For a long time I have convinced myself that items such as side imaging where nice to have but where not really necessary to catch big fish. I am not sure what has changed, but recently I haven't had a lot of luck. Furthermore, I haven't seen a lot of big fish posted that were not caught in a guide's boat.

I know it isn't necessarily monster season so let's just concentrate on nice fish 10# or greater. No prizes...just bragging rights and a chance to prove that low tech approaches can still catch nice fish.

Here are the guidelines:

1. Fish must have been caught on or after 4/1/2015
2. Must be landed by rod and reel
3. Fish cannot be caught on a guided trip or by a professional guide
4. Fish or bait cannot be located using side imaging

I will start this out. Here is my fishing buddy Luke with a 10# blue that he caught at Lewisville last night. It was the only fish we caught.

Bait caught working the bank's. Rod & Reel bank fishing at night. Nice 20's class Blue Cat

I caught this 32.5lb blue last Tuesday from the bank. It's a terrible photo because I was fishing alone and had to prop my phone up on my chair.

I'm out. Not sure I'd catch anything without the side imaging.

Side imaging is just another tool. It will show you fish and bait are in the area but it's an educated guess on what kind they are. It will not show hungry fish!!!! Lol it boils down to the basics on where to start fishing and method used.

11.5# flathead.

Rod and Reel from the bank using live perch.

4-2-15

I haven't been fishing since 4/1

Caught this past weekend drifting LL (forgot my 2nd anchor). 27#, 24# and 17#. Caught another 15#. Nothing huge, but the 27 was my PB. None of these were located on side imaging. Just targeted depth changes. Sorry about the sideways picture. I've never posted pics before.

That is a perfect eating size flathead. I am all for conservation but I hope you released that one to the grease.

Those are some nice fish, but your posts suggest that you may have a side imaging unit...but just choose not to use it...hence you would not be subject to the Low Tech Curse.

I think every fish ive ever caught would classify for low tech. The fish finder we have is good for nothing but telling you how deep the water is... and its not perfect at that!

Heck yeah I released him to the grease! Him and five 3lb channels made for a great meal for family and friends!

I can't see how side imaging could not be extremely helpful for shallow water fishing. A regular 2D sonar is useless in less than 5' of water.

At any rate...the intention of this thread isn't to debate the merits of side imaging sonar...it is to prove a point to my wife that I need a new fish finder...lol. I told her that there isn't any boat based fisherman that are catching any significant numbers of fish without having a modern fish finder with side imaging. So far it looks like I am correct....probably because I am the only one that is still using this outdated technology.

Your just making excuses Brian!!! Lol go get ya a new fish Finder!!!