FL-18 or LX-3?

[STORE500]

I am going to be purchasing either the fl-18 or the marcum lx-3 in the next week. I talked with about 5 electronics guys at the ice fishing expo and they all remommended the lx-3 because of the zoom and the power difference. Also, I fish mainly walleys and crappies and am wondering if I really need the zoom feature. If the zoom feature is not that important, what is the better choice the fl-8 or the lx-1? Wondering if there are any owners who would share some input. thank you.

[muskybuck]

I vote for LX-3

[rangr]

500, I just sold my FL-8 and bought a LX-3 for that very reason. I pretty much the same as you fish walleyes and crappies most of the time but the power of the LX-3 plus their a little quiter than the vex. There was nothing wrong with the vex it was a great unit but marcums LX-3 won me over.

[Sportland_Bait]

I really don't think you can go wrong with either unit. I have never had a chance to fish with a Marcum but it sounds like they are very nice. After using Vexilar for the last 10 years I cannot complain about the quality of their product. It's hard to believe that flasher units could get any better than what is on the market today. For the money I think the best buy out there is an FL8-SE.

Jason Erlandson

[JHansel7]

I guess i like the vexilar, i think they offer a little more than a marcum does, but maybe im just partial.

[Northlander]

Go with the Lx-3 and get the most for your money. The multi water colomn zoom is the best and bottom seperation is better.

[Bob Horn]

Marcum LX-3. I was a former Vex owner and wanted to upgrade.I decided on the Marcum LX-3 last year. The best move I could have made. You will love it!!! What a difference.

[Scott]

I really like my FL18. I'd have a hard time parting with it. I will admit though that I have not used the Marcum.

As stated previously, You can't go wrong with either one!

Good Luck.

[so haaad]

I have the LX-1 and love it. It's a great little unit if money is an issue.

[jigginjerk]

Had the LX-3 for two years. Great unit! Had one problem but marcum took care of it quickly.You won't be disappointed.

[CNY Tim]

MarCum's zoom versatility sold me and all my friends. American built with American jobs is another big plus in my book!

[jphersh22]

I personally just went through the same debate and ended up buying the FL18. The main reason for me was that my father who I fish with alot uses a Vex and I asked the question on here and it sounded like the Marcum would casue interference problems with my dad's Vex. So I got the FL18. I haven't used it yet, though the water here in SE Iowa just skimmed over last night so I'm getting close. One thing I read a lot on was the power of the units and I don't think that is a real reason to buy or not buy one either of them. Marcum uses more power with a less sensitive transducer, while Vex uses less power but a more sensitive transducer. Two ways to arrive at the same thing I guess. Perhaps the less powerful transducer is what helps the Marcum have a little better interference rejection. But keep in mind who you fish with if that's a concern.

[Paul Waldowski]

jphersh22,

I will disagree with that. With just one Marcum and one a FL-18 you will be able to tune out all interfence. The porblems begin when you have a large mix of Marcums and Vex's in a small area, then the Vex's will go kind of crazy, but not the Marcums. You will have some problems with a Marcum and some versions of the FL-8 as they don't have the updated noise suppression.

[wellsupplyguy]

If the units are alot alike then what would push me one way or another,like the price?

[Matt Breuer]

Price and service, as well as features, what feels right to you. Some people like the looks of one better than another. They're all made to do what you're looking to do, help you catch fish!

[Paul Waldowski]

It won't be the price as they retail for the same amount.

IMHO the Marcum is easier to read, I know it has better target seperation, the display is crisper and I don't need a suppression cable for shallow water. I have also found with a little more power it is much easier to determine bottom content. Besides it comes with an awesome carrying case as standard issue

[rod bender]

500, You're thinking that you may not want/need the zoom. I think you'll really like the zoom. You can get a 1" seperation with it and you'll especially like it when the crappies are suspended in a 5-10' region in the middle of the water column. My vote is for the LX-3.

[iffwalleyes]

Here is a posting that I did last year after a weekend of fishing with my Marcum and my 2 buddies had vexilars.

Quote:

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I just wanted to post my results that I found this weekend fishing with my marcum LX3 along side my buddies with 2 FL 8. In the past years we have fished with 3 FL 8 and have had a very diffcult time with interference on all of our units. This year my Marcum seemed to have no effect from their units mine did affect theirs a little but they were easily cleared up by hitting there ir button a couple times. It was much easier this year than it has been in the past with the 3 identical units. So in my mine people that think the Marcum screws up the Vex and are wrong it is very easy to adjust and clear them up. I have had no problem when fishing along side a single Vexilar. The only complain I have is that I don't like the wide cone angle that Marcums have in the deep water situations. I was picking up about 4 lines this weekend where we were fishing. We were in 34 feet of water so I realize it gets multipled but they need to get a smaller cone angle for an option.<P>------------------<BR>Grip it and Rip it<P>IFFWalleyes<BR>I Fish For Walleyes<BR>[email protected]

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Here was Marine Man's comments for the same weekend

Quote:

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I fished with IFFWalleyes this past week... although I wasn't sitting right next to him... I was diagonal from him (FL8-SLT)... if you understand my diagram shown below...

o o

o o <-- Marcum

o o

o o<-- FL-8SLT (

^

|

FL8-SLT (A)

Anyways... the guy with the FL8-SLT (

sitting right next to the marcum lx-3 seemed to have more interference than I did (FL8-SLT (A)). In the three days we fished I would say that I had less interference than the marcum or the other vexilar (A)... which I do understand was somewhat due to my proximity to the Marcum.. but on the whole I would agree with IFF that it was much easier to tune out 1 other FL-8 and the LX-3 than it was to tune out 2 other FL-8's....marine_man

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So I disagree with any one that says it is easier to tune out interference if you all have the same units. My marcum does a great job of tuning it out. Now you said you don't think that you would need the adjustable zoom I thought the same thing especially when I fish for walleyes. They are always on the bottom right. Wrong not always I have had suspended walleyes. The adjustable zoom gives you more flexibility than the Vexilar will. You by far get more for your money. It is tough to make the switch and I was skeptical at first after five year with my vexilar I didn't think anything could be better than a vex. I switch and the first 2 time out on the ice I still brought my Vexilar along think that I wouldn't like the Marcum and I would have to switch back well I have switch yet and don't plan to either.

[EBass]

I'm a vex guy. I love my FL-18 with the great crisp (Green, Yellow, Red)colors, bottom zoom, bottom lock for summer time, and shallow water feature. I use mine on my boat and in the pro pack that I bought it with for ice fishing.

2 of my buddies have marcums and the rest have vexilars. All the units will work very well and they are a must when ice fishing.