Depth Finder

[LOW_Hunter_11]

I am looking to buy a Vexilar and i am wondering if there is any need to buy the FL18 it just seems like a waste of money. Basically i just want to know the main reason that poeple buy FL-18's over FL-8's Thank You

Brandon

[Captain B.R.K]

Brandon, Good question you have posed.

The real reason people go with the FL-18 is that offers a split screen view for you to zoom into the bottom 6 foot of the water column. It also gets you down to 1/2 inch seperation from the fish and your lure.

That's basically the biggest difference between the FL-18 and FL-8.

If you are a perch and walleye fisherman, then it is great to use. If you are fishing panfish and crappies that are suspended in the water column, then the zoom feature has no use for you.

I have FL-18 and have fished walleyes and perch using the zoom feature! When I had the FL-8 and it said I was a foot of the bottom it was hard to tell I was a foot off the bottom. NOT any longer with the zoom. Very easy to make that out now.

[Jim Hudson]

Low

The Fl-18 just has more options on the unit, making it more efficent in certain fishing situations. The Fl-8 is still a great unit and one can definately catch fish with this flasher.

Where the Fl-18 shines is for bottom hugging perch and walleye, allowing you to zoom into the bottom six feet of the water column, where even a walleye belly tight to the bottom will show up on the screen. Also, there is no need to mess with an S cable (suppression cable) for shallow water operation as the FL-18 gives you a low power mode. And for me, in open water applications, I like the FL-18 much better as it has the bottom lock feature allowing me to hold a good bottom signal while running at high speeds.

So, it is pretty much up to the user, and what they want in a flasher. But in turn, if you ice fish a lot of walleyes and or perch, I would opt for the 18.

[LOW_Hunter_11]

Thank You both for the great replys i still am not sure which one to buy. I think there is a place over here that rents them maybe i will try each of them out before i buy one. Thanks Again

Brandon

[Philo]

By the FL-18. You won't regret the extra $ spent.

[findergameandfish]

I started out renting a FL-8 at Wigwam resort brought it out to L.O.W. and also down to Upper Red Lake. That is the best way. I ended getting a great deal on the FL-18. otherwise i would have probably just got the FL-8. Now that i have used the FL-18 i love it i like the bottom zoom i like the fact that you can use those auto zoom and if you purchase the high speed puck also you can use those options in the summer with youre boat.i think you can also use the FL-8 also in the summer but you dont have the auto zoom or bottom lock feature. but i think if you have the option of renting them do that.But i would rent them more then once and try them in differnt lakes and situations its like buying a car you wouldnt just buy and go you take it out and test drive it ?!

[mamohr686]

The FL-18 also has an improved display, better interferance rejection, and low power setting.

[Sergeant Slabber]

There has been many times that I have marked fish on my 18 when my buddies in the same house aren't seeing much of anything. I think the clarity and strength of the 18 is much better and will help just that much more no matter what species you're fishing for.

[Northlander]

I would either go with the Fl-18 or a Marcum LX-3. Marcum can zoom in any place in the water colomn just not the botton 6'. 18 can be used in deeper water where the LX-3 can only go to 160'. Not a problem unless your fishing deep Lakers. Both great units.

[Dave]

Or, if you don't fish water over 160' deep, look at the Marcum LX-2, which has more features than a FL-18 and save some money for other equipment.

[LOTWKIng]

If it was me, I would get the FL-18. Especally for walleyes on LOW. But for your case, you also NEED to get the FL-18 do to the fact that we are fishing together and I would like to barrow it now and then. Have you looked into marcum at all? Just a thought.

-King

[Dry_Fly]

Have the FL-18 but just bought the Marcum LX-5 seems to be twice the unit for the same money with some great features such as the TrueColor display eliminates the the blending of the colors. More power than the Fl-18 and ajustable zoom field.

[LOW_Hunter_11]

Ok guys i appreciate all the great info but i got another question now. I was looking at the marcum's and wat is better to buy the FL-18 or the Marcum LX-2.

[Dry_Fly]

Similar with more watts of output power $140.00 more you can get all the bells and whistles LX-5 just what you want to spend I guess. I always figured I don't want to have to tell myself I should have invested just a bit more and got the better one. Kicked myself in the A$$ before to many times. I have the FL-18 ultra pac. with dual beam transducer also and I'll make you a good buy.

LX-2 Ice System

This new sonar unit offers superior features at an affordable price. Featuring the new “Auto Zoom” mode which automatically sets the zoom window to the bottom 5 or 10 feet, your choice. The LX-2 has 1,000 watts of output power and offers a patented “Interference Rejection” system that knocks out interference from other nearby sonar. The unit comes in a 600 denier PVC backed embroidered soft pack carrying case, electronics shuttle with adjustable transducer arm, 12 volt – 7 amp battery, battery charger, self aligning 20 degree transducer, power cable, gimbal bracket, and LX-2 powerhead.

[fiskyknut]

I'd take the LX2.....I'm gonna snag one before too long myself.

[katoguy]

You just mentioned one brand, so I won't bait and switch.

I went to the FL18 after missing those bottom huggin eyes! Your fishin' buddy can only out-fish you so many times! You really do need the zoom if you're after bottom huggers.

Also, if you plan on using this on open water walleyes, the bottom lock is a great option for staying on structure.

[fiskyknut]

Hmmmm Kato, he did ask about the LX2 in his most recent post.

'Bait and switch'.....Get over it maybe?

[katoguy]

I apologize for upsetting you, fiskynut. I am over it, didn't mean to hit a nerve with you.

