Vexlars

[WyoChris]

Can anyone recommend a good, but not too expensive vexlar? I think im gonna buy one for this season but I have no idea which ones are good or bad.

[MinnesotaMuskie]

After some research...I went with teh FL-18 Ultra Pro Pak. Is is very easy to handle...case protects the unit well. Battery indicator level is nice and the round base that drops into a 5 gallon pail in great for transport. The seperation is very good and no interference from my buddies in the same house.

I purchased this 2 years ago...very good luck.

I woudl take a look and compare Marcum and Vex and see what each unti can offer to your fishing experience...whatever you choose...you will never fish without one again.

Keep us up to speed on what you decide and how it works out for you.

[norteastern]

I have a Vex FL-18 Genz pack which is 2 steps down from what MM has. This is lower cost than the Ultra pak less the bells and whistles but essentially are the same. Between the Marcum and the Vexilars either way like MM says you will never fish again without them. Both are fantastic.

[MinnesotaMuskie]

Exactly right...the Genz pak is the best bang for the buck...when I was purchasing mine...it was a Brithday Present and the "Boss" did not really know any better...shhh...do not tell her:):)

[kslipsinker]

FL-18 Pro pack is the most popular unit sold. Same with the FL-8 if you want to save $100 and not go with the Auto Zoom.

[iffwalleyes]

If you are looking just to get into a flasher depth finder and you don't do allot of ice fishing I would consider looking for a FL 8 vexilar. They are a great bullet proof unit that will give you years of performance. They are just about the easiest to operate. I have had one for quite a few years. Now like I say if you are just wanted to get into one for cheap I would look for one in the Classifieds here on FM otherwise you can find one on hsolist all the time. You should be able to get into one for less than $150. Now if you are looking for a new unit I personally would look at the Marcum line up. A good intro unit for flashers would be the LX 1 which is very similar to a FL 8 or a LX 2 which is similar to the FL 18. Then there is the LX 3 and if you want all the marbles the LX 5. But I think the way to go by the way you are talking would be the LX 1 or LX 2 would be the way to go. Do some reading of all of the different post there is more information that you could possible image on this site about this very same topic. I have been using a LX 3 for the last 2 year and have a LX 5 on the way and I couldn't be happier with the performance of these units.

[NAPAFISH]

The majority of this site are Marcum heads, so you will probably hear them the most. The FL-8 is great product for the price, used or new.

[prov1900]

I have an FL-18 that I mounted on the bow of my Lund this year. Loved it. Would never go back to a lcd unit on front. My question is this...what do I need to complete the unit into an ice fishing one. What do you recommend for transducers (I am fishing in under 25 feet of water if that helps) I know that I need a battery (any advice) and some kind of mounting device, i.e. soft pack, pro pack, etc. Is that it? If anyone has advice I would appreciate it.

[dougger222]

I used to own a Color Point flasher which was a pretty good unit. The only issue with the unit was the two plastic knobs broke and it always had bad interference with other flashers.

Now I've got a FL18 Ultra pack, FL8SLT, and a FL8. All in all I must say I like the FL8SLT best, had it the longest too. Picked up the FL18 for $225 used two winters and the FL8 was $75 and looks brand new!

Sometimes I miss the target separation of the Color Point.

[iffwalleyes]

I agree that there are many including myself that are pro marcum. But if you listen to the guys that have used both including myself and you will see that most have switched to marcum and haven't considered going back. None of us are saying Vexilars are bad we all probably have owned one at one point. We are just pointing out that there are other options out there and right now Marcums are darn tough to beat. The Marcum LX 2 which offers pretty much the same options at the FL 18 retails from less $$. The decision it up to you and as long as you are satified that is what is important. But like I mentioned earlier the FL 8 is a darn tough to beat for your first flasher unit.

[hanson]

Quote:

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Sometimes I miss the target separation of the Color Point.

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Not sure if I've ever heard that one before. J/K

I'm a former ColorPoint user. Used one for 5 or 6 years now. Just sold it earlier this summer.

I think I know what you miss about the ColorPoint and that is the crispness of the lines on the display. There is another manufacturer of flashers out there that has this feature as well as the tightest target separation in the business and the companies name doesn't start with a 'V'.

[tightlines]

I have had both vexilar and marcum. All I will say is that the marcum has better target seperation, crisper cleaner display,more power and better interference reduction. Geez is that all. LOL I believe Marcum is for obvious reasons way ahead of vexilar in the performance department.

[dougger222]

I noticed too that the Color point flasher had a longer battery life than the Vexilars.

The new LX5 looks pretty nice, 2,000 watts of power right? If I can come across a good cheap used Mercom flasher whether it be a Colorpoint or an LX model I'll pick one up.

The reason why more guys use Vexilars may have something to do with all the well known ice fisherman promoting them all winter, just like Clam fish houses and Strikemaster augers. Most people in the know know that the best portables are Otter and the best power auger is a Nills Master (at least tested as the fastest every year hands down).

It's not even like the Vexilars are made in the USA, there made in Japan!!!

[CNY Tim]

You could check Vexilar Direct for a reconditioned model with warranty that is probably the safe way to go or you can try your luck on hsolist there are two pages of Vexilar products over there.

Of course if you search MarCum LX (whatever) on hsolist you'll come up with zero units available and I'll tell you why.

Most if not all here fished with Vexilar's before we tried the MarCum series of flashers and found them more than a bit better technologically than the FL series flashers. You get a better package with the LX series standard.

The MarCum is assembled and built right here in the good old U.S.A. Take a look at MarCum. Comb the web sites and try to find an available LX-1 if money's tight. Good luck with whatever you choose.