Technology

[ksfish99]

What's next? Species id? Yep...since all fish have certain characteristics, it won't be long until not only will you see the fish on your graph but also what it is...Largemouth, Smallmouth, Crappie, Carp, Catfish, Drum, baitfish or whatever. Somewhere, some computer geek is working on the system that will decode the sonar signal characteristics.
We have come a long way since we used to have a rock on a string that was marked with the depth. Bouncing that along the bottom let us find breaks and even brush piles.
Then we had the flasher followed by the paper graph. The latter being banned in several states because it was 'unfair'.
Now with all this new scanning stuff, seems like the fish ain't gonna have a chance.
But just because it's easier to find em...does not mean that everyone can catch em.
Boils down to the fact that the fish are just smarter than some fishermen.

[Crappie Chatt]

Funny that you said that, Bob, as it was brought up in one of the meetings. Believe me as I tell you that is being worked on. The thinking is that every spiecies of fish could have a 'signature' signal sent back. Just as rocks and wood looks different. As the DownScan progresses into color screens, maybe,,,just maybe the signals will show different colors for different spiecies. Stand aside BUCK ROGERS!!!! <*)}}}><

[AntiochBA]

Funny that you said that, Bob, as it was brought up in one of the meetings. Believe me as I tell you that is being worked on. The thinking is that every spiecies of fish could have a 'signature' signal sent back. Just as rocks and wood looks different. As the DownScan progresses into color screens, maybe,,,just maybe the signals will show different colors for different spiecies. Stand aside BUCK ROGERS!!!! <*)}}}><

Danger Danger...

[SCOTTY1094]

That Would Be Neat They Could Even TEll Us What They Are Hungry For Maybe.

[ksfish99]

Hey...somewhere in the catacombs at Lowrance...they got some byte head computer geek working on it.
I wrote a story back in the early 80's for a magazine on this very thing. The future in 2010 where sonar units would id the species and give a lot of other information. The editor did not run it and called me up to ask if I was on drugs when I penned it. He was from Arkansas and probably still using a rock and string.
All these toys help but it's still takes skill compined with knowledge to get em in the boat and it amazes me watching some anglers with all the toys go fishless.
The only way some of them can catch fish is with a Dupont spinnerbait.

[ksfish99]

by the way...where can you buy some Dupont spinnerbaits?

[springhillwantabe]

fish that rock and string was pretty accurate still is

[Fish Taxi]

fish that rock and string was pretty accurate still is

No batteries either.:D