Which Flasher to Buy, Vexilar FL20 or Hummingbird?

[ICD]

I have had a Vexilar for years, but am looking for a new one. Does anyone have the Hummingbird ICE 55? How do you like it?

[deadeye]

Looks like you are on your own here.  I have an old vexlar and don't plan on getting a new one.  I the Hummingbird model you are looking for a new model?

[DDSBYDAY]

    I vote vex.  I too have an older model vexilar and don't plan on upgrading until it dies.

[22lex]

I like both vex's and Marcums. However, if you do alot of fishing with other people, you are going to want to buy something (in your price range) that will play nice with the other units around you.

Good example; my brother had an older vx8 and my friend and I both had marcums. He couldn't do anything around us as the interference was terrible. He had to be 50 yds away in order to see anything on his unit. Granted that was an older unit.

I think you will be fine with any Vex/Marcum/Bird...

[JECAMERON]

I'm sporting an ICE45. I really like it, has some nice features. I've used it around vexilars and marcums and she always prevails. 

[HappyGilz]

The Hummingbird units are nice with the gps right in them, but they are still made for summer fishing and adapted for ice personally. I have used them all and I think a vex is the best unit for the ice. Either way get something...it's amazing how much more enjoyable your trips will become!

[Dan R.]

my fl8 works just fine

[sandmannd]

I've had my FL8 next to my LX5 and never have interference. You have to adjust your Marcum and your buddy with the Vex will be just fine.

I have an old FL8 I used for years. Loved it and it still works great. Bought a Marcum LX5 last year and will never look back again. I'm sticking with Marcum unless something comes out that really blows my socks off. Way to many options that I just love on the ice with my LX5.

[Go Big Red!]

VEX

[corny13]

I have a Hummingbird Ice-55 and love it.  I ice fish a LOT..  Major reason I bought it was my icefishing friends all use Vexilar and Marcums.... I get very little interferance from their units in my Snobear and we are fishing Close together.   My Vexilar sometimes couldnt see my jig from the interferance of their units.

[BroadHead]

I have always used an FL8 and like it. I have 2 good friends who swear by the Showdown flasher. It is black and white and is a verticle graph. I hear it picks up fish way better than any other flasher out there. It is cheaper than the Vex's, Marcums and Hummingbirds also.

[The General]

Wow, I'm surprised to hear all the good things about bird Ice units.  I have an Fl-18 and was looking at getting another unit as the wife has been getting into ice fishing.  I was bound and determined to get the ice-55 (found it on a web site for $400 new and I believe that included shipping).  Then I started to do some research and I want to say a very high percentage of the people who had them complained left and right about them.  The biggest complaint being they had to turn the gain up 1/2 to 3/4 of the way to see small ice jigs down in deeper water 30-40 ft.  People were saying something about the crystal inside the transducer where Marcum and Vex had 2 dif crystals for the different cone degrees and Bird only had one.  I read where people were sending back their transducers and Bird was helping them with their problem.  Then I was out fishing with a friend who I don't get to fish with often and he bought a new ice-45 and low and behold he had the same problem.  He could see his small jig if he was jigging it but not when it was sitting still or vice versa.  So I never did buy another unit.

[corny13]

My Ice-55 was good to me last year and the one time I went out last weekend.  But Im not fishing little jigs in deep water, just big jigs in deep water.  No problem with the transducer (hope I didnt jjinx myself).  Again I bought it cus my Vex had way to much interference from my buddys Vex and Marcum,  one friend had a FL-20 that in close quarters also had interference to the point of not seeing anything.  I havent had that with the 55 with three other units going..including a FL-8 that causes the most interference.

[guythathunts]

I have a FL8 and I love it. I fish with my father=in-law a ton who als has one and we never have problems. I like vexilar.

[The General]

I'm still kicking the idea of getting a Bird.  What is the $100 difference between the 55 and the 45.  From what I can read and see.  The Ice 55 you get the case, 6 colors instead of 3, and this thing "Its unique purple target line allows fishermen to set a visual indicator at a specific depth to know exactly how far to lower their jig."

With that purple target line.......what the heck is that for?  Say you want your jig at 20 ft in 40ft of water.  Can't you just watch your jig on the screen go to that depth?  I guess my main question is do you feel the 55 is wroth the extra $100 if one is fine with only 3 colors?  The case would be nice but they can be bought for $50.

