now I know I am going to start a war but i am looking for some honest answers not ford vs chevy. I am in the market for a flasher for ice fishing and this will be my first. I have used Vexilar in the past and it was an fl-18. what do you guys suggest as I have never used anything but Vexilar and what marcum is comparable to the vex 18
I have owned several of both manufacturers, vexilar FL-8, Vexilar FL-18, Marcum VX-1, Marcum Troller, Marcum LX-5. If it is a flasher you looking at I would go with Marcum.
The Marcum LCD Flashers (LX-6, LX-7) are amazing, even the older LX-5, LX-3, and low end VX-1 are great units.
If it was me I would look for a used LX-5 or LX-6, LX-7 if you want to get into an LCD unit.
I really like Vexilar’s FishPhone for under $200. It allows you to transmit video from an underwater camera via wifi wirelessly to your iPhone, iPad or other smartphones.
I think this would be great when setup inside a shack and have the camera in a hole outside pointing back at your bait. I think Marcum and others will be looking at this technology in the near future.
The LX-3tc or LX-5 would be comparable to the FL-18.
Its hard to beat the durability and ease of use of a vexilar,it may not have as many bells and whistles,but do you really need or want them,I have dropped my vexilar and bounced it around and it has worked flawlessly for many years.
looks to me that you are just starting to ice fish, or you are not hard core and on the ice every free moment of the day. if you are you a guy that needs the latest and greatest, then break out the checkbook and go with a top of the line Marcum. if you are looking for a unit that will show you what you need to see and not break the bank, go with a vexilar fl-8. that is what I have, mine is so old it doesn’t even have the interference feature. when this unit goes bad, it will be replaced with another fl-8. I have used both brands and different models of each and didn’t think that all the extra features on the other models were worth the extra money. this is my opinion, and you know about opinions, they are like bung holes, everybody has one and they all stink.
I run a FL-18 and Vx1p
Though the vx1 has bottom zoom like the FL18 they are not very close to being similar.
I really dislike how fish and lures “jump” on the Marcum screen, it is not smooth.
If you move your jig up in the water column it is not shown on the graph as a smooth motion. You have to move it an inch or better then the graph color (green) jumps up a notch on the viewing screen. Fish are the same way.
It is due to lines of resolution on the flasher screen. Not sure what marcum has but Vex is 525 lines and it really shows up different.
Just my $.02 as it drives me nuts.
They both work and catch fish but in flashers I feel Vex has the edge. However movable zoom on Marcum 3 and 5 is very nice for suspended fish (crappies) and Vex has ZERO product in the flat screen market.
Its a Ford/Chevy thing…
Here goes the debate….
I have went from Lowrance Green box,Sitex,Vexilar finally to a FL8 SLT. Wow did life improve. You could see everything compared to the older technology.
As things progressed I went to a Fl18 zoom was incredible when it first came out. Then to a Marcum LX3 for a little while. It was more powerful, a little crisper. Went back to a Vexilar to a FL20. Fished this for about a year liked it. Then someone showed me the LX7…
My world changed. It was totally different I like that you can use it like a flasher and with an adjustable zoom on a digital screen it is simply amazing.
If you are serious about getting something look at a LX7. Yes I know there are people who say oh they had issues with software. And for some they did but they took care of it and the newest release is pretty impressive. I fished with them all, over the years and the humming of a vexilar is something I do not miss. Technology is not cheap but I can honestly say I believe a LX7 is worth the investment.
Just my .01 cents.
Now let the debate roll on!! 
I have been ice fishing for years I am 39 years old and I fish pretty hard summer and winter I am not the guy that wants one because they are out there I have been against them for years but I like to eat fish and getting out fished day after day is just getting old. I am getting a flasher for sure and I know vexilar is a great unit just wanted some input because everyone claims to have the best out there. i just want to be happy with what I buy I dont want any disappointments. I was looking at an LX-5
Quote:
Then someone showed me the LX7…
My world changed. It was totally different I like that you can use it like a flasher and with an adjustable zoom on a digital screen it is simply amazing.
