Live scope

[Dutch]

Please school me.  I have been reading and looking at videos of Garmin and Lowrance live scope.  It looks like I’d have to spend two to three grand to get into it.

I have Humminbird units and they are supposed to be coming out with their version this spring so I can get setup with the cost of the transducer only.  All I have seen is crappie fishing.  I don’t fish for them very often.  Do any of you who have it use it for species other than crappie?  If so how do you use it and what are you targeting?

 

 

[liphunter]

One way I use it for shallow fishing. And keep in mind I’m just making it up as I go. But I have learned a few things by watching others and some common sense about the cone. I have it on it’s own pole mount. So if I’m cruising shallow I will put the transducer at an angle looking towards the front of me and looking at the bank at the same time. The theory being I hope to see things between me and the bank ahead of me.  I originally thought like you did. I am learning how to use it shallow and it is helping. 

[Dutch]

1 hour ago, liphunter said:

One way I use it for shallow fishing. And keep in mind I’m just making it up as I go. But I have learned a few things by watching others and some common sense about the cone. I have it on it’s own pole mount. So if I’m cruising shallow I will put the transducer at an angle looking towards the front of me and looking at the bank at the same time. The theory being I hope to see things between me and the bank ahead of me.  I originally thought like you did. I am learning how to use it shallow and it is helping. 

Thanks for the info.  Are you able to see any bass as you move along?  Can you post any pics of how you have your stuff set up?  

[curtisce]

A guy was pulling his Skeeter out of his storage unit while I was getting mine out. He had everything electonic. Humminbird Mega 360 and livescope up front. He said he thought the 360 was his go to unit. thats why I PM'd you @Dutch. He had the livescope on a separate pole on the drivers sid about even with his butt seat. He had a ram mount to hold it to the boat and he could swing it over into the water fairly easily. That made it indepentdent of the TM. He just hand turn it. He said this was all his own design and admitted it was simplistic but it worked for him.  wish I had taken a picture.

[Ryan Miloshewski]

I've used it for bass on Bull Shoals and TR with my buddy. Get on a point and you can see each fish, their depth, and behavior. Last March I watched a ball of thousands of shad on a point on BS. Occasionally 5-10 of them would separate from the larger group. As soon as they did, three or four bass would ambush them from below and just annihilate them. It was so cool just to watch. We caught quite a few, as well. You could see, say, an A-rig coming through the water in relation to where the fish are. I've noticed with A-rigs you think it's deeper than it is running. That is valuable to see.

You can even see a jerkbait on it, how deep it gets in certain water temps, and fish that come up to it and get oh-so-close to biting. It's really a hell of a tool just to learn from. 

[Dutch]

How does your buddy have his setup.  So Ryan if you were spinnerbating, would you be able to see a bass and make an accurate cast to get its attention or is that asking too much.

[Ryan Miloshewski]

23 minutes ago, Dutch said:

How does your buddy have his setup.  So Ryan if you were spinnerbating, would you be able to see a bass and make an accurate cast to get its attention or is that asking too much.

He has an attachment for the transducer on a pole on the side of his boat. He moves it manually so he can keep the boat sideways. A lot of folks put it on their trolling motor so whichever way the head is pointing is what you are seeing on the screen. 

And yep, you could see a bass and cast to it. It's pretty remarkable the level of detail. I mean you can tell what a bass, catfish, crappie, etc. is by the display. 

[Dutch]

I have a Cornfield Crappie mount on my Ulterra that holds my 360.   I am hoping that I can mount a transducer on it.  It stays stationary as my trolling motor head moves.  It probably will depend on how much it weighs.

[Seth]

It should be a huge asset anytime your chasing fish in open water regardless of the species. Electronics always seem to shine when it comes to crappie fishing, but I've seen videos of it being used to target paddlefish and large bass around standing timber.

[Johnsfolly]

28 minutes ago, Seth said:

It should be a huge asset anytime your chasing fish in open water regardless of the species. Electronics always seem to shine when it comes to crappie fishing, but I've seen videos of it being used to target paddlefish and large bass around standing timber.

You have to start asking if using a live scope (use hunting terms) violates the ethics of fair chase. To me it is starting to become like using thermal imaging and night vision goggles to hunt deer. I understand that you still need to put the bait in front of active fish, but you are able to eliminate all of those spots where fish are not very easily. That will greatly increase localized fishing pressure. Just some thoughts.