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01-07-2019, 05:25 PM
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Banned
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Airdrie
Posts: 315
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Ice fishing flasher
I'm trying to decide which ice flasher I should buy. I don't whether I should buy the Humminbird ice-45 or the ice-55 or buy some other brand. Need some input on what guys are using. Thanks.
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01-07-2019, 05:29 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Morinville
Posts: 699
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If you have the money to spend and want one that will last a lifetime , go with a Vexilar.
Any of them.
Whatever your budget allows.
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01-07-2019, 05:40 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 302
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X2 on the Vexilar. It’s a little spendy but they just plain work.
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01-07-2019, 05:40 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: WMU 303
Posts: 8,493
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If an Ice 45 or 55 is your decision, go with a 45 and buy the case separate. Ice 45 is on sale at Cabelas now. There is a $200 difference between the price of a 45 and 55. The case is $70
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01-07-2019, 05:44 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: GRAND PRAIRIE
Posts: 5,720
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If you go with the 45 or 55 and you do a lot of lake trout fishing I would go with the Ice 55
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01-07-2019, 05:58 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 1,482
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I have an ice 45. I would recommend a vex as well. The 45 is sometimes a little temperamental. I like it for the most part, but I wish I got a vex because they are reviewed better and have a higher reputation than marcum and humminbird
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01-07-2019, 06:00 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: WMU 303
Posts: 8,493
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 35 whelen
If you go with the 45 or 55 and you do a lot of lake trout fishing I would go with the Ice 55
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I don't have any experience with a 55 but I use a 45 in deep water. Fishing in Cold Lake at 150' and being able to see the barrel swivel at that depth is good enough for me. I have zero complaints with my 45 that I've had for 6 or so years.
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01-07-2019, 06:22 PM
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Join Date: May 2011
Location: Edmonton Alberta
Posts: 1,879
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O you silly gooses we all know these flashers are dated now.
The garmin panoptix is cheap and effective
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01-07-2019, 07:27 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 2,789
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I would consider a Helix 5 or 7 Ice over any flasher mostly due to the ability to have GPS waypoints, Autochart map in the summer and have it for the winter as well.
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01-07-2019, 09:11 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,906
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Is there anyone that has used a helix out there still recommending a flasher? I kind of doubt it. Helix is the way to go in my opinion.
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01-07-2019, 10:12 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,072
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MooseRiverTrapper
Is there anyone that has used a helix out there still recommending a flasher? I kind of doubt it. Helix is the way to go in my opinion.
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Another vote here for the Helix. My cousin has the Ice Helix and it's deadly. He runs the graph and flasher modes side by side on the screen which is fantastic. He also bought a summer ducer and used it in the boat all the time.
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01-07-2019, 11:04 PM
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Join Date: May 2011
Location: Edmonton Alberta
Posts: 1,879
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SamSteele
I would consider a Helix 5 or 7 Ice over any flasher mostly due to the ability to have GPS waypoints, Autochart map in the summer and have it for the winter as well.
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I wish my lx7 or lx9 had gps and waypoints
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01-08-2019, 06:39 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Yellowhead County
Posts: 65
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I would not trade my vexilar. I have a handheld gps if I want to save a spot. My summer sonar is a garmin unit with gps but I love how fast and simple the vexilar is and it works great
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01-08-2019, 08:16 AM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: West Central Alberta
Posts: 6,671
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I have an Ice 55. Works okay. More features on the Ice 55 when compared to the 45. Are they needed? That is a personal preference.
Buddy has a Vexilar FLX-28 and it has way better sensitivity and a much clearer display.
My vote would be for a Vexilar.
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01-08-2019, 08:40 AM
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Join Date: May 2012
Location: Alberta
Posts: 2,445
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I've used Vexilars and Marcums, and I prefer my Marcum LX-7. They all generally do the same thing, with some minor variations that boil down to personal preference.
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01-08-2019, 08:45 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 387
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I’ve had all 3 major brands and would have to give it to Vexilar with the helix being a close second. The ice 55 I had did not have good target separation and wasn’t able to pick up tubes below 80’. My buddy’s ice 45 was the same. I’ve had my Fl20 for 9 years and the only thing I’ve needed to do to it is change the battery out. It’s great.
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01-08-2019, 08:50 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Near Edmonton
Posts: 15,069
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Have used or tried them all. Have two Vexillars, on over 30 years old with thousands of hours on it. Has had the brushes replaced once and one new battery. Read outs are clear, very good target separation, easy to set up and use, and virtually bullet proof. SNS2 tried 3 or 4 flashers, most more expensive, and had issues with each of them before finally getting a Vexillar and staying with that.
