IceShanty.com's Ice Fishing Community
Ice Fishing Tips -Check your local regulations! => Equipment => Ice Fishing With Electronics => Topic started by: adkRoy on Feb 21, 2016, 03:35 PM
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I will move this to the ice fishing with electronics after its been up for a week. Then when the question of which is the best sonar comes up, we can just redirect the person to this thread. ;D
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btw, I have used a vexilar fl-8 for the last 10 years and love it. ;D
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Dreamer :roflmao:
Rg
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Dreamer :roflmao:
Rg
I'm bored okay.... :afro:
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I'm bored okay.... :afro:
Why??........
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A poll like this won't settle anything until you start to compare the results against the market share for each brand mentioned and then it still won't settle anything. Vexilars have been around the longest and have more units in the field than any other. As a result of the sheer number of vex users there are the results will skew in Vexilar's favor. Does that make them the best? Nope. It doesn't mean they aren't the best either. It means that the poll is inherently flawed before anyone answers.
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What no Ford, Chevy ,Dodge ,Toyota , Nissan pole? ;D
Just like jigs, line, augers, shanty's, creepers, $100 jig poles, you name it..
Its all of a matter of opinion...And no one is better than the rest.. ;) ;) ;D ;D
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I'll jump in I have 2 vexilars.
Rp
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I have a Marcum and a vex so I should vote for other lol wait vex is the best cause that's what I use
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A poll like this won't settle anything until you start to compare the results against the market share for each brand mentioned and then it still won't settle anything. Vexilars have been around the longest and have more units in the field than any other. As a result of the sheer number of vex users there are the results will skew in Vexilar's favor. Does that make them the best? Nope. It doesn't mean they aren't the best either. It means that the poll is inherently flawed before anyone answers.
Its just a basic poll. Its a question that gets posted on here at least twice a day. Have fun. Its just to see what everyone likes and why. I personally don't care one way or another what people like, but some people on here like to see what others use.
P.S. as of right now, marcum is in the lead. lol
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I've only had one fish finder ever. It's a Marcum LX7 and I love it. Marcum gets my vote till they prove me wrong.
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I also just got an LX 7 and is absolutely incredible. I have a Hummingbird Ice 35 and have used vexilars and is no comparison. The LX7's target separation is by far more superior than the other too, and even Marcum's Showdown. Fished a tournament today and was day 2 with the graph. When that red line came up to the jig's line, hold on cause the bite is there. Great job Marcum!!! Also customer service is top notch. So I vote X2 for Marcum.
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What Vexilar has going for it.
1 Great customer service
2 Durability(with care they last forever)
3 Great warranty(2years with the option to buy2 more)
4 Exceptionally fast turn around when serviced
5 When you call you get to talk to a live person who doesn't give you the run around
6 Try to google vexilar problems (you won't find much) then google marcum problems
Not knocking others,just love vexilar.
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I FOLLOW MY NOSE! IT ALWAYS KNOWS!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v15/brfixit/image_zps24q6mvju.png) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/brfixit/media/image_zps24q6mvju.png.html)
;D
Rg
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By the way...this is a poll.....not a debate.
Rg
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Not really voting because I only watched others working their machines and I bought a Marcum Showdown dual beam a few years ago ... No regrets nor desire for anything else. It's easy to interpret with a vertical orientation that directly reads depth unlike most others. No noise. The more (LCD) bars showing, the bigger the fish (assuming the fish is horizontal). Separated bars indicate multiple fish. It picks up the tiniest sinker or swivel, even heavier line. It sets the angle, sensitivity and range automatically or you can set them manually. And you can zoom anywhere in the column.
It accurately shoots depth through what I'll call grey ice. Black ... no problem. White ... forget it. But more black than white (lots of bubbles but not snow) ... okay. If the ice is not smooth, you do have to put down a little (very little) water to get a good couple between the probe and ice.
The only "complaint" is that the zoom range increases with depth and cannot be overridden.
The Showdown can be used in summer too, but it would be a lot more clunky than a fixed device.
Marcum added a heater to speed up the electronics (I assume the LCD crystals) in cold conditions. I generally keep the heater on and have never run out of battery power with it on continuously for up to 10 hours.
