vexilar VS standard portable sonar?

[bossmann]

I have been using my standard protable sonar unit for ice fishing, what is the advantage of using a vexilar?

any info is appreciated

[Grizzly]

If you mean that you are using the same kind of unit you throw on your boat for the summer. Their is a HUGE differance...

read the article on my blog, it's alot to discribe, and i think this will help.
click my signature!

the article is Titled "Sonar Love"

[noslack]

Great little article there Grizzly.

You do prove a good point. You see everything in the water colum below you. From the density of the bottom to baitfish. heck you can even see a wireworm on them.

And the fact that it has real-time display....well that's what i'm talking about.

[Grizzly]

Yah you bet buddy!
I cant fish without it!

Although, fishing for whitefish with it is still very tricky! haha

[bossmann]

So what I gather is that advantage is separation. I have been using a standard protabel sonar off of a boat and i am not happy the battery life in extreme cold, it’s not as compact as i would like and better separation might be an advantage although I have become very good at reading my sonar. So now without breaking the bank what unit would you recommend? Also what would you expect for battery life?


thanks

[Grizzly]

All of the untits i believe will run straight for over 14 hours of fishing in the toughest and coldest conditions...

the Showdown is by far the cheapest unit out there, but because it uses and LCD screen and push buttons instead of dials, it does tend to freeze up in cold weather! I have used both the Showdown and now i own a vexilar FL-8.
the vexilar in my mind out performs in battery life, and cold weather but the sepereation in the showdown is much better....

I would suggest a vexilar or marccum, and your looking at 449.00 for the FL-8 Model at canadian tire, and the showdown can be found at the fishin hole for around 349.00

Good luck!