Live Imaging - Thoughts?

[Amarok]

If you don't know, live imaging sonar is the latest major "advance" in fishing technology. It gives you a live view under the water, up to a few hundred feet in any direction.

I think the actual device is fantastic. I've seen them in action on the ice and watching a fish approach your lure, turn and go to your buddy's is crazy. Being able to drop down the transducer, spin it around and scout a 200' radius circle in seconds is sci-fi like.

As far as how this changes the game of fishing, I absolutely hate it. Hooking a fish and bringing it in is only the very end of the fishing process that starts with learning fish behaviour, learning structure, and locating the fish. These are skills that take a lifetime to develop, with immense satisfaction to be felt with each gain.

Now you can drop 3 or 4 or 5 grand and bypass all that bullshit learning and skill-building stuff.

Most of the fishing videos now seem to be guys in a $50-$100k boat, using $10+k worth of electronics, going out and locating and casting to individual fish and acting like they have accomplished anything other than spending money. Might as well stay home and play video games.

The guy I fished with that has one spends most of his time moving around staring at a screen, waiting for Moby Dick to appear, rather than finding likely spots and putting a line in the water. I don't fish with him anymore. It has no appeal to me at all

In case you think I'm just being a grumpy old man, tournaments have started banning this tech. One, it minimizes the skill required, and two, it becomes a game of who has the most money to spend on gear.

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Have you seen these? Used them? Do you love them and think I'm out to lunch?

 

[sandman83]

God, you and my fishing buddy both want me to buy the periscope live optics thingy..... "you can see the fish!!"

I've got down scan, and side scan....problem is I can't tell what kinda fish I'm looking at or if they are hungry....he swears this latest gadget will improve our odds though. Goes right up there with the new trolling motor....

I'd rather just peak at the electronics every now and then and just fish my standard way....I've had best odds just hooking up the ol' hell-pet combo and driving in circles "trolling" it.

I dont really like how "sport" like bass fishing is either tbh, I like to catch to eat and he always looks at me crosseyed. Spending 50k+ on a boat to bring home nothing? Who's the crazy one.....Lots of changing in the tournament scene but not really my thing. I like the picture vs livewell options now? for virtual weighins vs so many fish dying near the docks after a tourney.

 

[Hugh Jass]

If you don't know, live imaging sonar is the latest major "advance" in fishing technology. It gives you a live view under the water, up to a few hundred feet in any direction.

I think the actual device is fantastic. I've seen them in action on the ice and watching a fish approach your lure, turn and go to your buddy's is crazy. Being able to drop down the transducer, spin it around and scout a 200' radius circle in seconds is sci-fi like.

As far as how this changes the game of fishing, I absolutely hate it. Hooking a fish and bringing it in is only the very end of the fishing process that starts with learning fish behaviour, learning structure, and locating the fish. These are skills that take a lifetime to develop, with immense satisfaction to be felt with each gain.

Now you can drop 3 or 4 or 5 grand and bypass all that bullshit learning and skill-building stuff.

Most of the fishing videos now seem to be guys in a $50-$100k boat, using $10+k worth of electronics, going out and locating and casting to individual fish and acting like they have accomplished anything other than spending money. Might as well stay home and play video games.

The guy I fished with that has one spends most of his time moving around staring at a screen, waiting for Moby Dick to appear, rather than finding likely spots and putting a line in the water. I don't fish with him anymore. It has no appeal to me at all

In case you think I'm just being a grumpy old man, tournaments have started banning this tech. One, it minimizes the skill required, and two, it becomes a game of who has the most money to spend on gear.

----------------------
Have you seen these? Used them? Do you love them and think I'm out to lunch?

People fish with electronics??? Huh.
I have no opinion on the subject, I guess, 'coz I'm a Luddite.

 

[DemonTrich]

I pick a spot based on location, surrounding structures, and vegetation. Like what my step-dad taught me.

All these new fancy electronics will only get you so far in life. Instincts are getting pushed aside for electronics.

 

[Jewels]

If you don't know,

I do not.

We talking about this ?


I understand the jist, even if I have linked the wrong product.

Philosophically, this reminds me of
rifle hunting vs bow hunting.
Harvesting vs pursuing
Filling a deep freeze vs hiking

It all relates back to core motivation.
An engaging topic because everyone chooses their own level of tech.

I am okay with primitive or basic gear. I feel that any enhancements are moving away from the 'sport'fishing aspect.

If I am paying cash for a whale watching tour, you better have top dollar gadgets.
If I am dipping for perch with my niece's and nephews, a willow rod with a pre-snelled hook is all the tech I need.

