Fish finders

redneck joe

redneck joe

Supreme Mariner
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Mar 18, 2009
Messages
12,042
No muskies around here but one of the reasons i chose not to install a fish finder is to me a day of fishing and catching a couple fish over 20 is totally fine. Trolling for salmon or lake trout whe. I was a kid and not catching anything was fine. Bonus if I did. Time spent with dad, gramps and friends as I got older is better than catching fish any day of the week. I've been fishing 50 plus years, I'm good but do t need to be great.


www.nwonewswatch.com

Lodge owners worry over new fishfinder technology

A campaign is underway in Northwestern Ontario to discourage anglers from using forward-facing sonar to catch muskies
www.nwonewswatch.com www.nwonewswatch.com
 
BWR1953

BWR1953

Admiral
Joined
Jan 23, 2009
Messages
6,328
I'm an old guy and primarily a bass fisherman. Been a lifetime member of B.A.S.S. for 40+ years. But, I only fish for recreation.

I have a simple Garmin to tell me depth, GPS speed and water temperature. The forward facing sonar (FFS) units are way out of my budget. Those things can cost as much, if not more, than my boats! :LOL:

I know that they're really popular with bass tournament fishing, so much so that there are recent rule changes affecting their use.

A couple months ago I met a guy about my age. He'd recently become a convert to the FFS units. He too has a lot of knowledge and skills and enjoyed going crappie fishing. But now he goes fish hunting with his FFS. He gets to a spot, sweeps the area with his FFS and throws his bait at the biggest fish in the bunch. Says he catches them pretty much every time.

It's definitely different nowadays, that's for sure.
 
roscoe

roscoe

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Oct 30, 2002
Messages
21,775
For the local and foreign fishermen, the catch/keep regulations are pretty restrictive in me Ontario and most days it’s a given that you will catch your limit.
For example, where I go, walleye northern and bass limits are 2 or 4 fish. Additionally , can’t keep any northern over 29.5”, only one eye over 18”, and smalliesmust be under14” until July. FFS will not put any more fish in the cooler.
It certainly will increase the catch numbers, but not the harvest numbers

I would think FFS would have a much more impact on waters that are barely self sustaining.
 
aspeck

aspeck

Moderator
Staff member
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May 29, 2003
Messages
19,237
Went laker fishing with a guy who had FFS … he would raise and lower the downriggers accordingly to the fish seen and even set the hook when he saw them attack his bait … we caught a lot, but it sort of took the fun and anticipation out of the journey.
 
redneck joe

redneck joe

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Mar 18, 2009
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12,042
aspeck said:
Went laker fishing with a guy who had FFS … he would raise and lower the downriggers accordingly to the fish seen and even set the hook when he saw them attack his bait … we caught a lot, but it sort of took the fun and anticipation out of the journey.
Click to expand...
100% my point.
 
FLATHEAD

FLATHEAD

Captain
Joined
Dec 29, 2002
Messages
3,505
I have FFS on my Crestliner. It’s pretty neat and all, but honestly I don’t much care for it, and I think it’s over rated. I don’t even turn it on anymore. You find yourself looking a a screen more than you are fishing, not my thing. I talk to quite a few guys at the ramp that feel the same way. I can honestly say I’ve never caught a fish due to FFS.
 
C

cyclops222

Commander
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Mar 21, 2024
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I fish the same water every time. I just move around the same spots to find them. Great Lakes or ocean ? F F is a major help.
 
A

airshot

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Joined
Jul 22, 2008
Messages
5,567
In my area, I am glad that we can catch normal limits every day due to the abundance and good healthy population of our fishery and do not need to rely in hi tech, expensive electronics to reach our goals. What has happened to just fishing for fun and enjoyment ??
 
R

racerone

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Dec 28, 2013
Messages
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Old time fish finder.------Old timer told me he would go to the lake.-----Watch for " active seagulls " diving on the shoals.------Minnows on / near the surface means big fish in the area.-----Time to launch the boat.
 
A

airshot

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racerone said:
Old time fish finder.------Old timer told me he would go to the lake.-----Watch for " active seagulls " diving on the shoals.------Minnows on / near the surface means big fish in the area.-----Time to launch the boat.
Click to expand...
Still do a similar thing today. Around here yellow perch are a hot item in the summer. With lots of boats spread out over the lake it is hard to tell where the schools are at. My secret is to look for seagulls sitting by the boats. When folks are catching and throwing the small ones back, the birds will hang around. If they are not catching, the birds will move to where they are catching. Ooopps...shouldn't have gave away my secrets !!
 
M

Mc Tool

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Aug 7, 2024
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For throwing small ones back I use a 1.5m length of 125mm pvc drain pipe tied to the boat and hung over the side so its vertical in the water. Undersize fish are dropped into the top of the tube from where they swim out the bottom and live to grow. I cant see the point in returning the small ones to the water if they are immediately scoffed by waiting Albatross .
They are lovely birds .....and a pain in the arse. Its nothing to have 20 or so swarming the boat and trying to steal anything hauled aboard. We use single hook rigs when they are about .I have had to remove a hook from a very uncooperative Ablie (and a Gannet ) and I can tell you that up that close they are way bigger and pissed off feisty than you could ever imagine ( and they go for your eyes ) . 😁
 
C

cyclops222

Commander
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Mar 21, 2024
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Carry and throw a old blanket or rug over them. They usually calm down and safer for bird and person. Wear wrap around goggles and winter gloves. Animals can go crazy when they are in a struggling condition.
Are they a protected bird ? If not ? A dead 1 or 2 should keep them away from the boat.
 
M

Mc Tool

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 7, 2024
Messages
466
cyclops222 said:
Carry and throw a old blanket or rug over them. They usually calm down and safer for bird and person. Wear wrap around goggles and winter gloves. Animals can go crazy when they are in a struggling condition.
Are they a protected bird ? If not ? A dead 1 or 2 should keep them away from the boat.
Click to expand...
Wrap around goggles and winter gloves ?! 😁What the hey Cyclops , I aint giving the cat a worm pill 😁and, coz I mean like everyone carries old blankets, goggles and winter gloves on their boat 🙄😆.
Yeah they are protected but I really dont think swimming thru a raft of dead relatives would deter them . And (geeze I must be getting old )I wouldnt want to kill one anyhow .......they are a big bird , 3m+ wing span , some of them have blue feet.
We did once take one of them battery powered pressure washers (looks like a battery drill ) and while it was more fun than the fishing it didnt work .
 
C

cyclops222

Commander
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Mar 21, 2024
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That is a BIG BIRD !!
Green animal lovers. PROTECT THE HUMANS !!!
BUT but. "You do not understand. "
I really like your ...Fish escape tube method. (y)(y)
 
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