Livescope Destroyed Your Grandfathers Teachings and Tradition Lost

So I've been hearing about Livescope for a while and finally went with some friends to see this thing in action and to decide if I want to invest in it for my boat. We had 3 boats in our group, all with Livescope and headed to the lake. My friend is showing me all about it and how you can see this and that. I thought it was cool at first and amazed at the technology. Fast forward 3 hours later and I have now decided to never install it on my boat. Why you ask? Well, let me tell you what I found out.

I observed over several hours that my friend basically stared at his Livescope the entire time, as did the other 2 boats with us. They would get on a pocket of fish and YES, we did catch some fish, so it does work, that part is undeniable! The problem is that I would say hey that spot over there looks amazing, let's go try it out. Nah, we just gonna follow the Livescope or try to catch the fish it's showing us. Sometimes it would show you fish that would not bite at all, even with a bait in front of them. After 15 minutes of that, I was ready to try another spot but they were so fixated on the Livescope and the fish it was showing, that they didn't want to move. Then when we did move to some great looking spots, they would say, no, not enough fish there so we didn't stop. Spots we'd have normally fished with anticipation.

Second, I LOVE catching fish as much as the next guy/gal but what I experienced was not your usual getting away from the job or home fishing trip. It didn't feel rewarding in a way that I usually feel after having been on the water for an afternoon or evening. It was like ok, we are gonna use this high dollar tool to go out and pinpoint fish and bring home a mess. We didn't watch the birds above us, the deer on the bank, the snake on the log or the gator sunning himself. We were hyper focused on watching a screen and targeting the fish it showed us. All our talk was not of how we were doing in our lives. It was all centered around watching groups of fish and fixated on the brush and underwater structure.

I don't know, for me it's a great tool if all you care about it putting the maximum amount of fish in your freezer and not getting much else out of the experience. I just enjoy a totally different approach to fishing. I enjoy going out with my friends or wife or kids and never knowing if we are gonna catch a mess or come home empty handed. I enjoy the adventure of looking around the lake and saying, that looks like a great spot, let's try over there. Or watching the wildlife, talking about life and not having to watch a screen the whole time, etc. I like seeing a stump in the water and easing up to jig around it, not knowing if there is a slab hanging around or not. With the Livescope, you just scan and say nah, nothing there, let's keep moving. No mystery, no intrigue, no excitement at the possibilities. It just sucks the life and fun of what fishing has always meant to me.

Some of my greatest memories growing up with my Dad, Grandfather and Uncles, was fishing and the adventures we had. One day your a bust and the next your filling the ice chest. It was the journey, the things we saw on the water, the one that got away. We didn't have any electronics and we enjoyed every minute of it. We were NOT obsessed with watching screens because we didn't have any. Our biggest decisions were what color to try next or which spot we thought they were hanging around today. Sometimes it was what did mom pack for our lunch on the boat, lol. We had some amazing conversations and memories. Not sure if that would happen now, if grandpa just fiddles with his Livescope all day :(

I may not always fill my freezer but I still enjoy the mystery. I feel relaxed at the end of the trip and my neck doesn't hurt from staring at a screen all day long. Nothing against Livescope, it's a great tool, I admit that. Used properly, you will go home with fish. It's just not for me right now.

God bless and good fishing!

I have not fished with it in the boat. I have seen it being used. I have the same feelings about it as you do. I do not believe it is for me. As close as I will get is Hummingbird Mega 360

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Originally Posted by DockShootinJack

I have not fished with it in the boat. I have seen it being used. I have the same feelings about it as you do. I do not believe it is for me. As close as I will get is Hummingbird Mega 360

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If you’re going to use 360, you may as well use livescope. Same concept. Looking down at your screen all day watching what direction the fish moved. I have livescope and very rarely use it. I do just fine without it as a lot of others do too. If / when my grands want to play video games out there on their phones, I’ll hook it up and let them see what they can do with it. I’ll be the coolest grandpa going. Real life fishing video game.

