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LX-5 vs FL-20?

Carp-fisher

By Carp-fisher
in Ice Fishing

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fishorgolf Mentor

fishorgolf

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I don't think slimmer is saying just buy the marcum because it is made in the US. What I believe he is saying if you can get and equal product why not choose something made in the US. I respect a company that is tryimng to make a good product and keep some jobs in this country which in todays world if a monumental task.

As a side note. Ever drive throught the ford plants parking lot? (Yes the plant that is closing next year) You could probably count the rangers on one hand. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you.

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Carp-fisher Proficient

Carp-fisher

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I don't think slimmer is saying just buy the marcum because it is made in the US. What I believe he is saying if you can get and equal product why not choose something made in the US. I respect a company that is tryimng to make a good product and keep some jobs in this country which in todays world if a monumental task.

As a side note. Ever drive throught the ford plants parking lot? (Yes the plant that is closing next year) You could probably count the rangers on one hand. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you.

I understand the point and I fully respect people's decisions to try to buy USA products whenever possible.

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Carp-fisher Proficient

Carp-fisher

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I've got an Marcum LX-5 and a Vexilar FL-18. Both are great units.

Honestly, the only issue I had with my FL-18 was at the Brainerd Ice Extravaganza 2 years ago. There was simply too much interference our there and no matter what I did, I couldn't reject it with the Vex. I brought my LX-5 out last year and it took some doing, but I could reject all interference, where the boys with the Vex were in the same predicament that I was in the previous year.

99% of the time the LX-5 is my goto unit and the FL-18 gets borrowed out to my buddies and is used as a backup. Don't get me wrong, I love my FL-18 but I do like the features mentioned above that the LX-5 have over the FL-18.

Good point on the interference problems with the FL-18 compared to the LX-5. This alone would tip me to buy the Marcum.

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Hotspotter Veteran

Hotspotter

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[quote

Having an adjustable zoom throughout the water column is advantageous when fish are suspended, such as crappies.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Why is that? When they are suspened, what are they "in" that you need to zoom in order to separate them from it? The bottom zoom is valuable because it gives better separation of the fish from the bottom. If there's nothing to separate the fish from (i.e, the bottom) why would you need to zoom anywhere but on the bottom???

I would like to answer this question from my perspective as a multi-species ice angler. I try to get out fishing for as many different species as possible, and the bottom zoom is sufficient for most of my walleye fishing needs. That said, I often exclusively utilize the zoom feature on the Marcum LX-5 that allows me to focus on any part of the water column I wish, including the bottom 6 feet, 12 feet, or anywhere in between! This holds true especially for finicky panfish, doubly so for crappies.

To answer your question directly then, I'm not attempting to separate the fish from anything; I'm trying to see the area of fish activity in the highest detail possible. The LX-5 is infinitely adjustable in regards to where you place your zoom window, and this is an incredible feature for me.

Regarding why anyone would want to zoom into anything but the bottom, I'll offer two of many examples that I run into all winter.

Take for example crappies suspended over 39 FOW around 20-30 feet. I can adjust my zoom window to 5 or 10 feet, then slide it up or down and track these fish as they move up and down in the water column as the night progresses. If the larger fish (thicker lines) are towards the bottom of the school, I now have the detail to target these fish specifically and let the bait free-fall through the voracious little ones.

Another favorite application is sunfish near a deep dying weedline. Active ones will often feed right at the top edges of these weeds during early ice. The zoom window gives me the resolution I need to separate fish from weed, as well as allows me to reset the window as I move to shallower or deeper holes.

Bottom zoom is great. The Marcum LX-3 and LX-5 allows you to zoom in on the bottom. I use this for walleye fishing at all times. Even in shallower water. The difference is that I can also more effectively fish for panfish with the same unit by adjusting my zoom window. For the fishing I do, I wouldn't be without it.

