Marcum LX9

[CaptainMusky]

I agree with Dark Cloud 100%. I can see having the flasher/camera as one unit, but I would probably prefer having separate units. I have absolutely zero interest in having a flasher/gps or flasher/gps/camera. I don't see the appeal when I can throw Navionics on my iPhone or Android, or have a separate handheld unit. I can stick that in my pocket while I go and drill 20 or 30 holes & pull it out to verify my location....try sticking that combo unit in your pocket!

I will say this with the fact that I have the Navionics app on my phone and use it all the time... The gps in phones is NOT very accurate. So using them solely as a naviation device is foolish. But hole hopping like you say, is fairly decent, as I do that myself, but they are not precise enough to use solely for navigating anywhere.

I mount my HDS 7 to a ram mount on my ATV. Right on the handlebars. Works slick as heck. All my buddies mount their's in some fashion to their sleds as well. Pop them off when you get to your spot and drop the ducer down the hole. Simple as pie. Some of you may spend $1200 on electronics used solely on the ice, but I look for it as something year around. This would be perfect in the boat too. I know Marcum must have it in the works hence the reason they never respond to questions about why it doesnt have GPS.

[CaptainMusky]

Of all the internet stuff I have read, this is the first time I heard that one. Typically Marcum cameras are reguarded as the best option out there. But we can leave that for the Ford/Chevy folks...

Do a little more research. I had found information without looking real hard last year. The camera optics used in the aqua vu uses a larger optic and has a better LUX rating at .0001 vs .001 of the sony used in the marcum. What this means is the camera's ability to view in low/no light. Soo, Marcum can combat this with better LED lighting, but from talking with people who have used prior models, it gets grainy.

[PFUNK]

I can certainly see why people would want an integrated GPS in this unit before they drop 1200 bones. Marcum mentions a high speed transducer for it, so a GPS would be a HUGE advantage for the guys who want this as a year round finder. That's a big reason behind my purchase of a bird sonar/gps combo that could be used year round and do the job just fine on both fronts. Since using that unit on the ice, I will not go back to a flasher any time soon as I enjoy the graph mode on digital sonars FAR more. Some may argue this, but I do think it has increased catch modestly for me because the memory of the graph has showed some fish come through I would have missed on a flasher, and the wide cone can be very beneficial in the right situation.

Like has been some, this unit will be a perfect fit for some and not for others. All depends on how you fish. I seldom use the camera while actually fishing. It is mostly used in search mode. So the integration of the two isn't worth the money for me. It would be nice as someone mentioned to stare at a couple dead sticks while you jig with the sonar, or to provide entertainment for kids or when the fishing is slow. But I don't like the camera down because I think fish can be spooked by it depending on the bite that day and the lake. I would just as soon leave the dead sticks how I have been doing it my whole life... I don't need to see whats down there every second outside of what the sonar picks up. Some guys like watching what's going on on the camera screen. To each their own... if you like it then buy it. For this fella, not worth $1200, but I won't knock anyone who thinks its the bees knees and preorders, then starts counting the days to its arrival. I have certainly bought toys that others would pass on so I won't be the pot that calls the kettle black.

[JSK76]

I think we all forgot this flasher,Gps and camera in one technology has been out for many years!

[Dark Cloud]

Some video from ICAST...

[BradHawthorne]

I can't wait until that first ice when I'm going to be able to put the LX-9 camera down a hole 5-7ft away from the transducer hole and watch the under water video overlay on the traditional sonar screen..neet stuff here guys. Being able to see exactly what the sonar is reading in real time along with being able to see the exact mood for the fish in person..it wont leave much on the table for guess work.

[BEAU651]

Wow! $1300 is a crazy number unless they added side view/Sonar and GPS

[Jim Uran]

It certainly isn't for everyone! I'm still diggin my Humminbird ICE 45 and my Aqua Vu Micro!! Caught plenty of fish with those badboys last year.

But for those with the big wallets, this will be one hot item to have on the ice!!!

[Chode2235]

All this chatter about the GPS is valid, as I currently use a Lowrance 334 Ice Machine and love having the lakemaster chip in it. I also have the navionics app on my phone, but find the larger screen and accuracy of lakemaster to be better in finding the spot on the spot.

I will say though, that GPS KILLS batteries. I can see all the comments now if it had GPS.... "I paid 1300 bucks for a new flasher that only gets 5 hours on a battery charge."

I'm a bit interested in upgrading to one of these new Marcum units (6,7,9?) as the target separation is quite a bit better than on your standard summer units that are converted to ice machines.

I mean, marcum has 1/2 - 3/4 inch seperation vs 2-3" that the lowrance and HB units have.

Last Question: I'm thinking this would make a great unit on the front of my boat. Do you know if Marcum can hook up to Minn Kota Universal Sonar 2?

[Brad B]

Last Question: I'm thinking this would make a great unit on the front of my boat. Do you know if Marcum can hook up to Minn Kota Universal Sonar 2?

not at this time but I heard rumor of a adapter in the works. I was told once about a electronics guy that made a adapter so you could run a marcum on the us2, just don't remember the details. one option would be to just use the standard trolling motor mount that uses a clamp to hold the puck transducer to the trolling motor.

[IcerRon2010]

I believe Marcum has a pretty good seller on there hands. Marcum LX7 is a proven performer and their camera system just works. This is not for everyone though. I see this system is more geared toward the wheelhouse/stationary Walleye big game fish crowd. Wich is probably the masses in ice fishing.

Running and gunning, prefers a different lightwieght option, and their are plenty of flashers on the market that work great.

I am surprised Humminbird does not step up and realease something to compete with the Marcum. If their boat flashers had better reaction time and better interfierence rejection, they would have a winner. GPS is already in most of their units.

The people who go out and can justify spending a couple of thousand on side imaging device or have an addiction to buying fishing equippment, will through down the 1300 and get the newest platform from Marcum.

[Hardyboy]

I would like to point out also that it is NOT simply a camera add on to the LX7......its a combo camera and flasher. You can have your camera image on display while the sonar image is overlayed on top of the camera image. This way you can view the camera real time while seeing the flasher image as well. I think that would be pretty handy to see by sight what you are seeing on sonar. And from some reports i have seen you will be able to upgrade your previously purchased LX7 to the LX9. That was one of the selling points they had with the digital LX7 was that it would be upgradeable.

[iffwalleyes]

This thing is fricken cool. I got to get one. Will it be a good option for everyone heck no. However my last aqua vu was bought before they even know what underwater cameras could do. It long ago found a spot in the trash can. I have a LX5 and Bird 55 but I will be honest I have a little guy at home that will eventually want to fish and having a camera is great for a kid we all know that. Since I don't have a camera at the current time why not buy something that fill both. If I can sell one of my other units to off set the cost why the heck not. As Havey pointed out I have caught fish with all depth finders I have had and acutally I even used to be able to catch fish with out any electronics gone are those days haha.