I have been using electronics since I started kayak fishing. I got a boat a couple years ago and put in nicer electronics... Then I upgraded all of them again to go with livescope. I put in a lot of time learning the units... I mainly did it so I could be completive in tournaments. last thing I need, maybe should have been first is a trolling motor with spotlock.
Thing is, I make it a HABIT to still fish sans electronics. Be it on the shore, my kayaks, float tubes, and my boat. I will fish without taking them or turning them on. You have to still have the skills to fish and know things based on season, nature, and experience. I will leave my graphs at home or just bring one of my smaller units. I never want to be in a position were I think I cannot fish because I do not have X. Like that woman in the picture... I grew up fishing like this and I know people that will whoop the pants off of some of us with a cane pole... My aunt and grandmother being one of them... never use electronics and always catch good fish, PERIOD.
I was talking with an older tournament fisherman a few months back. We discussed this very thing. Using the old methods still work today. mainly you need to know the depth and contours. Find the bait fish... Things like that. Now,
when I am on the boat, even if I do not want to use sonar for fishing, I use the GPS and maps. Man.. The water level is dropping and I fish at night a lot. A few months ago, I went over a spot that made me think the graph was incorrect. I thought, no way is this that shallow. I went back a month ago before sun down and I saw the exposed rocks. GPS is great for not only marking fish, but getting back the same way you came.