Joel

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Bob Horn Mentor

Bob Horn

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Every year someone comes on the boards and says Marcums have breaking problems. This is not true. I have owned vex and never had an issue with them and I own 3 LX-3's and 2 LX-5 and no issues with them. I love my Marcums but get what will work for you. Look at the adjustable zoom, price, and other features on both and make up your mind from there. You won't go wrong with either one but just glad your looking at a flasher and not one of those wantabe flashers. wink.gif

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Carp-fisher Proficient

Carp-fisher

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Quote:

Quote:

[quote

Having an adjustable zoom throughout the water column is advantageous when fish are suspended, such as crappies.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Why is that? When they are suspened, what are they "in" that you need to zoom in order to separate them from it? The bottom zoom is valuable because it gives better separation of the fish from the bottom. If there's nothing to separate the fish from (i.e, the bottom) why would you need to zoom anywhere but on the bottom???

I would like to answer this question from my perspective as a multi-species ice angler. I try to get out fishing for as many different species as possible, and the bottom zoom is sufficient for most of my walleye fishing needs. That said, I often exclusively utilize the zoom feature on the Marcum LX-5 that allows me to focus on any part of the water column I wish, including the bottom 6 feet, 12 feet, or anywhere in between! This holds true especially for finicky panfish, doubly so for crappies.

To answer your question directly then, I'm not attempting to separate the fish from anything; I'm trying to see the area of fish activity in the highest detail possible. The LX-5 is infinitely adjustable in regards to where you place your zoom window, and this is an incredible feature for me.

Regarding why anyone would want to zoom into anything but the bottom, I'll offer two of many examples that I run into all winter.

Take for example crappies suspended over 39 FOW around 20-30 feet. I can adjust my zoom window to 5 or 10 feet, then slide it up or down and track these fish as they move up and down in the water column as the night progresses. If the larger fish (thicker lines) are towards the bottom of the school, I now have the detail to target these fish specifically and let the bait free-fall through the voracious little ones.

Another favorite application is sunfish near a deep dying weedline. Active ones will often feed right at the top edges of these weeds during early ice. The zoom window gives me the resolution I need to separate fish from weed, as well as allows me to reset the window as I move to shallower or deeper holes.

Bottom zoom is great. The Marcum LX-3 and LX-5 allows you to zoom in on the bottom. I use this for walleye fishing at all times. Even in shallower water. The difference is that I can also more effectively fish for panfish with the same unit by adjusting my zoom window. For the fishing I do, I wouldn't be without it.

Joel

Great input. I think you've sold me on the adjustable zoom. I do quite abit of winter crappie fishing and maybe the adjustable zoom would be more useful than I previously thought.

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munchy71 Enthusiast

munchy71

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Quote:

Quote:

[quote

Having an adjustable zoom throughout the water column is advantageous when fish are suspended, such as crappies.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Why is that? When they are suspened, what are they "in" that you need to zoom in order to separate them from it? The bottom zoom is valuable because it gives better separation of the fish from the bottom. If there's nothing to separate the fish from (i.e, the bottom) why would you need to zoom anywhere but on the bottom???

I would like to answer this question from my perspective as a multi-species ice angler. I try to get out fishing for as many different species as possible, and the bottom zoom is sufficient for most of my walleye fishing needs. That said, I often exclusively utilize the zoom feature on the Marcum LX-5 that allows me to focus on any part of the water column I wish, including the bottom 6 feet, 12 feet, or anywhere in between! This holds true especially for finicky panfish, doubly so for crappies.

To answer your question directly then, I'm not attempting to separate the fish from anything; I'm trying to see the area of fish activity in the highest detail possible. The LX-5 is infinitely adjustable in regards to where you place your zoom window, and this is an incredible feature for me.

Regarding why anyone would want to zoom into anything but the bottom, I'll offer two of many examples that I run into all winter.

Take for example crappies suspended over 39 FOW around 20-30 feet. I can adjust my zoom window to 5 or 10 feet, then slide it up or down and track these fish as they move up and down in the water column as the night progresses. If the larger fish (thicker lines) are towards the bottom of the school, I now have the detail to target these fish specifically and let the bait free-fall through the voracious little ones.

Another favorite application is sunfish near a deep dying weedline. Active ones will often feed right at the top edges of these weeds during early ice. The zoom window gives me the resolution I need to separate fish from weed, as well as allows me to reset the window as I move to shallower or deeper holes.

Bottom zoom is great. The Marcum LX-3 and LX-5 allows you to zoom in on the bottom. I use this for walleye fishing at all times. Even in shallower water. The difference is that I can also more effectively fish for panfish with the same unit by adjusting my zoom window. For the fishing I do, I wouldn't be without it.

