Using a Vexilar FL-20 next to a Marcum Flasher

[rollineyes]

I am in the market for a new flasher for ice fishing. I have always used Vexilars. I currently own an FL-20. I am toying with the idea of a new one so my son can aquire the FL-20. I would really like to try a Marcum LX5 or LX7 so see the difference first hand, if there is any. My question is can the two units be used at the same time in the same fish house without too much interference? We make a yearly trip up north ice fishing and use 4 vexilars at the same time in the same shack. It takes a little tuning, but they will all play nicely together.....Would a Marcum play nice too?

[TruthWalleyes]

I have a marcum, and love fishing next to a buddy with a vex...Really screws them up! But the vex can be tuned to reduce the interference.

[MNPIKE]

Some vexilar quys say they get interference from them (hummingbird/Marcum), but I've always been able to press the interference rejection button on my FL-18 to filter out any noise.

If you stay with vexilar, you shouldn't have to do anything.

[cichlid_baby]

UPGRADE and Get a Marcum... you'll catch more fish..

[NoWiser]

One Vex and one Marcum, and you should be OK. I have had times, though, when in very deep, rocky waters in Canada where I couldn't use my Vexilar within 60 yards of anothers LX5, even when it was just the two of us. Most instances you would probably be alright, though.

Good chance you would never be invited to fish with your buddies again if the 3 of them have a Vexilar and you have a Marcum. It's just not going to work. I've often fished with 4 or 5 Vexilars together and have been able to tune out the interference. On occasion someone has thrown a Marcum into the mix, and then it's all over. The choice then becomes their's. Turn it off or fish outside.

Honestly, if your son is inheriting your FL-20 and you fish with him often, getting a Marcum would be a mistake. Especially if you have a lot of other fishing buddies with Vexilars. They will all thank you if you get another vex, and curse you if you get a Marcum.

[carpshooterdeluxe]

I fished my ice troller side by side with an FL-18 the other day...no problems. just tune them in and fish.

[BoxMN]

We fish with FL20 and LX5 next to each other in 15-25 FOW all the time. You might need to do a little bit of IR button mashing at the start, but it can be done and both work fine. I am not sure if you add more to the mix. I do know that and FL8 (old ones, I am not sure) will be messed up bigtime next to Marcums. Good luck...

BTW - if you are used to a Vexliar, i suggest you fish WITH a Marcum before buying, or at least look at the other thread that was here a week or so ago, discussing the difference. Not saying either is better, but different, and you don't want to be dissappointed AFTER a purchase

[Deitz Dittrich]

A lot will depend on bottom content and how deep you are fishing. If fishing deep and hard bottom, then yes, both or one of the units will have some problems. If both of you play with the IR you can most of the time make it usable. If you fish shallow and softer bottom you should have little to no problems.

[skillet]

We do not have any ice yet in mid Michigan so we pretended to ice fish out of the boat yesterday. One buddy had the Vexilar fl-20, the other had the Humminbird Ice-55, and I had the Marcum Lx-5. We were literally crammed into the small boat jigging spoons for perch. In around 40ft of water we had very little interference with one another. Each of us might have pushed our IR buttons a few times but it was no big deal.

[Esox_Magnum]

I fish with a vex next to my LX-5;s all the time, even with 2-3 marcums and a couple Vex's in the same area most are able to tune the others out, Vex's do have the most trouble tuning out other units.... Once you fish with the LX your son will want one to, after seeing my LX next to her FL-18 my wife took my LX and I had to buy a new one and sold the Vex....

[dan z]

my fl-18 and brothers marcum lx-3 have had there fights but if you pound the interferance buttons they will usually get along. the deeper the water the longer the fights espcially on hard bottom...

[ameyers41]

I've got an LX-5 and fish next to Vex's, although usually an FL-8. The vex definitely has issues, but usually you can get it to work by tuning the IR on both. I own no humminbird ice units, but I think they run on a different frequency than either the marcums or vexs, so that might be an easy solution if you're keeping the vex.

[rollineyes]

Thanks for all the great information!

[fishinaddict]

Fished my new LX-3tc next to an fl-8 today with no interference on either unit.

[Joe]

I am in the market for a new flasher for ice fishing. .....Would a Marcum play nice too?

Surprised no one has brought this up yet, H-Bird Ice 55. All Three units are nice given comparable priced models but the Ice 55 plays nice with everything, and has the biggest screen. Of course you can't go wrong with a Marcum either.

If you by another vex you will be able to fish with your son, but if someones got a marcum your gonna have a hard time.

If you go with the LX-5 or the Ice 55 no ones going to mess with ya. If you pick the Ice 55 you play nice with everyone and no one messes with you!

[hamms-scooter]

Dad fished next to a lx-5 today with his fl-18 and not one issue between the units whatsoever.

[harvey lee]

Last year I fished next to an 18& a 20. The 20 caused me many issues with my LX5 asnd I could not get rid of the interference. Fished this past weekend with an 18 in the house and no issues at all, but with that 20, forget it.

I switched to my Ice 55 and all issues were gone.

I next to NEVER have any interference issue with any flasher when I use my Bird.

[leech~~]

Well bring them all up to Mill Lacs on Sat Jan 7th and try them out next to all types of other flashers at the Flasher Shoot-Out we are going to be holding!