideas on seperating the jig from the bait? And no, the gain doesn't work.

Meat Hunter.

>I've been using my FL-18 jigging off the boat now because of
>no ice. I love my Vexilar, but right now we're having a little
>problem, there is so much bait in this cove we're fishing, you
>can't see your jig/spoon/rapala. We drove around with the
>Lowrance before putting out the anchor and there is like
>countless numbers of giant balls of alewife.
>
>Any ideas on seperating the jig from the bait? And no, the
>gain doesn't work.
>
>Meat Hunter.


Drop to low power, lower the gain, and drop down to the 9 degree if you have the dual transducer. If all that doesn't work, you might consider a bigger jig to decifer it from the alewives.

I don't think the gain/power setting will work in 35' of water, but I do think you're on to something with the cone angle. Makes sense to me becaue I'm using the 19 degree ice ducer over the side of the boat. I'll try my 12 degree next time I fish, I wish I bought the 9/19 instead of the straight 19. I'm not going to have 3 ice ducers............. Or am I??? ahha,ha,h,ha,ha,ha,ha,h.

Meat Hunter.