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01-08-2019, 09:11 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Rocky View County
Posts: 616
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CNP
I don't have any experience with a 55 but I use a 45 in deep water. Fishing in Cold Lake at 150' and being able to see the barrel swivel at that depth is good enough for me. I have zero complaints with my 45 that I've had for 6 or so years.
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Same here -- love my 45.
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01-08-2019, 09:14 AM
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Join Date: May 2011
Location: Edmonton Alberta
Posts: 1,879
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I think you would be happy with any unit.
so many pro's and con's to all of them.
Or atleast so many pro's and few con's
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01-08-2019, 09:52 AM
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Banned
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Airdrie
Posts: 315
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Thanks for all the input, I've decided to go with the Vexilar FLX-20.
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01-08-2019, 10:11 AM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: WMU 303
Posts: 8,493
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Quote:
Originally Posted by honker_clonker
I’ve had all 3 major brands and would have to give it to Vexilar with the helix being a close second. The ice 55 I had did not have good target separation and wasn’t able to pick up tubes below 80’. My buddy’s ice 45 was the same. I’ve had my Fl20 for 9 years and the only thing I’ve needed to do to it is change the battery out. It’s great.
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I am not disputing your experience with Huminbird Ice...………However, my experiences are not in any way similar to yours. At 150', 9 degree cone, with lots of gain left to go if I needed it, I can pick out the smallest of barrel swivels 6' above my tube. At 150' full gain is too much in fact as the tube appears like an angry red blob and fish appear as submarines.
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01-08-2019, 10:21 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 534
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Quote:
Originally Posted by honker_clonker
I’ve had all 3 major brands and would have to give it to Vexilar with the helix being a close second. The ice 55 I had did not have good target separation and wasn’t able to pick up tubes below 80’. My buddy’s ice 45 was the same. I’ve had my Fl20 for 9 years and the only thing I’ve needed to do to it is change the battery out. It’s great.
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Were you on the 9 deg cone?
WC
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01-08-2019, 10:48 AM
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Suspended User
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Innisfail
Posts: 1,073
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I use a Helix. Why buy a unit that's only good for ice fishing, when you can get one for all seasons
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01-08-2019, 10:52 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 387
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I sure was on the 9 degree cone. Fished it by itself with no other units around etc. New batteries, all sorts of things and it just did not perform as good as the other flashers I have owned. I’ve run just about all the round dial flashers over the years here and that one seemed to not be the greatest. Maybe the 3 in my fishing group were lemons but if yours works great and you like it, all the power to you. I just know the ones I was around I wasn’t impressed with.
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01-08-2019, 10:52 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: On a farm
Posts: 1,572
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as others have said , go Helix , good for summer and winter , I have the 5 and love it , 2 seconds to swap the ducer and your go to go with a portable in summer !!! zero complaints
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Living for the adventure, enjoying the ride ! BRAD
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01-08-2019, 10:59 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Rocky View County AB.
Posts: 3,561
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I picked up the Marcum Showdown at Cabella's and love it. Vertical rather than horizontal and much easier for old guys to see. comes set up to ice and the depth changes auto so you are not spending extra time adjusting, just adjust if there is a bunch of noise.
Very easy to use, to see and easy to carry. you can even remove it from the main battery and it will run on aa's if you want to move around and check FOW before drilling
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01-08-2019, 01:20 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Fort Saskatchewan
Posts: 235
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I just saw a cool one on YouTube on one made by Garmin. It comes with 2 types of transponders: one for horizontal scanning and the other for vertical (cone) scanning. Check it out!
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01-08-2019, 01:40 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 2,789
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NW Tradegunner
I just saw a cool one on YouTube on one made by Garmin. It comes with 2 types of transponders: one for horizontal scanning and the other for vertical (cone) scanning. Check it out!
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If you are referring to the Garmin Panoptix Livescope set up, it is very cool. It's also over $3k here in Canada. You can buy a lot of conventional flashers or Helix units for that.
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Princecraft, Humminbird, MinnKota, Cannon, Mack's Lure, & Railblaza Pro Staff
YouTube: Harder Outdoors
Instagram: @harderoutdoors
FB: HarderOutdoors
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01-08-2019, 02:51 PM
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Join Date: May 2011
Location: Edmonton Alberta
Posts: 1,879
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NW Tradegunner
I just saw a cool one on YouTube on one made by Garmin. It comes with 2 types of transponders: one for horizontal scanning and the other for vertical (cone) scanning. Check it out!
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this is it right here!
https://www.gpscentral.ca/products/garmin/panoptix-ice-fishing-bundle-plus.html
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01-08-2019, 08:53 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 2,789
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sushi_man
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Add Livescope and you add another $2k for a total over $4500.
__________________
Princecraft, Humminbird, MinnKota, Cannon, Mack's Lure, & Railblaza Pro Staff
YouTube: Harder Outdoors
Instagram: @harderoutdoors
FB: HarderOutdoors
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