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locator question


ilovefishing

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i know people bring this up all the time. But my old fish locator doesnt work any more and i'm looking to buy a new one. only looking at around $300-375. ive heard that vexlar fl-12 is a good one in that range. this would be used strickly for ice fishing. any other suggestions would be appreciated. where is a good place to find a resonably priced one.

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I think they're all good. For Mille Lacs I'd make sure I got one with bottom zoom feature is all. Helps seeing those bottom huggers.

Myself? I use a Marcum VX1..their lowest price unit. Has bottom zoom and works wonderful for me. Great sensitivity IMO. I did add a vexilar float to it's transducer cord this year however. Cheap improvement for usability for my use anyway.

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Forgot to mention where I got it...Matt Johnson at Thorne Brother's gave me a great deal last year. Price was factor in choosing VX1 btw....

Thorne Brothers also have a web site of course.

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I saw a commercial on Water's and Wood's today, Marcum VX1-$219 after $30 rebate, you just have to find one now.

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...just a comment about transducer positions. i prefer to use the old blue box with a knuckle on the front of it were the transducer attaches to. the advantage of this versus the floats is it can be focused on the jigging bait so it doesnt pick-up the dead stick so much, if at all. i also drill another hole just behind the jigging hole for the locator. this keeps it from getting tangled. one outside for the camera and im set. i just need enough ice to drive my f150 out there with my portable in it. hope that will be soon!

regards,

minnesotatuff

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I can tell you right now that you would be much happier with a Vexilar FL-12 compared to the Marcum VX-1. I work for a sporting good store and have had nothing but problems with these marcum units, not to mention the customer service on them is nothing. If you were looking for a unit for $350 the fl-12 is your definite choice.

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Hevishot, I have seen hundreds of posts talking about what great customer service marCum has and how they go out of their way to help their customers with any issue they may have. I personally have heard so many people state how wonderful MarCum treats their customersIf you looking for a Marcum product, don't forget to check out the Outdoor Pro Store right here on Fishing MInnesota with free shipping.

http://tacklecity.com/marcum-sonar-ice-fishing-depthfinders.html

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i've got a vx-1 and love it. the bottom zoom is a must have and i haven't had any problems with it at all. it's a great bargain at only $219. i got mine at gander mt. in baxter.

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Both companies and products are great. I would suggest doing a search on the internet to find if anyone is having a sale. I bought my Marcum Lx3 three years ago for $300. Can't remember the site now, but I did a quick search and the first website that popped up had them at $319 and free shipping, definitely worth the extra $100 over the lx 1. Good Luck!

Marcum's customer service is fantastic!

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thank you guys for all the input. i ended up buying the marcum vx1 at gander for $219 and a 2man fish house at menard for $130 not a bad day shopping

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...since the vx-1 has no case...I had an old plastic file box..I use it..makes a nice hard case for banging around in portable. I put a couple pieces of scrap reflectX I had in their for padding..or an old towel i use for drying my hands.

works for me.

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i shouldnt have any problems with transporting it i made a homemade rack for my fourwheeler (it holds 4-5gallon buckets and my 20#cylinder. it looks like the vx1 should fit right in one of my 5gallon buckets. thanks for the input hopefully hit the pond tommarow and try out the new toys.

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I have VX-1 and it work wonders. Marcum make's a universal bag for them, but they are hard to find. When you put them in a 5 gallon bucket you have to put them in sideways....

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Buyers be ware!!! I hate to chime in just to bash a product, but my brother just picked up a new marcum from cabelas last week only to have it work for about 10 min, then quit!!! He returned it the next day and found that at least 30 of them had also been returned due to the same problem.

I also agree that you get what you pay for with this kind of thing. He now is looking into getting a different brand.

-Josh

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I would stay with a Vexilar. I have an older one and have had zero problems with it.

Go up to Thorne Bros. see Matt, Josh, or Pat. They will make sure that you completly understand how to operate the Vexilar before you leave the store, which makes it more fun for you to use.

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For me Vexilar is the only way to go. If you ever have a problem, you just bring it down to their service station in Bloomington and they will have it running like new.

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Quote:

Buyers be ware!!! I hate to chime in just to bash a product, but my brother just picked up a new marcum from cabelas last week only to have it work for about 10 min, then quit!!! He returned it the next day and found that at least 30 of them had also been returned due to the same problem.

I also agree that you get what you pay for with this kind of thing. He now is looking into getting a different brand.

-Josh


All electronics companies have had some issues at times. I wouldn't eliminate MarCum from the shopping list due to a problem. MarCum makes a great product and is top notch for fishing. There customer service is also second to none.

I have used and own both and have been very happy with them. Vexilar and MarCum will both take care of any issues one might run into.

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