I'm getting a new Duck/Crappie rig built (Gator Trax GT). Thinking through my electronics. My old Gator Trax GT that I sold, I had Livescope 32, Poleducer, and GPSMAP 12220, which I still have and did not sell. My new boat, I want Ultrex/Mega 360/Helex 12 for sure (all though interested if anyone thinks that is a bad idea). And I would like to also install my Livescope/Poleducer/GPSMAP 12220 (dule bow bracket), or maybe no Garmin at all, and go all Hummingbird with Mega live/Active Targeting??

Another question, is there a better option than poleducer with livescope? Can Livescope be mounted on Ultrex with Target Lock? I like my poleducer, but are there other options for a stand alone pole? Is there a remote control option to control transducer? I always like downview, with poledcuer on front, but I'm open to try new things (I never liked forward view). I plan on sitting on front deck (unlike what I did before), with both monitors mounted on bow. And since I'm setting on the deck/bow of boat, maybe poleducer on side of boat is better.

Below is my old set up, I did not sit on deck, but my monitors did...

Active Target is Lowrance version of forward facing sonar. Hummingbird has a different version as well.
From what I have heard, Garmin is still the best FFS option especially for crappie fishing.
Shut Up now makes a similar version to the pole ducer that attached directly to the Ultrex that makes things a lot easier to use you should check out.

Yeah, Mega Live, that is what I'm considering vs Gamin Livescope what I have now.


Lol, I meant Target Lock! I got my terms mixed up.

That’s interesting and looks like a good deal if it works.

Yeah, so one question I have, can Livescope do Target Lock? I doubt Livescope would work on Humming Bird Target Lock pole. Does Garmin have their Target Lock pole? Probably requies Garmin Trolling motor..

According to this video (8 months ago), "Target Lock" is Mega Live only.



So I'm thinking about switching from Livescope to Mega live and Target Lock. I was thinking at first Mega 360 and Mega Live one monitor would work, but looks like everyone running both have 2 monitors..

Target Lock is for Humminbird Mega Live exclusivly.

Garmin Livescope = Ferrari

Lowrance Active Target = Cadillac

Humminbird Mega Live = Chevrolet

I would recommend the Garmin Livescope LVS34 plus with the ProDucer Ultrex mount.

I have a Demo unit up for sale...I will even throw a Ultrex ProDucer system in for free .

https://texasfishingforum.com/forum...vs34-plus-demo-unit-4800-00#Post15070439

Yes Target Lock will only work with a MEGA LIVE transducer attached.

MEGA LIVE/Target Lock has several features: Sweep=the transducer rotates 120 degrees left and right automatically, Minnkota Steer= the MEGA LIVE transducer is rotated in sequence with a Minnkota linked trolling motor, Home- returns the direction of the MEGA LIVE to forward, direction of LIVE is done with a wireless foot pedal or handheld mico-remote, Target Lock keeps the MEGA LIVE transducer pointed in a selected direction as the boat moves around.

With a Humminbird SOLIX or APEX, you can view MEGA LIVE and MEGA 360 at the same time on one display. Cannot do that with a Helix.

This is the touch screen icons for controlling the Target Lock with a SOLIX or APEX. A Helix has those using menu selections/buttons.

Helix controls:

Guy, I think you’re going a little overboard here with planning the new rig.
Doubt you have ever even fished for bass, you’re pretty much crappie only.

Garmin is your best bet, as Shut Up said nothing compares to Garmin especially for crappie exclusively, doubt you will find any tournament angler fishing with any other FFS unless they are sponsored or paid to.

No I want 360 scan. Sonar is good for looking at a tree, 360 you can see the forest. I want live sonar and 360 scan. I been wanting this combo for a long time, I plan to fish more than just crappie. I had side scan before, but what I didn’t like about it was you had to be moving, and everything you see is in the rearview mirror, plus my mud motor idles to fast for side scan.

Scan, 360 scan, is what I’m excited about getting. It will replace my Lowrance maps monitor, I use that now to see the forest.

HBs live is sad looking and Lowrance looks like original Panoptics. 360 was awesome till livescope came out. I kept both on the boat for a while but I never used the 360 so I sold it.

Ok so you guys talked me into sticking with livescope, but I sure like that target lock feature. I been thinking about upgrading to lvs34 for over a year now. I see the Ultrex ProDucer on your wdebsite, that looks like it works good!

That's surprising. So is it because you use livescope perspective mode? Or you just do not care for that "top view"? What do you use to "see the forest"? What I have done is use my Lowrance maps like pic in my first post. But to go looking around at each tree, with livescope, it is like walking through the woods at night with a narrow beam flash light. It is hard for to figure out everything with just livescope. I might have waypoint marked 2 times for same a submerged tree from a different fish trips, and trying to figure out if both way points are same tree or 2 trees is more time consuming vs "top view" (Mega 630/Perspective). I have not really tried perspective mode much, I should probably try it more.