Tennessee Boy

The people who believe in live sonar the most seem to be the ones that don’t have it yet. It’s easy to imagine how it can revolutionize your fishing. It’s harder to actually do it. I’ve had Humminbird MEGA Live for about a year. I absolutely love it but I also know that I’ve caught fewer fish in the last year because of it. It changed the game and I’m a rookie at the new game. I can tell you stories about fish I caught with it that I would have never caught without it. I also know that I didn’t catch fish while I was messing with the settings. I spent a lot of time chasing non bass that I could see on the screen and spent a lot of time throwing at fish that would follow but not strike. One trip I was forced to fish with only my console fish finder and none of my bow electronics due to a battery charging mistake. I had to switch back to the techniques that had served me well for decades and I had the best day of the year. My second best day, the fish were so close to the bank that I rarely looked at my electronics. I love live sonar because it makes fishing more interesting. Knowing that a fish followed my lure but didn’t take it makes a cast much more interesting than just throwing a lure out and reeling it in. I’m also learning a lot about bass behavior and even more about baitfish behavior. I’m convinced that it’s making me a better angler but like everything it takes time on the water to master. I’m also convinced that most anglers will not take the time necessary to master it because most anglers have not mastered the electronics they already have. Time will tell how much live sonar will change fishing. The fish may have to adapt. The fish and wildlife agencies may even have to adapt. I have no doubt that all the hype will fade with time when the next new thing capture our attention.

I believe you are correct. Just because one guy is successful using it doesn’t mean everyone is. Don’t get me wrong, I think as people get live sonar and eventually learn how to use it effectively it will increase the pressure in parts of the lake that have seen less pressure in the past. I also think the fish will adapt. There is an enormous amount hype around the technology. Consider this quote from the article that found no evidence that live sonar increased catch rates for crappie. “LIS(live imaging sonar) use may have more social than biological influence on recreational fisheries. For example, visibility of successful angling trips using LIS may be increased on various social media platforms by recreational anglers or service providers (e.g., fishing guides, resorts, tournaments) participating in or promoting a fishery. This might result in an inflated view of LIS use among anglers and exacerbate concerns about overexploitation.” Quote from “Evaluating Effects of Live-Imaging Sonar on Angler Catch of Crappies in a Kansas Impoundment”. Fisheries Magazine October 2022.

I Texas rig all plastics big and small. My PB smallmouth was caught on a Texas rigged 2 inch grub.

People have been saying since the beginning of time that one thing or another was going to ruin fishing and still we have plenty of fish. There is no evidence that live sonar is hurting the fish population. Fish have always adapted to our technological advances. Even if I’m wrong, any damage can be corrected through changes in regulations. Fishery biologists are constantly studying the impact that various things have on fisheries. I would imagine there are studies under way right now on live sonar use in bass fishing. I know one study has been published on live sonar in crappie fishing and it did not find any evidence that using live sonar increased the number or size of crappie caught. Another study found that those with live sonar caught twice as many crappie but they did not catch bigger fish or harvest more fish than those without live sonar.

In a recent video Randy Blaukat does his usual rant against Livescope and says 80% of anglers are opposed to it. I find that hard to believe. If it’s true then why aren’t local tournament organizations cashing in on the demand for tournaments that ban live sonar? Do you think 80% of anglers are opposed to live sonar? Do you currently have it? Has it ruined the mystery and magic of fishing for you?

I don’t weigh a lure on a scale and check it against the rod rating before I tie it on so it’s possible that I have “gone over”. After two or three cast I can tell if the rod does not feel right for a particular lure and I might change rods. I guess I’m a rebel because a don’t like to follow the commonly accepted rules of fishing.

I’ve got some fluorocarbon line.

I want to be just smart enough to remember to put the plug in. Then I’ll take what’s left in good looks. ?

The 15lb Boca Grip measures to the nearest 1/4 pound or 4 ounces. If that level of accuracy is good enough for you then it looks like a good option. It’s not accurate enough for me.

