Thread: If you HAD to decide on only one

Livescope.

I have an Ipilot trolling motor and don't often use the GPS features when actually fishing. I find it far more precise to just drive with the remote and fish with my other hand. I will use spot lock occasionally when I have to deal with a fish, retie, switch rods, etc, and I use autopilot for trolling or just motoring along a bank.

If you're using a trolling motor mount for livescope you typically cannot use it while on spot lock, it just isn't precise enough, livescope has a very narrow beam.

With my fishing style, I would benefit more from having a better view of what's below and beside me. I'm currently using the Garmin Striker 4 and I pretty much use it as a flasher. The sonar helps, but I can only tell what's directly below me and I spend months making a mental map of the areas I fish. 90% of cases end up being if I can see it on the fish finder, it's too late.

I feel like I could benefit more with having the option of livescope in the future and an improved look at what's below and out beside me. I fish strictly with no bobber so I'm either hanging on to logs or slow trolling up the creek looking for crappie.

I came to this conclusion Thursday on the shore at a local lake while my boat is getting some weld repairs done. The lake water was clear as a bell, and the guys I talked to when I showed up were telling me they weren't biting. I used my knowledge of what to look for where fish would be hiding at pulled 12 fish on to the bank that afternoon.

I'm in the camp of learning how to fish without the nice electronics, and then when you develop some skill go buy it and utilize it to its full potential.