New graphs too good for tournaments?

[SC53]

Those electronics aren’t a lot of help in 5’ of water or less.

That’s where the majority of bass are caught...at least down here.

[WRB]

If you mean sonar I would tend to agree but today's electronics include GPS with maps and way points are helpful. For example a fisherman who is on bass at the Big O could send me his way points and I could go there without ever have fished the lake before. I could find it in the fog with a good nav map.

Tom

[MittenMouth]

On 11/5/2019 at 5:02 PM, Johnbt said:

Hmm. If you're getting paid for catching fish, shouldn't you be required to have a commercial fishing license? It's a business, right?

A competition is different than commerce. 

[Johnbt]

I compete with my buddies every time we go fishing, but there are no prizes. Only bragging rights.

 

Otoh, there are folks who make their living fishing tournaments. It's not recreational fishing imo. That's all they do. Look at the stickers on their boats and clothes. They're participating in commerce of some sort. They're supposed to declare their income on their taxes.

 

Sort of like the difference between a person who rents a table at a gun show to sell his guns vs a guy who goes to every gun show and buys and sells to make his living and doesn't have an FFL. There's a gray line in there somewhere.

[Hammer 4]

8 hours ago, Johnbt said:

I compete with my buddies every time we go fishing, but there are no prizes. Only bragging rights.

 

Otoh, there are folks who make their living fishing tournaments. It's not recreational fishing imo. That's all they do. Look at the stickers on their boats and clothes. They're participating in commerce of some sort. They're supposed to declare their income on their taxes.

 

Sort of like the difference between a person who rents a table at a gun show to sell his guns vs a guy who goes to every gun show and buys and sells to make his living and doesn't have an FFL. There's a gray line in there somewhere.

But, the folks who fish in tournaments Don't keep what they catch, If they did, then I could see your point. Commercial fishermen Sell what they catch.

[Bird]

Then there are those that are addicted to electronics spending a portion of the day simply playing. Lol

 

I run into a guy often on my local lake always zoned in on his MANY mounted electronics and seldom see him fishing.....really nice guy though. 

 

I released my PB as he approached to chit chat and he spent hours scanning for it.

I kept telling him " he ain't gonna bite again ".

[WRB]

You factor in the seasonal period you are fishing how much time to dedicate to searching  for bait and or bass using your sonar. 

If you know it's the spawn and bass are on beds your sonar search time is limited and visual search time extended. 

During  cold  water periods your sonar search time is extended trying to locate bait and bass in deeper water takes more time because it's a wider search area then the warmer water periods of summer and early fall.

Without sonar only the spawn cycle you can visually find bass without fishing for them.

Tom

[gim]

Most common anglers can’t afford to upgrade their electronics every year when a new feature comes out. I know I can’t.

[MN Fisher]

12 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Most common anglers can’t afford to upgrade their electronics every year when a new feature comes out. I know I can’t.

In a few years I might upgrade from where I am now - but it'll be a big decision that'd take most if not all of my yearly fishing budget.

[WRB]

Online upgrades to your current unit is free and mine is 2009 vintage, the maps are up to date.

Tom

[MN Fisher]

5 minutes ago, WRB said:

Online upgrades to your current unit is free and mine is 2009 vintage, the maps are up to date.

Tom

Oh? They can upgrade and add maps to my Hook2-4? Neat. (sarcasm off)

[WRB]

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

Oh? They can upgrade and add maps to my Hook2-4? Neat. (sarcasm off)

I do have a advantage as Don Iovino does all my updates for me.

Do you want to find out what is available for your units call Don.

Tom

[MN Fisher]

8 hours ago, WRB said:

I do have a advantage as Don Iovino does all my updates for me.

Do you want to find out what is available for your units call Don.

Tom

Catch the sarcasm? It's a base Hook 2-4, not even GPS on it, less than a year old. The only 'updates' this unit could have is a replacement.

[WRB]

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

Catch the sarcasm? It's a base Hook 2-4, not even GPS on it, less than a year old. The only 'updates' this unit could have is a replacement.

I don't have the time to read between the lines so tongue in cheek content or sarcasm gets overlooked. 

Tom

[Bandersnatch]

On 11/5/2019 at 4:02 PM, Kevinator1 said:

Maybe most guys will disagree with me on this but does anyone else think that the new fishfinders / graphs are almost too good for bass tournaments? I think it kind of takes away the fun to a certain point in finding fish with lures. You see on tv guys just dropping a bait down to the fish and watching them come up and hit their lure like a video game. I know that just because you find them it doesn't mean you will always catch them but it's a huge advantage and almost takes the fun out of it to a point. (unless you win money!) Give me your opinions on it. 

I'm guess you're not running these "too good" electronics 

[jaimeastin]

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.  

[Oregon Native]

I love my nine's on my Vexus and will probably never upgrade...this is in the cards.  Do I use them every time on the lake....no.  Planning on fishing a couple bucket list lakes and will look forward to using them so i don't run over rocks.  Like watching fishing shows.....just as much too as I like watching fishing shows on my nine's.  Well...it's better... I can "sometimes" catch those fish I see on the nine's.

Tight Lines