Marcum, Vexilar, Lowrance or Aqua-Vu.

[Bones]

I am looking at buying my first ice fishing electronics. What should I get? My friends have Marcums and Vexilars. A guys at work has a Lowrance and he likes tha GPS feature. But what about a camera? Just wondering? I don't have a lot of cash and want to get the best that I can for what I do have.

[BrokenRap]

Bones, I have a Lawrance X67c which I bought two years ago and it was my first ice fishing electronics. The color display is great and I love that I can use it multi-season. My family lives by Vexilar and they told me to buy nothing besides Vexilar but I did some research and went with Lawrance. Once I had the unit on the ice and they saw it in action they were impressed and said good buy. The only thing I wish I would have done is spent the little extra for the M68 with the GPS option but either way its still a great piece of equipment to have. IMO, its the best out there but like I said before it is my first piece of ice fishing electronics too.

Clint Marcy

[Bob Horn]

I would buy a flasher first and than camera down the line. I was a diehard vex guy but now use marcum. Either company would be OK but I would get a flasher. There is a sticky post at the top I would go through that for info.

[CNY Tim]

First thing and everyone here will agree is the locator not the camera should be your first purchase for practicality reasons. No one know's here what your budget is or what species fish you like to target so there are some other considerations as well.

If your going new versus used I highly recommend the MarCum VX-1 your not going to find a better unit for the price. This unit has been a hot seller and will continue through the $50 rebate period at the end of the month. This maybe the deal of the century and others will vouch for MarCum's performance when it comes to flashers.

Vex makes a quality unit too and I have used both the FL-8SLT and FL-18. The VPG is brand new so reviews on that unit will be forth coming. I have never seen a Lowrance on the ice but I have seen mixed reviews on them, mostly positive.

Back to the MarCum last season this unit and package got it's feet wet with the Gander GSX and Cabela's VXR and MarCum added a larger zoom for the 80' and 160' setting and lowered the price with the rebate. It's a win win for the consumer on a budget and MarCum showed yet again that it provides more bang for the buck. Good luck with your choice and good fishing...

[Ralph Wiggum]

Oh boy! Here we go again! I love my X67c. I wouldn't waste the cash on the M68c for the GPS because you're not able to put a mapping chip in the M68c. I'm getting an H2Oc to go with mine for GPS capability.

Like has been mentioned, stick with getting a locator, first. Whatever you get will help you catch fish.

Just one guy's opinion.

[riverrat56]

I'll chime in, like said, deffinatly go with a flasher first, camera's are more of a toy than a tool. I have both and I use the flasher every time out but the camera only sometimes.

I haven't looked at the Marcum VX-1 but I'm sure it is a quality unit. I have an LX-3, and yes it is better than a Vexilar, no doubt in my mind, even if you just look at the features it has more, but it goes beyond that to customer service and I feel it is more user friendly.

Vexilar still makes a quality product and if you find a deal on a used FL-8 I wouldn't hesitate to buy it, but if you can look to Marcum, you won't be disappointed.

[BrokenRap]

Thanks Ralph, I didnt know that. Now I dont regret just going with the X67 at all. I was also thinking of just getting a handheld GPS like the H2o.

Clint Marcy

[Bones]

Thanks for the Info. I will skip the camera for now but now what should I get? I see that Lowrance has a new ice set up that you can put the chips in. I know they cost more but are they worth the extra cash or should I just get a Marcum or Vexilar? I have been reading some other threads and it looks like most people are getting the Marcums. I just have not seen a lot comparing them to the Lowrances. How about interference with the Lowrance is another question since I will ber fishing with the 2 other brands?

[markkstanley]

LOwrance does not have a noise rejection button like Marcum or Vex. You have to go into the menu system to set everything up but I haven't had any issues fishing next to Vexor Marcums with my x67. If you need/want a summer unit as well as an ice unit Lowrance is a very good option. I have a 102c and a x67 both with ice ducers. I use both all summer on the boat. Added an H20c to the mix and I have all the flexibility I could want. I opted for the 102c over the 332c because I wanted a portable GPS unit I could use in vehicle and that I could easily move around with me in the boat. the 102 + the H2Oc cost a little less than the 332 package too