Let's talk flashers

[CTom]

Ya....you'd be safe in that assumption. I also have a couple of Clearwater Classics. These were the front-runner to marcum. In fact the military technology that goes into Marcum products yet today got its beginning in the fishing industry with the Clearwater Classics and classic they are.

If I want to really be a dink, all I have to do is slick the puck of one of those classics in the hole, turn up the gain, and watch as people go bonkers. Those vex owners just howl and there is no way to filter it. The birds and a couple other flat screens get messed too.

I carry the Marcum and a Classic on most trips. I use the Marcum to fish. I use the Classic when peoiple get too close. Works wonders. And yes, since the two products are borne of the same technology, I can use them side by side. It won'y get rid of everyone, but if 50% of those fishing are vex users, that 50% is, well, "vexed". If you get my drift.

[rico]

I see!!!!!! LOL Well let me play the devil's advocate here. A few friends and I, run a fishing site here in the Hoosier state. We have an ice fishing series, so I come in contact with a lot of hard water anglers and even fish with them outside of the competition gig. I would say that 80% of the 50 or so guys I know, use vexilars.......15% use Marcum.....and the remaining 5% use lowrance or hummingbirds. My first instinct is to say they use vex's because the 8 is a inexpensive model, but this is not the case. Alot of them have 12's and 18's. Only one angler that placed in the top 5 in points last year uses a marcum. Not praising Vexilar, just asking why?

[CTom]

About three winters ago Marcum changed hands on the business end two three times. With each turn-over, more availability got lost. I think many bought Vex simply because Marcum in some areas got hard to find.

I will point out that Marcum for the last couple years has put more into the camera market. During this period, Vex played catch up. Marcun has since introduced some "tower-type" locators that I think are going to prove to be dandy. I know several of the Marcum staffers who fished these units most of last winter and are impressed with the rwsults that came from the ice. Personally I am not a camera fan and hope that Marcum doesn't get lagging in the need to stay on top of things.

[Pool13_Jeff]

I own both an FL8 and an LX5. I have owned my FL8 much longer than the LX5. You should not compare a FL8 to a LX5. They are not in the same league. I like both units a whole bunch, but the LX5 is much better than the FL8. A better comparison is a LX5 to an FL18 or FL20. That I can't speak to.

[CTom]

I'm on that page with you Jeff. The new fl22 seems to have some outstanding qualities but the gripe I've heard most often about is the $$$.

Something to think about with vex units that the Marcum units will not cover is the interchanability of the transducersbetween newer or less units with the newest and better quality units. Some small adapter may be required but to have dual cone capabilty is an up-grade that will broaden anyones fishing abilities under the ice. I am not entirely positive but I think the fl22 has a three angle transducer and that as an after market add-on might something to look at instead of a complete up-grade. I'm almost certain I read where the 3 angle puck with wires and adapter run under the c-note threashold while the fl22 itself is about 550.00.

[rico]

Good stuff CTom......I appreciate your candor........btw have you seen the Lowrance "Ice Machine" in action?

[CTom]

I try to keep an open mind about things Rico. Yes, there are things that I can get testy about but people and product likes and dislikes have to be given some slack. In the end the goal is the same....we just want to fish.

I got to play with a Lowrance unit a few times a couple years ago and was amazed at the clean screen readout. The only thing that set me back about the Lowrance was the crystal getting dark on the open ice in the cold...like 0 or below. And yes I fish open ice a lot even in the cold. The unit I had in front of me in a portable worked very nicely when the advance was maxed out. After a little mental adjustment to the flat screen and vertical readout I was able to fish like I had a flasher there. My Clearwater Classics display on a grayscale like the Lowrance unit I used did. Having the color of the flasher seems to help me seperate near hits and hits from snooping fish just hanging around the immediate area.

A couple years ago I bought a half dozen of the Strikemaster Polar Vision "flashlight" locators at a steal of a price. They are used primarily for shooting thru ice to locate structure or reading bottom depths by shooting thru the ice. They will also show fish. I'll pocket one of these instead of lugging the flasher when doing first ice to stay light and use it by simply setting the sounder down on the ice next to my hole like I am doing a depth search. When a fish marks i'll adjust my lure depth. Its not the most certain way to fish, but it works well enough to be successful. If a person is comfortable with a certain unit, by all means they should use it.
I have had a few instances where I walk past the usual gathering place for early ice anglers with a pail, a rod, some tackle, one of the flashlight units and my auger and hear people snicker only to return with a half dozen nice crappies ten minutes later and the snickerers have zip. This is fishing and the best way to get the job done is to do what works for you. Keep that mind and options open.

[rico]

LOL....couldnt agree more!!!!!!!!!

[hnd]

vexilar is the well known one that is also carried in more chains....i know our gandermountain carries 4 vexilar models and the lx5 the most expensive marcum. same with dicks. most also just assume that a flasher is a flasher. i've never talked to someone who has switched from marcum TO vexilar only the opposite. i purchased my first marcum this year and to be honest won't be looking back.

[CTom]

i've never talked to someone who has switched from marcum TO vexilar only the opposite

That seems to be the trend and quite frankly see that as the rule here in Minnesota.