If you don’t know exactly what you are looking for, deciding on which ice fishing flasher is right for you can be a difficult decision. Luckily, we’ve done the hard work for you. Vexilar flashers have been around for a very long time in the fishing industry and have established themselves as having one of the best ice fishing flashers on the market. However, there is not just one Vexilar model to choose from. In fact, there’s quite a few. They all look fairly similar but have some key features that differentiate them. This article will break down those features and discuss the best Vexilar for the money and which model is best for your specific needs. Lets get started!
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Best Vexilar For The Money (Quick Summary)
- Vexilar FL-18 Pro Pack (Best All Around Option)
- Vexilar FL-8SE Genz Pack (Best Budget Option)
- Vexilar FLX-28 Pro Pack With Case (Best High End Option)
Table of Contents:
- What is an Ice Fishing Flasher?
- How To Choose Your Vexilar
- Comparison Table
- Best Vexilar For The Money (More Specifics)
- More Information
What is an Ice Fishing Flasher?
First things first, it’s important to understand the basics of an ice fishing flasher and what its intended purpose is. Your flasher is arguably one of the most important piece of ice fishing gear that your have as an angler. Ice fishing flashers have been around in ice fishing for a long time, with Vexilar being the pioneer. They are very simple, yet effective machines and excel when fishing through the ice. The water column appears throughout the ring display depending on the depth of water you are fishing. The bottom will appear as a solid and thick bar while your lure will be a much thinner bar. Any other bars that appear on your screen are either fish or cover.
How to Choose The Best Vexilar For The Money:
Depth Control
The first differentiator between the vexilar models listed in this article is depth control. The FL-8SE model only has depth ranges of 20, 40, 60, 80, and 120. The FL-18 model has depth ranges of 20, 40, 60, 80, 200. It also has the ability to zoom into the bottom 6′, a feature known as auto zoom. Finally, the FLX-28 has depth ranges of 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 80, 100, 120, 160, 200, 240, 300. Additionally, this model has the ability to auto zoom into the bottom 6′ or 12′ of the bottom.
For general applications in shallower water, the FL-8SE will do just fine. One important thing to note is that I have found the auto zoom feature to be very useful when fishing the bottom in deeper than 20 feet of water. When you get that deep on the FL-8SE, the bands on the display get very small and difficult to read. Having the ability to zoom into the bottom for this scenario is a huge benefit. This especially comes into play a lot of the times for walleye, crappie, and perch anglers.
Display Type
The display types for the FL-8SE and the FL-18 are basically identical. Both feature a receded display with 3-color LED lights. Red is the strongest signal, orange is in the middle, and green is the weakest return. With the receded display, snow can accumulate and make it difficult to read. This won’t be an issue when fishing in a shelter, but if you primarily fish outdoors I would recommend purchasing a mag shield.
The FLX-28 has a slightly different display. The screen on the FLX-28 is flat, preventing the issue of snow and water accumulation. Additionally, it features a 5-color LED system with 5 different color pallets to choose from. Although not necessary, this is a nice added feature for ice anglers looking to really dial in their electronics.
Low Power Mode
Another key Vexilar feature to make note of is low power mode. Low power mode gives you the ability to turn down the strength of the signal from the transducer. Where this comes into play is in shallow water. If you get under about 10 feet of water, you’ll start to notice that almost everything turns to a strong return including your lure. To get the proper separation and return from your unit, you’ll want to switch to low power mode. Additionally, the decreased output of the transducer can help prevent spooking fish in skinny water as well.
The Vexilar FL-18 and FLX-28 come equipped with low power mode. However, the FL-8SE does not have low power mode. You may want to opt for the FL-18 or FLX-28 if you primarily will be targeting water less than 10 feet in depth.
Pack Type
The final consideration that you need to make before choosing a Vexilar is the pack type. The main pack types that Vexilar offers are the genz pack, pro pack, and ultra pack. Read the descriptions below, and choose whichever pack suits your intended use for the unit.
The genz pack is shaped like a square, and is ideal for placing on the ice or on the top of the bucket. It is a minimalistic design and does not fully enclose the battery. Additionally, the genz pack will not fit inside a 5-gallon bucket if you were planning on doing so.
The pro pack is a step up from the genz pack. It has a circular bottom, allowing it to fit within a 5-gallon bucket. Additionally, it comes with a small tackle box to store your lures. Similar to the genz pack, the battery is not enclosed in the pro pack.
Finally, the ultra pack has the most features of all of the packs. It has a circular bottom, allowing it to fit within a 5-gallon bucket. It comes with a small tackle box, battery gauge, and rod holder. Additionally, the battery is fully enclosed in the ultra pack.
Vexilar Comparison Table
| Autozoom: | LED System: | Low Power Mode: | |
| Vexilar FL-8SE: | Not Included | 3-color LED | Not Included |
| Vexilar FL-18: | Included | 3-color LED | Included |
| Vexilar FLX-28: | Included | 5-color LED | Included |
Best Vexilar For The Money (More Specifics)
Vexilar FL-18 Pro Pack (Best All Around Option)
Features:
- 12-Degree Ice-Ducer Combo with DD-100
- Provided by Vexilar
- Ice Fishing Electronics
- It comes standard with a 3 amp automotive fuse, but you can put in a size fuse from 3 amp to 10 amps
Pros:
Includes auto zoom feature and low power mode. This allows you to more effectively fish in both shallow and deep water scenarios.
Cons:
More expensive than the FL-8SE and does not have the adjustability of the FLX-28.
Vexilar FL-8SE Genz Pack (Best Budget Option)
Features:
- Dave Genz Blue Box with FL-8SE Flasher, 12-volt 7-amp hour battery with charger, built-in Ice-Ducer transducer, and instructional video
- FL-8SE features Vexilar’s popular three-color sonar flasher targets in green (weak), orange (medium), and red (strong)
- FL-8SE offers six depth ranges of: 20, 30, 40, 60, 80, and 120 feet
- Base fits a five gallon bucket; easy-access semi-enclosed battery compartment
- FL-8SE carries a two-year warranty; one-year battery warranty
Pros:
Is the cheapest of all of the Vexilar models. If you plan on using this unit for moderate depth applications, it will work just fine. Nothing fancy, but gets the job done!
Cons:
Has the least features of all of the Vexilar models. Does not come with auto zoom or low power mode, which can make fishing in ultra shallow and ultra deep scenarios difficult.
Vexilar FLX-28 Pro Pack With Case (Best High End Option)
Features:
- Comes with one Rod Holder
- Has positions to mount another with pre-tapped holes for mounting other accessories
- Comes with a screw-eye over hole transducer holder
Pros:
Has the most depth ranges and auto zoom options of the three Vexilar models included in this article. This allows for ultimate precision and adjustability for anglers looking to dial in their presentation.
Cons:
Is the most expensive of the three Vexilar models included in this article. Although the added features allow for increased precision, I feel as though it is not entirely necessary for the average angler. If you are just getting started or not looking for the most premium option, go with either of the two cheaper Vexilar models.
More Information
I hope this article was helpful in your quest for a new Vexilar flasher. If so, we’d love to here your feedback in the comments below!
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