new ice fishing graphs

[vetspet.ind]

i'm going to buy a new graph this yr and want some suggestions....i think the marcum Lx5 looks like a nice machine....are the dual beams a worthwhile accessory?....are there any down sides to the dual beams?..is the price difference worth it?....the hummingbirds have three new models which perchjerker has mentioned but i think i see pushbuttons and was told long ago that push buttons are not a good thing to have on an ice graph because they inevitably get water spray and this often freezes those buttons....any comments on any of the newer ice graphs is appreciated....steve

[Backwater Eddy]

If you also wish to use the flasher in all seasons, right now I would highly recommend looking at a Vexilar as it has more user options for year around angler use. And especially the FL-20's or FL-12's as they have a 50% wider field of view in a boat, or on the ice. I run mine year around, from the ice to the boat, I would not want to fish without it.

For my money, a true duel beam transducer option is more useful than a zoom feature often is in a wider range of conditions. The target separation is so tight on the new units like the FL-20 and FL-12 that once the target is even slightly off the bottom, you can see easily see 1/2 target separation on a well tunes gain setting.

Now add the ability to narrow the beam to 9 deg and your dialed in even more tightly, and well focused on the lure and the target fish. A duel beam option is very handy in weeds and in timber filled waters, or on steep breaks to eliminate the dead zone effect often seen with a wide cone angle transducer in these same conditions...simple flip the switch from 9 deg to 20 deg as needed.

The LP or Low Power mode is a very useful tool as well in the FL-20 and FL-12. More power is often not advantageous, it enhances clutter and may mask target fish. I find the LP mode indispensable for open water use and often handy on the ice. It basically offers you a wider range of Gain tuning ability to clean up clutter filled readings so you can pick out desired targets more efficiently. Bug clutter, algae blooms, bubble turbulence in rivers, all are more easily dealt with with the LP mode feature on a Vexilar.

Based on my experience these would be my top recommendations. I hope this is useful in determining what suits your needs best.

[vetspet.ind]

ed...thanks for the input....the higher end marcum has a dual cone and a zoom...and more power than the vex.....and more ability to reduce interference if i'm doing my homework correctly....i was confused on the fl12 vs fl18 and what differences these two have from each other....the vex has the white bobber like material which allows the puck to float level but would take up more space in the fishing hole whereas the marcum has an arm which suspends just the cord going to the puck.....i'm thinkin i will probably cut a hole right next to the hole i actually will be fishin out of so that probably is a moot point.....and i will not be putting this unit on my boat....do you like the marcum lx5?...thanks steve

[manitobawalleye]

i have the lx-5 steve and so far so good.....
there was some trouble with transducers in the past
vexillars are very proven reliable units
side by side marcums do not bother my eyes as much
and they are quieter....the fl-20 is the quietest of the vex's
unless ed knows of other improvements to the noise issue
dual beam in either unit is a great feature......
i do not think that you can fish better than either of these units can perform
you coming up for a fish steve?....ice is starting.....

[vetspet.ind]

roger, and judy....i really want to go but i'm down to 4 vets from 7 this time last yr and we are still busy in spite of the economy....i have taken 6 days vacation this yr!.....all i seem to do is work...going hunting friday tho....traditionally i've done a pheasant hunt fri-sunday...like for 20+ yrs....and they scheduled me to work fri-sat...and i already bought my pheasants!......so i yelled(i'm the original vet who started the practice) and got off friday...my brother inlaw and best friend have brand new dogs they want to show off and i really wanted to watch the dogs work those pen raised pheasants(i'm a lousy shot so those are the only ones i seem capable of hitting)....i doubt i will make it but would like to keep in touch as something may open up....we offered a position to a new grad but she wont graduate until may....one vet just had a baby and will be back sometime in jan so i really dont know if any days will open up when she returns....i really appreciated the offer and just have to go some day....did a really fun day with rick hehn at the wc huron gettogether ...his sons and a friend just kept us old two farts pullin in fish all day....that will be one of my best days this yr....i would rate fishin with you in that same category...even if we strike out....i'd really like to do it some day.....soon...steve

[manitobawalleye]

offer is valid anytime lol......
swing by minnesota and pick rew.......
ice season is open until march 31st....
i am sure backwater will be kickin around up here in late march as well.....

[Backwater Eddy]

Oh..I'll be up your way far sooner than that, as soon as the water is hard...I'm there. ;)

But...yup...you can expect me to be out on the Lake come March running and gunning in my Frabill Commando.

