fish finder debate?

ok so i want to get a vexilar or something. what are your opinions on all brands and what i should look for? or should i say screw it and just buy the Vexilar FL 22 for like 600 bucks

IMHO, Both vexilar and marcum are great products. I’ve fished with both and not a single complaint about either.

I personally, and a Vex guy. If I was getting another Vexilar I would really consider the FL 18 agian. I have the FL 20 and my opinion is it’s easy for me to read depths on the 18 than 20.

Now, if you go over to the macum side, well, now you have even more options.
Standard LX-5 flasher, or LX-7 With Flasher and other sonar advantages, or the new LX-9 With all that and on screen camera. I know, getting pretty pricy.

I know this hasn’t been much help, but if I were sending a freind out for a new flasher, and plain all around great preformance, it would probabaly be the FL-18, With mag screen.
I do Love my FL-20 Though.
Only difference with FL-22 Is tri-beam.

Happy shopping, be looking around, prices should start getting attractive.

You have to remember that the FL-22 has a maximum depth of 60 feet, which limits some anglers that fish deeper lakes. I have the FL-20 because of that issue.
I still am waiting for one of the Marcum owners to post how long their batteries last with the lcd screens on their lx models. So far I haven’t seen anything. Can they last 2 days like the Vex and Marcum flashers?

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I still am waiting for one of the Marcum owners to post how long their batteries last with the lcd screens on their lx models. So far I haven’t seen anything. Can they last 2 days like the Vex and Marcum flashers?

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Yep. I get over 20 hrs on one charge using my LX-7.

The best answer I can give you is to set your price range based on how much you’re going to use it. If you’re a serious ice angler I personally would go with an lx-6 or 7 because the digital screen allows you to configure your unit any way you’d like. If you’re only going to use it a few times per year I would take a look at a lower cost option like a showdown which is still a heck of a unit for the price

If you want a “flasher” and don’t want any BSing or upgrading, then get the lx-5. It is in a class of its own, much better than any of the vexilars or humminbirds. If you want new cutting edge, go for the lx-7 or lx-6.

If you want a basic flasher, and don’t want to buy the top of the line, I suggest a vx-1P. It is compatible to the fl-18 and $200 less. Fantastic unit for the price IMO.

I just switched from an LX-5 to an FL22 with a pro view transducer. I personally like the 22 better myself. I like the 10ft selections and it runs smoother then my 5.

Curt, as you can see there are so many options out there. I have an FL-18 but i just fished with my buddies lx-1. They both work fantastic! With either the Vex or the Marcum you can’t really go wrong. Good luck and tight lines.

The main thing I look for is target separation and resolution. The LX-5 with SFL on is about .75″ target seperation so that’s the unit I got. Marcum has a unique LED configuration which also gives them a better resolution. With those features you will see more seperate targets and smaller movements. Some guys interpret that as “too much flashing” and it annoys them. So they prefer Vexilar which tends to blob things together more. I prefer to see detail. The LX-5 is generally quieter than the vexilar but that’s not always the case. I also prefer the Marcum transducer hanger versus Vexilar foam floater. It would be nice if you knew guys with both brands to try out. I’m sure if you get a FL-20 or FL-22 you wouldn’t be disappointed.

Now there’s the fancy digital models but I don’t know what more you get for the extra bucks. I don’t find myself wanting for anything else – except maybe a 30ft depth range.

John S.