IceShanty.com's Ice Fishing Community
IceShanty Main => General Ice Fishing Chit Chat => Topic started by: #1perchguy on Dec 06, 2012, 03:33 PM
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I am looking into buying my first flasher. i have used the showdown ice fishing sonar before, and i found it very easy 2 use! but i really want a dave genz vexillar, or the humminbird. Please give me any tips or preferances on what everyone thinks is best! thanks you.
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Bigger screen, more power and a dual beam transducer.. its a no brainer man.
Bird.
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If you get a vex I would go with the pro pack instead of the Genz pack. I have the pro pack and my cousin has the genz pack he wishes he got the pro pack. It is easier to charge the battery (just plug into one port instead of to the battery so no disconnecting wires) and it fits easier in a 5 gal bucket and also has a ice spot to store a small tackle box which also come with it. I do see that the new ones come with a battery status indicator which i don't have or do I see as a necessity. If you have the money to spend I would recommend the FL-20 or the FL-12 for the flat screen. I hate it when snow gets in there
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I would go to sportsman guide and buy the VX-1 pro by marcum and save 75-100 bucks and still have as good if not better flasher. ;D
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I got the 35 and beetween my buddy's I have uses vexs Marcums and I think a lowrnace and ill take my 35 over any of them simple to use simple to read and set up and change I move alot so that helps but no Matter what u go with it will be better than nothing but if I had to choose beetween the two I would take the bird every time
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Between the two your asking about I would definitely take the bird. Way more features, the fl8 doesn't even have zoom. That being said, id go with a vx1 pro over the bird and vex.
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the fl8 can none compare feature-wise to the 35. 35 has dual beam and zoom. fl8 has none of that.
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I just sold my Fl-8 that I have had for 8 years for a Hum Bird 35. One thing you have to give vexilar credit for, it's one of the most dependable units out there. Although in comparison, I decided to go with the Ice 35 this year over my very reliable Fl-8 because I REALLY liked the larger and easier to see flat screen flasher and because it has the dual been option. Really though, I would be happy to have about any flasher out on the market out there on the ice with me. They all get the job done.
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Ok did a little research for you here you go........
Sportman guide
Bird 35 Price 296.99
800 watts
3 colors
dual beam 9 and 19 degree cone
2.5 target seperation
Marcum VX-1 Pro 224.99
1,000 watts
Bottom Zoom
6 levels of interferince rejection
3 colors
2.5 target seperation
19 degree cone
Vex Fl-8 341.99
400 watts
3 colors
2.65 seperation
19 degree cone
So for 72 dollars more you get dual beam with the bird and a little less power and for @120 more you get less power no zoom and more target seperation with the vex and no dual beam. Seems like you pay 120 more and get alot less features with Vex...over Marcum and @ 50 more than bird and get less......Hmm??? New to this sport but I say ???????????
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your price for the vex is wrong..... $269.99
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Ok did a little research for you here you go........
Sportman guide
Bird 35 Price 296.99
800 watts
3 colors
dual beam 9 and 19 degree cone
2.5 target seperation
Marcum VX-1 Pro 224.99
1,000 watts
Bottom Zoom
6 levels of interferince rejection
3 colors
2.5 target seperation
19 degree cone
Vex Fl-8 341.99
400 watts
3 colors
2.65 seperation
19 degree cone
So for 72 dollars more you get dual beam with the bird and a little less power and for @120 more you get less power no zoom and more target seperation with the vex and no dual beam. Seems like you pay 120 more and get alot less features with Vex...over Marcum and @ 50 more than bird and get less......Hmm??? New to this sport but I say ???????????
Bingo... You add it all up and the decision makes its self.
You forgot to add that the FL-8 is miserable in shallow or weedy water so a $30 S-Cable needs to be used.
I spent plenty of time staring at an FL-8... They would be my last choice of all flashers on the market. They are to expensive and under perform compared to all other entry level units.
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vex baby the industry innovators. have had my 18 four 6 years no problems but then again something is better than no thing
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loudmouth
The FL-8se® Pro Pack with 19° Ice - Ducer from Vexilar®Buyer's Club
$341.99
Non-Member $379.99
this is what I used it was the only one I saw they had. I just tried to use the same place. Still the Vex is more expensive and gives you less options and less power for more money no matter how you slice it.
Swiss Cheese I am new to ice fishing but I can bet in 18 years technology has come a long way. I don't want to pay more for 18 year old technology. Like a cell phone that is a foot long and a 8 inch anteye on it and it gets no reception. LOL oh and they want 100 more dollars for it too! just joking.
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power? sounds like a battery drain. how much power do you need. maybe all that transducer noise catches you more fish not here
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Another vote for the VX-1, Vex would also be my last choice...
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The FL-8se® Pro Pack with 19° Ice - Ducer from Vexilar®Buyer's Club
$341.99
Non-Member $379.99
this is what I used it was the only one I saw they had. I just tried to use the same place. Still the Vex is more expensive and gives you less options and less power for more money no matter how you slice it.