Well said m&m. I feel the same way. The best fishing memories I have are with fishing with my dad & grandpa's. Back then we just spent time enjoying the outdoors. We may be out all day & not catch a fish. But it was time well spent as they have all passed on now. We wasn't fortunate enough to even have a boat we just sit out on the bank. I do have a boat but do not see me ever having livescope.

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Nice post.

Great post [emoji847][emoji847] don’t us live scope [emoji476] I enjoy my time on the water catching fish or not [emoji847][emoji847]


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Originally Posted by chaunc

If you’re going to use 360, you may as well use livescope. Same concept. Looking down at your screen all day watching what direction the fish moved. I have livescope and very rarely use it. I do just fine without it as a lot of others do too. If / when my grands want to play video games out there on their phones, I’ll hook it up and let them see what they can do with it. I’ll be the coolest grandpa going. Real life fishing video game.

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I figure I will use it to see structure and fish under the dock. Then it is time to shoot. Move to the next dock and scan.

Well said! I've got nothing against those using livescope, but like you I've decided it's not for me.

The best part of crappie fishing is NOT knowing what is going on underwater. I don't want to know that THUMP is coming, I want it to surprise me!

Sounds like any electronics now a days will ruin it if you were fishing with no electronics back then. :dono

I enjoy everything about the outdoors and livescope hasn’t taken that from me or made me forget about fishing memories or tradition. I’m passing on new memories and tradition to my son. It’s a mashup from past experience with new experience.

I agree with everything you said….sucks the life out of fishing. Half of fishing is being in the beautiful outdoors and livescope is a huge distraction to that. If I were to use livescope I would use it exactly like old school fish finders work. I would find the fish and start fishing and not look at the dang thing. Just use it to find them that’s all. What people will do is find the fish then proceed to stare at the screen the ENTIRE time watching their bait fall in the water and how close it is to the fish, then watch the fish swim up and eat it. Talk about zapping the anticipation and excitement out of fishing! That’s it! I want to fish, not play the latest version of a fishing video game. Which is exactly what your doing fishing like that.

Also….I’m not sure the “rules and regulations” of crappie and bass tournaments but livescope should no question be completely banned in my opinion.

Well said.

Well said, M&M. More power to those who need and/or utilize such contraptions, but as for me... it's a PASS.
Your thread post is a more scientific way of saying what I've said for several years now: I have no desire... nor am I goin' to stare at a video screen for the majority of my time on the water... AIN'T HAPPENIN'!!!
Fishing (I certainly agree) is made up of too many other important thoughts, sights, sounds, feelings, intuitions, hunches, memories, experiences.... AND ETC.,,,, and I have ZERO INTEREST in going fishing without 'em.

Very well said. Life Sucking Scope. Between that and their "not so" smart phone, fishermen never look up. Surprised there's not more examples of this being the cause of tons of boating accidents.

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Originally Posted by Slab

Very well said. Life Sucking Scope. Between that and their "not so" smart phone, fishermen never look up. Surprised there's not more examples of this being the cause of tons of boating accidents.

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And seeing boats sreaming down the lake in the dark of night using the 2 big screen fish finders on the console to run by. So bright you can see them a half mile away. No chance he can see anything past them

This is my argument, if you don't know how to Crappie fish to start with, Livescope teaches really bad habits that the Angler just can't seem to un-learn. You have to know the foundation of Crappie fishing first then Yes, Livescope is a great tool. I have the Original Panoptix on all my boats and as long as Garmin makes the Panoptix transducer I will keep using it and advocating it's benefits.

I ain't getting rid of my Livescope, it has a power button on mine to allow me to either use it or not. It's no different than staring at a Side Image sonar, or following maps or trails, they're all tools for cutting down the "finding" and allowing more "catching".

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I find it funny all the Livescope complainers out there. If you don’t want to use it don’t, No one is forcing you to. If you’re not enjoying the outdoors, well that’s your own fault. If you stare at the screen all day again your fault. Funny as your staring at a screen on a fishing website?

