Graphs

[5bites]

It's the right tool for the job concept. You can try to saw with a screwdriver, but it won't work like the right critter.

Exactly. If you want to look offshore it makes more sense to see a bigger clearer picture at once rather than idling smaller paths. Not to mention seeing more bait and fish and how they are relating to the cover or structure. Or identifying cover easier. Finding piles has become much easier. Not to mention foundations and how they layout. Plus the ability to mark waypoints without actually idling over the target is very handy.

On second thought why don't everyone apply wrenches way of thinking and spread the word.

[Champ188]

So si is a cheesy gimmick? Or because you personally don't use it you hink it's useless?

I said I have a 998C on my console. It has side imaging. I use it. But I spend a lot more time worrying about what is actually going on around me than I do playing with my electronics.

Good grief, man. Lighten up.

[fishinwrench]

I'm sorry your narrow mindedness has kept you with less than 20' of line on your reel. I'll send you a new spool if you'll buy a graph and start fishing ledges. There are good fish out there. Even on loz.

5bites, How about you show us how effective you are at stroking all these pigs ?

It's late July, no better time than now for a tutorial from you on offshore bassin success via electronics. So go out there and put it on'em and post us a report.

In the meantime I'll keep track of how many I catch that are 2lbs plus, and the number of hours it took me to catch them.

"Narrow mindedness"

[nomolites]

If you have some knowledge and intuition and then use good electronics you WILL catch more fish. Even with a weekend dabbler like me SI and GPS have upped my catch rate exponentially. In my case learning to use these tools has gradually lead offshore to the water less traveled and to fish most are unaware of.

Mike

[dtrs5kprs]

It all boils down to where you fish, and how you like to fish. If you only fish stuff you can see in less than 10' of water you can get by with a push pole and good sunglasses. If you want to fish structure (as opposed to cover) even that shallow you need a decent graph. If you want, or need to deep fish (say 15' or more) you need something that does more. Maybe not SI, and not big screen TV size, but just a little more gun.

[mjk86]

A contour map and 2d sonar/flasher/something that tells you how deep of water your in. Can get that for less than 100$. Everything else is just for fun. I think its a misconception that you need fancy electronics for deep water at table rock. You do not need much at all. A pen and graph paper can help you catch more fish than 2000$ graphs. Pay attention to when you get bites. Details details details. Hit lots of points in a short time. And put together patterns.

[5bites]

I said I have a 998C on my console. It has side imaging. I use it. But I spend a lot more time worrying about what is actually going on around me than I do playing with my electronics.

Good grief, man. Lighten up.

Lighten up? I'm referring to you saying wrench was spot on. I assumed that means you agreed with everything he said was all. Just looking for clarification.

[5bites]

5bites, How about you show us how effective you are at stroking all these pigs ?

It's late July, no better time than now for a tutorial from you on offshore bassin success via electronics. So go out there and put it on'em and post us a report.

In the meantime I'll keep track of how many I catch that are 2lbs plus, and the number of hours it took me to catch them.

"Narrow mindedness"

Who said I was claiming to be a guru at any type of fishing? I'm not blind to the benefits of offshore fishing. It wins at times. Beating the bank does too. So does dock fishing. One thing does not dominate all year long. Do you believe that?

You're welcome to come to grand Saturday and beat the locals with your methods too you know. It goes both ways.

It's hilarious that you say something doesn't work yet you don't apply yourself so how would you actually know?

[5bites]

A contour map and 2d sonar/flasher/something that tells you how deep of water your in. Can get that for less than 100$. Everything else is just for fun. I think its a misconception that you need fancy electronics for deep water at table rock. You do not need much at all. A pen and graph paper can help you catch more fish than 2000$ graphs. Pay attention to when you get bites. Details details details. Hit lots of points in a short time. And put together patterns.

If a paper graph is good then an electronic map with 1' contours is much much much better.

[Fish24/7]

Wrench is dead on the money with this one. I have a 958 up front and a 998 along with a HDS-5 on the console. They are just tools and aside from mapping/GPS, I'm honestly not sure any of them help me any more than the old Humminbird Super 60 flashers I used 30 years ago. My graphs primarily tell me how deep it is, the bottom contour/structure and whether shad/fish are present. In the winter, they tell me water temp.

Nothing, and I mean absolutely NOTHING, is of more value than knowledge and intuition, and those are gained only from time on the water. Can't buy 'em from JohnnyMart, Cabela's or Tackle Warehouse.

Some of the best electronics readers I know can hardly catch a fish, and it's a documented fact that drop shotting rarely produces winning sacks in tournaments. That goes for Aaron Martens, as well. Yes, he won AOY a couple of years back but he didn't win a single tournament that year. He had several second-place finishes back when the Classic was held in late summer, but some power fisherman always figured out a way to beat him.

Yes, electronics are important tools, but I'm in the same camp with Wrench when it comes to using your head over your computer. The more you know about fish and their habits, the more you'll catch. The more you know about electronics, the more seminars you can give at JohnnyMart (and they'll take about anyone with a Nitro jersey these days) while I'm on the lake fishing.

knowledge and intuition, absolutely!