Livescope/Forward Facing Sonar
Love it or hate it but Livescope and Active Targeting are probably here to stay.
Technology will always move forward in just about every industry these days and the fishing industry is of course no exception. That said however, many have taken exception to the use of this technology especially in fishing tournaments.
Because many recreational anglers seek to break everything against what the professionals are using there is little doubt that the sale of the technology will continue to rise given more and more professional tournament organizations have gotten behind the tech as an integral part of the “entertainment” side of the sport especially for the ultimate goal of attracting more people with more catches on camera during events.
But what is Livescope and Forward Facing Sonar exactly?
LiveScope and forward-facing sonar are two advanced technologies used in bass fishing that provide anglers with real-time underwater imaging and increased visibility of fish and structures. Let's explore how each of these technologies works:
Livescope: LiveScope is a cutting-edge sonar technology developed by Garmin that revolutionizes the way anglers visualize the underwater environment. It utilizes a combination of traditional sonar and real-time scanning sonar to deliver live images of fish and structures below the boat.
The system consists of three main components: a. Transducer: The transducer is mounted on the boat's trolling motor or hull. It emits sonar waves into the water and receives the echoes that bounce back from underwater objects.
b. Sonar Module: The sonar module processes the received sonar signals from the transducer and converts them into visual images.
c. Display Unit: The display unit presents the live images on a screen, allowing anglers to see what is happening beneath the boat in real time.
The LiveScope system operates in two modes: a. Down mode: In this mode, the sonar waves are transmitted directly below the boat. Anglers can see a live, real-time view of fish, bait, and structures directly below their position.
b. Forward mode: In forward mode, the sonar waves are transmitted in a forward-facing direction. Anglers can see a live view of fish, structures, and the terrain in front of the boat, allowing them to precisely target specific fish or structure.
The real-time imaging provided by LiveScope enables anglers to determine the size, location, and behavior of fish, improving their ability to identify and catch bass.
Forward-facing sonar: Forward-facing sonar is another technology that provides enhanced underwater visibility for anglers. Unlike traditional sonar, which scans in a downward direction, forward-facing sonar scans in the direction the boat is moving, providing a detailed view of the underwater landscape in front of the boat.
The system typically consists of a transducer, a sonar module, and a display unit similar to Livescope. However, the scanning pattern and processing algorithms are optimized for forward viewing.
When the boat moves, the transducer emits sonar waves in a fan-shaped beam in front of the boat. The beam scans side to side, capturing detailed information about the underwater structures, fish, and the bottom composition. The sonar module processes the received signals and generates a visual representation on the display unit.
By using forward-facing sonar, anglers can identify submerged structures, spot fish in their natural habitat, and determine the fish's location relative to their boat. This information helps anglers make more informed decisions about their fishing strategy, such as adjusting their lure presentation or navigating around potential hazards.
In summary, both LiveScope and forward-facing sonar provide real-time underwater imaging, giving bass anglers a significant advantage in locating fish and structures. These technologies enhance situational awareness, allowing anglers to make more precise casts and increase their chances of a successful fishing outing.
Whether of not you decide to utilize Livescope likely will depend on where you actually are fishing most of the time. While the tech may be a welcome addition to any boat or kayak fishing deeper lakes, reservoirs or impoundments, most river anglers fishing our rivers in the region likely will not get the advantages that the tech offers in truth especially our skinny water levels like this week on most river systems.
The expense of this units is also a big consideration. While we may have come to expect to see them on all the pros boats we are now seeing them being employed on kayaks. Call me a traditionalist but just as many of us had to get over the use of motors on kayaks now we have to figure out a way to accept LiveScope on them as well.
Will the tech change the sport of fishing? Probably. The question is whether it will change the sport to the good or the bad and for the most part the lines are already drawn in terms of loving the tech or hating it.
Personally I think the tech is highly effective for the Fishing Guide industry when clients have an expectation of being put on fish as paying clients but as for the use of it for fishing tournaments while being generally accepted I do believe the sport is losing something with its utilization.
Regardless of where you stand on the tech, there is no doubt this tech is light years ahead of the graphs that have become the norm on most anglers boats for years.
Be sure to follow the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/JLScottFishing/