[kenhuntin]

   I vote vex.  I too have an older model vexilar and don't plan on upgrading until it dies.

Your dilemma is the vex will not die on you. I do not think one has ever wore out. A buddy of mine capsized his jon boat on the 2008 opener and lost his powered up fl8 underwater in a blue box. Just  before duck opener we got out with a special gaff and drug the bottom. We retrieved his landing net, Trojan deep clyle battery With no + terminal left and the fl8. THE fl8 STILL WORKS!
 I wiped out on glare ice carrying an auger and my fl8 and broke the housing and mounting knob off my fl8 fifteen years ago. Patched her up with some two part epoxy and the bugger still runs like a champ.
  I will not experiment with some other kind. I have no reason to.

[doomanmxz99]

I have a FL-18 and do love it but I just picked up an ICE-45 and it works excellent. Love the LCD screen and the zoom is great. Had it out sat with my 18 and had no problems,they played nice had them maybe 3 feet apart. I was fishing in 20ft of water and never had a problem seeing my 2 jigs and had the gain set at 35 which would be 3 1/2 on the vex. I would go with a bird again so far.

[bonecollecter82]

I got a ice 55 and have nothing bad to say about it. They had a lot of issues the first year they can out with there ice unit But it seems like they got the bugs worked out of them.

[MTCOMMER]

The Hummingbird 35 is on sale at Fleet Farm, I believe for $275.
-- i thought about taking a look at it, I just dont have the money to buy one now, but in case someone is in the market for one, Fleet has them on sale.

 :fishing2:

[The General]

   I vote vex.  I too have an older model vexilar and don't plan on upgrading until it dies.

Your dilemma is the vex will not die on you. I do not think one has ever wore out. A buddy of mine capsized his jon boat on the 2008 opener and lost his powered up fl8 underwater in a blue box. Just  before duck opener we got out with a special gaff and drug the bottom. We retrieved his landing net, Trojan deep clyle battery With no + terminal left and the fl8. THE fl8 STILL WORKS!
 I wiped out on glare ice carrying an auger and my fl8 and broke the housing and mounting knob off my fl8 fifteen years ago. Patched her up with some two part epoxy and the bugger still runs like a champ.
  I will not experiment with some other kind. I have no reason to.

I agree Ken.  I just really like that big screen.  I know Vex has one too but a $375 Ice 55 vs $500 - $600 Vex (to get all the options I would want) is a lot of jing.

[bonecollecter82]

Here yah go this has all the in and outs of the 35 45 and 55

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1336737916?bclid=5172023001&bctid=45937329001

[brandbll]

Anyone have any idea which flasher would be the easiest to read if you are color blind?  Not taking into consideration the top models because $400 is my spending ceiling.  Basically, which readout has the best color contrast clarity?

From what i've read in reviewing the three flashers, you're gonna get quality with whichever of the three you get.  I've seen no clear winner.  So now, i'm just shooting for whichever one is going to be the easiest for my eyes to read.  Vexilar can sort of give me trouble, especially with fish on the bottom.

[22lex]

I think a split screen that gets you to the bottom zoom will help you out the best....(not sure if they all have that vex/marc./bird). I use the zoom on my marcum all the time when fishing pannies tucked tight to the bottom.

I know nothing of contrast clarity....but if you can get the zoom in where you need you should be able to detect the slightest lift from a fish hugging the bottom.

You are best off trying them out somehow to find out which one fits you better.

[UplandObsession]

Is anyone still using Clearwater Classics? I believe Marcum Bought them out... I have been using this for the last 10 yrs and even though its old school with no colors it has been pretty reliable on putting me on fish...  Gotta love hand me downs  :fishing2:
                     O

[sandmannd]

I went with a Marcum LX5 a couple of years ago from an FL8. Still have the FL8 but that LX5 is the best I've ever used. Gotta love the zoom on it, the interference reduction and some of the other bells with it. Just a great unit.

[brandbll]

Just incase anyone else is curious.  I found out that Vexilar offers a service for color blind people.  For $59 plus $10 S&H they will swap out your green and orange and throw in blue and light purple(almost pink to me).  Plus they'll run a full diagnostic while they have it and they'll call you if they find any problems.  In this picture i found on google, the difference i can tell is absolutely night and day.

http://vexilar.com/pages/support/support_bluelight.php



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