i have genz pack fl8 is it worth buying a MarCum lx3??

[Kodiak]

I have a two year old fl-8 and i was wondering if it was worth it purchasing a Lx-3?? please fill me in on some differences in the two and which is "better"

i just read matts post but i was wondering if anyone made the jump from the vex to the marcum and how they felt.

[Deitz Dittrich]

It really depends on if you are happy with your FL-8. They are a great unit for ice fishing. I owned a sitexfl-5, then a hondex fl-8 then a vexlar fl-8 then a vexlar fl-18(which I still own) and now own a Marcum lx-3(plan on keeping that as well.. and I also plan on upgradeing to the Lx-5 when it is available. The biggest difference for me when making the change was the quality of the immage. On the FL-8 and 18 my lure even if fishing for bluegills with a small fly would take up about 1 foot of space on the screen. On the marcum lx-3 I own the lure is much smaller allowing you to see better target seperation. The charging station and soft case that comes with the Marcoms are second to none as well...I cant wait to get myhands on the new lx-5

With your change you would also get moveable zoom, a huge step up from what you have. But again, if you are happy with what you have, why change?

[stick]

I made the LX-3 purchase last year after using the FL-8 for years. I had a huge stigma about switching after being so in love with my FL-8. I have no second thoughts and absolutely love the LX-3 and it's crispness as Deitz has stated along with the adjustable zoom. I am keeping both running, but the FL-8 is for when I fish with a buddy that doesn't have anything. For what it's worth...

[Kodiak]

i am going to try to sell my fl-8 it is about 2 years old and in immaculate shape, how much should i expect to get out of it?

[Kodiak]

well i can pretty much throw that out the window, reeds is sold out of em now, they had em for 279bucks

[tashit]

I was at the Ridgedale Dick's last night and they had LX-3s for $300 and LX-1's for $200. I didn't count but if I had to guess I would say there were anywhere from 6-10 of the LX-3s.

[Hotspotter]

Kodiak:

Made the switch two years ago and am very happy I went the way I did. I got the FL-8SE new for christmas, and sold it for the LX-3 after using the 8 for a season.

Weighing the options in terms of features, the LX-3 IMO was a no-brainer, but I did have a problem with the colors and my eyes. For whatever reason, the colors weren't as contrasting as the FL-8's. However, with this years LX-3tc, this problem has gone away. The new LX-3's colors are stellar. If you have an older LX-3, and would like the colors upgraded, that's another option for this year as well.

For me the marcum unit did everything my old vex did better, but really shined whenever I used the zoom, primarily walleyes on the bottom, and crappies suspended over deeper water.

Joel

[18 inch Crappie]

You are all Marcum heads... I have a FL-18 and a LX-3 and I use the FL-18 99% of the time. Because of the better display (brightness) who cares about the zoom, I never use it and when I do I am fishing the bottom anyways. Now the TC Marcum might be a good unit, but have not seen it. Keep your FL-8 and spend the extra money on a new rod and reel or a upgrade your auger/fish house.

[Steve Foss]

18 inch crappie, there's a foot and a half of attitude!

I've had an FL8-SLT in the round pro pack for five or six years now. Got the Vex soft pack for it. Works like a dream, and is very bright.

I have fished with several models of Marcum as well. The Vex display, while very bright, seems less sharp than the LX3, which seems sharp as a razor. I care not at all for any zoom, even after fishing with zoom units for 'eyes close to the bottom. Crappies suspended in the water column simply had me adjusting the adjustable zoom all the time, because they don't always stay suspended at the same level. Spent too much time adjusting zoom and not enough time jigging in crappies.

The majority of my ice fishing is for lakers, and no zoom of any kind matters much there. While many lakers start out near the bottom, I generally keep jigging them up and up and up until they're driven mad by the lure and the chase and can't stop themselves from hitting. For me, a zoom is a waste of time.

So, when I get ready for a new unit, it likely will be the latest Marcum, because of the sharp display, and for no other reason. Until then, I'm likely to be able to get many more years out of the SLT, and the $200 or so I'd have to pay for a new marcum after selling my pristine SLT can always be put to better use.

[hovermn]

"who cares about the zoom?" I do, I guess.

I used a Vex FL-8 for many years, and it helped me catch fish. If it hadn't been for the theif that stole it from me, I'd still use it. I replaced it with a Marcum LX-3 last year and fished with it all winter. It's a nice unit, I like the zoom and resolution, but when you cut through all of that, the two units do the same thing, mark fish. You own a flasher now. As long as it works, I'd say keep it and invest your money in some equipment that you don't already have.

Of course, if money's no object... :-)

[cliffy]

I have an FL-18 and a Marcum LX-3. My wife gave me the FL-18 for x-mas about three years ago and I bought the LX-3 last season. I enjoy both units...dont see myself getting rid of either one anytime soon. However, if I could only have one unit, it would be the LX-3. It has a sharper image and I like the adjustable zoom feature.

Both are great units, each have their pros and cons...check them out and pick what is right for you and your style of fishing. Good luck.

[Steve Foss]

cliffy: Wow, if Mrs. Catfish plopped down 400 big ones on a Christmas present and I got almost the same thing for myself two years later, I'd be gutted and on a stringer. How'd you manage that?

[cliffy]

It’s a long story, but it involved a 1.5 ct diamond ring and me asking a question she really wanted to hear.

Also, she realized that we both couldnt use it when we went fishing together..so I had to get another flasher......

[Steve Foss]

You sly dog.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Cliffy is now my hero!

[cliffy]

I am just lucky enough to have a wife that will come ice fishing with me. Once she saw how the Vex worked, she was hooked. We use to get into domestics, while enroute to the lake, over who would be using it. so, it was not a hard sell to get the LX-3. Now we only argue over who gets to sit next to the heater....and I can live with that.

[schweady]

Quote:

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Cliffy is now my hero!

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The wind beneath my wings.

[Steve Foss]

OK, OK, enough. I give. now I'm about to hurl!

[cliffy]

I sorta like the attention.....oh well, was that my 15 min. of fame or what?

[trapperdirk]

Quote:

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I am just lucky enough to have a wife that will come ice fishing with me. Once she saw how the Vex worked, she was hooked. We use to get into domestics, while enroute to the lake, over who would be using it. so, it was not a hard sell to get the LX-3. Now we only argue over who gets to sit next to the heater....and I can live with that.

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Ah yes I too understand those domestic squabbles over my LX-3 all too frigging well and just the mention of them I get a mental image of pouty lips and teary eyes looking at me when I would even get to use the LX-3 on days I would put my foot down and say enough was enough . Gawd I'm cringing at that thought now so I will have to order myself an LX-5 before we get too far into the season . Oh why, oh why did I ever let her get near the Marcum LX-3 to the point where she holds her own on ice seminars of its prowess when friends or others want a look and of course she's loud as all h3ll yelling " theres a fish or a school, look look trap " and fishermen from the whole lake gather to look .

On list of must haves to purchase this year . LX-5 and duct tape .

TD