Should I upgrade?

[Infamous1]

So I am currently running an ice 35 humminbird flasher, have had it for a couple years and aim not overly thrilled with its performance. My question is would I notice a big difference jumping up to a higher end marcum? Then do I go digital or stay analog? Thanks for any help

[Roughrider24]

I have a Hummingbird Ice 35 and a Marcum Lx9. Massive price difference. I love both units both work fine and catch me more fish. Have had no issues with  either unit although I use my Marcum most I don't think there's much to any drop off with the hummingbird 35 at least in the lakes I fish. That said my marcum gives me the zoomed chart, vertical charts, or classic flasher view along with a camera which I rarely use. What aren't you thrilled about on the hummingbird?

[spoxick]

what aren't you thrilled about ? I run a 35 and have for 5 ish years only time I wish for something else is when Im fishing 50 + feet water. then I just ask nicely to borrow someone 45 or 55

[BigJumb]

Even in 20 feet of water my buddy will use my 45 over his 35 any day. He likes his 35 but would went with the 45 if he'd had known the difference in power

[canada]

id stick with the 35 unless you want to throw some cash down on a 55

[Northern Pikeman]

If you are wanting a second machine I would go digital and consider an LCD unit. Once you get use to using the sonar screen you will not use a flasher. I have a hummingbird 688 and I rarely use the flasher screen. Excellent unit for fishing deep.

[Infamous1]

If I do upgrade I plan on going to a high end model. I am just curious is there a huge difference between marcum and humminbird

[KenH]

I run a Marcum LX 7 and it works really good but a bit pricey

[CHRIS4WALLEYE]

I use a marcum lx9 phenominal unit. Clearly marks fish for me. When they arent biting its nice to drop the camera down and see whats going on

[Infamous1]

Ever any issues with the digital when it gets real cold out?

[dyckee]

Infamous1,
my buddy and I run the lx6 and as far as performance in all weather conditions it holds up awesome. we have another buddy who runs an ice 55 and loves it.  being that i run the digital unit i have tons of options for display it depends how and what I'm fishing for which displays i run i still use the flasher dial feature. I had an lx3 and it was pretty solid and i have fished with buddies 55 i like both units.  IMO its all user preference. some days i still want to get a ice 55. one thing that is the huge difference is price. 

good luck on your decision.  jig on

Dyckee

[silvah]

I am going to retire the 565 humminbird soon I think, the LCD screen just doesn't hold up well enough under cold weather. -20 and it gets pretty laggy and artifacts. It has served well for many years and will keep in use on my boat.

Looking at the ICE-55 or LX5. I am drawn to the bigger humminbird screen but the 0.75" target separation from Marcum seems pretty key as well. I really wish I could play with them both for a day on the ice and then decide.

[dyckee]

silvah, I agree the humminbird has a nice easy to read easy on the eyes diplay and the lcd center is a pretty awesome feature. I think the bird is the way to go between the two. where the bird lacks target seperation it makes up for in being a 6 color display unit which lets you see more than the lx5 does.

Good luck jig on

Dyckee

[shootsmcgee]

Don't steer away from the modern digitals because guys say the screens on the old ones are all laggy or poor performing. Pretty much any new decent sonar (elite series ice units, Helix 5 ice unit) have LCD screens that are impervious to the cold and will stand shoulder to shoulder with any flasher out there when the weather gets all saskatchewany...