 

[Amarok]

We talking about this ?

Yeah, that's one of 'em. There are at least 3 companies with their own version and I completely gave up on following the newest upgrades, so I don't know where the current cutting edge is.

Fish are dumb. One of their few defenses from humans is that they are usually not visible beneath the water. This tech just makes the game so unfair.

It's one thing to use it to scout an area when ice fishing. Mobility is limited and finding an area that holds fish can save a lot of trudging and drilling.

It's something different to use highly sophisticated sonar to snipe individual fish in open water, at least I believe it is.

We have hunting regulations prohibiting the use of aerial surveillance to locate game because it is considered unethical and unsporting. I feel the same way about using this technology for fishing.

 

[Mim Towls]

I got a little portable humminbird for the boat and I love being able to see the depths etc, and where schools of fish are. I don't have the fancy side scan etc, just a basic as can be fish finder. I like being able to locate some crappie or saugers and then jig them, but that's about the extent of it. I have my best luck fishing on instinct, and I actually loaned the humminbird to musky frank so he could chart some of his favorite waters. Once I have a good idea of the bottom, I don't really like use it that much. I cannot tell if I am just poor and full of excuses, but I feel like anything more than that is cheating.

 

[DemonTrich]

At least your not in a competition and Stuffing weights in the fish for a higher weigh-in score and getting caught.

Fakers deserve everything they got handed to them!

 

[Amarok]

I got a little portable humminbird for the boat and I love being able to see the depths etc, and where schools of fish are. I don't have the fancy side scan etc, just a basic as can be fish finder. I like being able to locate some crappie or saugers and then jig them, but that's about the extent of it. I have my best luck fishing on instinct, and I actually loaned the humminbird to musky frank so he could chart some of his favorite waters. Once I have a good idea of the bottom, I don't really like use it that much. I cannot tell if I am just poor and full of excuses, but I feel like anything more than that is cheating.

I've had simple, down-reading fish-finders for years. I consider it a vital piece of kit on lakes. Like you, I use it primarily for reading depth and structure, not finding fish.

This is a completely different thing. This isn't looking underneath you, this is shining a spotlight 360 degrees around you.

 

[Mim Towls]

I've had simple, down-reading fish-finders for years. I consider it a vital piece of kit on lakes. Like you, I use it primarily for reading depth and structure, not finding fish.

This is a completely different thing. This isn't looking underneath you, this is shining a spotlight 360 degrees around you.

I know, that stuff is crazy. I was just giving the background on my experience before I gave them things a big heck no.

 

[Hugh Jass]

I pick a spot based on location, surrounding structures, and vegetation. Like what my step-dad taught me.

All these new fancy electronics will only get you so far in life. Instincts are getting pushed aside for electronics.

I just blindly flail about an area for a couple of years until I luck into a few good spots.
Maybe not the most efficient method, but it's always worked for me!

 

[Mim Towls]

flail about an area for a couple of years until I luck into a few good spots.

LOL hell yeah

 

[Amarok]

I like this. Apparently Boone and Crockett, the body that certifies world records in hunting and fishing, is saying that fish caught using Live Imaging are not eligible as LI is not a sporting way to fish, just as using drones is not a sporting way to hunt.

 

[RookieBuds]

My opinion? --reliance on such devices is going to DEVOLVE fishing skills over time. In about 30-40 yrs, people won't be able to find fish without imaging and depth finders, etc.

 

[Amarok]

depth finders

I've no problem with basic sonar, but LI changes everything.

There's a huge difference between
"there is a fish of unknown size and species somewhere within this rough circle beneath me"
and
"there is a large walleye exactly 87 feet in that direction, 5 feet below the surface."

 

[Luposolitario]

i have tri some, live imaging or super accurate sonar whi not, who real pay for this? who use fishing for money dont use technologi too youth, maybe one day guard cost size all stuff? sure some old furuno whit 1 kw eye work, than some good news , i think depend also whatta one make to undestsnd things need to fishin more .have up one litle 460 vtr 150 watt garmin echo. sure is poor shit, just to know more under the vassel , fishing up 20 to 40, dragon fli is beuti stuff cheap , lots use also garmin 4-7, not stricker phone , or first price lowramce.. some by shop have problem and amazon also. too cheap, im going whit varius boat, is also cool use one by 1988.

 

[Luposolitario]

I've no problem with basic sonar, but LI changes everything.

There's a huge difference between
"there is a fish of unknown size and species somewhere within this rough circle beneath me"
and
"there is a large walleye exactly 87 feet in that direction, 5 feet below the surface."

yea sea always dangerous,hii