On a previous posts it was mentioned the Vex had only a float system, not exactly true, but yes they invented it and have a patent on the system. Marcum and Lowrance ice unit guys often buy the Vex float add on kits to achieve this flexibility of use.

They also have a stand out eye bolt extension to hold the ducer cable in place away from the unit. It has worked well for years, but I was not much of a fan of it.

Next season you will see a new extention arm system. I worked with the Vexilar design staff on a new version that will fold up and deploy from the Pro Pack rod holders, either left or right, to swing in a range of motion to cover both sides of the Pro Pack and Ultra Pack packages. This new Vexilar folding extension arm has proven to be a much more user friendly system as it folds quickly so you can put the Vex in the storage area or a 5 gal pail without the bolt being in the way. We seen a need for this especially for rivers and hit and run jigging. It really works slick! It will be available as a add on and on the new packs later in 2009/2010.

New options are also available for displays on the Vexilar now. A new Cool Blue Package or conversion is offered for folks like myself who deal with male pattern color blindness issues. I have been coping with it all my life and one adjusts, but this new Cool Blue high color conversion fixed the problem fr me. Not the Green is bright blue, the Orange is purple and shades of pink, and the Red is still bright bright Red.

This new Cool Blue higher contrast lighting configuration is extremely eye friendly and daylight friendly, even for folks who do not have color definition limitations...it's just plain Kewl.

A conversion will run $59 and one will need to send the unit into Vexilar for a service that will include a cleaning and a tuneing, a complete check-up, and back to you better than new in many cases. My FL-20 was back to me in less than 4 days, and working the best I have ever seen it work, they super tuned it...man is it crisp and dead on target separation.

This is a super option for an older unit in need of a makeover due to wear and tear, get top performance back, and a whole new Cool Blue look. A bargain at $59. There are pictures of this new display on the Vex web site and also options on ordering a new Vex unit direct with this option pre-installed in all models or packages.

[vetspet.ind]

hey ed...i bought the fl20 yesterday....got talkin to another guy who bought the marcumlx5 and he kept having interference problems.....if he adjusted the interference so the problem would go away...he said it would not see fish so he was very frustrated with the lx5 marcum....i wanted to buy american but that scared me off...steve...thanks for the info.............................................. .................................................. .................................................. .....................................QUOTE=Backwat er Eddy;1066230]Oh..I'll be up your way far sooner than that, as soon as the water is hard...I'm there. ;)

But...yup...you can expect me to be out on the Lake come March running and gunning in my Frabill Commando.

On a previous posts it was mentioned the Vex had only a float system, not exactly true, but yes they invented it and have a patent on the system. Marcum and Lowrance ice unit guys often buy the Vex float add on kits to achieve this flexibility of use.

They also have a stand out eye bolt extension to hold the ducer cable in place away from the unit. It has worked well for years, but I was not much of a fan of it.

Next season you will see a new extention arm system. I worked with the Vexilar design staff on a new version that will fold up and deploy from the Pro Pack rod holders, either left or right, to swing in a range of motion to cover both sides of the Pro Pack and Ultra Pack packages. This new Vexilar folding extension arm has proven to be a much more user friendly system as it folds quickly so you can put the Vex in the storage area or a 5 gal pail without the bolt being in the way. We seen a need for this especially for rivers and hit and run jigging. It really works slick! It will be available as a add on and on the new packs later in 2009/2010.

New options are also available for displays on the Vexilar now. A new Cool Blue Package or conversion is offered for folks like myself who deal with male pattern color blindness issues. I have been coping with it all my life and one adjusts, but this new Cool Blue high color conversion fixed the problem fr me. Not the Green is bright blue, the Orange is purple and shades of pink, and the Red is still bright bright Red.

This new Cool Blue higher contrast lighting configuration is extremely eye friendly and daylight friendly, even for folks who do not have color definition limitations...it's just plain Kewl.

A conversion will run $59 and one will need to send the unit into Vexilar for a service that will include a cleaning and a tuneing, a complete check-up, and back to you better than new in many cases. My FL-20 was back to me in less than 4 days, and working the best I have ever seen it work, they super tuned it...man is it crisp and dead on target separation.

This is a super option for an older unit in need of a makeover due to wear and tear, get top performance back, and a whole new Cool Blue look. A bargain at $59. There are pictures of this new display on the Vex web site and also options on ordering a new Vex unit direct with this option pre-installed in all models or packages.[/QUOTE]

[Backwater Eddy]

vetspet.ind

Good choice, you will love it. The low light mode is handy at night and much easier on the eyes. The duel zoom zones come in handy also, as does the LP Low Power mode.

