Marcum lx3tc or Showdown 5.6

[murf311]

Just curious on what your guys thoughts are on each of these machines. I am looking at getting one or the other for this season and have seen all of the brand competition comparisons but not much on items of the same brand. I have a 16' lund that I used for open water and would like something to add to that on top of a hummingbird wide100 portable that I have. Nothing fancy but looking since the rebates between the 2 bring them close in price. Any info on issues like target separation and peak power comparisons, as I know nothing about ice flashers would be great. Thanks.

Any other suggestions in that general price range are welcome as well. I just don't want a brand war to erupt (even though it probably will).

[FISH_IQ]

 I bought a showdown last year. It was my first experience with a vertical flasher. I couldn't be happier with it.   I think the zoom is great, and i've always been able to cancel out noise.  Shows the tinest lures. It doesn't differentiate between fish size very well, or i need more practice at it.  One thing i've struggled with is bottom identification.  Like mud or weeds, or gravel.   

[Woody61]

If you want open water usage you'll want the Marcum( I use my vex in open water and it works great). I have used but never owned Marcum but I did have a showdown a couple of years ago and was unimpressed, sold it and got a HB. Flashers take a little practice to get used to but once you do they are IMO the best way to fish the ice. I do think there have been quite a few improvements to the showdown lately so they could be better than the one I had.

[murf311]

Yeah from what I have read the showdown has been pretty decent for the new ones. I looked up a few things about the troller version and for an extra hundred bucks I think that I would be happier with the 5.6. Now between the 5.6 and the lx3tc, I have heard both sides and the best difference that I have found was the 5.6 doesn't have the normal motor sounds that a flasher would have since it is all digital. I am somewhat new to ice fishing but I would think that the sonar sound would be the same no matter what the make is? Does sonar sound deture fish like some guys make it sound like? Thanks for the feed back.

[doonan]

both will work... I have an Lx-5 and Troller the only thing I don't like about a showdown is the fact you don't have the color separation.  Its easier for me to distinguish between lure and fish with color.

[Kevin23]

Lets put it this way, if they made a showdown with color so I could see the color separation better I would buy one.. but until then, marcums all the way, either the vx-1p, lx-3tc, or lx-5.. they are all great units, just have to decide on which one you need based on the features you want/need.

It is SUPER easy for me to see the different colors on my marcum and figure out when the fish are right on my jig or a few feet over.. not to mention you can tell the difference in the size of the fish by the color/size of the line. With my gray scale zercom (same gray scale as the showdown) it is very hard to distinguish between the shades on a sunny day unless you look at it really hard.

[CrappieBuster]

Yeh definetly go with a flasher you will be dissapointed if you dont.  Liquid crystal and cold dont mix and will never mix.  Even with a battery sucking heater.

[FISH_IQ]

   I can't say for sure, but I think that the liquid crystal display in the showdown having problems in the cold is a myth. Either that or they newer models are improved.  I never had any trouble whatsoever.  Granted, I was never out in the real cold stuff below zero, but I was out on days around 5-10 degrees, and I don't own a shack.  I never even needed to turn the heater on unless it was 20 degrees or lower.  Battery would last me 12+ hours if i needed it to. 
   One thing that I didn't put in my earlier post on this topic which is a hassle with the showdown is its buttons.  Unless you have the thing mounted somewhere you basically need two hands to change options on it.  The knobs I see on other units are much more convenient.

[Garnet]

i dont own a flasher or a showdown (hopefully soon though), BUT there are 2 things that turn me away from a typical flasher and to the showdown.

1)  most flashers i've come across you need to pre know the round about depth because it has different settings for each depth, hence the depth setting nobs on them.  Where as the Showdown you just set it in and it automatically finds bottom.  I wanna know when i find a drop off the second i find it, not mess with dials.

2) Now this one is just IMO, but i find it a confusing to read a round dial.  The Vertical display is much easier to read at a glance atleast to me.  If i have to look at a circle and really try to figure it out, it defeats the whole purpose of using it.  The way i would use it is just so i can quickly find the right depth im looking for and/or suspended fish.  Then i can use it as a stationary flasher. 

Do i wish the Showdown used a better color pallet?  YES....but some flashers have too much of a color pallet.  I dont need 200 diff colors to tell me there's fish. 

[tla100]

About 5-10 minutes with somebody showing you how a flasher works, you'll pick it up.

Without someone showing you...maybe 15-20. Throw bottom zoom in, maybe a few more minutes. Not too hard to read.

Tweaking settings not too hard to do either. Helps if someone showing tho.

[MitchMeyers92]

just used my showdown in open water yesterday (first time i ever used it) and i loved it. I couldnt be more impressed with the auto bottom lock and the zoom feature is very very nice! I'm happy with my purchase! I have used an older fl-12 before and i prefer the vertical over the round by a lot. The only problems i have heard of them having is 1. the arm that holds the cable breaks, easily fixed by buying a vexilar float for about 5 bucks and 2. the 2 amp fuses blow when u charge it the wrong way (plug into wall then unit, as opposed to vise versa), also easily fixed by getting a pack of 3 amp fuses and putting one in, costs only a buck or two.

[Big fish tuck]

I love my showdown also broke the plastic arm end of last season made new and improved one out of aluminum.

[squ1rr31_]

Like Garnet said, most flashers you have to pre know the depth. Humminbird has two models the 45 and 55 that have depth display, which is kind of nice, also the ability to zoom in anywhere in the water column. I have a Vex personally and I think its honestly, Ford vs. Chevy. People will tell you a Vex guy can't fish next to a Marcum guy cause the Marcum is too powerful, I've never had the problem...

[Woody61]

If you don't pick up the bottom on a circular flasher just click the depth range to the 40' setting, never found that to be an issue. My old showdown took a couple seconds to give me a read out so I don't think I'm giving up anything. I could be wrong but IIRC my vex reacts quicker to movement below the hole than my older showdown.

[pocono]

The showdown is probably the easiest to work and is a digital so the battery is not a issue.

[Fishing Machine]

I have been quite happy with my Showdown.  I have fished in some real congested areas and the noise cancellation on the unit works great.  The zoom feature work great as well, but you need to remember to turn down the sensitivity.

A fully charged battery last forever on the unit.  I just haven't had an issue with the display in the cold and I have fished below 0F without a shanty/tent.

I have fished with a Vexilar and reading the circular display is not that big a deal : It's like reading a speedometer on a car.  It takes about 10 minutes to get used to, then you're pro.  I am sure the Marcum is the same.

I like the target separation on the Showdown and the presentation on the display works well for me.

I don't miss the colors, but I understand that lake of colors is a deal breaker for many.

No matter which way you go, I think you'll be happy.

[s10xr]

i have a troller and for the money i spent on it last year i loved it.  wish i had the xtra cash to have bought a full size one with a zoom.  its easy to use and read.  I did buy a x67c lowrance this year and the price was right at reeds online.  I would go with a showdown 5.6 or dual beam if i wasnt so impressed with the x67c or the hb ice 345c.  As far as regular flashers go in my opinion you can keep them.  I dont need colors either to tell me a fish is down there.  I dont care what size it is i want it to come through the hole then I can worry about it.  as long as im picking up a fish and know its down there im jigging it and looking for the hit.  just my two cents.  you cant go wrong with either its preference.