I don’t think I would like spider rigging. How can anyone get any enjoyment with 10 rods in front of them waiting for one to drop just to pick it up with a fish dangling on the end all while missing my favorite part, the Thump. Some must love it because I see tons of people never looking up staring at 10 rod tips only to have a white bass tangle all 10 then they spend the next 30 minutes retying. Not for me but heck more power to them and I assume they are having fun.

I have a Livescope and there are times I never turn it on. Last year a crappie camp we had an outstanding week. People would ask me what we were doing and I would say all our limits were because I had a Livescope, when they seemed impressed then I would tell them I never turned it on.

It just another tool like any. How does anyone have fun with all the new technology. If you want to go back to grandpas roots well – Like my Great Grandfather you would be standing on the bank with a Zebco, cane pole or some other cheap rod, a gold hook, splitshot and a worm or minnow with a stringer. Many Many Great days with him no boat, sometimes no fish but we always had a BLAST.

I’m not great with my livescope and my never be but I can tell you I have GREAT memories using it. The last two years when my son was home on leave going out and just standing behind him watching him rip fish he could see was quite awesome! It’s all up to you, not technology or anything else.

Peace out!

someone asked me what long rod I liked when I used ls , I replied whatever long rod the owner of the ls let me use when I ride with them :Rofl
met a fella yesterday using ls coming into the ramp at sunset , asked him what the water temp. was and he had no clue , found it pretty interesting that he was so absorbed in the ls , the water temp never even got noticed , he actually had to turn on a big bird on his dash while we chatted to tell me the water temp .
for those that take it a bit more serious than others , a boat ,ls and all the other things that might be employed in the pursuit are things that often get alot of attention.
if I was more serious about it , I might use a few items myself to help locate the fish and or see why they dont like what I am doing , but most of the time it is pretty obvious when they wont cooperate with me that I aint doing something just right .
to each his own is my thoughts on all the different approaches to ketchn crappie , if you want to troll with 4 rods for them that is cool , if want to drop 18 minnows down on 9 rods and spider rig for them that is all fine too ,and if you want to scope them ,so be it .
none of it makes much of never mind to me in the end and if it puts fish in your basket,livewell,ice chest or on your stringer it is all good :highfive

I learned to crappie fish with my dad and we had way to many unsuccessful trips. We would kill them during the spawn but struggle at all other times. All he ever used was a Ambassador baitcaster reel with 20lb test and a double minnow rig. We would sit on a bridge column or tree for hours waiting on a bite. Caught some fish and made some great memories but were not very efficent. I don't have livescope yet but I can certainly see the benefit of it. To each is own and I say do what makes you happy.

To me, I love the outdoors and Fishing is much more than just catching. [emoji106]


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I have heard all the reasons for and against live scope. I agree with all of them at times and disagree with all of them at times. I haven't bought one yet. I have been considering the purchase. I fish most of the time with my 90 year old stepfather, and the way we fish it's just not needed. I also fish with my grandkids. I think sometimes that a ls might keep them more interested and wanting to go. I may be wrong but I think that "video" fishing might keep them in the boat with me longer. There comes a time when they start growing up and don't want to be around us geezers as much. We all went through it with our own father's and grandfather's. But what would most of us give to go back and spend just a few hours with our grandad. So my reasons would be kind of selfish, that if I can keep them entertained they might stay out more and longer with me. Also I love technology and learning new things. I probably wouldn't use it all the time, but who knows. Doesn't matter to me how anyone else spends their day on the lake. I hope they are having a good time. I always look at it as I don't care if I catch a fish I'm still blessed to be out there. But catching is always better.

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Not everyone can afford to own one. All I need is a fish finder to know if they are there or not, then it's up to me to catch them.

