I don’t think your going to get much for $100, just save your money this year and get what you really want next season. I’ve bought so much cr*p just to sell it (for a loss or free) and then buy what I should have all along.
That’s normally been my philosophy as well. I’ve been TRYing to not let ice fishing turn into the money pit my other 2 hobbies are. HAHAHA I already race sailboats and have an unexplainable obsession with Benelli and Sitka for my whitetail gear. Figured I’d show the wife I’m not all bad by learning to cut a few corners with my newest hobby. The excuse of “well you know my ice fishing gets me and Sammie out of the house on saturdays giving you time to yourself and strengthening my relationship with my daughter” will only go so far.
I’d spend the extra $100 on the showdown. It’s better than nothing and really does enough for most people’s needs. Joe’s might actually have them cheaper in the store, all the other flashers are on sale right now. And resale if/when you upgrade shouldn’t be far off from what you spend.
Should be able to find a good Vexilar Fl-8 for around $150-$175 used. Otherwise save your money and wait until next year. Trade one of those $350 Sitka coats for a used Vexilar 
Should be able to find a good Vexilar Fl-8 for around $150-$175 used. Otherwise save your money and wait until next year. Trade one of those $350 Sitka coats for a used Vexilar
X2
Cheap and Flasher don’t go together.
Cheap and Flasher don’t go together. Amazon has or had the troller for 169.00
Lx3 low end?? I think not! A lot of guys on here run lx3tc after owning for years! Has all the features you will ever need. Even Marcums vx1 pro has bottom 6′ zoom. They don’t make a low end unit.
I got an old flasher you can have…see below!
oldFlasher.jpg
The cheapest flasher you are going to find will be at least $150. If you buy anything too old or cheap you risk having to replace parts as flashers have moving parts wear out and need repair after. I like the idea of the 2.0 ice troller from Marcum for under $200. You can always keep this when you get your LX-5 ( which I have and love) and let Sammie use the troller or use it for hole hopping! Good luck!
I picked up a VX-1 Pro from Marcum at Fleet Farm after christmas last year for about $264 and have loved it. I’ve had no issues and would recommend it for a ‘budget’ flasher.
Keep an eye on Craigslist, I picked up an LX-1 for $150 last year. Great flasher.
Sell one Sitka item and buy an lx5!
I will 2nd the VX-1. It works great but probably be about 150 bucks for used.
I personally don’t think you need more than an old Fl-8 or a vx-1. The “bigger” ones have more bells and whistles but I’m not convinced they put more biscuits in the basket. Just my two cents.
Make sure you know what all your friends you fish with use. For me if you have all Vexlars in or close to the house, everything is fine. Mix a LX7 or LX9 with a ice castle full of vexlars, lot of interference and you will find youself fishing for fish you think are fish but find out if your Marcum buddy turns off his unit nothing is there. (you find that out after jigging for 2 hours after nothing:) 
Either way you go you cannot fish blind. Showdown is a good first option.
Awesome advice Trophy. Thanks. Not going to be an issue for me though. I’m the only one i know that ice fishes. My friends are too cheap to buy any shelters and since they’ve never fished from inside a heated tent they think i’m the idiot for spending so much time out in the cold and wind. I try to tell them that it’s fun, you catch a bunch of fish, and all you need to do is invest a little into a 1 man flip over with a buddy heater and it’s totally comfortable but no one will listen. Oh well, their loss. On the topic of interference though, how close to other people do you need to worry about interference between flashers? I fish mostly by myself however there are times when I end up in an area with a bunch of other guys.
I own a VX-1 Pro and like it a lot. The only time I wished I didn’t have a Marcum is when I was in a cabin fishing with 7 others. The Marcum will give vexilars a lot of interference from the FL8 to the FL28, and get some decent interference on its own screen even with Int Rejection changes. The only one with minimal/no issues was a humminbird 55. Humminbird uses their own frequencies and have minimal issues fishing with my Marcum, or any other brands.
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