If you are serious about getting something look at a LX7. Yes I know there are people who say oh they had issues with software. And for some they did but they took care of it and the newest release is pretty impressive. I fished with them all, over the years and the humming of a vexilar is something I do not miss. Technology is not cheap but I can honestly say I believe a LX7 is worth the investment.
Just my .01 cents.
Now let the debate roll on!!
X2… I have never owned one, borrowed many… when I got my hands on the LX7 2 years ago…. game over
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I have been ice fishing for years I am 39 years old and I fish pretty hard summer and winter I am not the guy that wants one because they are out there I have been against them for years but I like to eat fish and getting out fished day after day is just getting old. I am getting a flasher for sure and I know vexilar is a great unit just wanted some input because everyone claims to have the best out there. i just want to be happy with what I buy I dont want any disappointments. I was looking at an LX-5
You will be very happy with an LX-5, top of the line in mechanical flashers for Marcum. I’m not sure why one of the previous posters had issues with the Marcum VX-1 zoom jumping, I have never had that problem, smooth as silk when you move the bait and that is on Marcum’s low end flasher. The Vex FL-8 does not have the zoom feature, which is great to have when fish are tight to the bottom and there are more than one. With the zoom you can easily see them.
If money is not an option look for an LX-6 otherwise you should be able to pickup a used LX-5 for $300 to $350 max.
well guys i just had a friend offer to sell me his extra fl 18 for 200 i think i have to take it for that price.
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well guys i just had a friend offer to sell me his extra fl 18 for 200 i think i have to take it for that price.
If you dont I will!
or I will happily trade a 1 year old VX1 
I have the lx 5. This was my first flasher. You wont be dissappointed.
ANY flasher is better than not having one at all. Take a look around at store displays if you have them available near you and keep a mental list of the ones you like. Maybe see if you have a friend that would lend you his to try out that model and decide from there.
Of course, that’s only if you pass up your friends offer.
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Its hard to beat the durability and ease of use of a vexilar,it may not have as many bells and whistles,but do you really need or want them,I have dropped my vexilar and bounced it around and it has worked flawlessly for many years.
X2 
Couldn’t have said it better myself
Is there any way just to laminate one of these discussions so that we don’t have to discuss it every 2 weeks?
Get a list of pros and cons that everyone agrees on and just etch it in stone.
Rant over…
and yes I know the technology is constantly changing.
I started out with an FL8 years ago and still have it for when I fish with someone without one. Vexlars are great units. I went from my FL8 to an LX5. I liked it better because of the bottom zoom and less interference when my buddies. A couple of years ago I went to an LX7 and it’s amazing. I’ve had several folks fish with me and go out and get an LX7 soon after. I also purchased the soft water ducer and run it on my boat as a graph in my boat.
Quote:
Then someone showed me the LX7…
My world changed. It was totally different I like that you can use it like a flasher and with an adjustable zoom on a digital screen it is simply amazing.
If you are serious about getting something look at a LX7. Yes I know there are people who say oh they had issues with software. And for some they did but they took care of it and the newest release is pretty impressive. I fished with them all, over the years and the humming of a vexilar is something I do not miss. Technology is not cheap but I can honestly say I believe a LX7 is worth the investment.
Now I agree what this says. But I will say both are great companies and both companies make great units. I’ve never had an issue dealing with either company. It will come down to personal preference. Personally, I would recommend going out and fishing with people who have what you are looking for and make your choice.
2 LX5 at my house and that’s all one should need for ice fishing.
Shawn
The new line of Marcums are definitely peaking my interest, I’ve been a vex guy for a while now, but I’ve been pondering making a switch to see what Marcum can do to my hookset ratio!!
went from a fl8 to a fl18 to a vx1 to a lx5. prefer the marcums. the fl8 without the compression cable was a blobby mess in shallow water, the fl18 is nice though. but i grew used to my vx1 and then eventually caught a sweet deal on the lx5.
i understand what the person above was talkin about re: the blink vs solid. its the marcum blink vs the vexilar blob. i have an older guy i fish with who’s eyes can’t take the marcum.
fl18 for 200 bucks i’d jump all over.
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