Just check and wow that is a ridiculous amount they are charging.... it's not even that price on the vexilar website... I hope you do not buy products from them seem's like they are ripping their customers off. Anyway the vexilar website has it listed as a suggested msrp of 309. However, most stores around in the 260-270 range. You still can't beat the reliability of the vex.
As for power more power isn't always good....
http://www.idofishing.com/forum/showflat.php/Number/620320/fpart/1/flashers-vexilar-vs-marcum (http://www.idofishing.com/forum/showflat.php/Number/620320/fpart/1/flashers-vexilar-vs-marcum)
although this can be argued that it was the fisherman
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vexilar hands down you'll never regret buying it.
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i agree loudmouth it doesn't seem to me that more power is beneficial i mean how many people fish in a depth over 60 feet. the more power the more noise. I've been wrong before. i think its all a sales pitch.
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the only thing that would make me go to marcum is the adjustable zoom other than that I'll stick with my vex
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i agree loudmouth it doesn't seem to me that more power is beneficial i mean how many people fish in a depth over 60 feet. the more power the more noise. I've been wrong before. i think its all a sales pitch.
I do know my LX-5 works better in shallow weeds than my FL-18's and 8's ever did.....one of the reasons I switched and no urge to go back...
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I fish in depth over 60 ft. I use an ice-55. Honestly, whatever you can afford is the best flasher to buy. Each unit has its own pros and cons, it just depends on your tolerance level. The flat screens on the H-bird are a great feature, and after using one of them for several years, I can hardly look at the screens on a vex or marcun. I vote H-Bird.
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Another vote for the ice35. Nice unit for the price
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esox magnum you shouldn't even need one one that reads that shallow where you fish lol
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i wouldn't need a finder that reads that shallow where you fish. blondes brunettes redheads its all about your own preference lmao
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If you are gonna compare apples to apples, you need to compare the Ice 35 and VX-1 to the FL-18. No one that I know of even makes a flasher without zoom, so there is nothing else to compare the FL-8 with
The sales pitch is trying to sell old technology with wives tales about scary noises and battery drain... If you really fish with them, and ignore all the marketing, snake oil, brand loyalty, and the pro staff goof balls, you will spend your money with Marcum, H-bird, or Lowrance. They just work better, all of them.
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Theres times we cant sight fish and need the flasher...while my 5 is sweet my LX-7 is truley amazing....
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Between the two choices it would be a Ice 35 without hesitation. If you do go with the Vex, go with the Genz pack. I have a FL8 with the Pro Pac and it is a gimicky waste of money.
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very true magnum i just know when its clean it like your cheating as far as the fl8 its the bottom of the barrel for vexilar and i wouldn't buy a unit without zoom so i understand the argument
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just think with all the electronics in the lx-7 as well theres a lot more that can fail
can't forget the old saying KISS
but like what was said before it's all about preference
not saying that I'm loyal to vex but at the time when i got mine hummingbird wasn't even known for flashers and for the price i got mine for it was a lot cheaper then marcum
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marcum and catch them.plus u can scramble signal to the other guys
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I do sometimes feel bad when the guy with the old Vex, Zercom, or Hondex has to shut off his unit because of the interference I cause! ;D
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interference rejection got that x10
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interference rejection got that x10
x2 and if your willing to spend 700 on the new lx-7 more power to you
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Even the new FL-8 can get rid of the dreaded disco spin. IR is no problem with any model in production right now.
The trouble starts when someone shows up with a really old Vex SLE, a Green Box Lowrance, Hondex, or Zercom. These units from the 70's and 80's can't even cancel out interference with each other. They were not made to work under ice in the first place.
You can fish any current production unit in the same shack as any other current production unit in the same shack if you use the IR properly. "You can't fish Brand X next to your buddies Brand Y" is more misinformation designed to keep people loyal to one brand.
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x2 and if your willing to spend 700 on the new lx-7 more power to you
In perspective we spend $2k for a good open water unit, $700 isnt that bad for a dedicated top of the line ice unit
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In perspective we spend $2k for a good open water unit, $700 isnt that bad for a dedicated top of the line ice unit
true but open water fish finders and flashers are two completely different electronics flashers don't need to do nearly as much as open water units you're comparing apples to bananas they are both fruit but have to different tastes and purposes
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very true i feel in regards to quality over costs you usually get what you pay for if researched properly
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go with the Bird
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true but open water fish finders and flashers are two completely different electronics flashers don't need to do nearly as much as open water units you're comparing apples to bananas they are both fruit but have to different tastes and purposes
Well the 7 can be used on your boat if you like, it does have a graph screen... If I didnt rely so much on a GPS on the boat I would run my 7 all year...As far as graphing it's about the same as my HDS units on the Skeeter...
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As stated before, any flasher is better than no flasher. I personally have fished with a vexilar fl-12, marcum vx-1, and my Humminbird ICE-55 out of the same shack. All of them marked fish, all of them increased our catch, and all of them functioned flawlessly. The only difference was features. The marcum and Humminbird had the zoom feature, and I feel like that's what it took to make them outperform the vexilar that day. And from what I have seen, the power output seems to boost the ability of the flasher to pick up fish in weedy or shallow areas without much - if any - trouble. It all comes down to what features you want in your flasher. Best of luck in your decision.
