Vexilar vs. Marcum

I know that Marcum is used on the IDO show but I was wonding how many guys have a Marcum and how many have a Vexilar. The question comes up after reading the new Marcum thread. Why do you like yours and what made you choose that brand over the other one. I just picked up a Vexilar FL-18. Got it two years old becuase I found it in my price range. I am excited to get to using it but I am still curious. I know that the Lowrance guys say go with the LCD screens of the x67 but I have a flasher so I want to know what makes you flasher guys tick.

PS – I think if I posted that last sentence in any other forum someone might report me and I would be kicked out. I gotta love the uniqueness of the ice fishing world.

Fitting question for the first official day of the ice fishing forum!

Let the games begin!!

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I want to know what makes you flasher guys tick.

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The Ice Fishing Bikini Team

The “Infamous” Marcum vs. Vexilar topic!! I think my personal views are now common knowledge. I’ll let others weigh in, and then if needed I can add why I feel Marcum Technology offers anglers a distinct advantage as they hit the ice this season. I urge members to display our well respected class in keeping blows above the belt. Both companies are well respected throughout the fishing industry. Competition tends to raise the bar for technological advances.

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I want to know what makes you flasher guys tick.

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The Ice Fishing Bikini Team

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The “Infamous” Marcum vs. Vexilar topic!! I think my personal views are now common knowledge. I’ll let others weigh in, and then if needed I can add why I feel Marcum Technology offers anglers a distinct advantage as they hit the ice this season. I urge members to display our well respected class in keeping blows above the belt. Both companies are well respected throughout the fishing industry. Competition tends to raise the bar for technological advances.

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Well put. I got the Vexilar because it fit what I could afford. I am just currious as to why people chose one over the other. Not looking for a bash sesion, just some insite into the minds of flasher fishermen.

I think you’ll find it here Iceman! I’ll follow the thread, and weigh in from my perspective later on. I will say regardless of the brand you personally choose…….HAVING SOME FORM OF SONAR WILL GREATLY ENHANCE YOUR CATCH RATE!! Not too long ago many guys thought it was some form of “Witchcraft” but finally got sick of photographing their buddies fish!!

Not sure of the benefit of one over the other. I got a vexilar because I found a used one in my price range. Can’t go fishing without it now.

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I have a flasher so I want to know what makes you flasher guys tick.

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For myself and many others, it comes down to features, resolution, and Made in Minnesota.

Flasher technology stood at a stalemate for years prior to the introduction of the MarCum line. Since that introduction, we as consumers have seen leaps in the technology and this continues every year.

Today, Interference is none issue since MarCum’s new signal conditioning technology. For years, the only option an ice angler had was simple signal filtering.

Variable cone angles noow make many situations more easily fished.

Adjustable Zoom windows are a crappie fishermans best friend.

Better target separations have rid display screens of blurry, Blobbed return signals.

True time resolution lets an angler “feel” a fish’s mood. When I say true, I refering to the immediate reaction of the display relative to the targets.

When you put the above points into one package and then manufacture it MN, USA, you have a MarCum.

What Matt said and…

It matched my truck!

i like my vex, cause i don’t have brand X.

Shoot, a little more thought and that could have been a hicu(spelling).

Oh yeah, and chicks dig em

I picked up a marcum lx-5 last year after shopping around for a while. O chose the lx-5 because of the adjustable zoom and target separation. I wont ice fish without it. The only thing i wish it had was a US2 hookup for my terrova. Patience grasshopper.

If Marcum helps keep the lights on here. I will help them keep the lights on there

I bought my vexilar fl8 becouse of price about 8 years ago. the thing has been bullet proof. It now belongs to the wife and I went to cabelas on friday and bought the fl22.

Type Vexilar vs. Marcum in on google and you get a crazy number of forums popping up. FL-18 is a good unit. Me and my dad used to share one and it worked awesome, without ever a hiccup, and he still uses it. I got a marcum LX-5 during that reeds spring sale ($299 ) last spring and basically quit looking at flashers after that, but I think they are still the best one available.

