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Do you think You need a Vex ?


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Well Iv'e got a few gift cards after x-mas and the only thing I don't have is a vex. I know many guys that have them but I don't really fish pannies or crappies. Mainly walleyes and a little spearing. I got an H2O last summer and have a camera. Do you think I need a vex or is there something else a guy should go with before the actual vew or the other model. If I do go for one which one would I get. Best cheap vex to most expensive or Marcum? Any thoughts? Krebsy

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I wouldn't even go out without my Marcum. It adds a whole new dimension to ice fishing and makes it a lot more fun and productive in my opinion.

I have the LX3 and it suits me fine. I know they have the TC versions now with a little different color scheme, but I'm really content with mine. Maybe you could find one on ebay that somebody's getting rid of just so they could upgrade to the TC.

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Get a vex, or whatever flasher you want, it will change your fishing experience, Maybe it will get you interested in catching some pannies, Or even help you put more waldo's on the ice.

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I bought a Vexilar on Ebay (used and for half the price, and works great) For general use the cheaper models are just fine, Marcum are great too.. It was my first time last year. I generally fish Walleyes at Lake of The woods. Never knew what the difference would be. After catching more walleyes I never would have known were down there,, my brother in law bought one too. Great when jigging....

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I just bought a Marcum VX-1 (the cheap model) and I just love it. The colors on the Marcum are much brighter than the vex... I've only used it about 4 times, but I could not fish without it. I feel like I'm blind if I'm fishing and it's not down the hole.

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Get one and never leave home without it. Battery went dead on mine (after 3 days of use without charging) the other night, and I felt completely helpless. You wont regret it.

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There is no question that the vexilar adds a huge amount to fishing. I am not a fan of spearing, but it is exciting when you see a fish come into the hole or the camera. Very true.

When you jig it is a lot of fun to work the jig and see the reaction of the fish.

The big difference, to me, is if you chase crappies. You really need to know what depth the come in at so you can adjust your jigging to where they are. I catch a ton more crappies than I used to for that reason.

As far a Marcum goes -- NOT a big fan. In fact I hate them. I have their camera but not flasher. My bro-in-law brought back three of them to the company to get fixed. The other problem is that most people have Vexilars and they interfere with the Vexilar a ton.

Based on my experience, I would never recommend a Marcum flasher. The camera have been great, however.

I hope I don't get thrown into the "Penalty Box" for saying something bad about the Marcum, but I have not had good experiences with them an I think people should know that.

Hitman

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I am looking to get a flasher eventually and I am going to go with Marcum, probably the LX-3. It can mess with a nearby Vexilar, but not vice-versa. The settings can be adjusted so that the Marcum will not bother a Vex, however. Marcum's come with a soft pack case, whereas you have to buy the case separately for the Vex. By the way, my buddy's Marcum is nice and quiet, no constant humming. He always seems to outfish me through the ice, so I have to blame it on something! That's why I'm going to get one!

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Get a flasher. Brand isn't that important. Learn to use it well and you'll be happy. You'll also be suprised how many waleyes you can entice by lifting your bait away from them and how many walleyes will suspend.

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NO YOU NEED A LOWRANCE....I have the Lowrance 67c and all my buddies have the Vexy's and they try stealing my Lowrance all the time it has so many more options then a Vexy: one screen has that flasher that everyone talks about plus it has a screen where on half the screen it shows the bottom 5 ft and the other half of the screen shows the whole area and it also has a option to just watch the bottom 5 feet or 8 ft. Plus you can have it for the summer in your boat too. Everyone says there is a dely but i watch my jig go up-and-down on the screen as fast as my hand is going. Vexilars are for the old timers, time to get with the NEW AGE FISHING.... Lowrance 67c. It costs about $300 at cabela's to get the whole ice fishing set-up for it the Bag, the finder and the winter transducer all you have to do is buy the summer transducer for another $80 and you are set-up all year. no one wants to sit in the boat with a Vexilar. do they?

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No need for a ford vs chevy debate on this the only thing to really say is buy a flasher, your ice fishing will never be the same. I bought my first vex about 10 years ago and put a few seasons on it until I lost it coming off lake Franklin about 3 years ago, long sad, sad, sad story I cant bring my self to repeat in fear of ruining my keyboard from the tears I will shed. The good news was I bought a X-3 marcum not the TC version and I love it too. A camera is great but I put a several days every year on LOW ice grin.gif and a camera is worthless on that body of water, to dingy. The first time you have a walleye run up about 5 feet off the bottom and slam your lure while you watch on the screen, you will say "MONEY WELL SPENT MY BOY"

Jay

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Wow Hit, hate is an awful big word smile.gif. Marcum makes a great flasher as does Vexilar. I'm partial to the Marcum and have had great customer service, but then I've never had a Vex. Overall, a flasher is top tier piece of equipment and unless I'm fishing relatively shallow water for pannies and using my camera, I always use my flasher. I would recommend anyone get a flasher before a camera. Get a flasher with your gift certificates; you'll be amazed with the improvement in your ice fishing.

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Fellas --

Everyone has their favorites, but one thing is for sure -- if you like to fish pannies or eyes -- it makes a MASSIVE difference.