I use Chatillion IN series linear scales. They’re made of brass and will last forever. They come in 11different weight capacities. New ones are about $90. They’ve been making them for decades and you can get used ones on eBay for around $20. The old ones are just as good as the new ones. They don’t need batteries and they are always on! Bonus feature: A spring scale is the preferred way to accurately set your drag. I also carry a Brecknell Electrosamson (the scale used by MLF) to weigh bigger fish accurately. They have a reputation for being fragile so it stays in its protective case until I catch one over 6 pounds.

Interesting article. Thanks for posting it. I think it’s less likely to happen with Asian carp as I understand their spawning process. They release their eggs in flowing water and the eggs are fertilized as they drift. The velocity of the current is very important. It appears that the rivers around here do not provide the habitat they need to spawn. It’s unlikely that we will ever get to zero carp so if a few extra get delivered in duck poop it shouldn’t make a difference anyway.

The bass fishing collapsed in Kentucky lake a few years ago and everyone blamed it on Asian carp. I think it had more to do with the loss of milfoil but what do I know. Crappie fishing was not affected which makes me think it was not caused by carp. The bass fishing is coming back on Kentucky lake. I would love to see the carp go away but I think we can live with them. The problem doesn’t seem to be getting worse and may be getting a little better in Tennessee. Any help that the lock barriers provide will only improve the situation.

The plan is to put barriers in the locks that scare the carp to keep the from moving through the locks. There is no evidence that the carp have ever spawned in the Tennessee River so if we can stop them from moving up from the Ohio River then their numbers should drop over time. If they start spawning here then all bets are off. There is concern that they could spawn in the Duck River.

The plan they have for the Tennessee river seems like a good plan to me. It’s taking too long to implement but that’s typical for the government.

Good to hear she will be going home. I will continue to pray for you both. ?

Don’t celebrate until you’ve had a full day of fishing without a fire.?

Some can. Most do not recommend it. The BMS in my 75ah LiFePO4 battery that powers my electronics will shut off after 0.5 seconds of discharge greater than 200 amps. Most outboards pull more current than that when starting. Even though all LiFePO4 batteries are basically the same, different brands give different guidance on this. The Ionic website says: This Limited Warranty does not cover consequential damages and or defects due to the following conditions (but not limited to): Use of any charging system not specifically designed for LithiumHub Ionic Deep Cycle Lithium Batteries. The Battleborn website says: You can use any standard charger to charge our LiFePO4 deep cycle battery. There are some chargers and controllers that are programmable to ensure full usage out of your battery, but most will have an AGM setting which normally bulk charges about 14.4 volts and float at 13.6 volts. These levels are great for your Battle Born battery.

When you spend a lot of money on a rod and reel it should feel superior when you hold it and you should feel superior to other anglers that have cheaper equipment. If this is not happening there’s something wrong. You might try spending even more money and if that doesn’t work you may want to seek psychological help. It’s very important to maintain a healthy placebo effect. ?

I can see how being able to monitor the status of your batteries would be cool but in my 33 years as a boat owner I have only had my trolling motor batteries give out on me one time. That was on a trip when I forgot my charger and on the third day the trolling motor was still working but was almost useless. I’m confident now that on single day of fishing I will be exhausted long before my batteries are.

I’ve had two root canals. They’re much easier now than they used to be. The first one I got was in the early 80s. It took six trips to the endodontist. The second one took one trip and about an hour.

I keep mine clean by putting it in the water for several hours at a time a couple of times a week. ?

I have a Weber Kettle. I replaced the grate with a cast iron one linked below. It cooks much better and is a piece of cake to keep clean. It adds a lot of weight and makes the grill very top heavy but I’ll never go back to a regular grate. I highly recommend it. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08CKZ19YG/

Backlashes are caused by a defective thumb. Especially when pitching. I set my tension where there is a tiny amount of play in the spool. Brakes are set at 0 or 1. If I let my bait free fall 4 feet without thumbing I will get a mild backlash. Take the time to learn to use your thumb. An educated thumb is a feature that will transfer to every reel you own and every reel you will ever own.

I always take the blame when I don’t catch anything. I never blame the fish. My tournament experience has taught me that someone always catches fish. There may be extremely rare exceptions to that rule but they’re too rare to matter.