FL-20 Or MarCum

[Snocross418]

I found one of each. I plan on buying one before the weekend help? FL-20 is $449 and the MarCum is $400-$479 price isn't a issue. I just don't want to have to buy another one for a long time. Your thoughts I have never owned one? I just keep reading that ppl wouldn't do with out after having one.:help:

[mifisher]

Personally, I would go with the Vex. They have the top name in flashers now a days. Marcum does make a nice unit, but the Vexilars seem to be more sensitive. I love my Vex and haven't ever had a problem with it, although it's only 1 1/2 years old. And yes, after you've used one, you won't fish without it.

[FISH21]

They're both great units, both are at the top of their class. You really can't say which one is better unless you go out and actually compare the two. Otherwise whoever has a marcum will say the lx-5 is better and whoever has a vex will say get the fl-20. Personally I'm a Marcum guy and love my lx-3:D .

[DetroitIron]

I"ll second that, I love my Marcum. Plus its American Made (not that many things you can buy anymore these days that are American made)

[Ice T]

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/medium/lx3bluegill.jpg

[1fish]

They're both great units, both are at the top of their class. You really can't say which one is better unless you go out and actually compare the two. Otherwise whoever has a marcum will say the lx-5 is better and whoever has a vex will say get the fl-20. Personally I'm a Marcum guy and love my lx-3:D .
:yeahthat:

Except, delete Marcum LX-3 and insert Vexilar FL-20....

[UPWalleyeGuy]

Both units are good but as mentioned before marcum is american made. Also, if you do have a problem, marcum customer service has been fantastic and has the unit back to you typically within a week. (they try to get them fixed within 48 hours).

I own a Vexilar FL-8 and a Marcum LX-3 with the TC upgrade. I love the zoom feature of the Marcum unit. Vexilar has widened their zoom feature with the FL-20 so that should help. Either way, you should be good. Have fun and good luck fishing..

[William H Bonney]

. Plus its American Made (not that many things you can buy anymore these days that are American made)


And you know that won't last long. They'll probably be "outsourced" to Tibet next year,,:rolleyes:

[LXHunter]

I've owned a Vexilar FL-8SE, and now own a Marcum LX-5. Never have tried the FL-20 so I can't speak to it's pro's and con's. But I can tell you this, with the Marcum it appears that I get much better target separation meaning that I can visually differentiate (sp.?) much easier several fish when they come in as a school through my target cone. With the Vexilar all I would get was huge "blobs" (even with the gain turned real low) and if the fish were anywhere near the bottom they would blend right in. One of my brother-in-laws owns a FL-18 and it seems to have the same blobiness. Last but not least is the moveable zoom range where you can zoom in on 5', 10', 20', or 40' zones anywhere in the water column. Many areas that I fish have fish suspended well above 6' and in the deeper lakes well above 12' from the bottom. I really like the moveable zoom feature in these instances. Also I hear that if you hop from one hole to another that you lose the bottom lock on the Vexilar FL-18 and have to readjust the unit. I don't own one so I'm not too sure. I will have to say though that the Marcum really goes through a battery fast compared to the Vexilar. So it is a must to ensure that it is charged after every trip. Another negative with the Marcum is that it wasn't designed (when in it it's carrier and soft pack) to fit in a 5 gallon bucket. I really liked that feature with the Vexilar as I felt it protected it on those long trips across the ice.

In conclusion, and sorry for such a long post, either will help you catch plenty of fish. It just boils down to the features you desire in a unit.

[Snocross418]

Great Posts guys I knew I could count on some good feedback here.
Thanks

[FISH21]

Ill second what upwalleyguy said about marcum's customer service. It really is top notch and they get things back to you FAST, usually you'll get it back within 4 or 5 days of sending it.

[Snocross418]

Ill second what upwalleyguy said about marcum's customer service. It really is top notch and they get things back to you FAST, usually you'll get it back within 4 or 5 days of sending it.

That's great and all I'm guessing all the Marcum guys know how good the customer service is because it broke? that's got me questing the product? I want to be fishing with my $500 flasher not dealing with customer service. Thanks for the info
I hope I don't come off like a Rich I don't mean to be.

[DetroitIron]

I'll second the Marcum customer service. Outstanding! I got my LX3 True Color upgrade back within a week! And the folks I spoke with there were great people, very friendly and helpful.

[FISH21]

That's great and all I'm guessing all the Marcum guys know how good the customer service is because it broke? that's got me questing the product? I want to be fishing with my $500 flasher not dealing with customer service. Thanks for the info
I hope I don't come off like a Rich I don't mean to be.


