Things we have learned from FFS

[Susky River Rat]

@TnRiver46 you’re  older than I am and I’m firmly against it. 

[BucksBasser]

On 3/20/2024 at 6:10 AM, Reel said:

I have fished clear water all my life.  I have FFS but it's recent and I have been fishing for visible fish (large smallmouth bass)  for the last 25 years without it.  We have a closed season so these fish are not on a nest and they are not tied down to one spot.  What I see now on FFS corresponds to what I have seen in shallow water, except the fish are not so shy when they are deep.

 

- From what I have seen, in clear water, bite windows are way larger than what most fishermen think.  On lots of days, 15 feet is the norm.  A roaming visible fish will turn around and head for a ned rig from that distance.  It reacts and turns as the lure touches the water.  The fish did not see it yet but heads for it.  

- All the fish I see are not alone.  They are in small schools of 3 to 5 individuals.  Schools of small fish are larger.  Schools of big fish ( 4/5 pounder ) are smaller.  They roam together as a group like a bunch of baitfish.  They turn at the same time and move quite a lot.  Most of the time they go back and forth .  I had one group that would circle around a small island over a distance of about 500 hundred yard.  They do not stay in one place even if it offers the best cover.  I think they work together to catch prey.  

I've fished Lake Erie.  No FFS.  So clear I could see 25 feet or so down and no visible fish.  But drag a Carolina rig through there and we would pull up six pounders one after another.  I'd be very interested to see that on FFS.

[TnRiver46]

16 hours ago, Susky River Rat said:

@TnRiver46 you’re  older than I am and I’m firmly against it. 

I know…

 

im firmly against the Alabama crimson tide 

[Tennessee Boy]

49 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

im firmly against the Alabama crimson tide 

There’s a cause we can all get behind.🤣

[Texas Flood]

All rigged up and ready to go. Cant wait to get on the water and see all these bass just jump in the boat with this new technology.

 

 

[gim]

2 minutes ago, Texas Flood said:

All rigged up and ready to go.

 

Looks like you need a recessed pedal tray first. 

[Texas Flood]

Does it help catch more fish? If so, we might need to have a serious talk about banning it from tournaments.

[gim]

Just now, Texas Flood said:

Does it help catch more fish? If, so we might need to have a serious talk about banning it from tournaments.

 

Might make fishing slightly more comfortable especially if you fish for long periods of time.  Unless of course you want to stand like Captain Morgan for hours on end.

 

[Koz]

9 hours ago, gimruis said:

 

Looks like you need a recessed pedal tray first. 

It looks like he's sitting and fishing, not standing.

On 3/24/2024 at 1:46 PM, txchaser said:

or a damiki pull a big fish out of a brushpile is wild. And that same fish wouldn't budge for an a-rig.Lots of big bass guys with spinning rods all over the deck.

 

I just installed FFS a few weeks ago and have been out less than a handful of times since then, but I have found it fascinating to watch fish come out of nowhere from a brush pile to hit a suspended bait.

 

I used to hate off shore fishing, but FFS has allowed me to see what I was missing (pun intended).

[Woody B]

On 3/25/2024 at 9:11 PM, BucksBasser said:

I've fished Lake Erie.  No FFS.  So clear I could see 25 feet or so down and no visible fish.  But drag a Carolina rig through there and we would pull up six pounders one after another.  I'd be very interested to see that on FFS.

 

That's interesting.  Can you see any on "regular" sonar or have you looked?  With my set up (Lowrance Active Target 1, and HDS Live 9) sometimes I have trouble seeing fish that are hugging the bottom.   The contrast setting is VERY important on mine, and I suspect any live sonar.  (I think it's "gain" on LiveScope).   If the contrast is too low stuff in the middle or top of the water column is hard to see.  If the contrast is too high stuff on the bottom kinda washes out.  Bass that are tight in cover are hard to see....sometimes. 

