If you could only choose one for fishing clear water northern smallmouth would you take FFS or 360? I am finally going to take the plunge and wanted to get some input since I haven’t used either.

I have both and they serve different purposes. I probably catch more fish with 360. I learn more with FFS. If I had to choose one it would be FFS.

I chose ffs, I have SI on my Ultrex and can use that like a poor man’s 360. mL2 is on the targetlock pole.

I would choose FFS. As cool as 360 is, I don’t want another pole hanging off my trolling motor shaft.

I have 360 and really like it. i dont want ffs because im an old man and dont think its real fishing. thats just for me i dont care what others do.as much as i like 360 i think for clear water smallmuth up north you would be better off with ffs.

Got em both. Like em both.

Entirely different tools.

Would you rather have a flipping stick or a jerk bait rod? Same question.

I'll be the odd man out here and say 360 easily.

I can see so much more on it. I fish structure and I know there's fish there. I can't get into this whole "don't cast until I see a fish" thing. If there's a rock pile, there's gonna be fish on it.

18 hours ago, Smokinal said:

I'll be the odd man out here and say 360 easily.

I can see so much more on it. I fish structure and I know there's fish there. I can't get into this whole "don't cast until I see a fish" thing. If there's a rock pile, there's gonna be fish on it.

thats the way i am and why i love my 360. nothing against ffs but i get to fish one day a week. if im lucky. when i get that chance i want to fish.

I’ve had ffs 2 years now Lvs34 I just added a mega 360 two weeks ago. I think the combination of both will be the best I haven’t been on the water yet this year hopefully in a couple more weeks I’ll be able to test it out.

On 3/12/2026 at 4:28 PM, Smokinal said:

I'll be the odd man out here and say 360 easily.

I can see so much more on it. I fish structure and I know there's fish there. I can't get into this whole "don't cast until I see a fish" thing. If there's a rock pile, there's gonna be fish on it.

as I have stated previously, I would buy FFS if I knew which one to buy and a lot of help determining what the heck I'm looking at. I too scan for structure and cover and cast to it.

I would happily scrap my FFS if everyone else would do the same.

I picked up MEGA 360 this earlier this year, and tied it in to my Humminbird / Minn Kota Ulterra network. I like it very much. Gives me a great view of what is down there. I love to spot lock and pick cover apart.

Then I fished with my brother on a new-to-us lake, with his brand new Garmin LifeScope LSV34. Wow, game changer! We didn't even have it set up right, and were seeing fish moving after our lures, sitting on structure, and were identifying areas where there were no fish.

A few weeks later I was haggling with my Scheels fishing manger to work a deal on LifeScope. Built a shuttle with it's own lithium battery and a brew city pole. I can move to different locations in the boat, and didn't have to dig in to the existing wiring.

Have fished five times now...and still learning. Last two times on the water the MEGA 360 never got wet. I'm sure I will utilize more once I get better with LifeScope.

I really love seeing all the fish down there, and watching their reaction to my lures.