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Hi All,
I have narrowed my search to 3 flashers and not sure what one to get. I would like input if anyone has any to share. I am new to the flasher game and looking to get one hopefully as soon as possible. Here are the 3 I have narrowed down to. I know they are all good brands.
Hummingbird ICE 35 $299.99
Marcum VX-1 Pro $279.99
Vexilar FL8 SE genz pack $279.99
Any help would be more then appreciated.
Thanks
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I started out with then the marcum lx-1 which was replaced by the vx-1 pro. Out of these options I would definitely buy Marcum.
Several reasons.
1. If you buy the marcum you can fish next to anyone, if you get the vex you will have to stay a good distance from anyone with a marcum. I belive this is due to the huge difference in the power output.
2. Hummingbird has had reliabilitiy issues with thier transducers.
3. Marcum Customer service is the best I have ever dealt with.
Hope this helps.
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I have an LX 5. Works very well. I have fished with a Vex, and an Ice 55 and I like them too. My personal preference is a Marcum. Super great target identification and separation. Never fished the 35, though. As far as ergonomics and quality, I like the Marcum the best. Good unit.
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I love my ice 35. Had it for two season with zero complaints. All of the mentioned are great units, look for the features you want and that will help your decision.
I love my 35 because:
-Battery lasts a few days
-Target separation is great
-Dual beam
-Zoom anywhere in the water column
That being said I wish I would have spent the extra $50 for an ice 45. The digital display would be worth it compared to the fixed indicators on the 35.
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Have you (or anyone else) looked at the Lowrance Elite4 Icepack?
It's a fairly powerful fish finder with a flasher setting on it's color screen. Looks like it's a 2100 watt unit compared to the 800W and 400W Humminbird and Vex units. This is going to make a big difference on the granularity of information it's presenting.
From the research I've done guys love the ability to use the flasher setting and then switch back to a typical sonar screen that shows history of what's been going on.
Also, this unit comes with a GPS and a map so you can see how the lake bottom changes around you. Another attractive thing is I could pull this out of the waterproof case (with tackle storage!) and click it into a base on my boat next summer, as the unit works with the provided flasher transducer and a regular one on a boat.
Normally it's a $400 setup but Lowrance has a $100 mail in rebate for it right now!
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I have the basic entry level Marcum showdown, and it has been awesome. I have no experience with the other brands, but for what its worth- the Marcum has been great.
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I bought an elite 5 this spring and have been using it on my inflatable pontoon. The lowrance ice kit was just delivered as an early x-mas. I plan to use it this weekend for the first time. both the fish finder and GPS have worked great and are very accurate. The Fish finder took some fine tuning at first, but have the settings dialed in pretty well now. Vertical jigging from the toon, I can easily see a small marabou or tube jig on the sonar and the fish's approach. I especially like to know my speed over ground(sog) for trolling as my inflatable has no speedo.
For the ice, It also has a split screen flasher/fish finder setting and am curious to see how well it works. Not sure if the elite 4 has the split screen option? You may not need to toggle between the 2. Have watched a couple real world vids on YouTube, it seems like the flasher/ fish finder screen will be handy. I like the versatility of this unit, that's what really sold me.
I'm interested to know if the flasher only units are better for ice fishing die hards, and why? People really seem to like them.
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The Elite4 does have the split screen flasher/sonar option. I think (hope) I've got one sitting under my christmas tree right now!
As to why you'd go with a straight flasher over a sonar setup like the Lowrance ice machine units, I'm not sure. You'd think it's the exact same technology, you're just choosing how the information is presented to you ("real time" flasher or scrolling sonar). With the ice machine units, you don't have to choose because you have both!
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I have experience with the Marcum VX-1. I have had it for 2 seasons and I love it!!! took it to the Burbot Bash and the battery lasted the whole two nights and all day Saturday. I don't have experience with the others. I based my purchase on the power of the Marcum, looking back I still would make the same purchase.
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Well, I hope Santa is good to you it'll be a sweet finder. They are a little spendy, but worth the $$. The rebate is pretty sweet too.
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So it looks like I might be getting the Marcum. Gander mountain has a rebate going on that will save me $50 to make the unit $250 after rebate. Just deciding if I have enough funds to get it before the rebate is over 12/24.
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I got a used Marcum last year.
I have been very happy with it.
Nice finder for the money.
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I've had an Ice-55 going on four seasons now and have loved it. It does have 2000 watt rms which makes a big difference. However if I had to do again I would seriously look into an lx-5. I've done a lot of research over the years and just haven't seen anything bad about Marcums.
I have had interference issues when sitting too close to another ice-55 that makes them useless. Humminbird did a good job blocking interference from other finders but skipped their own.
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Amazon had some good deals with free shipping as well.
fwiw my brother sold his fl-8 to get a vx1 pro.
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Thank you all for the input. I came to conclusion that $300 was not in the budget for a flasher..... yet. I was still looking for one and found a Marcum showdown troller on KSL that I picked up. Tried it out on Sunday and could not be happier. I do appreciate all the input that was given and Sounds like Marcum is a good brand.
Thanks
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Thanks, that Troller is exactly what I'm looking at, also. Any more detail than "couldn't be happier" would be appreciated.
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Not sure if the other flashers have this or not. It has an ice mode which means when in this mode it keeps the transducer warm as others will get cold and not be as accurate (not sure if it works or not but good to have just incase). I was in that mode for 8hrs and had the back light on with my 12 volt battery and didn't die on me. its small and compact. You can take it out of the case and put 6 AA batteries in it and use it like that if you want to drill some holes to check for other places to fish and you can see your jig and know exactly where to put it at and know where the fish are more accurately. the case is real nice but it does not come with one and is a little spendy ($50) But worth it IMHO. The price!!!. I got mine used, but even new they are $199 and that is allot cheaper then $300+ to only use it for 3 months out of the year. Compared to my pirahnamax160 that I converted to ice fishing. WOW!!! night and day difference don't know why I didn't buy one (flasher) in the first place. Last weekend my buddy and I went out ice fishing. He had his showdown I had my Pmax he was pulling out twice as many fish as I was. He would show me his jig and the fish, he would move his jig to the fish and watch them come up to his jig. When they met on the showdown he would set the hook. I would say 8 out of 10 times he would connect. I know all flashers you can do this and that is what sold me on getting one.
Hope this helps and if you want to know anything else about please ask.
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I got the showdown troller as well and love it did you get the performance pack with yours when you purchased it on ksl? I have the 2.0 and it works great very accurate on depth through the ice also battery's seem to last a long time, the sensitivity adjustment is one of my favorite features
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No I had to buy it separately but worth it. I did forget to mention the sensitivity adjustment. I am still getting use to it and its features hope to use it this week or 2 weekends from now.
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