I'd have to say I agree with both sides here. I have always been interested in my electronics and knowing the most I could about them for as long as I've owned boats. Now that we have Livescope I enjoy using it. I've seen kids that couldn't keep their faces off their cell phones put them away and fish all day with Livescope. I really think it's a good thing for getting the younger generation involved.
But, I'm a jig fisherman from way back and I miss the old days of dipping in under a big 'ole cypress in the White River Refuge and being surprised by the "thump" of a big slab crappie!

Same was said about spider riggers too. Wasn’t fishing, ruining fishing, was going to kill the population, etc. I stared at my electronics all the time before livescope. Heck I stare at my console graph now all the time when behind the wheel and it’s not livescope.

Livescope is for 95% of the people that have actually gotten one. I said the same thing, but when I was forced to buy new electronics when my prior electronics had an unfortunate accident, I bit the bullet, to bar any potential regret. The only regret is not doing it sooner. I can see and hear all the things the lake has to offer, from my front porch. Wildlife of all sorts, eagles, deer, ospreys, etc. Don't need to be on the boat for that. My time on the water is limited. Three times a week one week, maybe once every two weeks otherwise. I like what it's taught me. It's taught me that "grandpa" was about half right. Crappies biting when the dogwoods bloom....well yeah, they're up shallow on targetable structure. It's taught me that a lot of brush is flat useless. It's taught me that 95% of the time, the fish ARE biting. It's taught me that cold fronts move them and how they want it, rather than shutting them off 95% of the time. It's taught me that minnows aren't the end all be all, which I pretty much knew. It's also taught me that a minnow WILL SPOOK a crappie on occasion. I've seen that several times and it perplexes me. It's taught me a lot of fish spook long before we ever had a shot at them with conventional methods. It's taught me crappie dont hold at a particular depth within a given pattern. I've fished in 15 foot of water and watched them go to the bottom them come up and suspend 1ft under the surface. It's taught me that they don't always feed forward or feed up. That old theory about a crappie wont go down after a bait, or wont hunt down below him is garbage. They'll absolutely chase or go below them for something if they want to or have to. It's taught me a lot of those "bites" you get aren't missed fish, it's the idiot fish that can't read the play book and bite the weights if one is being used. It's taught me that often times color isn't a factor as much as we want to believe it is. Usually they just want a general shade, and most importantly it's profile and how it's presented. Often time's we move it too much, or just the opposite, we move it too little. They often want a game of chase.

It may not be for everyone, but for me, I rarely go fishing to relax and get away, I set a goal, be it trying to break a PB, trying reach or pass a weight of 7 best, look for something for a future trip (prefishing), or freezer refill mission (which is rare these days due to the fact that you can usually catch all you want at-will).

I'd say it leveled the playing field, but rather added a new ceiling, and just stepped most of the users up a level. It's added a level of fun back to fishing that was missing before. You can say you're staring at a screen all day rather than taking in what's around you, but quite simply, the time I spend staring at a screen was spent watching rod tips, checking whatever electronics I had, and keeping the trolling motor on a given course. It's a wash.

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Originally Posted by TreednNC

It's taught me a lot of fish spook long before we ever had a shot at them with conventional methods. It's taught me a lot of those "bites" you get aren't missed fish, it's the idiot fish that can't read the play book and bite the weights if one is being used.

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You're so right, Treed ...

Case in point ... a buddy of mine fishes LS exclusively and Pitches double jig rigs, while his usual fishing partner is a minner/float kinda guy. He's told me many times about not being able to get within 20-25ft of a school of Crappie without them scattering or just moving off. He's also told his fishing partner that the "bites" he was missing fish on were fish biting his sinker, not his minner !! :yikes

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Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

You're so right, Treed ...

