I was out on the lake last monday,and as I was having some coffee I noticed about 15 to 20 boats out there,everyone of them were going back and forth across the lake watching thier electronics,it made me wonder if that was the only way these guys could catch fish by being told were the fish are and just sit there all day until they caught them.I dont have elactronics on my boat,but I did at one point,I like useing instinct and my ability and expiriance of 30 something years of fishing to find fish.What do you guys feel about this?

I don't ever plan to be in a boat without a depth finder or two.  I'd feel like I was naked.

See thats what i was talking about,can you consistantly catch fish without the use of electronics? :)Be honest.

Your thoughts relative to tools of the past time are akin to the following:

I like to fashion my hooks from the bones of animals and use handline and worms for bait and tackle. I used to own rods, reels, and metal hooks but I like the challenge of fishing like my forefathers did yesteryear.

im sure you could catch "Fish" consitantly. But the question is, will they be Larger than avg. fish? I use my fish/depth finder to not only find fish, but to locate the larger ones.  As im sure everyoen else is doing the same.

I don't ever plan to be in a boat without a depth finder or two. I'd feel like I was naked.

bassbobo7, I would like to fish with you, each in our own boat, on a unknown lake and see who catches the most and the largest fish.

Kelley

So george according to you my ? leads you to believe that im a caveman.Im only saying that I find it more satisfying to catch my pb of 10.2 on instinct not on a video game.There are people that can and do catch larger than average fish consistantly without electronics.I knew this would be a hot topic but, I didnt think that I would be called a caveman for my thoughts ugh.

I'm glad to see you took it with a good sense of humor. A sounder is not a tool to show you what you already know but rather to show you the unknown. When you fish the same lake you learn the hot spots, (hopefully), but no amount of instinct is going to put you on off shore humps, ditches, etc. when you are visiting some of the large lakes in this country. Sonar is but another tool designed to put us in reasonably potential water.

So george according to you my ? leads you to believe that im a caveman.Im only saying that I find it more satisfying to catch my pb of 10.2 on instinct not on a video game.There are people that can and do catch larger than average fish consistantly without electronics.I knew this would be a hot topic but, I didnt think that I would be called a caveman for my thoughts ugh.

Well Bob, our thought are diffrent for sure.  Im a tournament angler, and i do anything to give myself the edge over the compettion.  And maybe there are peple who catch larger than avg. fish consitantley.  In ohio you cant get lucky enough to have the lunker to dinks ratio to be 40%-60% or so.  Ohio doesnt have alot of SUPER LUNKERS we have a ratio of more id say 15%-85%.  So we NEED the electronics to find them.  If we both go onto an extremly large lake(neither of us fished), me with a fish finder, you with your instincts i would bet i would come in with a better 5 fish limit.  Electronics are more trustworthy then your instincts.  I mean, its not like i dont have insticts/skill, i dont drive around the lake looking at my electronics I have a general idea where they SHOULD BE.  But the electronics just make it more percise.

As I said earlier I have used electronics and it is a great tool.As for your challange Im up for it ;)and your are probably correct you might win but it would be fun.I love a great debate and this one was great.some day I may put one back on my boat,but until I can afford one its all instinct.Thank you for the fun,Bob

I think the modern depth finders are wonders of technology.  I have a pretty good portable unit but ratrely use it.  then again I do not fish big water.  I feel most comfortable in quiet smaller places where the bass boats and skiers etc can't go.

fishing a 30,000 acre impoundment without a depth finder would seem to limit you to shoreline areas, or areas of obvious structure like rocks or trees extending above the surface.   But there would no doubt be countless "invisible" areas in deeper areas that will hold bass.

I always say "do what you enjoy"  If you feel challenged by not using sonar and like the idea of using deep diving cranks or heavy jigs etc to get a feel for the bottom, then go for it.

One reason I'm not a tournament fisherman is that I fish for enjoyment.  I don't want to compete when it comes to bass fishing.  

So go out there, have fun, catch some fish, and let the other guys enjoy playing with thier gadgets.

George falls into a different category.  As a guide his livelihood depends on being able to put clients into fish.  It changes the equation.

I fish mostly on Kentucky Lake. much of the year, the only decent fishing is out on the ledges. I would hate to run 183 miles of lake trying to find ledges without a sonar. I do not ues mine to find fish, just structure.

While I respect you people that fish by instincts, your instincts ain't gonna find you a ledge in 25 ft of water on Kentucky or Barkley.

This thread is very interesting. I have electronics on my boat, use them, and I can STILL not catch fish. The use of electronics sure doesn't gaurantee ME any fish.

This thread is very interesting. I have electronics on my boat, use them, and I can STILL not catch fish. The use of electronics sure doesn't gaurantee ME any fish.

This is kind of funny, ONE OF THE HARDEST PARTS IS DONE FOR YOU(FINDING THE FISH)

Now there are other parts to it, called "Fishing"

Are you sure your holding the pole and casting the lure and not the other way around?

What lures do you use? How do you fish them? Are you sure your electronics are setup properly?

What type of water do you fish? Water temp? Air Temp? Water Color? Is it sunny or Cloudy? Those are some of the questions you should ask yourself while picking out the lure. If they arent biting switch LURES!

Not trying to be mean. But ever since i got my electronics i dont think ive never not caught a fish. Throw a WIDE variety of lures your bound to catch something.

JJ