It's a tool. I know there are 10 different sides to the topic and many opinions. I have the HB 360 and when I started using it I was so impressed that I could make every cast count by hitting the specific spot (rock pile, ledge, or whatever structure). It really helped me identify things around me, and find things. Then I picked up the LiveScope and with both the 360 and LS it is even more info. One thing that allot of people might not know is that if a fish is sitting on the bottom in chunky rocks, or something like dam riprap you will not see the fish. You need some bottom separation. On a smooth bottom you might see a signature, but until it moves it can be anything. I use it to pattern, then I turn it off and work my pattern. If my mind wants to verify something, I turn it on and check things. Unless you have a good battery like a 100ah lithium, your going to have to manage your battery use if your out longer than 12 hrs. Yeah, I know it's a long time but I regularly do 12 plus if I start at 1am for the night bite.

Best example is your using a flashlight out in the garage to find something when the lights go out. That is what LS is like, someone handing you a picture of the garage and going out and finding stuff in the dark is what it's like without.


I can tell you two things it will do, and one it will not do for sure.

First> you will learn more about a spot in about 30 seconds with LiveScope than you would learn fishing a spot all day.

Second>. You will find brush everywhere, that SI and Di missed.

Lastly> it will not catch fish for you. It's just live information that you have to use. Surprisingly fish follow your bait all the time and do not commit. It's flat crazy to see, but it happens all the time.


To me spot lock is the most important thing on my boat. Then I would say LS is a little better than 360. But I actually use the 360 more than LS. LS kind of sucks in shallow water unless your in perspective mode, and sometimes it's better to fish your normal way. 360 shines in all depths, but I prob keep my 360 in 455khz for deeper water about 90% of the time.



If I didn't have LS I would be ok, but I gotta have the 360. If you can't afford LS , sell that old pistol your never going to use.

If you don't have spot lock, get it.

I'm still waiting on the update that identifies the fish species. Nothing like wasting time trying to catch a gar, carp, striper, catfish (insert any other species then bass). Crappie are easy to identify and target. Bass not so much for me.

it's the most fun not catching fish there is

I'm in the "Don't care" category... Get it if you want it... I'm just gonna do what I've been doing for the last 40 years... Launching my boat, picking a place and making cast until it's time to come home... I'll still fish some tournaments because that's what gets the blood pumping from time to time... Dan

It doesn't Depress me or Enthuse me.

I plan to have it one day.

Right now, I'm enjoying every club win against the guys that do have it and enjoying the friendly ribbing of catching them without FFS.

I'd say about 1 out of every 15 or 20 guys I personally know uses it effectively. The rest just have it and don't use it, or don't use it to its full capability.


While I agree 100% its not a guarantee to put fish in the boat and you still have to make them bite, I do kind of hate the fact that its a shortcut to finding fish during transitional periods. The only time I really feel like I'm at a major disadvantage is when the wolf packs are constantly on the move chasing baitfish. I can mark them on sonar and I have to grind it out and hope to get a cast in the school every now and then, where the guys with can chase those wolfpacks much more efficiently.

But I'm not calling for a ban or anything. Where do you draw the line?

Agree with Steez. I have it and I like the fact that you can eliminate water when you put it on and there are no fish in the area. You can be way more efficient on the water with it.

It doesn’t do either for me. I just think it’s not sporting. Bobber and minnow are okay from time to time just not that sporting. If I was fishing for money I would def use it. I fish to not stare at a screen all day. To each their own.

I like it. Most people have a depth finder on their boat and with that you have to drive over the fish to see them on the screen. With FFS you can see them in front of you without having to drive over them. I check to see if there is fish in the area and if they are there I stop and fish that area. I don't watch the screen to watch them eat my bait, I just fish the area because I know they are there. Whether I get bit or not depends on the mood of the fish. Great for fishing docks because you can see if fish are under them or not. I like it because it eliminates me from fishing in areas that have no fish. Keeps me from wasting time in an area that are void of fish. Im glad I have it.

Just like spot lock on a trolling motor. I would never have a boat without spot lock now that it is out. Spot lock makes fishing so much easier in the wind.

