Aqua-VU ShowDown questions

[theidbreder]

I have always known that the flashers work really well for ice fishing but the cost is damn near out of control. So I have been looking into the digitals to cut down on the cost a little.

I have been looking at an Aqua VU ShowDown digital finder for ice fishing this year. Does anyone have the ShowDown and if so what do you think of it?

Should I go digital or suck it up and buy a Vexilar F-12? Thanks guys!!!
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[lunkerhunter2]

The FL-8 will suit you just fine. I have one and have used it to 110" depths without any problems. You can get them for $260 on sale and even better prices on E-Bay some times. I have seen those new units on In-Fisherman and they look pretty cool. Not sure how much they run though.[cool]
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[theidbreder]

I figured the FL-8 may be good enough I just get wound up in the bigger is better thing... As far as the Showdowns go they only run around $200

I think I may go with an FL-8 because I only Ice fish one day a week. Thanks for the advice.
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[Lakehouse]

I researched fish finders with avid anglers who standby their flashers and heavily on the net for about 2-3 weeks (including pos and neg posts). I chose the Showdown 10 days ago because it makes sense - the same leading technology used in all on-board boat fish/depth finders, plus it just seemed too easy as compared to personal experiences with Vexilar, Marcom, and other flasher models.

I've used the Showdown now 5 times and am very impressed. Set it on the ice (pre-drilling) and immediately find my depth. Drop it in the hole and find the fish immediately with distinct separation. It seems to also differentiate between hard and soft bottoms and standing weeds. I can manually control Sensitivity and Noise levels and Range, or set each to "Automatic" (my pref). I watch the fish move up and down and can coax them off the bottom. the built-in LCD heater not yet needed (I live in MN). I also run 3'ft LCD light string off the Showdown battery for night fishing.

In my humble opinion, I think the ice fish-finder "market" will change. I would expect to see Vex, Marc, Lawr and the others introduce their own version in the very near future – next season? I am far from "pro" status - Rather just a guy who loves to fish and appreciates good gear. The Showdown is good gear.
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[davetclown]

Rule of thumb, Bigger is monst genneraly better if you to a lot of fishing and demand the best you can get out of your tools.

the second rule of thumb is you dont always need the biggest and bestest toy on the market to efficently get the job done.

third and final but most important rule of thumb is, the cheepest unit on the market ususaly is.....

I have found the third rule to be true with every thing I have ever bought. I may not ever make it up to mid range in priced product availability, I cirtainly will not buy the cheepest unit on the market... I dont know about the unit you are looking. but if it is the cheepest unit on the market you will most deffenantly pay for it again in the long run.... and the price is only going to go up.

My neighbor picked up a vexlar 10 years ago, and is still using it this year, he paid I think like 340 for it then, so if you figure the cost for it today, it has run him about 34 dollars per year...

I am not a flasher fan, but if I were in the market for one, I would deffenantly be looking at some of my buds who are seriously looking at upgrades, a used three hundred dollar unit you may be able to pick up for 75 to a buck fifty.

Just food for thought, and stat away from ebay, never buy used electronics over the net from people you dont know.
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[windriver]

I do not have any experience with the showdown, but I used my Vex Fl-18 next to a Lowarance X68 ice machine a couple of days ago and there was no doubt that the LCD graph mode was not as responsive as the Fl-18 flasher. I was seeing and reacting to fish faster than my friend was.

It is probably just personal opinion, but once you figure out the math on a vex they are tough to beat.

I prefer the Fl-18 over the 8 or 12 because of the 6 foot bottom zoom. If fish are suspended any flasher will find them. If you are looking at bottom hugging fish the zoom feature is really useful.

Windriver
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[davetclown]

I have a bottom line, "LCD" and fished next to a vex... there was no comparison, I was seeing the bite and some times I swear I had the fish reeled in before it ever showed up on the screen....

I still use the bottom line, it has the quality of letting me know that the fish are lurking about and it gives me the deapth...
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[kentd71]

What Transducer angle is best for ice fishing 15 to 30' ?

Would a 9 degree transducer ice machine work well for vertical jigging at 100' if there is no wind when in a boat?
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[davetclown]

my opinion only, flashers 15 fish finders 30

my reasoning is that flashers let you know when fish are directly below you and when you have a fish on line.

fish finders lets you know if fish are in a wider range below you so you can work on drawing them in.

nothing works on suspended fish.

now Fish TV, I hate to say it, is another cheep way to get around. they have a couple cheep modles, one for $99 and one for $129.... from there underwater cameras and tv sets price jumps a franklin or five.

no delays, and you can see when the fish has his mouth on your hook.

now the vision or feild of veiw you realy need a couple couple holes, one for the camera one to drop down a object for your camera to pick up so you have a sence of direction if you are spotting fish and you need to know wich way to move your hole to...

it also helps you to see the structure you are fishing on.
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[sharpfisher]

I also went with the aqua view showdown this year I have only used it once on the ice and it worked flawlessly. I did use it in the boat last fall and found it quite useful although weeds tend to be a problem. I like the ease of use and the many features. I believe its all in what you like and what you are used to. good luck S.F.
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