Flasher difference

[hamms-scooter]

I have seen numerous times now that Marcum's claim is that you see the size of the fish below you by having a red line with some green in it vs a yellow line being a smaller fish like your bait. How is it then you can tell they are not quite under you. With the vexilars the green doesn't mean a small fish as much as the fish is just off to the side of center of your cone.

[hamms-scooter]

Do you marcum guys use the information from your screen this way? I would see it as quite handy however the factor of knowing if you have fish off to the side tells you how to jig ....

[fisherman-andy]

From the marcum manual shall you want to know other things:

The simulated fish (GREEN) will move off the bottom and change to RED as it approaches the lure. This indicates that the fish was not in the center of the transmit cone when near the bottom but as it approaches the lure will turn RED as it enters the center of the cone. The unit will beep as the simulated fish hits the lure and is caught. The unit will then re-start the programmed simulation and the process will repeat itself indefinitely.

[slipperybob]

All I know is that when I get a thick red bar that moves in, it's a big fish. And when it takes your bait, better get ready for a big fish fight.

[hamms-scooter]

So it is same basic concept as the vex. I was watching Ice Men and Joe Pikulski was discribing the lx-5 saying they use the unit to look for big fish being a thick red line and that was their target fish. I can have a thick red line on the vex and it's not always the case. Depending on the depth i'm in and obviously the gain setting. Maybe thats where 400w to 2500w is the diff.

[fisherman-andy]

Again from the Marcum Manual:

Reading Fish - Fish will generally appear as separate targets from the bottom. A fish target can be displayed as RED, YELLOW, or GREEN, depending on the size of the fish and the location within the transmit beam. Larger fish located in the center of the beam (cone) can appear RED and will be displayed as a wider band on the display. Smaller fish or fish on the outside of the cone may appear green or even yellow. Fish moving through the transmit beam may change color as the return signal strengthens or weakens reflecting their location.

Fish that are right on the bottom can appear as part of the bottom. The best indication of a fish sitting right on the bottom is that the leading edge of the bottom return signal is either GREEN or possibly a dithering or flickering RED segment. It is important that the GAIN or sensitivity be kept to a minimum when displaying a strong bottom return. Too much GAIN will flood out the ability to differentiate targets and clutter the display.

[Esox_Magnum]

I cant explain how I tell the difference in a way you can understand over a keyboard, all I know id when my partners Vex shows what appears to be 1 big fish on my LX it sows in reality several smaller fish in a tighter group..... Also helps we have been able to use our flashers as well as sight fish to better understand what our units are showing us... Yes the LX-5 will show you bigger fish in a school and mulitple smaller fish when a Vex may show a big fish mark but in reality it was 20 4" perch....

[fisherman-andy]

I cant explain how I tell the difference in a way you can understand over a keyboard, all I know id when my partners Vex shows what appears to be 1 big fish on my LX it sows in reality several smaller fish in a tighter group..... Also helps we have been able to use our flashers as well as sight fish to better understand what our units are showing us... Yes the LX-5 will show you bigger fish in a school and mulitple smaller fish when a Vex may show a big fish mark but in reality it was 20 4" perch....

Couldnt have said it better myself than Essox...

Now you know why Marcum guys refer the Vex display as blobs on screen. Dont worry. Not all blobs are bad. Its how you use the advantages of your flasher that counts.

[hamms-scooter]

Thanks fisherman-andy for the right out of the book responses. States it perfectly. I have never used a marcum but know exactly what everything means and also explained well by Esox. The blob of the vex (like everything) is how much experience you have with it. I know when the blob is really multiple fish by the flicker it does..just kinda tired of FAT lines. My dad runs a fl-18 which i get the concept but don't like the split screen.... Anything suspended is easily missed smashed into half the screen on the right. That was the reason i just got the fl-8se when he got the 18. Full range and a 30 ft mode. Added a dual beam for certain situations... with my buddy looking to get a flasher it made me interested in looking as well. I have done some homework on the units out there from the lx-3tc to lx-5 to the birds and the vex flashers. Looking at what you get for your money as far as options,reliability,accessories, and service. There are some quality units out there. I would like one of each for the winter.

[aquafang]

I"m gonna keep it simple. al though I'll give the marcum units a hands down win over all units. everyone is different just like Ford, Chevy,Dodge......

So I recomment to buy the one that you think looks the coolest. and more power to ya. they all work!

[hamms-scooter]

Used vex for a long time just looking at all the options, not my first rodeo.