The DVD in the box should be a big help and the Vexilar web site also has a ton of user tips that will come in useful.

Any questions drop me a line or the good folks at the Vexilar service dept. There service is customer focused and one on one, a great team.

Enjoy!

Ed

[no1son]

hey ed...i bought the fl20 yesterday....got talkin to another guy who bought the marcumlx5 and he kept having interference problems.....if he adjusted the interference so the problem would go away...he said it would not see fish so he was very frustrated with the lx5 marcum....i wanted to buy american but that scared me off...steve

Speaking of interference, I have a Marcum VX1 which I find works very well (my first ice flasher - if other models are even better, they must be fantastic), but I occasionally get interference from something, even when there are no other flashers around, and I haven't yet had a problem from nearby flashers of any kind either. As near as I can tell it is coming from strollers along the lake using cellphones, but not all of them. I don't carry a cell phone myself, although one fishing buddy does. The interference doesn't happen when he is using his. I have not heard that this is a problem for anyone else, but I can see no other cause besides some other broadcasting electronic device in the neighborhood. Cellphones are the only ones I can identify and some of those are quite a distance away.

[Backwater Eddy]

It it not too likely your getting stay interference form cell phones or area electronics above water.

Most likely it is a short in the transducer, or a poor connection to the head unit.

It may be as simple as a dirty puck...try cleaning the surface of the ducer next time it happens and see it that solves it.

[no1son]

I will recheck the connections. I clean the puck, and the interference doesn't happen when it is first put in the water generally, but only for a rare brief flash from time to time when I am sitting over a hole. This is not a regular problem for me. The situation clears up by itself usually, too, which is why I was thinking the cause might be something mobile. Whatever it is I can't figure it, but then it is not even an issue 99%+ of the time either.

Back when there was a difference between Ford and Chevy to debate about, I was the guy driving the VW. Those were the days of the original, "true" beetle, too. I think I had all of 34 horses or something under the rear hood.

[blueroof]

Is this happening right around dusk? You can get a lot of activity from microorganisms right around that time. I've seen it a number of times, the flasher screen lights up with tiny marks. It usually subsides after a short while

[no1son]

It does seem to subside by itself, but IIRC what I get are flickering but pretty heavy marks around the screen that rotate which is how interference shows up isn't it? I usually use the split screen to zoom the bottom, but I haven't noticed that making any difference. I will pay more attention next time, but I don't remember it connected with sundown. Seems that I have seen videos of almost exactly what I get that identify that kind of display as interference. I was more curious than anything, since it always goes away pretty quickly, anyway.

[blueroof]

What you describe is almost certainly interference or some problem in the signal path. Intermittent problems are a pain to diagnose. Best bet would be to try another transducer if it gets worse - hopefully you have a buddy that has a similar flasher.

[no1son]

What I get is both quite rare and usually very short lived, quickly going away by itself. I have really no reason to think that it is anything but external to my unit. I was thinking that the only external temporary interference source I could think of was a some what out of tune cell phone. I guess I still lean towards that explanation, but whatever the source it is both extremely rare and completely unpredictable as far as I can see; so I'm not going to worry about it unless it gets more frequent and worse. I was curious to see if anybody else had any similar experience.

[Chuckunlogged]

There is nothing wrong with a Vexilar. I still own an old FL-8 that won't quit.

I've been a Marcum owner for years starting with the LX-3 (the really early year LX-3 had the transducer issues, no longer an issue), and now I've run the LX-5 the past 3 years on ice and in the boat. The LX-5 is the most incredible flasher I've seen. High detail, crisp display of the smallest jigs and overall great package. The adjustable zoom, Super Fine Line and 8 degree option is great to have in certain circumstances. Too many options to like about this unit!

As far as interference, the LX-5 can clean up everything I've dished up at it. 2 guys with Vexs in the fishhouse on an annual trip are constantly saying "dam MarCum"....while I clean them out completely with the multi- IR. I use the LX-5 in the boat and I clean up the 2 Lowrance depth finders perfectly also.

One Vex and one Marcum works well near each other.

[unlogged steiny]

to the interference topic
that gets to be a bunch of trail and error using the IR feature

we've found that they best way is to leave one of the locators alone and turn up the IR on the other one. Another option is to go to a narrower transducer if you have the option. Like on the velilars where you can switch between the 9/19 degree ducers.

fyi,
Earlier this week with the cashback http://search.live.com/cashback deal from Microsoft you could get a fl-20 for $336 after shipping including the cashback via ebay. I see the % off on ebay went from 30% to 20% but thats still a smokin deal.