not new to fishing, but new to a flasher!!!

[mrwillis]

I'm wanting to try something new this year, and am wanting to know if it is possible to run a flasher and a regular fishfinder at the same time without running interference with each other. Not going to mention exactly what I am going to be doing quite yet and how I am going to use it, but the transducers will be within inches of each other. Would this work? And, you all can be rest assured that if this works the way I am thinking, I will holler at you all and let you know!

If it doesn't, I'll just quietly chalk it up to experience and not share the embarrassment with anyone!!! LOL

mrwillis

[crappiemax]

You know, I was wondering the same thing. I put an HDS on the bow but I miss my flasher. I was going to mount it this summer and see what happened. I would have both transducrs on the TM. My guess is they are so vastlydifferent, it just wouldn't matter.

[jimp]

doesn't your HDS have a "flasher" option. I have a Low Mark 5 pro, and it has a flasher option in the screen selection, seems like a high $$ unit would have that as well

[crappiemax]

doesn't your HDS have a "flasher" option. I have a Low Mark 5 pro, and it has a flasher option in the screen selection, seems like a high $$ unit would have that as well

Yes, it does. I just like that little red line. I can spot fish on that old flasher in a heart beat. I want other screens on the HDS.

[SlabLapper4sure]

I had a Eagle Silent Sixty that started out as a portable and I mounted it permanently on my trolling motor.I can't remember the exact cone angle but I think it was 20 degrees.I also had a Eagle LCG mounted to my console with a transom mount that was 20 degrees.I never really tested running both at the same time. But I would think that giving the length of boat, depth of water, and cone width that it could overlap and interfere.A little story about how acurate a flasher is, I was fishing a channel bank and saw a signal suspended about 12 ft. over 18 ft. of water.I lowered my jignpig down by my transducer and watched that jig fall to 12ft. and thump a 3 pound bass on the head. He almost pulled the rod out of my hands.I bought that sonar when I was 25 yrs old and It is still on the boat that I sold to a co-worker about 10 yrs. ago and still running without ever having been serviced by Eagle. Sure wish I had it back!!!! They are gold!!!Oh by the way,I'm 59 yrs old and that sonar is still working.
OLD FISHERMEN NEVER DIE, THEY JUST SMELL THAT WAY!!

[crappiemax]

I know how you feel. I still have my Silent 60 and it stll works fine. I can't remember when I bought it and I'm 60 yrs old.
I think I like it so much because that's what I learned on.

[SlabLapper4sure]

Crappiemax, You're exactly right. That's what I learned on.They are great for marking dropoffs with marker bouys. As soon as that bottom signal moves at all, you know you're over the drop. Turn up the sensetivity and it would mark anything between top and bottom.My Mark 5x has split screen with a flasher and it does ok but it's a new unit and I haven't put enough hours on it yet Wonder why the new flashers are so expensive? Like most technology, you would think as they get older that they would be way cheap.Not so. I found 2 on E-Bay once that a guy wanted $125 for. They were brand new in the box. I kick myself everytime I think about not buying them. The guys son didn't fish and didn't know what he had. The original owner had passed away and never installed them.They were on the top shelf of his closet.
OLD FISHERMEN NEVER DIE, THEY JUST SMELL THAT WAY!!

[gabowman]

I have a '94 Ranger that has a built in flasher in the dash. It works but I've never been around a flasher that much so I havent bothered trying to learn anything from it. Maybe I should start watching it some beside my console graph and see what it shows.

[jbornhop]

I have a '94 Ranger that has a built in flasher in the dash. It works but I've never been around a flasher that much so I havent bothered trying to learn anything from it. Maybe I should start watching it some beside my console graph and see what it shows.

x2 i have one in my dash as well it is just something there to me because i havent the foggyest idea how to read or set it

[crappiemax]

What I like is that the readings are instant. Just turn up the power enough to get a 2nd bottom reading (echo)and it will mark fish. The fish signals are or can be faint and most people just don't understand what they are looking at.

jbornhop...try this.
If you are in 10 fow, turn up power until you see a 2nd reading @ 20'. Now any blips or signals between 0' & 10' are fish. Pretty simple really. Simple formula is 2x depth will give you enough power to show fish.

I had a Silent 30 I gave to one of the guys I work with last year. He saw my flasher and liked it. He has kids/wife/mortgage so money is a little tight for him.
The new units are expensive but so is everything. I think a 65 Mustang sold for less than $3000, look a the prices now. It's all relative I suppose. Most of us could catch a fish with a hook and a cheap Zebco but most of us choose other options.
I sometimes look at the new Vexilar's. They are way too cool. Color and a flasher all in one. That would be fun. I watched a guy using one ice fishing. You could see the fish rising to the jig.

Don't get me wrong, I like my HDS a lot and have fun with it. Both units have a purpose.