FWIW ... When other see how simple mine is to operate, they say that's what they are going to get if they don't already have a fish finder.
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Vexilar because I like to buy something that I don't have to send down to the states to repair all the time. Lol
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Marcum. Reliable and great customer svc.
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Vex guys are still trying to log on...dial up is too slow and outdated. But its reliable ;)
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What you use and what you think is the best are two different things for most people. Keep that in mind before you say the fl8 is the best.
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What you use and what you think is the best are two different things for most people. Keep that in mind before you say the fl8 is the best.
Never said it was the best. I've just been using it the last ten years and it works for me so I never saw a need to "upgrade" to a different model or brand.
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That wasnt directed at anyone specific, just something for people to consider before voting.
I personally think the humminbird is the best entry level, then marcum lx5 for mid level and marcum lx9 for "the best".. So i voted marcum. I really like my humminbird and lowrance though.
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Marcum Showdown 5.6. 6 years on both unit and battery and still working great. Easy to read, adjust, and carry. Easily 'sees' baits down to a size 18 ice fly. Only once had issue with interference and that is when several fellas using vex's turned their units up trying to see the ice flies they were using, and by then they were also complaining about the interference. Use it for both hard and soft water.
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You guys are something else. Now your stuffing the ballot box.
Rg
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You guys are something else. Now your stuffing the ballot box.
Rg
No were just really bored
Rp
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That....I believe ;D
Rg
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Chevy ;D
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Yugo ;D
Rg
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Dodge Ram with a Marcum
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I'm bored okay.... :afro:
Time to raise heck on the Oneida threads! :roflmao:
Coming from a guy who used a Fl-8 for the past 5 years and this year switched to a lx7 the lx7 is the cats meow
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Lowrance.. still likin my x67-c.. Ford and Chevy?? HAHA.. Last rides are in a Cadillac..
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Where are all the humminbird owners at? Lol vex fl20 for me. No issues at all and battery is at 90 percent when I leave the ice after fishing all day. Can't complain
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i have an auger and a jig pole and some tip ups....all this usually finds fish..... ;D
that being said i just bought an marcum lx7 ..havn't got it yet hopefully this week..want to try it on friday for white perch in st albans bay..
marcum seemed to have good reviews from this board and others..
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I run a Bird, but I think that Marcum has the best line up right now. I just can't afford an LX7, so I'll stick with my ICE35.
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I love my Humminbird ice 45. Since it is the only one I've owned I can't shoot holes in the others.
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i'll commend the team here. this is how you keep the clicks in the off season.
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If it shows depth, shows your jig, and shows fish, and can block out interference from other units close by they are all good and all you need. That said I own 2 Marcum LX5's. Why 2? Because I was tired of having my wife or daughter take over my LX5 when ever they came with.
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owned :
fl8
fl18
vx1
lx5
have used alot :
x67c
flx28
ice35
lx6
The marcums are just the best units i've used. Teh VX1 was better even than most of the others. Marcums plastic cases are kind of cheapo though.
The ice 35 was ok, certainly not as sharp as the vx1. the x67c was literally useless if there were any other flashers within a 20yd radius of me. so no thanks.
the flx28 had a proview ducer which after a week of using, i'll never own (the ducer...the 28 was nice)
my 8 and 18 were also good units that caught alot of fish but the blobbiness and the 18 going bad were what sent me to the dark side.
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I owned a Vex and now use a Marcum.
Both are great units.
Over the years I have seen quite a few other brands in action
Vex or Marcum are the ONLY two units I would ever buy.
good luck all
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I placed a vote for other because there will never be a "best sonar" since the competition will forever be tweaking improvements/features.
The hands down best fish finder ever that will always hold that place for ice fishing will have to be the good old hook, line and bait. That is the only locator that will always actually put the fish on the ice ...
:tipup:
Lobes
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I have an ice-45, it works. I've looked over shoulders to check out marcums and vex's and I like the display on the marcums and vex's better. the birds marks are much bigger than the others and that tens to get messy when there's junk in the water or some small fish come in with the larger fish. I like the look of the marcum the best the marks are crisp and you know what you have down there. I also don't like that humminbird makes you buy the soft cover separately. Also, I noticed that the plastic base hums sometimes when it isn't sitting perfectly flat and at times for no reason. I've resorted to having to lean my foot against it to keep it from humming sometimes.
