Fl - 18 for open water

[Timmy]

I was thinking about buying a open water transducer for my Fl- 18. I would like any input on how people think it works in the open water, and some tips on if you read it differently in open water compared to ice.

Thanks
Timmy

[Thumper]

Would someone help out on this matter. I would like to use a FL-8 on open water as well but am not sure of it's proper usage.

The Fl-8 and Fl-18 units are both great. I had an extra one that I use for ice fishing so I decided to put it on my boat. The first couple times I didn't like it at all. However, once I started to use it, I got hooked. I will now use my flasher just as much as my graph. They units real-time, and can tell you a lot about the bottom once you start to use them more. It was difficult to change from looking at the screen of a graph, but it was worth it.

[School Guy]

I've used my FL-8 on my bow mount Minkota for the last four years and love it. If I'm moving slow enough it will graph fish just like through the ice. I assume the Fl-18 would be the same. Good luck, S.S.

SchoolGuy, what type of transducer did you use to mount your fl8 to your trolling motor? I was considering doing the same thing this year in my boat. I am very happy with my locator that is on my boat now. I do run into one big problem, when I am on the casting deck, I can't see the screen from there. Do you get any interferance from the motor? Have you actually been able to jig over the top of fish like through the ice?

thanks

[School Guy]

I used the "puck" style transducer that fits the contour of the bottom of the MinKota. It's secured with a large automotive style hose clamp. I've never had any interferance but since mine is a bow mount the tiller motor is never running when it's on anyway. In dead calm water I can jig and see it falling on the graph, just like ice fishing. But how often is it that calm? And if I'm moving slow enough it will graph fish.Good luck, S.S.

[fishguy]

If anyone is having problems marking fish going faster than "slow" your equipment is not set up right. Full speed marks are common, and flashers were never invented for ice fishing, it just worked out that way.
Something is fishy around here.

[Backwater Eddy]

Take a section of PVC tube (just a bit larger in height and diameter then the Vexilar Ice-Ducer) and glue/silicone it into the sump area of the boat.

Place a thin slip of Styrofoam or cloth on the bottom of the tube (to protect the surface of the transducer) and add a shot of water. Insert the puck and your all set to go.

The puck type ice-ducer will shoot through the hull just great. Be sure to not allow for air bubbles to build up under the surface of the transducer, do not add anything too porous under the puck or it will not perform well. Plus be sure you do not get too much silicone on the surface or that too may trap bubbles and mess things up.

This makes for a easy add on for 4 season use of the ice puck ducer or even the Pro-Pack Vexilar system as a whole. Add some no-skid adhesive backing to the bottom of the Pro-Pack case and it will not vibrate off the bench or seat while in use.

This handy dandy & simple conversion may easily allow the ice angler to utilize the highly portable Vexilar Pro-Pack flasher units on a rental/resort boat.

Ed "Backwater Eddy" Carlson..><,sUMo,>