My vote goes to the Humminbird
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Vex, Genz pack.
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Ice 35.
Bigger Screen, Dual Beam, Adjustable Zoom.
Or if you really want high class get the 345ci Ice combo so you have GPS.
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another thing is vex's are made in the US while there is nothing on the hummingbird website that says if they are so another plus for vex give jobs to americans!
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another thing is vex's are made in the US while there is nothing on the hummingbird website that says if they are so another plus for vex give jobs to americans!
vex is assembled in the us. their parts are manufactured overseas. same with humminbird.
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Funny, my Vexilar said "Made in Japan" right on the back. ::)
Marcum is made by Versa Electronics in New Hope MN.
I don't know about the rest of them.
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I had a vex genz-pack and the 35. I sold the vex and the 35 and bought a 45 enough said :whistle:
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I use a 35. Looking at buying an fl8 gents box for a second although I'm looking at used. When comparing flashers at that price point you have the fl8, the ice 35, and the vx1 pro. The bird and marcum both have zoom. The bird has a large flat screen. Although around here I can get a vex for 280, bird 299, and marcum 299 so I'm kinda still sold on the bird. Jmho from having spent a full year thinking about this and researching
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if you are just starting out try the FL-8 Easy to use.Just My thought Between The HBird and Vex.
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My son and I both have the ice 35 and really like them.
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Bang for the buck is the Marcum, but if you're fishing deeper water the ICE35 is darn hard to beat. Power aside, the dual transducer is the equalizer, as you really don't have that option in this price range. The adjust zoom is also really nice, but the inclusion of the zoom is what blows the Vex out of the running. I don't even know how Vex could be considered once you add up the options available for the money involved.
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Sportsman guide has the VX-1 pro for 224.99 with free shipping and they will even break that up into payments if you want to.
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I bought an FL8 back when it was state of the art. It has a zoom of sorts. Pull out the knob and you only see the bottom half of the water column. it has I.R. to bust the galloping disco wheel. It has proved itself to be darn near bullet proof. I keep drooling over the newer models knowing that until mine fails I will not get permission to replace it. It also does everything that i need it to do for me.
My advice is to get the absolute best that you can afford. Buying entry level stuff will just result in frustration. The $$ you spent will be gone and the better tool will still beckon.
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Marcum. I've had the Vex and my buddy has the hummingbird. Marcum LX-3 is amazing. I've found them used.
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I fished my old fl8 for over 20 yrs and it still works as a loaner for friends that are without. Good inside a hut but outside viewing on a sunny day..nope. I upgraded to the fl18 because of the zoom, anti rejection and the brighter dial and felt that was the only worthwhile useful new features. I prefer to not have a flat screen as I put a flat black painted coffee can over the dial and bright sun or blowing snow is normally not an issue. Not a fan of whistles and bells but I would only recommend the fl18 and ignore the fl8.
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I fished my old fl8 for over 20 yrs and it still works as a loaner for friends that are without. Good inside a hut but outside viewing on a sunny day..nope. I upgraded to the fl18 because of the zoom, anti rejection and the brighter dial and felt that was the only worthwhile useful new features. I prefer to not have a flat screen as I put a flat black painted coffee can over the dial and bright sun or blowing snow is normally not an issue. Not a fan of whistles and bells but I would only recommend the fl18 and ignore the fl8.
i'm sure they'd of had this info when they first made this thread 7 years ago.
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I had to send my marcum M3 back to the factory for warranty service on its 4th trip out on the ice. Good thing I had the 6 year old fl8 with no bottom zoom to get me thru the day. In fact just bought the cord to let me run the vex off my marcum lithium shuttle for the next time it happens....having that lithium battery station is sweet.
For the type of fishing I do 15-60 fow....there is very little difference between the two. Honestly the buzzing of the vex is a little annoying....marcum runs much quieter.
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Durability is a “only time will tell” sort of thing. I know lots of units have more features but FL8SE I have has worked for over 10 years. Replaced battery once. It’s been dropped, fallen out or the truck, wet,cold,stuff piled on it and it just keeps working. I know some people are able to baby their stuff and others can wreck a lead block. To me durability is the FL8SE claim to fame. All the manufacturers discussed make good products so the one you are most comfortable with the controls,software and can see the display the best is the right one for you. If you fish outside controls you can work with gloves on is important. If you fish in a warm shack no so important. Think about the depth you fish the most and look for a display that the graduation is best for that depth. Price is always a consideration. I fish 2-3 days a week from Xmas to the beginning of March so when I need to buy my next unit I could justify $500 but before i retired and only could fish 1 day a week then I couldn’t justify a $500 unit. Unless you live near the Canadian border or north the ice fishing season is pretty much over so take your time. Play with every unit you can get your hands on in the stores,assess your needs,do your research and the right unit for you will will just feel natural in your hands