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I've owned and tried basically all of them. That being said, I currently use Vexilar FLX-28's and couldn't be happier.
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I currently use a fl-12 for pond hopping here in Western Iowa and couldn't be happier. Great little unit.
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I own both a fl8 and a 5.6 showdown. Haven't had much of a chance to use the showdown this year or the vex for that matter. I liked the Vex, but got a killer deal on the Showdown. Both make good paper weights this year.
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I've been completely happy with my Marcum VX1-P. I like it better than the Lowrance that I had before but have no firsthand expearince how well the Marcum stacks up against other similarly priced flashers. The impression that I had at the time that I bought my Marcum after reading a lot of reviews was that Vexilar makes a very good sonar but that you pay a premium for name recognition.
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What Vexilar has going for it.
1 Great customer service
2 Durability(with care they last forever)
3 Great warranty(2years with the option to buy2 more)
4 Exceptionally fast turn around when serviced
5 When you call you get to talk to a live person who doesn't give you the run around
6 Try to google vexilar problems (you won't find much) then google marcum problems
Not knocking others,just love vexilar.
well, you just stated all the stuff you like when your Vex breaks down. Poll closed Marcum wins. LOL !!!
HIMO
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I fish with a vex, my buddy fishes with a marcum.
He drives a ford, I drive a Chevy..
I'm a Vet, he is not..
He shoots a Remington , I shoot a Winchester
He likes deer hunting, I rather rabbit hunt
His wife has brown hair, my wife is a blonde
He has a gas auger, I use a hand auger
I'm starting to wonder why I'm friends with this guy?
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I have a Vex FL-8se. My first flasher, arrived last week. All I can say is these things keep you on the ice longer than you would fish without one. A LOT LONGER! They are mezmorizing and fun. Good thing I am already divorced.......
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Vex guys are still trying to log on...dial up is too slow and outdated. But its reliable ;)
Ha, I see what you did there. Marcum all the way for me!
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I voted for Vex, I have pined over the flx28 and the lx7 for months and ended up getting a 28 (raffle but would have went vex anyway). What it comes down to for me was the machine is a sonar, i dont need all the fancy extra bits that the lx7 has, not a fan of graph display, and honestly when its -20 the lcd screen would kinda freak me out. Basically i like that vexilar has stuck to a build that works, no need to be innovative with a sonar, it does what its suppose to. :) Ultimately, you really cant go wrong unless you dont buy one... like i did.... for 15+ years, not really sure how i never pulled the trigger in all this time.
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Lowrance for sonar, Vex for flasher.
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I have a Bird. 385CI and like it a lot. Flasher works great, many different color options. Gps that is awesome for marking good holes from year to year. Card reeder for snap shot and lake maps. Have no problem running beside my buddies vex as it has noise filters. On graph setting it can track many jigs works well tracking fish following jig up. It is nice to see fish being pulled up and then watching them swim back down seeing how they swim down. More info than just a flash line. Here is a pic I took of jig being pulled up and down. It's a little blurry pic from phone.
(http://i66.tinypic.com/1q37z5.jpg)
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vex vex vex need my flasher to always work
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I have a marcum lx-7 and a marcum showdown troller. Love them both. Only complaint is with the lx 7 screen visibility in the sunlight. Showdown troller I use most of the time. Have caught more than my share of lake trout with it. Simple to use and very light. Strap it to my leg ice fishing and mount it to the front rail on my boat for jigging trout in the summer. Of course if you like to stand and ice fish it would have to be rigged a little differently.
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I have an LX7. It is my first and only fish finder. I've already commented earlier in the thread for my vote. HOWEVER, this thread has shown me that should I need / want a new fish finder somewhere down the road, I won't be afraid to look into vexilar. It is very obvious who the two heavy hitters are in the market, and I'm glad to have followed this thread.
Well done to both Marcum and Vexilar!!
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187 votes in 2 days? Come on guys, there's more than that signed in in that time!