Most of the guys on this site that owned a lx-3 im assuming decided to send it in for the $50 true color upgrade, at least that's what I did. There was nothing wrong with my flasher, they were just offering the upgrades because of the new tru color display that they came out with last year. So instead of making us pay $400 for a brand new flasher with the upgrade we got to do it for $50. GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE IMO!:)

[zx10r2004]

I've owned a Vexilar FL-8SE, and now own a Marcum LX-zoom in on 5', 10', 20', or 40' zones anywhere in the water column. Many areas that I fish have fish suspended well above 6' and in the deeper lakes well above 12' from the bottom. I really like the moveable zoom feature in
.:confused: the suspended fish show up on the right side of the vexilar in zoom mode and the zoom is on the left. the fish still show up if they are suspended.

[LXHunter]

That's great and all I'm guessing all the Marcum guys know how good the customer service is because it broke? that's got me questing the product? I want to be fishing with my $500 flasher not dealing with customer service. Thanks for the info
I hope I don't come off like a Rich I don't mean to be.


I can't speak for all Marcum owners out there, but I believe many who have sent their flasher in for service did so to get a True Color upgrade to their LX-3.

[zx10r2004]

i sent mine in to get fixed. the ir button didnt work and the knobs would crack.

[LXHunter]

:confused: the suspended fish show up on the right side of the vexilar in zoom mode and the zoom is on the left. the fish still show up if they are suspended.

You are correct. But on the right side of the vexilar you will difinitely lose the separation between targets because of the smaller window. You may be able to improve separation if you go to full screen mode rather than zoom mode, but there again if you could zoom in on any section of the water column why not? Like I said in an earlier post, choosing a flasher depends on the features you want in such a unit.

[Snocross418]

I can't speak for all Marcum owners out there, but I believe many who have sent their flasher in for service did so to get a True Color upgrade to their LX-3.

I didn't mean to ruffle any feathers. I see sorry about the misunderstanding.
Will I need a true Color Upgrade on any Marcum? or is this something it comes with now?

[FISH21]

Snocross if you're buying a brand new marcum you won't have to worry about getting any upgrade. All the new units come with the True color display.

[Snocross418]

Thanks Fish good to know.

[Frozenfish]

I went through the same thing a couple months ago. Here is some good reading for you:

Thread i started awhile back:
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?t=163354

If you really want to get into it read the 25 pages on this site like I did to make your decision:
http://www.fishingminnesota.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=867030&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1&vc=1

I went with the Marcum LX 3 w/TC upgrade. I bought it reconditioned with the TC upgrade because the price was a concern for me. If you go with the Marcum LX 5 or the Vexilar FL-20 you can't go wrong but for me personally I liked the zoom feature in the whole water column with the Marcum. It's a tough decision but you'll be happy with either one!

[Snocross418]

After reading all your posts I would like to say thank you for helping me choose! I just got home with my new flasher. I ended up with the Vexilar FL-20 seams to be pretty easy to use now I'm chomping at the bit for Saturday morning.
I may even have to give it a try tomorrow night! I tried to get the cat to walk under it but that's not working to well.
Again thanks for all your help.

Jim

[COHO]

i have a marcum, i was wondering what all the talk about that true color upgrade is. mine is a lx3

[FISH21]

COHO
The true color upgrade is an upgrade from the original colors of yellow, red and a blended color of orange to yellow, green and red. It might not seem like a big difference. But it improves the display ALOT. The display and colors are much more crisp and easier to read, resulting in much better target separation. You should contact Marcum there website is www.marcumtech.com you can email them or call and they will tell you what you need to do. Its $49 for the upgrade but is well worth it. I'm not sure but I thought I heard something about Marcum not doing this anymore? But I'm not entirely sure. Definitely contact them though. Hope this helps.

[wally-eye]

After reading all your posts I would like to say thank you for helping me choose! I just got home with my new flasher. I ended up with the Vexilar FL-20 seams to be pretty easy to use now I'm chomping at the bit for Saturday morning.
I may even have to give it a try tomorrow night! I tried to get the cat to walk under it but that's not working to well.
Again thanks for all your help.

Jim


The fish gods are blessing you for your purchase..............:coolgleam

[UPWalleyeGuy]

Marcum is not currently doing the upgrade as they have a low supply of boards reserved for existing units. Contact Marcum on the TC upgrade and they will put you on a list. If the demand gets high they will most likely fabricate more boards and offer the upgrade again. The upgrade is well worth the $50 IMO.

[COHO]

fish21, upwalleyeguy. thanks for the ifo i will talk to marcum.