Do You Use Forward-Facing Sonar When You Kayak Fish?
9-minute read
Several folks from our National ProStaff team weighed in with their thoughts about using forward-facing sonar (FFS) while kayak fishing.
Forward-facing sonar (photo courtesy of Brandon Mayes)
While the technology has been around for a few decades in the military and commercial spaces, it’s been less than 10 years that FFS has been widely available to the general consumer. Many kayak anglers who have been willing to pay the hefty price tag (between $2,000 and $4,000) have adapted it in hopes of catching more fish.
We asked our Pro Team members to weigh in if they wished to. Their responses may help you decide for yourself whether the investment is worth it to you. Most of those who responded do NOT use FFS, for reasons you’ll see below:
When Forward-Facing Sonar is a Detriment
Aside from the expense, which many recreational kayak anglers simply can’t justify, there are other reasons why you may decide against using FFS.
Chris Funk lives in Alabama and fishes mostly in the American Southeast, often with his wife. He said, “I ain't against it, but for me kayak fishing is about simpler times. I rarely use any type of electronic stuff, usually only in winter chasing fish in deep water.”
(Photo courtesy of Brandon Mayes)
A couple others echoed that sentiment…
Dennis Kieselhorst lives in Germany and has fished all over the world. He’s active in the tournament scene as well. He responded with: “Personally, I feel that FFS has absolutely nothing to do with fishing anymore. That’s just my personal opinion; everyone is free to do what they want.
“Unfortunately, the trend toward over-rigged kayaks with motors really has nothing to do with kayaking anymore—or at least, every kayak angler ought to have at least one kayak they actually paddle, allowing them to enjoy the sport of kayaking itself.
“But it’s human nature to become increasingly lazy. ;-) Just my opinion. I focus more on the adventure and physical fitness than on the fishing itself.”
Bill Schultz, from Wisconsin (and a smallie guy who’s caught and released over 35,000 of them), agrees. He said, “I am NOT a fan of forward-facing sonar. Even though I mostly use a pedal kayak on the big water, I still love paddling and have never even had a fish finder on a kayak. Some of the fishing tournament guys have more "crap" on their kayaks than most have on fishing boats. Just my opinion, and many agree with me whether kayak or boat anglers.”
How Is FFS Changing Kayak Fishing?
Jason and Jennifer Schall, husband/wife ProTeam members from South Carolina, have dozens of record fish caught between them. They don’t use FFS either, but offered a thoughtful answer about how this technology is changing the sport.
They said, “We don't think forward-facing sonar is ruining fishing—but we do think it's changing it.
“For us, kayak fishing has always been about keeping things simple. We don't use electronics, motors or fish finders. The only electronic device on our kayaks is a Power-Pole Micro Anchor to help us hold position in wind or current.
“We enjoy the challenge of reading the water, paying attention to weather, tides, current, structure and seasonal patterns, then figuring out what bait or presentation will trigger a bite.
“Those experiences are what develop an angler's skills, instincts and confidence over time. Every fish we catch is the culmination of successes and failures, observation, decision-making, and persistence.
“That's the part of fishing we love most: the anticipation of not knowing what's beneath the surface until you finally see your catch is exhilarating! Sure, it's frustrating when a fish breaks off, but those moments are part of the journey and what keeps us coming back.
(Photo courtesy of Peter Yeung)
“Forward-facing sonar is a powerful tool, and there's no question it has expanded what anglers can see and learn beneath the surface. But it also changes where the challenge lies. Instead of relying primarily on reading conditions, understanding fish behavior, and analyzing seasonal patterns, anglers can spend more time reacting to fish they can already see.
“That said, we certainly see situations where it provides value. For example, if you're fishing with a guide for a day or chasing a once-in-a-lifetime species, FFS can help locate target fish more efficiently and maximize the time you have on the water.
“There's no right or wrong way to enjoy fishing. If someone enjoys using the latest technology, that's their choice. For us, the appeal of kayak fishing has always been disconnecting from technology, embracing the unknown, and trusting the skills and instincts we've developed over years on the water.
“We believe there's something special about earning each catch by putting all of these pieces together, rather than seeing the fish on a screen before you ever make the cast.”
A Powerful Tool, But Can Also Be a Time Waster
Brandon Mayes (AKA, That Bass Fishing Dude) lives in Texas and goes after—as his nickname suggests—large-mouth bass most of the time. He’s used FFS for quite a while, so had some personal stories of his own to share:
“Forward-facing sonar gave me a completely different perspective as a kayak angler,” said Brandon. “I ran Lowrance ActiveTarget for several years on my Hobie Pro Angler, and the biggest thing it did for me was open up a world I was not really privy to before.
