New Lowrance "spotlight" Sonar

[Quillback]

Interesting stuff, it mounts on your trolling motor, so you can point it where you want to "look". This is unlike Humminbirds 360 sonar that is mounted on the transom. I don't know how well it will work, for say scanning under docks or under bank cover like laydowns, but if it does work well, to me it's almost to the point of violating the principles of fair chase. Yeah even if you know where the fish are, you'll still have to catch them, but still I wonder if technology is starting to get a little too good. Thoughts?

http://www.lowrance.com/en-US/News/SpotlightScan-Sonar/

[moguy1973]

I wouldn't think that would work very well mounted to the trolling motor. Unless you are stationary they only picture you are going to get is what's directly in front of the boat. If you are paralleling the bank or docks or whatever the trolling motor would most likely be pointed in a direction purpendicular to where you want it to be looking.

[Feathers and Fins]

360 is nothing new (Furuno ) has had it for decades, the new is freshwater fishermen are finding out about it. As far as trolling motor sidescan there has been a few units you could mount on the side of your boat for several years now BP and Cabelas use to have them for sale. If you want to see whats coming watch the Southern California sport fleets and the North East Fleets combined with commercial fleets.

It takes about 10 to 15 years to get the cost down on the high end electronics for recreational use. Its like downriggers and outriggers or Kite fishing, they all took the "industry" by storm but if you search the roots they were in salt water fishing for a long time. Some of you will even remember when the Giant swim bait craze hit and how everyone was all googoo over these new baits when in fact they had been in use for years in Southern California big bass circles or the Striper x Big Bass guys.

Fishing is really about keeping up with the techniques that are up and coming. Use to be these new "End all be All" lures and gear were a super new fad but now with the net you can surf the forums from around the country and actually see and predict whats coming. Heck the A-rig is nothing more than a Spreader Bar that has been used in commercial fishing and saltwater sport fishing for years, someone just miniaturized it for lake bass.

[Quillback]

Yeah that's the thing, the technology has been available since WWII, but getting it reasonably priced, and adaptable to freshwater bass fishing is what's new. This stuff has the potential to be more than just a fad.

[Feathers and Fins]

Oh its always going to be more than a fad when it comes to electronics with the tech-age. People want it want it want it. As long as Duck Commander doesn't start making one we will all be ok. If they do then we will be seeing Uncle Si fish symbols ( Big one Jack ) ( Hey! its a Keepa ) ( Hey Jack that's a Big Bottom Girl )

[Quillback]

Just been doing a little research, Lowrance claims to be using CHIRP (Continuous High Intensity Radar Pulse) technology for this application rather than CW (Continuous Wave). CHIRP, according to the experts, delivers better range resolution and better signal to noise ratio. CHIRP has been around since the 90's but it has always been expensive. This technology SHOULD provide better image resolution than what is currently available in your typical freshwater sonar.

Not that I'm going to rush out and buy it, but if it works as advertised, it's an improvement in freshwater sonar technology. I would not be surprised to see CHIRP implemented into side imaging and down imaging applications. it is, as far as I can tell, a separate unit connected through a network hub. it seems it would not be a great leap to connect CHIRP compatible transducers to the hub and integrate with the sonar screen.

[Pepe]

As far as being "too far", I remember that thought when the flasher came out. There is no stopping our quest for a way to catch those green fish and let them go again.

[Jerry Rapp]

back in the day, Roland Martin put a flasher transducer mounted sideways on his TM so he could see under docks, etc. bassfishingarchives.com is a pretty neat site sometimes.

[Fish24/7]

Anyone here ever heard of DIDSON?

I have an older dual frequency id type sonar unit on my boat and just love it!

[jerry241]

I think the raymarine dragonfly uses the CHIRP technology for their downscan. Haven't seen one in person but the " picture " quality looks real good on YouTube. I want to check one out in real life.