Vex question

[huntnfish]

I was fishing in about 6 feet of water last weekend. I had my FL-18 in low power mode and had a heck of a time picking up my jig and I had to crank up the sensitivity for that. I tried bigger jigs and it wasn't much better. I realize that the 12 degree transducer doesn't get real wide in that shallow of water, but shouldn't it pick up the jig better? The only time I could see it was when it was directly below the puck. A friend of mine has an LX-5 so I tried that for a while and was very impressed with the unit. I had no trouble picking up my jig no matter where it was. Even in the narrow mode I could see my jig better with it. Is the marcum that much better or just better in that situation? Does anyone have any experience with this with their Vex?

[prov1900]

I dont use my low power mode for that very reason. I may be wrong in doing so, but in normal mode, I can pick up even the smallest jigs, ice fishing. I will use the low power mode if there are a ton of weeds, but mostly in open, shallow water. The Marcum is supposed to be more powerful, therefore probably better in that situation, but I have a Vex, and will stay with it. I cant believe that I fished for that many years without one. I also have a 12 degree.

[huntnfish]

I tried it in regular power mode and there was so much clutter on the screen that I couldn't see the jig through all of it, even with the sensitivity turned all the way down. I'm not new to using a Vexilar, but this shallow water has me wondering if it is time to switch to something else that might work better. I usually fish shallow early and late in the year and I feel lost without that screen to look at.

[Northlander]

I had that at times and it was the bugs etc. coming off the bottom once dark started rolling around. No matter what I did I couldnt see my jig. Didnt matter if it was my FL-8 my buddies 18 or my LX-3.

[CNY Tim]

There is only one shallow water unit for me that gives you the punch down power, clutter clean-up, advanced features for hole hopping in zoom and innate ability to pick up your jig in the densest of weeds and that's the MarCum LX-5 in the narrow beam 8 deg. transducer(NBT). On countless occasions when the top layer of weeds breaks down and settles anywhere from 6" to 8" off the bottom this unit has punch through power to see your jig through the densest of weed mats where the big gills hide. This will be the 2nd season I will have the pleasure of running the MarCum LX-5 and all I can say is Wow! I like many others made the switch from Vex to MarCum and have not looked back. Even with the 9 deg. transducer on your Vex you cannot get the definition you need compared to the MarCum it's not even close. Simply put the Vex is a good unit but the MarCum LX-5 is the best.

[huntnfish]

Isn't this what the low power mode is for on the vex? I was in shallow water. In low power mode I didn't pick up any clutter nor did I with the Marcum. In regular power mode and set on 0 I was getting 3 signals (6ft, 12, and 18) so that is why I was using the low power. It was very frustrating to only see the jig for a moment and also see a flash of a fish going towards the jig.

[CNY Tim]

I feel your frustration huntnfish and so have many others... The low power mode is a bandaid that frankly did nothing for me with my FL-18. I know the frustration first hand many times I sat there in normal mode and could for the most part pick up jig flicker in heavy weeds but the rest of the screen was a mess so I would flip it over to LP and instead of having the gain set at "0" in Normal I would be at 3 or 4 in LP and the same thing would happen. So what have I gained? The LP was supposed to help but did not and until Vex does something other than cosmetic facelifts to this unit I doubt the "blobs" will change. As said earlier the LX-5 is the go to unit in the grass there's none better, it's all in there receiver and precision gain adjustment, it's flat out surgical.. Nothing dissects shallow water/weeds crisper or clearer than the LX-5 and it's sweet in deep water too..

[huntnfish]

I picked up a VX-1 for my father in law. I might just have to test it out for him before Christmas, just to make sure it works. I think I might have to start looking at getting an LX-5. It sure is a sweet unit and the sharpness of the colors are great. Definately a nice unit.

[katoguy]

huntnfish, one joe's bandaid is 40,000 other buyer's each year's useful tool. L.O.L. (Why do some users not even try to be helpful, they just try to push some other company's product? I'd be skeptical of their responses.)

Great tool in shallow water! I was watching the walleyes hit in 5 FOW Saturday nite on my vex.

My guess is battery is getting low or transducer issue.

[CNY Tim]

Just remember the VX-1 like the Vex is two colors blended to see the medium strength signal. But the LX-5 and LX3TC are three individual LED's which sharpens the look on the display. My local gander has sold out of the VX-1's and has more on backorder, great little introductory unit for the price, I am sure your father-in-law will have a blast with it...

