Garmin Panoptix LiveScope Scanning Sonar System

[Eddie101]

Anyone familiar with the unit? Will it make me a better fisher or should I say will it help me catch more fish?

 

 

[MN Fisher]

It'll help you find the fish - catching them is still up to you...just like it is without the system.

[Russ E]

a friend has panoptix on his boat. it works well for pinpointing fish, but it does not tell you what species is there.

It also will not make them bite. I have seen a lot of guys spend more time watching the panoptix screen, than fishing.

It is also extremely expensive.

 

I personally don't have it on my boat.  I use hummingbird mega imaging. If setup correctly you can get a good picture of the structure and where the fish are, on that structure. I will make a pass by an area I want to fish. Once I get a mental image of the area, I go back and fish it. I don't like constantly watching a screen while  fishing.

[Crazyju]

I cant fish without it now. Feels like I am blind. But as stated above, it is hard to drive away from a school of bass that just want bite. I have used it for a year now, and telling species of fish is pretty easy. Some times cat fish will set up just like bass on a drop, but as you get closer you can see the body shape and know they are catfish.

 

 

[Eddie101]

47 minutes ago, Crazyju said:

I cant fish without it now. Feels like I am blind. But as stated above, it is hard to drive away from a school of bass that just want bite. I have used it for a year now, and telling species of fish is pretty easy. Some times cat fish will set up just like bass on a drop, but as you get closer you can see the body shape and know they are catfish.

 

 

You caught 60 bass in 2 hours?!  OMG.....

[Craig P]

One of the major reasons I bought Livescope was for it to help teach me what I’m actually seeing on down and side view.  Anyone experienced with finders can pick out a tree, bush, rock, etc. but when you see it on Livescope it really helps you to connect the dots visually. I do not look at typical finder screens the same any more, the typical down and side view now creates a 3D image in my brain if you will and that helps me recognize holding spots quickly.

 

As for actual fishing, once again, I bought it to teach me. Anyone can throw a lure to a fish and not get bit but then there is that guy, sometimes even a beginner who is fishing next to you who is getting bit. Why?  It’s all about cadence and reaction strikes, they’re doing something just a little different. Watching my presentation and modifying fall, jerks, etc. has increased the amount of fish I catch immensely.

 

It isn’t cheap but now that I have it, I’d never go without it, it just makes fishing so much more fun.