Case in point ... a buddy of mine fishes LS exclusively and Pitches double jig rigs, while his usual fishing partner is a minner/float kinda guy. He's told me many times about not being able to get within 20-25ft of a school of Crappie without them scattering or just moving off. He's also told his fishing partner that the "bites" he was missing fish on were fish biting his sinker, not his minner !! :yikes

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My buddy caught his PB with me a few weeks ago and she never let us get closer than 40ft. She kept gliding off about the time we’d break the 40ft barrier. It doesn’t sound sporting when you say you followed one for 30 minutes, but that fish didn’t like the boat and it took a perfect presentation to get her to eat that jig. I firmly believe she would’ve never got caught otherwise. Cheating? Maybe. However it was a stalk/hunt rather than blind luck into one

Lot of what I always said about Crappie being on bottom and holding jigs still has now been proven with livescope . I used to use sonar to see brushpiles or stakebeds on one screen and map to show where they were on another screen . Still using my maps on one screen but livescope on the other . Have found if you hold jig still close to their nose most will move in to look bite or not . Always said color of jig not a big deal, now we see them react in real time . Caught some on unpainted jig heads with no plastic . Used to when we got few bites on our stakebeds or brush piles they were assumed to not be biting . Most times it has to be right on their nose and not moving . Other times they are on bottom or just suspended in open water on occasion I see them once locked on a bait follow it down . For the biggest part they want it at eye level or higher on their nose . Many slow to react . Seen put it on some as many as 10 times before they move to a bait or bite . Livescope can and does change the game . May not be like we grew up fishing but is productive . Many times we are killing fish and most traditional fisher saying they have lock jaw . Livescope takes lots of fishing knowledge and boat control to be consistent at catching . I am one of the old guys that feel livescope has increased catches . My eyes getting so weak I bought reading glasses in sunglasses that enables me to see electronics better . Many hate these new electronics but they are here to stay .

I do not have livescope yet but it has taught me things about crappie I would have never figure out on my own. For one big crappie seldom hang with schools. Crappie will suspend at 2ft in 30ft of water. They will also suspend 10ft from the nearest structure at times. I would have driven right over them on my way to a tree or brushpile. Who ever said crappie will not go down to get a bait is wrong. They see a bait much better than I ever expected and will dive down to get one. I have times when a crappie will not hit a jig put directly in his face but move that jig away from him and he will chase it and nail it. Livescope is not only used only to catch them but it teaches you alot about their behavior. Some of the things they do will simply amaze you.

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Originally Posted by Grainraiser

I do not have livescope yet but it has taught me things about crappie I would have never figure out on my own. For one big crappie seldom hang with schools. Crappie will suspend at 2ft in 30ft of water. They will also suspend 10ft from the nearest structure at times. I would have driven right over them on my way to a tree or brushpile. Who ever said crappie will not go down to get a bait is wrong. They see a bait much better than I ever expected and will dive down to get one. I have times when a crappie will not hit a jig put directly in his face but move that jig away from him and he will chase it and nail it. Livescope is not only used only to catch them but it teaches you alot about their behavior. Some of the things they do will simply amaze you.

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This is one of my favorite things they do. They do it a lot in muddy water. Mud here usually keeps a large majority of the folks at home because "they aint biting in the mud...". Oh they are, they're just 2ft under the surface, above where most sonar is looking.

TreednNC's post is really on point. Of course the legend CrappiePappy has words of wisdom too on this, he's right on. I believe if a Angler has learned where to look and how to present first using traditional electronics and "Dipping" / Jigging / Tightlining or however you describe it first then gets RTS they would have more Great Days on the Water. The "Blown Up" truths TreednNC posted are right on too. Like seeing a UFO, once seen you can't Un-See It. I've seen my jig fall and a Crappie shoot halfway across the screen to chase it to the bottom just to inhale the jig, my line goes slack, fish has the jig in it's mouth. Great post TreednNC you nailed it.

ever seen one blaze across a screen from 20 feet away like a sand bass and smack a jig so hard it funny?
the speed at which it occurred was beyond imagination, how it knew there was bait that far away still perplexes me.
cant wrap my brain around what exactly gave up the jig that far away , maybe the lateral line thing ?
the good news is this about that, it will continue to teach those that let it ,how to be better at ketchn them for sure .

