Best flasher to mount on bow?

[Coach]

What is the best flasher unit to mount to mount on a bow mounted trolling motor? Thanks, Coach

[REW]

Probably none -
On an open bowed boat, unless you are using an lcd style flasher, it is very difficult to read the flasher in bright sun light.

In general go with a high quality lcd, color is even better- that has a very fast update rate.

You will be happier in the long run.

Take care
REW
p.s.
One of the problems with a flasher in an open boat, is that you can't always keep your eyes on the flasher, because you are watching your line, controlling the boat etc. There is no history with a flasher. With an LCD, you have a reasonaly long history. So, as long as you glance at your display every now and then; you will be able to see if there are fish in the area.

[stevefellegy]

If you can find one...the old Lowrance flashers work well on the bow and still are used there by some veteran pro's. The sun ONLY effects them when the sun is directly pointing at them, as with most any depthfinder screen. The 2330 model is the best but any of them do the job. Yes, however, as REW points out, unlike a graph screen, you only see what the screen prints IF you see it as it initially appears. One plus with the old flashers is the fact they send very little power down to bounce off the fish, which, if trying to hover over a fish that is in the cone and on the screen, can be key to having a chance of it staying in the cone and being a potential biter. Pawn shops sometimes have these great old units for sale as well as bigger boat dealers that take them in on a trade-in boat and don't throw them away. It's tough to buy one off an old fisherman.
Note....a Zercom flasher is NOT a flasher as we know them but is a unit that functions as a LCD with the appearance of the old style flasher screen. Good unit though.
Happy New Year!

[ebijack]

like steve states, id go with lowrance. lowrance cannot repair the stand alone units (thats why i sent mine to a guy who needed parts that were good on mine) my 2530(i think that was the number) was 600 watts. you can use a 1240A which is 150watts. these are still made and lowrance used to have a tall mounting cone so you could mount these units on the bow. the 1240A is a 3in dia and is about 5 inch long. you also have to mount the gain switch.
yes if the sun is over your back they are hard to see. i find the all the lcd's hard to see if your not in the right position...easier than the flashers though.
hope that helps

[livebait]

I used an fl18 last year never had a prob plus it has bottom lock, I only used this when vertical jigging or using a drop shot rig going ultra slow or anchored for perch.

[Texeye]

I'm with REW. It is nice to have a little history to view.Cabelas has their X-91 on sale for $299.00 on their website.I don't think you can beat it for that kind of money.Good Luck!

[fire baller]

If you are really set on having a flasher. See if you can find video of the PWT event at Devils lake last year. Bruce Sampson had made a bracket for his flasher that essentially put the display at eye level and he also had a sun visor around the display. Kept his neck from getting sore and the sun off the screen. I think you could figure a way to do that with any type of flasher or graph. He also won.

I agree with Livebait. I use a Vexilar FL-8 during the open water season. If you have an instant readout you don't need to watch your line, or a "history", as you can watch the fish approach and strike your bait. The sun is no more of a problem than with any other sonar.
Some will say that sonar spooks fish. All I can say is that I catch them in the sonar cone year around at depths as shallow as 6 feet. I would'nt trade my Vex. 8 for any sonar on the market except for a Vex-18 or a Marcum LX-3.