I’ve had it for a couple years and it’s definitely worth the money if you don’t have much time to spend fishing and you want to catch crappie, bass not so much unless you have all that time learning it. Would be good if you’re retired or jobless, then you could learn it in a couple years, maybe. If you have ADD just forget about learning it for bass.

[quote=prosise]It's a tool. I know there are 10 different sides to the topic and many opinions. I have the HB 360 and when I started using it I was so impressed that I could make every cast count by hitting the specific spot (rock pile, ledge, or whatever structure). It really helped me identify things around me, and find things. Then I picked up the LiveScope and with both the 360 and LS it is even more info. One thing that allot of people might not know is that if a fish is sitting on the bottom in chunky rocks, or something like dam riprap you will not see the fish. You need some bottom separation. On a smooth bottom you might see a signature, but until it moves it can be anything. I use it to pattern, then I turn it off and work my pattern. If my mind wants to verify something, I turn it on and check things. Unless you have a good battery like a 100ah lithium, your going to have to manage your battery use if your out longer than 12 hrs. Yeah, I know it's a long time but I regularly do 12 plus if I start at 1am for the night bite.

Best example is your using a flashlight out in the garage to find something when the lights go out. That is what LS is like, someone handing you a picture of the garage and going out and finding stuff in the dark is what it's like without.


I can tell you two things it will do, and one it will not do for sure.

First> you will learn more about a spot in about 30 seconds with LiveScope than you would learn fishing a spot all day.

Second>. You will find brush everywhere, that SI and Di missed.

Lastly> it will not catch fish for you. It's just live information that you have to use. Surprisingly fish follow your bait all the time and do not commit. It's flat crazy to see, but it happens all the time.


To me spot lock is the most important thing on my boat. Then I would say LS is a little better than 360. But I actually use the 360 more than LS. LS kind of sucks in shallow water unless your in perspective mode, and sometimes it's better to fish your normal way. 360 shines in all depths, but I prob keep my 360 in 455khz for deeper water about 90% of the time.



If I didn't have LS I would be ok, but I gotta have the 360. If you can't afford LS , sell that old pistol your never going to use.

If you don't have spot lock, get it.
This right here!! I also have 360 and Garmin FFS and love every minute of it. More so the 360 in shallow water.

Only the young dudes are good with it, you old geezers might as well quit wasting your money on it, you can’t see the screen good enough to capitalize with it. Absolutely cracks me up, when people think they are going to buy it and all of a sudden be competitive again.


You think you’ll be depressed, because you have to buy it. You’ll be depressed when you realize you wasted your money and suck with it!

Yep!

Damn Grout! You don’t have to be so blunt, do you? I’m 54 and have 20/20 vision. I see fish turds on mine on a 7” Carbon! I don’t NEED a 12” screen to see a fish.

I used it Saturday to better 48 teams, while I was solo….albeit, I did get beat by two teams of young guns. Picking off smallmouth in 15 FOW was like taking candy from a baby. There…..I said it.



Now everyone go buy one. This old geezer is on a run!

I hooked the largest bass on a lake in Austin (she pulled off at the boat) using it a few weeks back. This small lake has lots of decent fish in the 2 - 4 pound range, but not a ton of fish over 5 or 6 pounds. Fishing a point and saw some bait (or smaller fish...I'm not that good at distinguishing size yet with it), and then saw a couple of much larger fish moving towards a few isolated sticks in about 15' of water. Dropped a jig down. Hopped it a couple of times and watched one of the bigger ones move toward it. I couldn't see the actual bite, but bite she did. I didn't have a net out and she boat dived twice then pulled off. In the 8 pound range I would have guessed. When I first got it last year on Rayburn I sat on a point and caught a ton of 1 - 2 pound fish on a ned rig. I may have caught them without it, but seeing how they move and react (or don't ) to a bait or a presentation is really interesting. I don't really fish tournaments any more so being "competitve" is all about me doing better than I did the last time. Depressed? Not a bit. It cost quite a bit, but the feedback is really cool. A little addicting, but the better I get at it I think I'll begin to love it. Like Harold and Prosise both said...it's just another tool.

You’re probably like the third or fourth youngest in your club.