Video Game Fishing

[KSanford33]

This is how I refer to the LiveScope/FFS sort of thing. The technology where you can literally see the fish take your lure and the like.

 

First, I think this stuff it utterly ridiculous. However, I don't want to turn this post into a rant. Instead, I want to ask the experts (all of you) whether this stuff is even necessary.

 

I look over the topographical maps before I fish an area, then find associated cover near the offshore structure I found on the topographical map. I rarely even take my fish finder with me.

 

Do these technologies really offer a decided advantage over old-school ways of finding fish?

[Koz]

The pro tour anglers use this technology, so I would say, "Yes."

[Deleted account]

54 minutes ago, KSanford33 said:

Do these technologies really offer a decided advantage over old-school ways of finding fish?

 

Yes. Which is not to say recreational anglers need to have them, or that one can't find fish other ways.

[TriStateBassin106]

Someone has been watching Randy Blaukat... 

 

I personally think electronics in Bass Fishing is becoming a bit of a problem, not only do the tournament guys who can afford it over the others have a significant advantage. It must also hurt ones neck after awhile since they're looking down all the time. 

 

I have one 7inch GPS/finder unit on my 10ft little boat and that's it. Even if I had a traditional fiberglass fancy bass boat that some guys here probably have. I would only have a GPS unit for the console and maybe a 2d finder up front near the trolling motor. 

[warefisher]

Especially in smallmouth fishing.

[RDB]

2 hours ago, KSanford33 said:

Instead, I want to ask the experts (all of you) whether this stuff is even necessary.

Today it’s probably necessary if you rely on a check to feed the family, otherwise no.  I would also add that a pretty good percentage of weekend anglers who use FFS are not very good with it.  A good number are still pretty weak with 2d, 3D, & side imaging.

[Choporoz]

2 hours ago, KSanford33 said:

Do these technologies really offer a decided advantage over old-school ways of finding fish?

Do you really think the answer could be 'no'?

[GRiver]

I see the pro’s come by the house “pre fishing”  but they aren’t really fishing. I see them cruising around looking at their screens. I’m not sure they even fish, when they are pre fishing. I think they are marking spots and coming back around to check of the fish are still there.
I might be totally wrong, it’s just my theory.
They used to fish by the dock and chit chat, but now it’s heads down and eyes on the screens.

[soflabasser]

I prefer to not fish with livescope since I prefer catching fish the old fashioned way, but livescope is something that has helped many people catch fish on days they would not without it. With that said if fishing with livescope makes people happy, then let them fish with it as long as they are doing it in a place it is legal to fish with it.

[volzfan59]

For me, I'm going to say that it's not needed. I won't waste my money on it. I'm strictly a shallow water guy. I have two Garmin Striker 7" on my boat to find the stuff I can't see or to check out points.

[Tennessee Boy]

I got FFS in April.  Is it necessary?  Of course not.  I fished 50 years without it.   Has it helped me catch more fish?  No not yet.  It takes time to learn how to adjust it and how to interpret what you're looking at.  It's been more of a distraction so far.   I am excited about it's potential.   Forward Facing Sonar is like all marine electronics.  It gives you information.   What you do with that information is the key to success.   My new MEGA live unit is giving me information that I've never had before.  One of the things that I've been most excited about is the ability to watch schools of shad.  I've always wanted to learn more about shad but good information is hard to come by.   I've learned more about shad and their movement in the last 3 months than I did in the last 50 years and I'm looking forward to learning a lot more.  

 

FFS has raised the bar in fishing.  It's one more thing that you have to learn and master to get better.  You can always choose not to use it and there are anglers at the highest level that are not using it.

[Choporoz]

I didn't know anything about forward facing sonar when I watched Patrick Walters on Lake Fork a couple years ago.  Watch some of that performance and you can't doubt the value of the technology.   When you can steer a jerkbait into a trophy and stop it right in front of its face, fishing has changed.

  I'm not saying I want it or even agree it is right.  But I wouldn't question whether it will likely put more better fish in the boat.

[Dirtyeggroll]

There are populations of suspended fish now being targeted, that are essentially naive to fishing pressure that are now being caught due to advances in technology. In my personal experience, these fish are not small.

[22RangerZ520R]

I just got my Mega Live back in January and I wouldn't have caught my 4th DD (10lb even) without it.  I also had a 9lb 4oz and twin 7lb that same trip back in March, all I watched eat on Live.  Humminbird's Live has had many negative reviews online, but it gets the job done for me.... Pics on my IG page - @22RangerZ520R

[KSanford33]

2 hours ago, Choporoz said:

Do you really think the answer could be 'no'?

