Fish Finders - Who's using them?

[MTCOMMER]

I figure with the hard water coming, its time to start talking about Fish finders/Flashers, etc.
As of now, I have a cheapo fish finder/depth finder that will give me accurate depth and fish simulated fish will show up across the screen if there is something down there (needless to say, I dont think that portion works, but I mostly use it for depth)
So what type of fish finder does everyone else use?  Marcum, Vex, anything else?  What do you like and dont like about it?
Who still uses the big lead weights for depth and just drills holes and wings it out on the ice.....?

[kcarder]

I use a Vexilar FL12.  I like it just fine.  I have used a FL8 a FL18 and a MarCum LX3.  I have a buddy that has a Hummingbird Ice55 and it seems to work nice.  The only bad thing that I would say about the Hummingbird is he had to send his back after only a couple hours of use because it wouldn't read anything.  The only thing that I would like to add to mine is the dual beam angle transducer.  I think that sometimes I get a false bottom reading if I am fishing where there is a drop off or shelf.  I understand that the dual beams narrow angle setting can help identify and solve this problem.

[The General]

Going ice fishing without my Vex is like hunting pheasants without my dog.........it wouldn't happen.  I use an Fl-18 and don't plan on switching brands or buying a new one.  Does everything I need. 

[letgofishing]

I love it MARCUM 5. I got alots FISH forever.... Go MARCUM!!!!

[BiggA]

I have not ever had the extra money to spend on a flasher. Still use lead to check depth. I will say though that I am not very fond of fishing in more than 12-15 fow. That would change if I had some sort of flasher or fish finder.

[Outdoors Junkie]

I use a Marcum LX5.  Well, I bring it with and one of my boys (ages 14 and 11) alway seem to "borrow it" to check for fish in their holes and they are never in a hurry to bring it back to me.

It works great!  

I also use the big lead to check depth too.

[JECAMERON]

I use a humminbird ICE 45. I really like it. The backlit LCD screen is a pretty nice feature. It marks fish as well as the rest. I'm not partial to any brand by any means, I've used them all and they all get the job done. On my boat I have an old eagle silent 101 that I trust just as much as my humminbird.

[DDSBYDAY]

Going ice fishing without my Vex is like hunting pheasants without my dog.........it wouldn't happen.  

        Thats a great analogy.  If I forget my vex I would go back and get it.  No more fishing blind for me unless  I am in my perm.  I don't always use it.  I know the depth and and the active fish are always close to the bottom.  I don't know if all those sound impulses are picked up by the fish.  I Will have the camera on instead.  Once it gets to dark to see with the camera the vex goes back on.

[22lex]

I use an LX-5 as well. I wouldn't fish without it, period.

I have caught fish in 80 ft (lakers) and in 40 ft suspended at 20 (craps) and I hated ice fishing before i had a flasher. Now I can't seem to get out enough.

[Fawkinnae]

A friend of mine came up with this idea to use an old Lowrance for ice fishing. I got him to help me make one for myself using this older Lowrance I had sitting around in the basement. I am looking forward to trying it out in the next week or two.

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[Retired on Osakis]

I use the Marcum LX5. Like the dual beam and the movable zoom feature. I would be pretty much lost out there on the ice without it.

[bonecollecter82]

 Well Fawkinnae Fawkinnae Let me know how that works for you. I have tried to get my dad to buy a flasher for when we go to LOTWS but he says why would I buy one for the one time I ice fish a year I got a x75 like that.  I have and so far love my Ice 55 I only got to use it about half of last year and a couple times this year. The only thig I dont like about it is that it dont seem to have a tranducer I can buy to use it on my boat in the summer.

[JECAMERON]

Well Fawkinnae Fawkinnae Let me know how that works for you. I have tried to get my dad to buy a flasher for when we go to LOTWS but he says why would I buy one for the one time I ice fish a year I got a x75 like that.  I have and so far love my Ice 55 I only got to use it about half of last year and a couple times this year. The only thig I dont like about it is that it dont seem to have a tranducer I can buy to use it on my boat in the summer.

You're right, that is a draw back. I bought mine the first year they came out and was looking to buy one that spring. I called the company and was told they would have one the following year... still haven't seen it.

[Go Big Red!]

Vex FL-8.  Works like a charm when I get out.  I wouldn't leave home without it.

[deadeye]

Vex FL-8 here.  Use it most of the time.