There was a smirk!

[fiskyknut]

Oh heaven's Kato no need to apologize, you did'nt "hit a nerve" or "upset" me at all. To the contrary your post's on this thread, just as some of your post's on other threads regarding this topic over the past year or so I again found rather amusing.

You know I rarely bother any more to post my opinion on this topic, seem's the sensitivities of some of the Vex faithful are just too touchy and I do not like to argue. I did this time with a 1 liner is all, as 'dry fly' had covered a description of the LX2 well adressing 'LOW Hunters' question.

Before you troll away again with the standard Prostaff/Guide/Sponser rhetoric, or inuendo containing words like "ulterior motives" allow me to say for the record.....

I will only reccomend to the good folks of FM products which I have used and know thru firsthand expierience work well. I have not used an LX2, but have every confidence that it will be a quality flasher based on my expieriences the past 2 winters with 1's and 3's. I am not a Marcum staffer and do not 'pimp' product for anyone, this is an integrity thing in my book. I did not chime in when 'LOW Hunter' was first querrying regarding the fl18 with a pitch for Marcum. I did post an opinion with regards to his follow-up question in referance to the LX2.

The Marcum unit I ran last winter, which worked flawlessly, was bought with my own coin, at retail, at Strieff's in Warroad. Don't believe me?.....Email me and I will dig out the reciept, scan it and send you an image.

I figured my opinion expressed may be of some meager value to the 'Hunter'. I saw that he and a buddy do some fishing on my favorite pond, this alone is what sparked my interest in posting my opinion on this oh so touchy to some subject. I have some expierience with the LOTW.....Don't believe me?......Do a search on the LOTW forum, use +young fisky as keywords. Old school 60's, no flashers in our boats then, and we could still catch some Walleye and Perch.

I do have some expierience with flashers as well. Back in the 70's I bugged the heck outta my Pa to get a sonar unit for our boat. He finally buckled and came home one nite with a Heathkit 'build it yourself' flasher which we put together, and yes it actually worked! Since then I have somewhat open-mindedly progressed and learned thru the use of various makes and models while using them both on ice and on the openwater.....Green boxes and other lowrances, Sitex 3 color units, some great in their day Zercom units as well as fine products from Vexilar. Back in the eighties I tinkered with various on ice transducer hanging methods for many of these, pool noodles and pipe wrap for floats, as well as various homemade mechanical devices to hang them just right. I have a good fishing buddy and we take his little kicker boat out from time to time, he has an FL18 in it and guess what.....It works darn good, it works darn good on the ice too.

I will hopefully be able to find the LX2 at a local shop soon, otherwise I will have to travel to GFKS or Bemidji or ??? to find one. I think that unit will be most excellent for my use on the LOTW, I also feel it will serve 'LOW Hunter' very well too. Sure I'd like to get a LX5 but all things considered that LX2 is gonna do what I need in a flasher, and save me a bit of ka-ching too. I will be paying retail for my new unit and will provide you with a copy of my reciept if you would like.

The FL18 is a fine unit, works very well indeed. Technology changes just as the seasons, imho Marcum at this time has a bit of an edge over the fine products Vex manufactures and this is what I will reccomend to others. If an apple to apple comparison is made, and you also take price point into consideration I feel it is a no brainer which one to choose. If in the future Vexilar comes out with something superior to the Marcum units availiable now I will indeed give them a long close look. Till that time Marcum will get my vote and MY money.

Happy Holidays, and enjoy the winter season.

Peace and out.....fiskyknut

[Rick]

If you are considering an FL18, before you buy be sure to check out the Cabelas VXR or Gander Mountain's Guide Series Flasher. Both of these have the same features as the FL18 with a little more power and a lot less cost.

Better yet, get one with more power yet and an almost waterproof case in the LX2 at less cost.

You want to get the best for less?

(If you have an FL18 it's a great unit and you did well when you got it. However, times change and the new FL18 is still the same old trusty flasher. However, if you are buying a new FL18, now you're just buying the better marketed brand, not the better product anymore.)

[katoguy]

I see LOW Hunter, did make mention to Marcum in a follow up post. I did miss it. Again, sorry, fisky.

Any one that knows me, through business, fishing tourneys, or personal affairs will tell you that I am a stickler for details (embarrassing missing above point ). In some cases it is a detriment, but in many situations it is a positive. I am also a guy that will question everything! When someone says brand A is better than brand B because of Y reasoning, I will question the validity of Y reasoning. It goes way beyond these two competing companies. Kind of a combination devil’s advocate/buyer beware/want the straight scoop versus a Joe Montana endorsement thing.

I would love to see fishfinder market share stats. I don’t think you will find them in this niche (3-color flasher). If you look at the depthfinder industry as a whole domestically, the last numbers I saw put Lowrance at something like a 70+% share. Humminbird, Garmin, Bottomline, Raytheon, etc… follow up quite a distance down the list. Private companies don’t list with some of the reporting firms, so their numbers are pretty vague.

Most of the fine promotional staff of FM do a great job proclaiming that they do what they do for the love of the sport, not for financial profit.

I know Wade at Streiff Sporting Goods. I am sure all of the guys there are knowledgeable and respectable. I really don’t care to see any of your receipts unless you leave a card number on it – it is holiday time!

Fisky, not “trolling away” whatsoever. I believe the more competitors in any market can only help the consumer. Can anyone tell me if Marcum is manufacturing the Cabela’s & GM flashers under the store brand names? (Definitely not a bad thing, most manufacturers in the fishing/marine industry do it.)