“As anglers, we spend so much time fishing by feel. We make casts based on experience, instinct, structure, conditions, and what we think is happening under the surface. Being able to actually see fish react to my bait in real time was eye-opening.
Another type of FFS set-up (photo courtesy of Peter Yeung)
“For me, ActiveTarget did not replace the instincts I had already built. It expanded them. I grew up fishing shallow water, so that style came naturally to me. But as I started learning new techniques, my interest in offshore fishing grew. Forward-facing sonar helped bridge that gap. It showed me fish roaming around in deeper water that I would have never known were there otherwise. It also helped me cover water more efficiently because I could avoid wasting time in dead water.
“That said, there is definitely a learning curve. Early on, it was tough trying to understand what I was looking at. Structure and certain fish were fairly obvious, but finding my bait on the screen and understanding exactly where it was in relation to the fish took a lot of practice.
“I had days where I would spend hours just dropping a bait down in or around the zone to confirm I could see it. Thankfully, the ActiveTarget system is pretty dialed in right out of the box, but making sense of everything on screen still takes time.
“On the debate about whether forward-facing sonar is ruining fishing, I personally do not think it’s bad for the industry or fishing in general. Like anything else, it has its uses and its place. Can it be overused? Yeah, probably. But at the end of the day, people can choose to fish how they want.
“One thing people sometimes forget is that just because you can see a fish doesn’t mean you’re going to catch it. I have literally sat and thrown at a single fish for well over an hour with no result. In that case, the technology did not save me time. It actually caused me to waste time because I got locked in on what I could see.
“That’s where I think forward-facing sonar can be a little detrimental, especially in tournament situations where every minute counts. You can get lost in it and forget that it’s okay to move on. Seeing a fish can make it harder to leave, even when that fish is clearly not going to cooperate.
“As far as tournaments go, I know a lot of people complain about forward-facing sonar, but I also think people have forgotten part of why they watch tournament fishing in the first place. They want to see anglers catch fish, and big fish at that. Forward-facing sonar is just another tool anglers can use to do that.
Brandon Mayes, Branches ProStaffer
“I would recommend it to anyone who wants to experience something new and really learn more about fish behavior. It is a great tool, in my opinion. Not because it magically catches fish for you, but because it can teach you things you would have never seen otherwise.”
A big thank you to our team members who voiced their thoughts for this blog post! We hope it’s helped you make your own decision about whether or not to use forward-facing sonar technology in your own kayak fishing adventures.
Helpful for Scouting New Territory
Peter Yeung is one of our Canadian Pro Team members. He’s a huge advocate of introducing newcomers to kayak fishing, and directs the annual Paddle Sport Get Together in his native Ontario.
Peter has used FFS and is a fan. He said:
“Forward-facing sonar transforms kayak fishing by providing real-time, high-definition visualization of fish reactions and underwater structure directly where you point the transducer, which allows you to efficiently scout new territory and adjust your presentation on the fly.
“I've owned a Garmin LiveScope LVS34, but it is notoriously heavy, complex and expensive for a limited kayak footprint, and requires a larger battery (50 amp).
“The Accuphy PingLive system disrupts this market by integrating the processor directly into the transducer, completely eliminating the bulky, battery-draining "black box" and heavy chartplotters required by Garmin. Instead, it streams real-time sonar visuals seamlessly over Wi-Fi right to your existing smartphone or tablet.
“This drastically reduces cable clutter and shaves total rigging weight down to around 5 pounds compared to my previous setup. I can run a 20-amp (Amped Outdoors) all day without any problem. PingLive retails for $1,800 Canadian.
“I haven't used this yet, but for small-craft or anglers on a budget, the ultra-portable Accuphy PingLive Mini drops the footprint even further to a mere 1.4 pounds, introducing an industry-first Combo View that maps forward and downward sweeps simultaneously on one screen. The best part is it’s only $899 Canadian.
“After using forward-facing sonar, it’s hard to use anything else. The wealth of knowledge helps me break down new water so much faster. I was fishing in Nova Scotia for the first time, and I knew the structure, depth and where the school of striped bass was hiding!
Peter Yeung, Branches ProStaffer
“At the end of the day, it’s a tool. It won’t guarantee fish will jump in my kayak, but it will give me a lot of intel to increase my odds of catching.”
What paddling questions can our friendly Customer Service team help you with? Contact us at 715-755-3405 or bbinfo@bendingbranches.com, or choose our online chat option.
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