I see Spotted bass hunting in pack occasionally (at least Spots are what I catch from these packs) but rarely see/catch Largemouth out "hunting".  It may be my 9 inch screen (instead of 12" or bigger) or the fact I keep my range on 90 feet (most keep it closer I think) but I have a hard time determining species just by the image.  Behavior is more of a factor to make me think "that's Bass". 

 

@Koz wait until you see a 30+ pound Catfish, that was unseen on the bottom dart up and take your lure. 

 

 

For people who have recently got it.  Don't jerk the hook out of the fishes mouth.   I struggle with that when I first got mine to the point I'd look away when I saw a fish near my lure.  It's like top water fishing.  You need to feel the fish before setting the hook.   

 

For the people who hate, or strongly dislike it.  That's cool with me.  Differing opinions is one thing that makes the World great.   

[Born 2 fish]

I just did some electronics upgrades I can’t wait to try the livescope out.

[BucksBasser]

1 hour ago, Woody B said:

 

That's interesting.  Can you see any on "regular" sonar or have you looked?  With my set up (Lowrance Active Target 1, and HDS Live 9) sometimes I have trouble seeing fish that are hugging the bottom.   The contrast setting is VERY important on mine, and I suspect any live sonar.  (I think it's "gain" on LiveScope).   If the contrast is too low stuff in the middle or top of the water column is hard to see.  If the contrast is too high stuff on the bottom kinda washes out.  Bass that are tight in cover are hard to see....sometimes. 

I see Spotted bass hunting in pack occasionally (at least Spots are what I catch from these packs) but rarely see/catch Largemouth out "hunting".  It may be my 9 inch screen (instead of 12" or bigger) or the fact I keep my range on 90 feet (most keep it closer I think) but I have a hard time determining species just by the image.  Behavior is more of a factor to make me think "that's Bass". 

 

@Koz wait until you see a 30+ pound Catfish, that was unseen on the bottom dart up and take your lure. 

 

 

For people who have recently got it.  Don't jerk the hook out of the fishes mouth.   I struggle with that when I first got mine to the point I'd look away when I saw a fish near my lure.  It's like top water fishing.  You need to feel the fish before setting the hook.   

 

For the people who hate, or strongly dislike it.  That's cool with me.  Differing opinions is one thing that makes the World great.   

I don't remember seeing many.  But that was the second trip with a new unit so maybe I didn't have it dialed in.

[Koz]

I went out for an hour or so tonight and spent some time with a Damiki rig but in depths of only 5-10 feet.

 

I was amazed at how many fish came right up to the bait and checked it out for 5 seconds or so and then swam off.

 

I really prefer to power fish along the banks but I’m really focusing on FFS so I can diversify my skill set.

[Reel]

3 hours ago, Woody B said:

That's interesting.  Can you see any on "regular" sonar or have you looked?  With my set up (Lowrance Active Target 1, and HDS Live 9) sometimes I have trouble seeing fish that are hugging the bottom.   The contrast setting is VERY important on mine, and I suspect any live sonar.  (I think it's "gain" on LiveScope).   If the contrast is too low stuff in the middle or top of the water column is hard to see.  If the contrast is too high stuff on the bottom kinda washes out.  Bass that are tight in cover are hard to see....sometimes. 

I fish lake Champlain and can see fish on regular 2D sonar.  The easiest to see are lake trout ( around 10 lbs) in 100 feet of water.  You can see bunches of them grouped together as very clear arches.  You can see your lure as you jig for them by putting it just above the arches and you see the fish move up to grab the jig exactly like FFS.  I've also seen walleyes. They look like a straight line heading for the lure when they strike.  

[Born 2 fish]

6 minutes ago, Reel said:

I fish lake Champlain and can see fish on regular 2D sonar.  The easiest to see are lake trout ( around 10 lbs) in 100 feet of water.  You can see bunches of them grouped together as very clear arches.  You can see your lure as you jig for them by putting it just above the arches and you see the fish move up to grab the jig exactly like FFS.  I've also seen walleyes. They look like a straight line heading for the lure when they strike.  

 I do the same for bass with a drop shot.