vexilar or marcum

[Esox_Magnum]

Not sure with HB but on the Marcums even in zoom you still see the whole colum, and with the SFL mode lets you seperate the small fish from the bigger ones.

[jwmiller33]

And no, with adjustable zoom you don't miss out on fish that come in above your zoom window. Marcums and Humminbirds still allow you to see the entire water column while you are zooming. You just select which part of the water column you want to be zoomed in, while still allowing you to see everything above/below your zoom window from the bottom to the surface.

[gonehunting]

Take a look at the first 15 pages of the ice fishing posts. From what I see there is alot more people asking questions/having concerns on Marcum products versus Vexilar.

[tonkapat]

I bought a showdown troller this year that runs on AA batteries. So far I am impressed with this lightweight inexpensive unit. I usually fish 10 plus miles from the car and no motor vehicles are allowed. This unit saves me 7 plus pounds alone. Lasts 20 + hours on 6 AA batteries. If I was to purchase any new flasher/finder this would be the one. I can buy a hub house, the showdown, a buddy heater and still be cheaper than buying a flasher. Great to have lots of options these days.

[CaptainMusky]

Take a look at the first 15 pages of the ice fishing posts. From what I see there is alot more people asking questions/having concerns on Marcum products versus Vexilar.

could that be because the vexilar technology hasn't advanced in 20 years? Maybe go to page 1234 and see what people were complaining about on their vexes in 1991?

Of course I'm kidding, well maybe a little bit.

I haven't used a bird but used vexes and Marcums. After using them I bought an lx3tc. Easier to use, zoom that is useful, quiet, dependable, better and clearer definition between targets.

Anything is better than nothing.

[Capt'nMorgan]

hummingbird

[eurolarva]

This weekend in an 8 man sleeper we had an LX5, LX3, FL8 and an FL12. The first three played fine together. The FL12 could not get rid of the interference from the LX3. When I switched to NBT on my LX5 it also created so much interference that the FL12 could not be used. With the LX3 off and me turning my NBT off the FL12 ran fine. We were in 30 ft and I believe was a hard bottom. I am not sure but I believe that the LX3 uses a narrow band transducer. The other advantage of the LX5 is that you can see much deeper then the LX3.

[munchy71]

And no, with adjustable zoom you don't miss out on fish that come in above your zoom window. Marcums and Humminbirds still allow you to see the entire water column while you are zooming. You just select which part of the water column you want to be zoomed in, while still allowing you to see everything above/below your zoom window from the bottom to the surface.

Correct, but you still can zoom in on only ONE ggroup of suspended fish in the scenario I described.

-Munchy

[Esox_Magnum]

You will have a min of a 10' zoom window depending on depth, having the zoom bottom at the bottom of the school allows you to see 10' up and in zoom and SFL having that 3/4" seperation helps picking out the bigger fish and knowing where your bait is in relation. Still have the rest of the colum in case something sneaks in above that range to. Having to guess where your bait is in a big school of suspended fish on a 2" red blob on a Vex is frustrating.

[TravP]

I have have had an FL8, LX3, FL20, and now the LX5, in that order. The only time I use the zoom though is on bottom hugging fish. When fish are suspended its not needed. I've also used the FL22 and an ice 55. With the current units available I wouldn't even consider switching.

[munchy71]

Munchy, you misunderstood what I meant. I know that you can switch out of the bottom lock mode and view the whole water column on the whole dial. The problem with doing that is you lose your zoom ability. My comment was in reference to the Marcums and Humminbirds have "adjustable zoom", which means you can "zoom in" on any depth in the water column and get more separation between the your jig and a fish. Yes, you can just not use the zoom and view the entire water column normally, but the whole ideal behind having a zoom is to give you a more clear/detailed picture of a certain area in the water column.

So yes, my comment of Vexilar's still only have the bottom lock feature, where you can choose between locking to the bottom 6 or 12 ft. If the fish are suspended higher than 12 ft off the bottom, you are SOL is true in the context of talking about zoom.

Simply put, with Vexilars, you cannot adjust the zoom to anywhere in the water column, you are stuck at the bottom 6 or 12 ft [if you want to use zoom], and to me, that is the largest difference between vexilar/marcum or vexilar/humminbird.

Actually, I knew exactly what you meant...your response just reinforces that...but I still stand by what I said. MY POINT was that for suspended fish I don't need to see that kind of deatil. The fish is already spearated fromn the bottom, and I can see my jig and the fish just fine. Why would I need to increase the separation between my jig and fish? Isn't the goal to get them to come together eventually???? There's no NEED to zoom in on it, so I'm not SOL in any way. Adjustable zoom is just another marketing whiz-bang to sell units.

-Munchy

[TravP]

quote

Actually, I knew exactly what you meant...your response just reinforces that...but I still stand by what I said. MY POINT was that for suspended fish I don't need to see that kind of deatil. The fish is already spearated fromn the bottom, and I can see my jig and the fish just fine. Why would I need to increase the separation between my jig and fish? Isn't the goal to get them to come together eventually???? There's no NEED to zoom in on it, so I'm not SOL in any way. Adjustable zoom is just another marketing whiz-bang to sell units.

