New Flasher Owner- Questions

[zamboni]

Bought a new Marcum today, and have personally never used a flasher myself. What are some of the must haves? That charge indicator? Does a Vex magnifyer fit on it? Some good tips on using it would be awesome as well. Thanks!! Its an LX2 btw.

[TiNK3R]

I just got mine yesterday. I picked up a vex fl8 genz pack. Didn't catch much today, but it was really fun none the less!

[Cliff Wagenbach]

Congratulations! You now own one of the best flashers out there!

The charge indicator is nice, but not really needed. Just recharge your battery overnight every time you use it. The battery will easily last all day and maybe two days if it is a new battery.

You will not need the Vex Magnifier! Even if it did fit.

The Marcum signal is very clear and easy to see.

Usually I drop a jig down the hole until it is on the bottom, lift it around 1 foot, and then increase the gain until the jig is easy to read. Any fish that comes in will then be very easy to see.

Not sure if the LX2 has zoom or not. If it does, be sure to use it anytime that you are after fish that hold on the bottom in water that is 20' or deeper.

Try to keep the transducer under the bottom of the ice also.

Good Fishing!

Cliff

[zamboni]

Yes, it actually does have zoom, and IR buttons. I can't wait to use it- I got it for a steal @ $229!! Thanks for the advice!!

[ckl_leonard]

I got my lx 2 for the same price...and it works awesome...zoom is the best feature. very clear and easy to read.

[jwhjr]

Enjoy, fishing is a lot more fun with one.

[fishinalot]

If you have never fished with one before, you will never fish without again after using it.

With any flashers Marcum or Vexilars, I would not fish again without one!

[BartmanMN]

Where did you find the lx2 for $229?

[zamboni]

 Originally Posted By: BartmanMN

Where did you find the lx2 for $229?

Cabelas, they had to ship it (on a Cabelas truck) from the Lehi, UT store. Been waiting for a month for it (no kidding).

[zamboni]

OH, I have a couple more questions. Some say they can tell even what the species of fish is on their flashers just by watching their display- how can you tell? AND, size of fish is another thing ppl can tell by the display- does a bigger fish give off a brighter signal?

[37MAX]

Bought me a LX5 this year,know that I figured out all the functions on it I love it. You will enjoy your marcum.

[PerchJerker]

Even though you have a Marum, you should check out the Support page on the Vexilar HSOforum. They have a lot of really great articles, tips and videos on how to use a flasher. Even though it's all specific to Vexilars, you will be able to apply it to your Marcum.

[SP180]

I got an LX2 from cabelas for 229. For the price, nothing seems better.

[wolfman-k]

As for the size of fish question, a bigger fish will show up red on a flaher, a little smaller fish will show up as orange and small fish and bait fish will be green. If you see a red mark, move your bait just above them and jig slightly then move it just a bit up, sometimes they will chase and grab. Good luck.

[zamboni]

OK, got the Marcum out today, and absolutely can't believe I have gone this long without one. I more question now that I have used it- the rubber slide for the cord grips the cord and bunches it all up, anyway around that?

[PerchJerker]

There is a slit in the side of the cord stop, use something like a screwdriver or a knife blade (if you're careful) to pry that opening a little farther apart, then the stop will slide much more easily.

[zamboni]

Thanks- was kind of a pain

[Kyle Sandberg]

Also, when your sliding it, get it and the cord wet. Makes it so much easier to do.

[Bulldoggr]

 Originally Posted By: wolfman-k

As for the size of fish question, a bigger fish will show up red on a flaher, a little smaller fish will show up as orange and small fish and bait fish will be green. If you see a red mark, move your bait just above them and jig slightly then move it just a bit up, sometimes they will chase and grab. Good luck.

This is kinda misleading, a small fish or weak single ( a fish that is just on the edge of the cone) will be yellow. As a fish moves in more directly under the transducer, it gets a stronger reading. Usually green, then red. But at the same time a big fish and make a nice wide yellow band as it is on the edge of the cone.

So yes what Kdawg is saying can be true. there are also other variables.But you wil be able to read the flasher better each time you use it.

[TiNK3R]

This question might be answered elsewhere, as I've seen it before (never an answer) but can yo use the vex for more than one hole?

IE: My (very small) portable is setup as shown below. If I drilled a third hole and dropped it in the middle, would it pick both up? Would it not be worth it as you couldn't see fish?

*

#

*

*=hole #=vex

Is there any attachment or any way other than spending another $300 to keep the wife from stealing it every two seconds?

[eurolarva]

If your fishing in water deeper then 15 ft and you are on the 20 degree cone you can use multiple lines with one flasher. I fished Lake of the Woods last week in 32 ft of water and I had a full size rented fish house to myself. I could see both lines in any of the 8 holes. I kept my hook and minnow about a foot off the ground and the jig or angel eyes about 3 inches off the ground. That way I could tell which one the fish was going after.

[NDL]

I have a 12 degree cone and have used it for 2 lines at the same time in 20+ feet. Like eurolarva said, place your baits at slightly different depths so that you know which one the fish is going after.

[JigginIsLife]

Something that i have found usefull if it didnt come with the flasher is a soft pack, i got my fl-8se and got the soft pack for it and it keeps it in incredable condition, even 4 yrs after using it a little bit of a hassle with the all the zippers but i think its well worth it when i will want to sell it.

[Bulldoggr]

If it is deep water, yes it is possible. The best you can do is one of the old splitters, i am not sure if they make em anymore. where you could put two transducers on. a wide angle and narrow angle.

The problem with that is you can only use one transducer at a time. Not sure if they even make that switch box anymore, cause Vex and Marcum already have it built in.

So no you would have to buy anothe flasher for the wife to use.

[MuleShack]

Congrats on the purchase...you wont leave home without it again.

I took the wife fishing on saturday and basically let her use my LX5 so she would get interested in and have fun fishing. It worked as she was working them off the bottom using the graph.

Only down fall was i was fishing blind all day...

Oh well, now i need to find a sale on some LX1's so she will have her own when she decides to come with.