The other thing is for sure -- Vexilar is the way to go. tongue.gif

It is not a ford vs chevy question either it is ford and chevy vs dodge. grin.gifgrin.gifcool.gif

Ah, no offense Eye Hunter. cool.gif

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F-Dog

You are correct -- the flasher is the most important tool you can buy. Much more so than a camera. They are fun, but the flasher is better.

I love my Marcum camera for what it is -- entertainment.

The early lx3s or whatever they are had problems and they are more than likely better now. I all know is that they have caused massive interference and my bro-in-law sent three back to the company.

Not good.

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I agree with everyone else, get a flasher. I happen to own a Vex FL18 and Marcum LX3tc and I would go with the Marcum. I have the Vex as a back up but have not used it in three years. Both are good units....check them both out and go with what you want. I also have a Aqua View camera and I enjoy it....but it more of toy to help me find structure.....I could give up the camera but I would never give up my flasher.

Cliffy.

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Yup, I have to agree with the majority, get a flasher: I have a camera and truly I only use it 2-3 times a year, for 99.9% of my fishing I want to see the whole water column, and a Vexilar will do it for you! The cameras are great in the right situation, but too many times you have a fish behind, above or below the camera that only your Vex. will pick up!

You can pick up a cheap, used, perfectly good flasher for 175 bucks all over!

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Steve, definetly buy a flasher of some sort, your prefrance. I have the vexilar and i would not leave home without it. They are a great machine for jigging. If anything steve i would sell that ford of yours and buy a chevy then you can make it out to your spear house on pelican. grin.gif

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I love my Vex. Even if you don't fish panfish, I have pulled finicky walleyes over 10 feet off the bottom before they hit the bait. I would have never have caught those fish without one.

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One thing I have noticed that no one has mentioned is the fact that with a vexilar for sure and mabye the marcum (dunno, never used one) can tell you what the bottom structure is like. It will show you wether or not it is a hard bottom or soft bottom. You can tell by the shadow of the bottom, if it is a thick shadow you are in soft mud or sand, if it is a thin line you are in hard bottom. That, makes a big diffenrence to those people who like to be mobile and catch more fish. Now if you are a permanent house that doesn't move hourly or daily, you allready know what type of bottom structure you are on. Another handy thing about a flasher is the fact that you can tell how deep the water is without drilling a hole. You can pour a little water on the ice, place your puck on the ice (NOT SNOW) and get a fairly accurate reading.

Just my 2 cents worth, hope it helps.

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One thing I haven't seen mentioned on here is that a camera does a guy no good after the sun has set! I bought an fl-8 about 5 years ago, and can honestly say that I would be lost without it.

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I just bought a marcum vx-1. I love it. Its my first flasher, and my fish percentage per trip has sky rocketed! before I wasnt sure if it was my bait that wasnt catching fish, or if there just werent any fish there. Now I know if there are fish there, what depth there at, how they react to certain presentations, and can even coax specific fish into biting! Its absolutely the best money I have ever spent!

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Krebsy --

I hear you have your "Palace" out on the ice -- good job!

Barry said you can't figure out how to turn on the TV much less run a flasher grin.gifgrin.gifcool.gif

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I use my x135 and it seems to be as good as a Vex in my mind. The guys at Gander Mountain told me it wouldn't work but Cabela's is selling the 135 as an ice fishing graph on their site. Babe W. uses graphs too!

I can watch my 1/24th ounce ice fly on it with out all the lines flashing all over and see the fish come up off the bottom.

I think it is all in what you like to watch.

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I posted this earlier, but now its gone, so I'll post it again.

I have an FL-18 and wouldn't ice fish without it. A person has no idea how many suspended fish he was missing until he spends an evening over a flasher. I have mine mounted on my boat for summer fishing too. I think its easier to pick up on changes in bottom hardness with my vex over my LCD. I also use it when makeing runs a cross the lake. My LCD blinks out at about 20-25 MPH, especially over deep water. I've had my vex going up north and got good bottom readings at full throttle(36-37 MPH)over 120+ feet of water; so I get good use out of mine year around. If you go for a vex, I would recomend the 18 or 20 over the Fl-8. They have a bottom zoom thats nice for jigging and the 8 doesn't. They also have a bottom lock feature that's nice for summer fishing. Good Luck.

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I just added a fl-8 se vexilar pro pack II and combo 'd it with an underwater camera. Now, I wont go fishing with out it. The only time i part with it (camera) is when my kids go fishing, they like to use the camera and find fishing a lot more fun and i enjoy seeing them smile when they catch a fish. Electronics are just as important as the bait you hang on a hook.

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 Originally Posted By: Ray1
If anything steve i would sell that ford of yours and buy a chevy then you can make it out to your spear house on pelican. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Keep the FORD Steve that way you can get all the way out to that Walleye hole that those Chevy drivers can't seem to reach yet. What was the original question????????????? Buy a Vex and keep your FORD.
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ditch the cameras, lowrance, Gps, (The h20 is a handy atlas). Get a fl-8 or one of the real old school flashers. The original fL8 is the way to go.

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For now the Ford stays on shore. The little ford or the huntin car should get me there now. You have all convinced me to try one so now witch one.??? Just ask Toby Keith about his truck!!

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