Coming from a marcum user.Agreed 100%.

[jwmiller33]

[jwmiller33]

I don't NEED adjustable zoom. I don't NEED a zoom at all. Heck, I don't even NEED a flasher. But I sure like having all of those things. That's all I'm going to say.

[tonkapat]

You will have a min of a 10' zoom window depending on depth, having the zoom bottom at the bottom of the school allows you to see 10' up and in zoom and SFL having that 3/4" seperation helps picking out the bigger fish and knowing where your bait is in relation. .

If all the fish were directly below it may allow you to tell the size difference, but as we all know the fish are not directly below you and the marks change depending on how far off to the side they are.

[Ed Carlson]

Way too Easily Baited guys...note that fishinjosh98 never once asked any questions back...or responded to any of your posts.

It's appears as easy as tossing red meat over the fence to a pack of dogs.

[fishwater]

Way too Easily Baited guys...note that fishinjosh98 never once asked any questions back...or responded to any of your posts.

It's appears as easy as tossing red meat over the fence to a pack of dogs.

Either that or he has restricted internet access, since he might only be 13 yo..?

This thing has to be good for a couple more trolling passes, it'll kick out some dandies if we keep working it.

[TruthWalleyes]

Haha, I figured this would go two pages

[piker007]

Adjustable zoom is just another marketing whiz-bang to sell units.

-Munchy

Well when both products cost pretty much the same why not get the added marketing features?

[tsande00]

I was going to try to stay out of this thread because I really don't think you can go wrong with either unit...BUT... I just gotta say that I use the adjustable zoom all the time. As recently as last night. Will it help you catch more fish? Not sure. But it is nice to be zoomed in on the suspended fish with added target separation that the zoom allows.

Yes the goal is to get them to meet..but I don't want them appearing to meet until the bait is either int eh fishes mouth or right beside his lips...not when the fish is 4+ inches below. The zoom just allows for that much more target separation, or at the very least a visual separation.

It may a marketing whiz bang...but it absolutely has it's use.

[jsnides]

i own the marcum vx1 bought it four years ago and never had a problem with it ever. Vx1 has a zoom feature that zooms the bottom 5 feet. Im a big walleye guy so i am almost always fishing the bottom five feet. i payed $250 at scheels in fargo, ND for the marcum at the end of the ice fishing season. best buy i have ever made for ice fishing. My dad has the vexilar fl-8 and he paid 350 for his without the handy zoom feature. Marcum has more features and a better interferance reducer than the vexliar. Also plug in that marcum is a minnesota based company from anoka MN btw. My opinion is go with a marcum if ur looking for the most affordable, most dependable product. Hummingbird flasher would be my #2 followed closely by a vexilar #3. Good luck

[TravP]

i own the marcum vx1 bought it four years ago and never had a problem with it ever. Vx1 has a zoom feature that zooms the bottom 5 feet. Im a big walleye guy so i am almost always fishing the bottom five feet. i payed $250 at scheels in fargo, ND for the marcum at the end of the ice fishing season. best buy i have ever made for ice fishing. My dad has the vexilar fl-8 and he paid 350 for his without the handy zoom feature. Marcum has more features and a better interferance reducer than the vexliar. Also plug in that marcum is a minnesota based company from anoka MN btw. My opinion is go with a marcum if ur looking for the most affordable, most dependable product. Hummingbird flasher would be my #2 followed closely by a vexilar #3. Good luck

Humminbird? I've heard of a lot a of faulty units...

[jsnides]

With a zoom feature the view displayed on a marcum is expanded to the bottom five feet, meaning you are viewing 5 feet of depth in half the screen, and also the whole water colum on the other half of the flasher, thus giving you an expanded window that has more detail than a normal fl-8 and also allowing you to still see the entire water column at the same time. Dont knock it till you try it. by no way am i saying vexilar sucks they make quality flashers, but marcum is in a league of there own, No doubt a better product if your going with the lower-priced flashers. i've owed both so if you havent than i would stop knocking the zoom feature on the marcum it is an added feature at a reduced price. Why not go with the Marc over vex = cheaper and more features over the standard flasher. btw Marcum is based outa the good old state of MN.

[jwmiller33]

Humminbird? I've heard of a lot a of faulty units...

I find it funny when peole will talk down and give advice about a piece of equipment they don't own. I have "heard" a lot of things about other brands of flashers as well, but I keep it to myself unless I experience it first hand.

[jsnides]

havent heard of many flasher problems, but know a few guys that use the hummingbirds and love the zoom feature for lake trout and other suspended fish. All depends on what u mostly fish for and on what lakes. real deep lakes or mostly shallow lakes <40 feet max.

Just what i have found and heard not saying vexilar makes a bad flasher at all, they make good products. As for defective flashers its all hearsay anywho