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Originally Posted by S10CHEVY

Not everyone can afford to own one. All I need is a fish finder to know if they are there or not, then it's up to me to catch them.

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it isnt just about being able to afford one my friend , some out there could easily ,but just choose not to , it is kinda like having a boat , really nice to own one , but it isnt a must to hammer the fish for sure .
to each his own is the end game it seems to me .:cheers2

It is amazing technology and undoubtedly helps catch more fish. I'm a bit old school and don't really like messing with much tech stuff so I probably won't get LS. I'm OK coming home with 7-8 fish and not limiting every time out. Limit days are fun, but its not the be all, end all for me.

Livescope, Hydrowave, and SuperScenter gets it done. I can limit in 20 mins or less on average.


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Sorry,but I wouldn’t want to limit in 20 minutes. That’s the kind of comment that totally turns me off to the whole thing. Not being smart,that’s just way to much and would be too easy for my liking.


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I'm thinking a little different than most of you guys, as to what my Grandpa would think about Livescope. See, he was a diehard minner dunker, go tie up to a tree and sit and wait for them kinda guy. He even had a "cement pond" behind the garage, where he kept minners for many years. He knew, from seeing his best buddy's kin, that casting a jig along the bank produced well in the prespawn & spawn periods .... but, really wasn't into that kind of fishing, that much.
Looking back & remembering those years and thinking ... "what would he have thought about Livescope" if it had been available back then ?? (at the going price it would have been back in the late 50's & early 60's) Now mind you, we fished out of a flat bottom wooden rowboat (rental), with a 10hp outboard, and I was the trolling motor (sculling paddle). I think he would have been amazed at the Livescope, and probably used it much the same way I do now ... find the schools, eliminate spots without fish, and find new spots hidden below the surface of the water. Now he might have still tied up to a tree & dropped minners down, just like he used to do, but we wouldn't spend hours & hours in his favorite spots ... after scanning them and not seeing any fish.

Jus' sayin' :ThumbsUp

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Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

I'm thinking a little different than most of you guys, as to what my Grandpa would think about Livescope. See, he was a diehard minner dunker, go tie up to a tree and sit and wait for them kinda guy. He even had a "cement pond" behind the garage, where he kept minners for many years. He knew, from seeing his best buddy's kin, that casting a jig along the bank produced well in the prespawn & spawn periods .... but, really wasn't into that kind of fishing, that much.
Looking back & remembering those years and thinking ... "what would he have thought about Livescope" if it had been available back then ?? (at the going price it would have been back in the late 50's & early 60's) Now mind you, we fished out of a flat bottom wooden rowboat (rental), with a 10hp outboard, and I was the trolling motor (sculling paddle). I think he would have been amazed at the Livescope, and probably used it much the same way I do now ... find the schools, eliminate spots without fish, and find new spots hidden below the surface of the water. Now he might have still tied up to a tree & dropped minners down, just like he used to do, but we wouldn't spend hours & hours in his favorite spots ... after scanning them and not seeing any fish.

Jus' sayin' :ThumbsUp

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Yep that is how my dad taught me to fish. Tie up a tree at night and set out the lanterns. We used nothing but minnows and would sit all night waiting for a bite.

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Originally Posted by Ketchn

ever seen one blaze across a screen from 20 feet away like a sand bass and smack a jig so hard it funny?
the speed at which it occurred was beyond imagination, how it knew there was bait that far away still perplexes me.
cant wrap my brain around what exactly gave up the jig that far away , maybe the lateral line thing ?
the good news is this about that, it will continue to teach those that let it ,how to be better at ketchn them for sure .

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Seldom see one move any distance but here we fish mostly dingy to muddy water

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Originally Posted by CentKyPaddler

Livescope, Hydrowave, and SuperScenter gets it done. I can limit in 20 mins or less on average.


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Never see that many bunched up here even on brushpiles . Sometimes it can be fast but hunting open water fish with a 30 limit can take time here