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Vex ;D
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don't really like the way this poll is leaning ;D and I don't think this is gonna settle anything Roy :roflmao:
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I love my flx28!! Way better then my previously owned lx7
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Marcum, Chevy, Polar Bird, Nils, Milwaukee Fuel, Pflueger, Trilene Micro Ice 2Lb, Frabill Titanium Spring Bobber, Tungsten Jig, Makiplastics, Striker Hardwater, LaCrosse Ice King Plus, Kromer, Busch Light.
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I've owned a few units over the years.
The units I have kept.
fL18,FL20,FL22,&FL28
Personally I feel the best bang for the buck on the market is.....
an FL18 with a tri beam.
Vexilar offers simplicity, bottom zoom , and 3 beams. Something marcum or Humminbird doesn't offer.
After playing with about every unit and owning most, I feel the FL 18 offers the basic most important options at the cheapest price. Holds its resale really well and is SIMPLE to use.
With saying that I found myself fishing 99.9% of the time with my FLX28 double vision tri beam and DVR camera with DTD. Since my flx28 head is on my double vision.
If I had to suggest a unit to anyone I would tell them to get an FL18 double vision with DTD & a tribeam. Has everything you need with simple solid easy to learn settings.
anything else is bells and whistles with a really pain in the rear learning curve to get the settings right.
I found marcum products to be over price and a PITA to set. I have met numerous people who by a marcum and sell it later. It's not a bad product and good customer service, just never seems to work quite like my vexilar products.
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I like Vexilars float on my LX6's transducer cable ;D
Wyo Ice
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Marcum LX7
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Marcum LX5
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Marcum LX5 for best mechanical flasher.If it had a dimmable display it would be about perfect.
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I drive a G M C. Sorry I'm bored
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no technology out there for ice fisherman (yet) that will catch you more fish. so ill take the most simple unit with the bulletproof tech that is least likely to break down.
whoever comes out with 360* side scan unit specifically for ice fishing will get my money
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Although I haven't bought anything I'm sold on marcums new digital flashers and from what I understand they do have bottom zoom.
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Vex
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Went on a budget buy and got a fl8. Minus the zoom feature, it works flawlessly. What else do you need
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I will move this to the ice fishing with electronics after its been up for a week. Then when the question of which is the best sonar comes up, we can just redirect the person to this thread. ;D
I reckon thats that. Marcum wins
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Zercom BABY!
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Zercom BABY!
sounds like part of frank zappas lyrics in "moving to montana soon".
got any link or model so i can look that up? never heard of them other than music.
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sounds like part of frank zappas lyrics in "moving to montana soon".
got any link or model so i can look that up? never heard of them other than music.
Theyre older than you. The OG vex
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how old am i?
how old is it?
my daughter says og means original gangster.
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sounds like part of frank zappas lyrics in "moving to montana soon".
got any link or model so i can look that up? never heard of them other than music.
https://www.google.com/#q=zercom
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http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=332863.msg3526572#msg3526572
thanks matt, google doesn't work with my browser but i found some info on it anyway.
heres one for sale for 29 bucks
http://www.ebay.com/bhp/zercom
some is chatter on it from 5 years ago
http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=178075.0
looks like marcum wins!
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MarCum all the way. Comparing a Vex to a MarCum is like comparing an old pinball machine with bells and lights to a Playstation 4! MarCum!
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Humminbird 570 Graph- As i like to see fish as a Fish and not a Yellow,Red Or Orange line.. I'm just a visual guy and it works 100% perfect for me!!
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had vex fl8, bacic model and used it at leasts ? 15 yrs and wouldn't fish without it....until lost in my barn fire. i replaced it with the marcum basic unit vxli each are same price $299,99 but marcum has bottom zoom and has a great case that comes with it..
my 2cents.
icjohn
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Marcum LX5i
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Vex all the way.
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What the vex
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Till they pry my Vexilar out of my cold dead hands
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303 Members voted and 353 votes?mmmmm? Due the math.
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303 Members voted and 353 votes?mmmmm? Due the math.
Russians ;)
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Humminbird
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bird
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Vex guy here, hard to play (fish) with others interference.