I did think it was a possibility. I don’t know if the winning weights have increased year over year at the same tournaments. I know there are many more variables than just electronics, but if the weights aren’t increasing, I would struggle to agree that these technologies are really helping. 
 

For example, my preferred fishing style is fishing the heaviest cover I can find. That’s a proven strategy to catch big fish. These new technologies won’t help me with that any more than what I currently use (topo maps and a bit of prefishing).

 

Don’t get me wrong, I’m ambivalent about the use of it. I think it’s taking some of the skill out of fishing, but I don’t care who uses it. 

[Tennessee Boy]

Here’s what Wheeler thinks.

 

 

[KSanford33]

13 hours ago, Tennessee Boy said:

Here’s what Wheeler thinks.

 

 

He makes an excellent point. There's definitely some fisheries where it would help and some where it wouldn't. And his best point is, even if you can see the fish, you still have to catch them.

[12poundbass]

20 hours ago, KSanford33 said:

And his best point is, even if you can see the fish, you still have to catch them.

Exactly. How many times have we seen  pros sitting on a bed for hours trying to catch that 8 lb bass only to move on empty handed. 

[Ski]

On 7/21/2022 at 4:29 PM, KSanford33 said:

Do these technologies really offer a decided advantage over old-school ways of finding fish?

Yes they certainly do. I remember using the "Flasher"  and Loran C. Now FFS and GPS.

 

[gim]

So apparently the PMTT (Professional Muskie Tournament Trail) has now banned Livescope/FFS in their events for the rest of the season because at the last event, some team mounted 8 of them on their boat and just scanned the water for fish until they found one.  They also caught 8 fish which is a record for one single event by any team.  The rest of the field complained, they voted on it, and the result is a full ban on them for the remainder of the season.

 

Seems like a bit of a knee-jerk reaction to me, especially during the season.  I can understand it from the side of the other participants, but these rules should be set in advance, not altered during the course of the season.  I'm sure this subject is going to come up in the offseason again, and it could also filter into tournaments for other species (like bass or walleye).

[J Francho]

Eight units? Jeez. 

[Bankc]

Professional fishing is more of a sales job than an actual fishing job, if we're being honest.  I mean, the fishing skills involved are unquestionable.  But at the end of the day, they make their money not so much by selling tickets or TV revenue, but by endorsements.  Just look at how their clothes and boats are covered in ads.  As such, I doubt fancy new electronics will ever be tightly regulated.  There's just too much money behind it.  Though, perhaps they should be.  It would make for more exciting fishing, in my opinion.  

 

My opinion is that they do present an obvious advantage to professional anglers.  A good angler will know how to use them to find and catch more fish.  It's after all, one more arrow in the quiver.  And if you know enough to know it's advantages and disadvantages, then you won't let it hurt you and only rely on it to help you. 

 

However, I could also see the technology hurting many anglers who aren't pros.  Even with livescope and such, you're not going to be able to see every fish.  And just because you can see a fish, doesn't mean you can catch it.  So I could see how it would definitely encourage more inexperienced anglers to waste time focusing on fish they CAN see, but CAN'T catch, and less time focusing on fish they CAN'T see, but CAN catch.  

[gim]

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

Eight units? Jeez. 

 

It was an event in Eagle River, WI.  125 teams, 82 muskies caught.  One team caught 10 of those 82, so about 12% of the overall catch.

 

Bear in mind the PMTT doesn't have the finances, marketing, or money involved that pro tours for other species like walleye and bass do.  Its not even close.  I guess a fair number of teams basically threatened to leave the tour if something wasn't done.  The PMTT would not easily be able to just replace them either because muskie fishing is a very niche species, more so than the other major pro fishing tours.  If a few participants in MLF or BASS threatened to leave, they would just get replaced by another person waiting to join.

[BassNJake]

Half the guys that fish the Tuesday night wildcat at my home lake have FFS

About 3/4 of those had side imaging and never learned how to use it

Todd Faircloth and Kotaro Kiriyama used 2D sonar to video game fish for wins on Lake Erie

 

The guys that put the time to learn it, in will get the most benefit from them.

It's another skill that you can add to your bag of tricks.

 

I have also heard anglers talk at length about how it has hurt their fishing.

They waste a lot of time fishing for fish they can see but cant get to bite.

 

 

 

[Kelvin]

Game changer.  New to bass fishing myself but grew up in the video game era.  Adapt, improvise, Darwin, I ching. 

 

It reminds of snook fishing dock lights where you can see the fish directly but then cycle through baits and lures until the right combination hits and slay them.