I think my favorite thing about the Marcum that seems to get overlooked a little is that everything you need comes with it in a nice compact soft case. Even some of the later FL-18 models were starting to get really big when they started adding the rod holders, battery indicator, and other stuff. Somehow they kept getting taller and heavier. Also, when you buy an LX-5, you don’t need to worry about buying accessories, different transducers, or S cables, because it basically comes with everything you need.

A friend came to my shack one day with his LX-5 nand set it next to my FL-8, took all of about 2 minutes to convince me, I now own 2 LX-5’s and havent looked at another flasher in about 5 years. What sold me was the crisp clean lines, better target seperation and the Super Fine Line. Like others have already said you get everything you need when you buy it, not having to buy add ons later, best part to was the price, cheaper than the high end Vex’s and IMO 5X the unit. I was a happy Vex owner once upon a time, then something better came along, I’ll own it untill theres something better……….someday……

I used to have 2 Vexilars. One for me and 1 for Tuck. After fishing with Daze a couple times and seeing first hand the differences I sold one of my Vexilars ,gave my almost new fl-18 to Tuck (see how long that lasts ) and bought a LX-5. Biggest reason for me was the adjustable zoom. Being made in MN is awesome too!

Bottom line is ..”you cant catch’m if dont Marcum”

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Bottom line is ..”you cant catch’m if dont Marcum”

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I think we have a winner….Love it, do you mind if I use that slogan?

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Bottom line is ..”you cant catch’m if dont Marcum”

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I think we have a winner….Love it, do you mind if I use that slogan?

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Truly a GEM!! Love it!

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I used to have 2 Vexilars. One for me and 1 for Tuck. After fishing with Daze a couple times and seeing first hand the differences I sold one of my Vexilars ,gave my almost new fl-18 to Tuck (see how long that lasts ) and bought a LX-5.

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I vaguely remember using Tuck the “Human Sonar” briefly last year, but the interference was rather tough to live with. I also think the water was a bit cold on his head!!

Actually Andy I was hoping you’d stick with the FL18. I liked watching you pace around muttering to yourself “That is not even fair!!” “Chris is fishing those Crappies in his zoom at 10 feet off the bottom!!”

Remember this pic!! Keep your toes out of the water kids!!

Well did you get his head turned!!

Oh Yeah!!

I prefer the vex in weedy situations and the Marcum in deep water. The Marcum i could never really see the bottom huggers as the bottom would flicker too much for my taste while fishing in the weeds. The vex just seems to work better for me in the weeds. Hands down the Marcum works way better when fishing near other people in deep water. Just my 2 cents worth. Buy what you like. The vex 18 and the lx 5 are similar in price. You will never forget to bring your Marcum home though after fishing.

Vex hands down. Bullet prof since early 90’s. FL8, FL18 & FL20. Have had “0” issues.

This is why I love this site. I joined not a week ago and have learned more in that time than the years I have been on the ice. I never thought that this was such a big issue but now I can see I was wrong. I am a gill and perch guy so being able to see the bottom better for me is really important. I would like to try crappie though so I will look into the Marcums as well. Thanks for all the feed back and now I have some knowledge on both so if any one askes, I can give them the pros and cons of both.

No one has mentioned the noise issue. I have fished with other guys using Vexillars and the noise gets really annoying for me. My MarCum is almost silent. I also wouldn’t like having that foam float in the hole I’m fishing in.

I have a FL18 and LX5.If cost was not an issue I like the marcum better for all the reasons mentioned.The FL18 served me well for years,and is now my ”loaner” I tell my buddies it’s easier to use than the Marcum .If the used Vex is in your price range not a bad choice.If the Marcum is a 10 I would put the vex about 7 or 8,and fishing without one a 2 {still beats working}.Also from using both if you fish 15 foot or less,and not near other units FL18 could serve you very well.Mine is near 7 years old and still works well.In a few years and you find the bucks move up to the Marcum.Keep your eyes open late season for good deals.Hope this helps.Steve