Joel

By switchin my FL20 OUT of zoom mode, I can do exactly what you've just described and it only takes me a fraction of a second. Don't blink...

I guess it all depends on how zoomed in you think you need to be. I personally don't need to be zoomed in enough to count their scales to differentiate sizes of fish. Therefore the non-zoom mode on my 20 works great for suspended fish.

-Munchy

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crappieflop1212 Collaborator

crappieflop1212

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Quote:

Quote:

[quote

[/indent]

By switchin my FL20
OUT
of zoom mode, I can do exactly what you've just described and it only takes me a fraction of a second. Don't blink...

I guess it all depends on how zoomed in you think you need to be. I personally don't need to be zoomed in enough to count their scales to differentiate sizes of fish. Therefore the non-zoom mode on my 20 works great for suspended fish.

-Munchy

[/indent]

LOL
grin.gif

I love these discussions.
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Hotspotter Veteran

Hotspotter

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Munchy:

Agreed, I can run my LX-5 in regular "non-zoom" mode as well. My point is that for even money, I'll take more features which give me more options. I'd rather let the limiting factor be my decision making, not the technical specifications of whatever product I should choose to carry on the ice this winter.

I feel the adjustable zoom not only allows me to differentiate between sizes of fish, it also helps me distinguish how active these fish are (tightly schooled vs. spread-out) and adjust my presentation accordingly. In full screen mode (Vexilar or Marcum), I find that sometimes the marks all touch each other or nearly so. Then, it's difficult to determine how fish are reacting to your presentation, especially in deeper water like these fish tend to suspend over. In these situations, you're spreading out alot of water on one dial, decreasing your resolution. The screen becomes nearly solid fish in a zone, revealing little/no additional information about how they may be reacting to your bait, moving up/down, and which fish may be making a move on your bait.

As Munchy stated, some folks don't like the zoom/split-screen modes. The LX-5 also has SFL or SuperFineLine Mode for the regular, "non-zoomed" perspective. Basically, it shrinks the widths of your marks while still making them easy enough to see, thus increasing your resolution and target separation across the entire dial.

To each their own. I'm here simply to provide my observations and be of help if possible. Munchy, I fully respect your preference and wish you luck this ice-fishing season. Bring on the hard water!

Joel

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ChuckN Veteran

ChuckN

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I absolutely love my LX-5 and it has been a great unit. For the exact reasons jnelson stated about it's performance...it simply is very clear and I feel Marcum gives the most accurate bottom readings in weeds, sand, mud, rock...you name it. If you have an underwater camera you will see for yourself by watching the lure and the target seperation is incredible even with the lake bottom's content.

I love the entire package and how it's layed out. Everything fits nice in a protected shell. Nothing gets broken or banged around while cruising on the ATV/Snowmobile or in the Otter tub.

No doubt Vexilar is an great unit too...I've had an FL-8 since 1989. Still works great, it's taken a heck of a lot of year round abuse.

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Reynolds Proficient

Reynolds

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I don't understand the argument that you use zoom on the bottom, but then you think it is unnecessary when you are up in the water column. For me, and I assume you also, using the zoom on the bottom is more than just distinguishing the lake bottom from fish that are holding tight as JNelson has explained.

When people are loyal to a certain brand they are going to be less receptive to a competitors innovation. I'm sure they were some loyal Marcum owners questioning whether a flat screen is really necessary much the same as you feel an adjustable zoom is unnecessary. I personally would love to see the LX5 outfitted with a flat screen like that of the FL20.

One last thing, the zoom on Marcum units is very easy to use. You simply hit the zoom button and adjust to wherever you please with the UP/DOWN buttons. In fact, it is so easy that even a caveman could do it wink.gif

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munchy71 Enthusiast

munchy71

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...For me, and I assume you also, using the zoom on the bottom is more than just distinguishing the lake bottom from fish that are holding tight...

Not for me. I use the zoom exclusively for seeing bottom hugging fish that I can't see in regular mode. That's what it was designed for. For everything else the non-zoomed view works just great. That includes following my jig thru a school of suspended fish, determining where the bigger fish are in the school and even seeing individual fish within the school...

