Marcum LX-5 vs. LX-3tc

[idtrout]

Thinking about buying a new Marcum and $$ is always a concern. In comparing the LX-5  to LX-3 looks like there are only slight differences for the extra $100. Differences LX5 has following and lx3 does not
1. Cone angle 8 & 20 degree
2. super fineline
3. target separation 3/4" vs 1"

I fish mostly 30' of water or less so I'm not sure which one to buy. I'm willing to buy the lx5 but if i don't need the extra features i'll save the extra $100. Looking for your guys input/ideas. Thanks

[esox_magnum]

After owning a 5 I could never go back to the 3, the SFL alone is worth the added cost......

[mattg]

When I fish bottom fish in more than 20ft I like having the narrow beam on.  I think if you are willing to get the top of the line then go for it.

[Junior58]

I have the LX3-TC and my partner has the LX5. You already know the differences. He doesn't use the narrow beam but I do like his SFL feature that separates extremely well and is super sensitive to the jigging of the bait. If you need that feature for $100 more then so be it. I didn't and have never regretted my purchase for what I wanted to spend as well as what I needed it to do. Buy what you can afford but sitting one guy next to the other each with one of the above flashers it won't make one guy catch more fish than the other.  You'd have to take a top of the line flasher and put it up against a low end cheap flasher without adjustable zoom to see what a better flasher can do to help catch fish. It's like an Ice-45 or Ice -55 ..... one doesn't out do the other in a noticeable way.

[begs]

Last year I did my research, research, research...I was also trying to find the best bang for my buck... I ended up going with the lx3 and I dont think I would change, unless the price was right for the lx5....

[Kevin23]

Lx-3 unless you can get a used lx-5 for around the same price.

[vance80]

Both are great units. But in my opinion the extra options and the little extra power is worth it. I use the SFL everytime out and the dual cone comes in handy alot also. You will love either one u get but if u have the money just get the lx-5 and be done with it.  You will be glad you did.

[ducati]

Both are great units. But in my opinion the extra options and the little extra power is worth it. I use the SFL everytime out and the dual cone comes in handy alot also. You will love either one u get but if u have the money just get the lx-5 and be done with it.  You will be glad you did.

I agree, and just to add on to this I believe the dual beam transducer is worth in the nieghborhood of 100 dollars.

[MI-Boy]

Hey guys sorry to thread jack but it's on topic I am also currently deciding what marcum to buy, I was looking at the vx-1 but I am wondering if I'm going to regret not spending more on the higher model. The reason I say this is because while I've never even used a flasher before so I'm really excited about having one, I do plan on fishing for lake trout in as much as 100 fow and I'm wondering if that's just beyond the capabilities of the vx-1 or even the lx-3. Thanks in advance for any input

[wallydiven]

Hey guys sorry to thread jack but it's on topic I am also currently deciding what marcum to buy, I was looking at the vx-1 but I am wondering if I'm going to regret not spending more on the higher model. The reason I say this is because while I've never even used a flasher before so I'm really excited about having one, I do plan on fishing for lake trout in as much as 100 fow and I'm wondering if that's just beyond the capabilities of the vx-1 or even the lx-3. Thanks in advance for any input

The VX-1 will be fine in 100fow. Wish I had one.

[ducati]

The VX-1 will be fine in 100fow. Wish I had one.

X2,  I mostly fish for lake trout with my Vexilar FL-8 and it does fine.  It has less power than a VX-1 and no bottom lock.

[MI-Boy]

Thanks guys I wasn't sure how the 20 degree cone and 1000 watts of output would do in 100+ fow. To be honest I really don't know what the difference would be between 1000 and 2000 would be as far as using it would go. I really don't know a whole lot about flashers yet. But if the vx-1 is adequate to fish bows, pike, and panfish in shallow water, and still versatile enough to help me find suspended cohos in 50 fow, and lakers in 100 fow, then at 300 dollars it sounds like a good buy to me.

[MI-Boy]

And just when I had my mind almost made up I looked at the hummingbird ice 35. Anyone ever used this flasher? Or should I just go with a marcum.

[eyestroker]

You should find both on the ice and see for yourself.  I had my lx-3 sold last year because i found a really good deal on an ice 45, and wanted a dual beam ducer real bad.  Thankfully i saw an ice 45 on the ice before the deal was made.  Once you see the vibrant color of a marcum and the way it separates the fish you will not even think H-bird.  Just my $.02.  Check it out for yourself.  I've even realized that I rarely fish water over 20 ft so a smaller ducer cone won't even matter to me..... 

[MI-Boy]

Yeah, from looking around the internet I believe I can pick up a brand spanking new lx-3 for 350 after mail in rebate at gander mountain, if that's the case I think I'm going to go with that. Does anyone know if you can put the dual beam transducer from the lx-5 on the lx-3.

[MI-Boy]

Never mind found the answer to that question. It's too bad marcum doesn't offer an optional 8 degree ducker for its lower models. Sure it wouldn't be as convenient as a true dual beam, but then you could just put the appropriate ducker for whatever your fishing on a given day.

[brittlab]

I fish a lot of timber and like the narrow cone angle for exasperating some of the clutter. For myself and the style of fishing I do I bought the lx-5, but then again i got it for $299!! I think the extra features are worth the extra $$

[Safeice]

I have been thinking about the LX-3 vs LX-5 also.  The 8 degree cone angle is geared for detailed deep water fishing.  At 50ft with a 20 degree cone you are looking at basically a 17 ft wide area, the 8 degree cone is only 7 ft wide. When you get down to 100ft the 20 degree cone is covering a 35 ft area & the 8 is looking at  14ft. With the tighter cone  you know those fish you see are close to your jig not 17 ft away.  I don't do a lot of deep Laker fishing, but I think I will like being able to use the dual cone of the LX-5 when I need to.   

[esox_magnum]

If you fish weed's, timber or steep breaks the dual beam is priceless, I run mine in narrow beam 99% of the time no matter depth...onlt time I run wide beam id when hole hopping away from others....

[jekross42]

just ordered the lx3 last night, now i just cant wait for ice to try it out, got deer hunting and finishing up the semester at school till then though.

[SLAYERFISH]

I fish a lot of timber and like the narrow cone angle for exasperating some of the clutter. For myself and the style of fishing I do I bought the lx-5, but then again i got it for $299!! I think the extra features are worth the extra $$

Where, pray tell!

[esox_magnum]

He got it when Aqua Vue went under and they were dumping inventory....