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last I checked:
353 members = 353 votes... ;D
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I have not been around too many BUT the marcum i used from a friend convinced me to order my first, just a vx-1i but i liked it compared the the vex another guy tried getting me turned onto. the extra cash for the soft case for the vex is silly, and I didnt try the zoom on the vex but i hear they are not so good.
SO MARCUM!!
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Dodge Ram with a Marcum
Now if I put Marcum into the category of a Dodge I would’ve kept the Vexilar as my first unit!😂
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Vexilar all the way
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???
There is NO "G" in Humminbird....
(https://s26.postimg.cc/e36coalp5/Humminbird-pirate-z-1215-121566.jpg)
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I go with other, panoptix is the new game in town.
That said, haven’t used it though the ice yet, but I’d go with any graph over a flasher any day. Though I just learned the The biggest difference between vex and everything else, graph display aside, the raw analog signal.
Described very well in this video, towards the end at the 6 min mark
That kinda gives vex an advantage when it comes to display speed and the slightest movement showing as a flicker. but when it comes to overal user options and ability’s like graph display, gps, and eveyhing else that others have to offer, it’s kind of lacking.
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yeah almost comparing apples and oranges at this point even among the typical "flasher" brands throw in garmin and they win without question.
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LOVE MY MARCUM!!!!!!!!
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I have a question. This thread started in February 2016. Does anyone believe this can ever be "finally settled"? >:D
On the other hand I do enjoy reading all the different viewpoints and experiences. Carry on... :clap:
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I have a question. This thread started in February 2016. Does anyone believe this can ever be "finally settled"? >:D
On the other hand I do enjoy reading all the different viewpoints and experiences. Carry on... :clap:
As long as there is new and improved and hell hasn't froze over there will be different viewpoints, preferences and debates on this topic.
So, St. Croix vs. Jason Mitchell vs. Frabill...let's settle this finally! :whistle: :roflmao:
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LX-9 mounted on vexilar ultrapack.
Just fits in a 5 gal bucket
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Like apples & oranges... ;)
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I had 2 different Hummingbirds that I used before. Leaning towards a Marcum Showdown now.
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I have an FL18, LX5 and Helix 7 g2 gsp. I like all of them.
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We need a new poll
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Garmin and Lowrance need to be added to the poll. ::)
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First flasher was a Aqua Vu VPG (Marcum Showdown).
Then I added a Lowrance EliteElite-5 Which was a little buggy.
Now I have a Garmin EchoMap 73dv with gt-8 transducer.
But my favorite is still the Showdown. The target separation is awesome. Used the Garmin and showdown side-by-side last year and the showdown seemed to be able to tell my jig apart from the bottom or fish better. On the Garmin everything just seemed to be mashed together on the screen. But I was also using the transom mount transducer mounted on a pvc pipe. This year I have the gt-8 ice transducer. Can't wait to try it and see if it makes a difference.
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Marcum lx5i
Hands down the best flasher/ fish finder
Argument settled
Good day
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I vote it will NEVER be finally.😉
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Marcum lx5i
Hands down the best flasher/ fish finder
Argument settled
Good day
Oh good! Finally this is over! :roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:
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Oh good! Finally this is over! :roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:
Oh Brother...🙄🤣
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Vexilar FL-18 very reliable no issues in twenty years catch a lot of fish with it.
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I have Vexilar, Marcum and Humminbird ice units. What to do? What to do? :o
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I have Vexilar, Marcum and Humminbird ice units. What to do? What to do? :o
get rid of the marcum.jk
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Marcum lx5i....love it!
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I bought a vex fl8 2years ago for $150 and was amazed. Really like it. This year I found a Marcum lx5 on eBay for $200. Cant wait to try it out, if we get some ice here in ne pa! I have a split decision.
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What ever sees fish on the ice is alright, alright!
Keep it safe! JDL
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I use my humminbird 798ci off the boat with the portable shuttle best of all world gps, graph and flasher mode if you like that can use rts window for great separation. Zoom the entire water column, and mapping is great see something you like while trolling lake drop a mark and can hit it dead on during hard water so humminbird for me, i also have a marcum flasher thats almost 20 years old still works great take that as a backup or for a friend.