Those advanced electronics are pushing a lot of anglers out of tournaments. I don't have the money for those higher tech units, and fishing against guys who do just puts you at a huge disadvantage. Yes, for the pros who can all afford it I guess it is ok, but it feel they are kind of bad for bass fishing. Whatever happened to finding them on your own, or putting time on a lake so you could become familiar... now it's just ride around till you see some spots on your screen and then stop and video game fish... I am not saying that any idiot can do it even with those type of finders, I am just saying that it is a lot harder to go out and actually have to search and put patterns together.

For the record, I share your concern and I think clubs and Trails will have to take question seriously. I do think the Livescope and similar technologies are a bit different than what we've seen in the past, and in certain situations and times of year, it's going to be hard for conventional fishing methods to compete with the utilization of that technology. But here's the argument the concern is up against:

All expensive technological upgrades in bass fishing have given advantages to those who could afford them. ALL of them. Colorized sonar imaging. GPS and advanced mapping. Side imaging. 360 imaging. Spot lock trolling motors. 21 foot bass boats with 250 HP engines. I can't imagine consistently competing against any reasonably experienced angler who may not have a Livescope, but has all of these other technologies, if all I had was a jon boat, a rope, and an anchor. Maybe in March during the 2 week peak of the spawn on a lake I'm pretty familiar with, but not consistently the rest of the year and on bodies of water I do not fish routinely. I don't think these technologies are going away anytime soon.

Again, I share the concern. I can afford the technology, but I also like leveling playing fields to where skills are on display during competition and not just accessibility to fancy equipment. Livescope is an interesting technology to enter tournament formats. Is it different enough from other recent technologies to stand out as something that should be banned? Until someone decides to draw that line or beat the above argument, it's probably here to stay.

I just question the ethics in using this live stuff. Seems like using thermals or night vision for hunting.

That’s a good comparison.

Its changing things rapidily, there are quiet converstions going on as we speak about if this tech is going to have to result in bag and possession limits or result in fishing seasons like up north for our TX waters.

That is a good comparison. I know there are some small clubs that have already banned front facing sonar.

What is unethical about using thermals or NV at night? Before that people used flashlights and spotlights.
It is about the same here.

It won't be banned. Everyone has the same opportunity to buy it and learn it. Just like sight fishing, everyone has the opportunity to do it but very few actually can.

I don't have and never will have livescope. I don't think that puts me at any disadvantage. I will keep fishing tournaments and fish the way I like

I’m referring to whitetail hunting... pretty sure it’s against the law to spot light or use night viz.

Jarrett,

I agree everyone has the same opportunity to learn it. I’m just referring to the sport of using the technology. Luckily, I can afford it but will not be buying it. I’m not speaking in terms of winning tournaments or catching the biggest bass in the state. I don’t always compete against the other angler, I prefer to compete against the fish. Call me old fashioned, and I do use down and side imaging... but I feel the live imaging crossed the of catching the fish in sporting manner.

"Maybe they should doesn’t sound very sporting. Kinda like paying to fish managed big bass lakes then bragging about catching a trophy.
J D"


my biggest complaints about bill dance and the other "fishing" shows of yesteryear. they never fished public lakes

You have to draw the line somewhere, I don't like they allow crossbows in archery season now but they do, I'm sure some don't like gamecams, livescope I just don't see it ever being regulated, the DNR's will just adjust season and bag limits if needed.

me/you can hang out. same page

Believe me when I tell you that it isn’t that easy. I have live scope and in 5 trips I have yet to manage to catch a fish I saw on it.