I have a question for all of you wayyyy smarter than I. I am looking for a depth finder to use ice fishing, and see the GMAXX ones on Ebay. I know it isn’t Vexilar, but I don’t see spending $400 on a vexilar….yet. Has anyuone had experience with GMAXX? is it worth trying?
I don’t know anything about them – guess I’m not very smart…
You may want to post this on the Outdoor Gear Forum?
Good Fishing,
Mike
Ugh no way, don’t waste your money, at very least get a normal fish finder Like THIS ONE and adapt it to winter use, I bought a little kit to use a normal fish finder in winter at gander mountain about 4 years ago, that I use an old “fish 128” fish finder and it works ok, the biggest problem with the unit you are talking about it time delay, I have to imagine that thing is really pretty slow, and the detail just plain sucks. Not to mention target seperation, probably stinks big time too, on a good depth finder you should be able to see fis movements of 3 inchs or so, I doubt that little unit can do that. You can spend a little more on a much, much better unit, and heck you can use it year round then.
My real advice is to find a way to come up with $200 or so and atleast buy a used vex or something, because nothing can beat it on the ice, even with a decent graph, like the one I linked you to, they are still slow compared to the vex, on a vex, if you see a fish move up a foot, hes moving exactly when you see him move of the flasher, the graph will show him moving, but it’s probably a couple seconds behind, and in a tough bite, a couple seconds can be the difference between catching fish and not. Flashers are totally worth every single penny In my humble opinion. I’d also buy a marcum if I were to be buying another flasher, but that’s me, I love my marcum. 
Thanx for the help so far, this is the one I was looking at:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7200630270&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1
My problem is that I’ve never used a flasher and they look dang complicated
Nah don’t be scared at all, super easy to use, ask them at a local store to show you how they work, if you can bait your own hook you can figure it out, the ebay one you linked us to stinks, don’t waste your money, really for $68 this thing is no deal, you can do way, way better, really stop on in to a local store, I know the new marcum flashers have a demo mode, ask someone who works there to show you one. ask them for some help heck the guys down the in rochester are all pretty darn nice guys, I’d be willing to bet someone would even let you come on out on the ice with them, and show you how flashers work. Heck you can swing by my ice house if your ever up in my area, (Lakeville) when I’m on the ice, I’ll probably have both a regular fishfinder and a flasher running. Trust me though don’t waste you money on one of those.
Ok, I’m sold…I’m gonna start looking for a Vex, or a Marcum
Quote:
Ok, I’m sold…I’m gonna start looking for a Vex, or a Marcum
You’ll never look back I use mine year round, no piece of equpiment has caught me more fish than my flasher, period.
Really,
I understand the overall concept of finding structure/bottom, but with the flasher, how does it show fish location/depth?
Here is another dumb question. Is there a finder out there that will measure through the ice….meaning place the transducer down on the ice and it will tell depth before drilling?
dumb question?
Quote:
Here is another dumb question. Is there a finder out there that will measure through the ice….meaning place the transducer down on the ice and it will tell depth before drilling?
dumb question?
NO dumb questions.
I carry a bottle of water with me. That way to find the depth before drilling is clear the snow, pour a little water onto the ice, place the transducer in the water and read the depth.
Any other questions?
Ron
awesome advise…
Quote:
Really,
I understand the overall concept of finding structure/bottom, but with the flasher, how does it show fish location/depth?
Check out these links
http://www.vexilar.com/help/tips/tip013.html
http://www.gameandfishmag.com/fishing/icefishing-fishing/gf_aa026102a/
http://www.activeangler.com/articles/boating/articles/gary_carter/flashers.asp
YellowJacket, hold off on buying anything. Send me your email address and I will inturn send you some darn good comparison information between Vexilar and Marcum. After reading this and talking with others, you will never guess who I ended up buying a new unit from? We only want the best bang for our buck, right?
Thanx, just pm’d you…looking forward to your info
Sorry YellowJacket, I messed up, please send me your email address again. I have that info at work and will send it to you tomorrow night. My email address is [email protected], or [email protected]
NO problem, just emailed you at both email addresses
If you are looking for a flasher I personally would go with a Vexilar or a Marcom. They are top brand names and should last you many many years.
Thanks, Bill
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