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I have never fished with anyone with live scope or similar but have to ask if it is that much of a game changer. At $2500 it is not a cheap investment. I think that might be the final straw for my wife. lol. Here in nc I noticed that they have split tournaments into live scope and non live scope groups. Does it make that much difference that someone without it cannot compete with someone with it?
It's more of a game changer than any other advancement in electronics within the last couple decades.
You will catch more fish with it, but you can (and probably already do) catch them without it. It's really more of a question if you are willing to spend the money on a toy that will never pay for itself.
And yes, you really can't compete with someone that has it. Especially for crappie.
What I liked about it more than anything, was being able to get a perspective of the bottom by looking 50+ feet in any direction while sitting still. Really helps you zero in on a brushpile, plus you can easily see if anyone's home. With 2D you are limited to what you can see in the cone, and you have no perspective when the boat is not moving.
When I first got it installed on my kayak I was calling my shot and then throwing the bait behind me or whatever the direction directly to the fish and catching them..... yes it's a game changer!
Yes it cost more than my kayak but one of the best "fun" investments I've spent and time saver too!
Dang Dave would never have thought of one on a kayak. Pretty bad your kayak is outfitted better than my big old boat. lol.
I actually sold an old show car I had that was just sitting under a cover. Took that money and bought livescope. It is fun and lets you KNOW where the fish are..... doesn't always mean they cooperate though.... :Rofl
There is a learning curve that takes a while to get it dialed in but once so it really helps with the catch rate. I would not have a fishing boat without one. FWIW, I am mostly catch and release, it's much easier for me to head to the local Seafood Restaraunt, and that keeps my wife happy as well.
If you’re married, not a tournament fisherman or guide, there’s no payback on your investment. It’s a video game for fisherman and that’s the bottom line. I have one and very rarely even turn it on. Just me but I don’t need it. I’m not fishing lakes I don’t know right now. It’s definitely a game changer for locating and chasing fish but not everybody wants to spend their day fixated on a video game. And no, mines not for sale. Haha.Quote:
Originally Posted by cwright
Well, I'm married, not a tournament fisherman, and certainly not a guide but I do live on a large lake that I am not familiar with, yet. At this stage in my life I don't have time or wish to search for good areas to fish with just my Helix 7 si. I want to find likely areas and then confirm with the Livescope that I am indeed in an area that holds fish. Once that's accomplished I rarely look at the screen so it's not a video game, to me, it's a tool, just like my boat, Humminbird, and trolling motor. I am focusing solely on my presentation and technique and I am certainly not one of the Guys that's tossing fish after fish into a livewell. I take pleasure in letting them go, something I acquired as a Trout fisherman. Anyway, if a Livescope system is within your means it will help you find and locate fish, the catching is up to you. To each their own and the debate will go on...
When my wife was involved in the discussion regarding live scope her eyes rolled so far back in her head you could hear a click. After I got it installed and we began using it she became a huge fan. We don’t necessarily keep any more fish than before. It does significantly weed out the non productive areas and I’m much more likely to go fish for 3-4 hours vs committing a whole day to searching through all of our spots.
I remember in the late sixty's my dad bought the Lowrance green box depth sounder. He told me fishing would never be the same again. Boy if he only could see this stuff now. I use every trick I know to catch fish but was taught at a young age to be responsible and save a few for the spawn.
The one big thing I learned with it, there are way more fish in the water than I ever thought. You can find them all day, but Livescope won't make them any more likely to bite.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fly2bTied
You could get a 73sv or 93sv and the LS for $2500. You'll have the best of both worlds. LS is worth the money for me. It lets me know where the fish are and if they are cooperative. I don't keep many fish but I do love to catch them, LS helps me maximize my time on the water. I also love watching how the fish react to the bait, it never gets old for me. Although I find that I mostly use it to find and follow a school of fish more than watching individual fish.
Sent from my SM-N960U using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app
I read a lot here but rarely post. I’ve been on the water with a Livescope two times, once in a friend’s boat to check it out, and once in my boat (I bought mine after seeing how his worked). Livescope is definitely a game changer but just like any other device you need time on the water with it. What I do see with it so far is that it helps you eliminate unproductive water And saves you time since you won’t be fishing where there’s no fish. Livescope won’t make a fish take your lure, lol, but it will help you get it in front of the them. You do need the Livescope transducer on a separate pole because on Spotlock the trolling motor is constantly making adjustments. Just my observations so far, I have a lot to learn but it will be fun.
If your good with boat control and use a foot controlled motor you can chase open water fish when they are not on brush . I run mine on my trolling motor . Sure helps target fish on or off cover . Like most say it is a game changer for those with skills . Check the big tournaments and most if not all the top 10 teams are using livescope . Most guides are using livescope but a few old die hards still spider rigging or trolling . :twocents
It is absolutely the biggest change we have ever seen in fishing. It should be outlawed and illegal. It will make an average fisherman great. It will take you from a 5 fish person to a 30 fish person. It is going to make fish creel and size limits change drastically. If you don’t have one, you will be getting one.Quote:
Originally Posted by cwright
Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app
Outlawed and illegal, LOL!
You have got to be kidding me.
Those who want to keep too many fish have been doing so forever by any way they could and that will continue with or without forward live sonar.
Those of us who only keep what we want to clean and cook will do the same.
I often see the weights in these tournaments with live and non live sonar divisions and laugh because often the non live sonar division has close to or in some cases larger weights than the live sonar divisions.
Just cause you see them doesn't mean your going to catch them. It's still fishing!
Same situation here. My wife thought fancy electronics in the boat were worthless since the fish didn't start jumping in the boat after I bought a Echomap Chirp 72sv a few years ago. We went out yesterday afternoon using Livescope for the first time. She thought it was the coolest thing ever and asked why I waited so long to get one.Quote:
Originally Posted by cattoon
discussionQuote:
Originally Posted by cattoon
regarding live scope her eyes rolled so far back in her head you could hear a click.
LOL