[CNY Tim]

Katoguy - All I can say is I have owned and fished the FL-8 and FL-18 and nothing compares to an LX-5. Believe me a battery or new transducer is not gonna help what he is experiencing in shallow water, the low power mode is a farce as far as I'm concerned you might as well put duct tape over the transducer like some vexilar users suggest for shallow water applications it may hold better than a bandaid. How's that for an answer?

[Gissert]

huntnfish -

From your description I'll agree with the poster that suggested you may have a transducer that is failed or failing. I had an old FL8, and your description exactly fits my experience when I had a transducer going bad. I'll make the assumption that your battery is in good condition.

I rarely fish under 12 FOW or in any appreciable weeds - I am primarily a walleye guy.

I use LP mode on my FL18 - a lot. I really like it. When fishing two rods, I fish in LP mode, and I dont have to look at my dead stick minnow when I get the gain set correctly. If I need to reset my deadstick, I switch to normal power, set it where I want it, and then go back to LP and the dead stick lure will disappear.

Same thing if I am fishing side by side with someone using another locator, I use LP mode, and I dont see their lure so much.

I was fishing last Saturday. If I was in LP mode, my gain was on about 3 to 4 in LP mode, and I was seeing my lure just fine from the ice all the way to the bottom in 30FOW.

I suggest you shoot Vexilar an email or give them a call. From your description, I really think your transducer is the problem. They will help you solve your problem.

[katoguy]

Everyone has an opinion and you try to force yours upon everyone. You don't even try to respond to the question, you just try to get your two cents by cutting down THE major player in the flasher market. Somthing is rotten in Denmark (or NY)!

[huntnfish]

I'm not sure that it is the transducer. This will be my 6th season with this FL-18 and I have had the same issues with it since it was new. Up until this year I just wrote it off as just how it worked until I tried that Marcum. When you are fishing in shallow water where do you have the settings? I only fish this shallow early in the year and then again late and in between I am in 15-30 feet. I never have had a problem picking up my jig when fishing deeper water, just in less than 8 feet. I may have to give Vexilar a call and see what they have to say. Maybe I am just doing something wrong.

[CNY Tim]

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A friend of mine has an LX-5 so I tried that for a while and was very impressed with the unit. I had no trouble picking up my jig no matter where it was. Even in the narrow mode I could see my jig better with it. Is the marcum that much better or just better in that situation?

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Gee Kato I don't know, I thought I was answering his question... I did say the Vex was a good unit didn't I?

huntnfish - I hope you get things straightened out with your FL-18 but if your not satisfied with the results by all means don't buy a MarCum from what I said. Do your own homework that's what I did and you will find the truth... Good luck to you...

[katoguy]

You aren't doing anything wrong. Flashers are a very simple piece of equipment to use. (especially since the self leveling transducer came around)

I tried setting at normal power and turning the gain way low, but this didn't work well. I have been running on the low power mode in about 5-6 FOW. Gain set around 3. Use the zoom to look at a slightly bigger piece of the display. I certainly don't have problems picking up jig & minnowhead (or walleyes sniffing) around. I have been fishing with several hard core walleye anglers all using this same method.

When my last unit (FL8 used year round) got older and transducer got beat up, I experienced the same issue as what you described. I tried a buddy's transducer and it cured the problem.

The Motor Clinic / Vexilar in Mpls will definitely be able to answer your questions - go straight to the experts at 952-884-5291. Good luck.

[Dave]

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....had a heck of a time picking up my jig and I had to crank up the sensitivity for that. I tried bigger jigs and it wasn't much better.

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I've experienceed this with both brands of flashers and in each case, it was a bad transducer.

[Walleye Guy]

Swap out your transducer with a buddy's Vexilar transducer and see if the problem goes away. Transducers on all flasher can and do go bad. Your transducer may have had a problem from the day you bought it but still worked in most applications.

[huntnfish]

I am done fishing shallow until closer to ice out, but I will switch transducers with a friends. I would be kind of upset if my transducer was bad from the start. I am very careful not to scratch the bottom and I have a handheld so I don't use it to check depth through the ice. I guess a transducer is better than getting a whole new unit. This has been the only thing that I haven't liked about the FL-18 in the last 6 years.