Zooming on suspended fish just seems like overkill to me. Kinda like watching TV with binoculars.....grin.gif

-Munchy

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Jim Almquist Grand Master

Jim Almquist

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I have a LX5 and the wife has a LX3tc and we love them for all the reasons that Joel stated. My FL8 is a Hundex FL8 before they were bought by Vexilar and I still would have no problem going out and fishing with it as long as no one with a Marcum or a newer FL8 was close by because it has no IR .The one thing you must remember is that it will show you fish down there but it is up to you to make them bite and that is way tougher to master. It is just another tool to help put a few more fish on the ice.

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Reynolds Proficient

Reynolds

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If you are getting a screen presentation that suits you in non-zoom mode, then I agree that you would not need an adjustable zoom. It all comes down to personal preference. I would advise anyone considering a flasher to try them both out if at all possible. I would be disappointed to drop $470-$500 on one of these flashers only find out that you wish you would have gone with the other brand.

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USMC130FE Community Regular

USMC130FE

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Zooming on suspended fish just seems like overkill to me. Kinda like watching TV with binoculars.....
grin.gif

-Munchy

WOW now there is a great example of compairing products. If the unit you have doesn't have a certain feature don't criticize the units that do. Everyone gets into a heated discussion about what one is the "BEST" and too much typing and such is wasted. These threads and post are supposed to be, at least I thought anyway, was to give advice and insight to people that needed help with ICE FISHING and such. If you make comparisons like this and have the "Vexilar Pro Staff", which by the way you spelled it as Pro Saff, it's quite obvious your just trying to push their product. If the Vex is that much better go ahead and explain it in technical terms of sorts. I highly doubt that Marcum Technologies would have wasted their money on R&D on a feature that was useless. Just so everyone here knows I have the FL-18 and an LX-5 and each one has certian features that I like more on one than the other, but when push comes to shove I fish with the LX-5 almost exclusively, especially when I'm chasing Crappies that are suspended anywhere between 10'-25' in 40 FOW because as stated before it does make a difference.

I think we need Ice Soon!!

Tight Lines All.

Steve

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Walleye Guy Mentor

Walleye Guy

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USMC,

To be fair I think it needs to be mentioned that there are prostaffers from both Marcum and Vexilar on this site.

You cannot go wrong with either unit. Each has a few features that the other doesn't. Pick the one that best meets your needs.

And and by the way, both companies will probably come out with new units next year that will leave all of us wanting to upgrade (again).

WG

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Borch Grand Master

Borch

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I love my LX-5 and my LX-3. Before that I loved my Vex Fl-8 & 18 units. My FL-8 still gets a lot of use and is my primary unit on my boat with some winter use as well.

It really comes down to the features you want and what you're comfortable with. I really don't think you can go wrong with either Marcum or Vexilar. Both have excellent customer service as well and will take care of you if you need service.

Borch

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slipperybob Veteran

slipperybob

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I love the way how the vexilar looks, all my buddies got them...but in the end I got a LX5 for the adjustable zoom. just last year...just to be different.

Then after playing with the Super Fine Line separation...I tell ya, seeing your lure and seeing two/three fishes trying to bite it and choosing the bigger fish of the bunch to hook up is really nice to see. When you see a hard red signal vs just a solid orange siganl, you know which crappie is bigger. And when you see a school of baitfish swimming by and your flasher just goes lit up like dancing interference, you might want to find a predatory fish chasing the school. When you see your lure and a fish next to it, you can have a better preparation in reaction to a fish strike.

I watched my buddlies vexilar and I can't tell a fish if there's one/two/three fishes looking at my lure. The biggest fish eclipses the smaller ones and you don't know which one you're trying to go for.

Separating fish from fish from lure is pretty neat feature...I'm still trying to figure out the weed part, but I just figure that weeds don't move up and down.

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Corey Bechtold Veteran

Corey Bechtold

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Posted

This is just a post to answer a question I was asked at the Ice Frenzy show. Sorry I forgot your name but I got the information about your battery.

You should try plugging in your charger and leave it on for 72 hours. The battery should be charged after this time. If the light doesn't come on it could e the charger since the battery isn't that old. If it isn't showing a complete charge than contack the company and they'll walk you through some trouble shooting tips or just replace your battery and/or charger.

Have fun at the Wedding! grin.gif

Corey Bechtold

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