The Bass Anglers Sportsman Society introduce new rules for the '25 Elite Series season and US$1-million Bassmaster Classic, including the reduction of live sonar transducers to just one mounted to the trolling motor at the bow of the boat. Here's a look at forward-facing sonar and how it helps anglers, professional and amateur:
— Traditional units displayed sonar history, what had already passed under a transducer, which emits signals that are displayed on screen(s) in the boat.
— Forward-facing sonar mounted to a trolling motor allows anglers to look far ahead and see if bait is present and whether fish are nearby, if they're suspended or relating to structure and where. All the while knowing exactly how far they are from the boat.
_ Fishermen can't pinpoint exactly what species they're seeing but with experience can have a pretty good idea. By watching a screen, they can see what depth their baits are running at, how close the presentations are to fish, their reactions and if/when they strike, all in real time.
— Some transducers are capable of registering fish that are up to 500 feet away. That allows anglers to find fish long before they can cast to them and slowly idle into position without causing a disturbance.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept, 5, 2024.
The Canadian Press
