Spring 2025
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of fisheries with trout, and you can tell the difference between trout and bass on your electronics by the way that they are moving or what they are feeding on. So again, this is a “turn ‘em on” situation.
Some of our most notable fisheries here on the West Coast are my home water – the California Delta and one of my favorite fisheries – Clear Lake. These are locations that some would say that they don’t use or need electronics; but I disagree as there are times when it can enhance fishing, even in these shallow water places.
SHALLOW WATER USE
When I am starting off at a shallow water fishery, it is likely I would have mine turned off as I wouldn’t want the fish to feel the signal. If I was not getting bit, I would turn them on, because if I am not getting bit, it wouldn’t matter if the fish felt the signal. If the signal stopped them from biting, it wouldn’t impact anything because I wasn’t getting bit anyway. I do think I may get one or two bites because of it, even if they stop biting after. But if the fish are biting and I don’t have to try and adjust, I wouldn’t necessarily turn it on.
BED FISHING
Yes, I would have it on and use it for bed fishing. Lowrance has developed Scout Mode, and I would use it when the fish are a little deeper. Clear Lake would be a great place to use it to find a bed you’ve already found.
Here is an example – you have found a bed at Clear Lake and the algae bloom happens or the wind picks up and you cannot sight fish the bed any longer; but you can turn on Scout Mode and find that bed again to resume targeting the bed fish. At that point in time, I wouldn’t be as worried about the signal because the fish aren’t in feeding mode, they are
EFS Downscan
in protective mode and you are using the bait to irritate the bass to striking the lure, not for actually feeding. It would be a perfect application for it.
MORE TECHNIQUES
I will use it for jerkbait fishing in shallow water because of the target aspect of it. I do use it to find grass, especially when the grass is sparse and there is not a lot of it out there. It is great for finding structure such as grass and stumps and then casting to it when you want to throw a square bill.
Of course, I use it for a jighead minnow fishing like my favorite – the Missile Baits Spunk Shad.
WHICH BRAND
I often get asked the question, which is better Lowrance, Garmin, Humminbird or a combination. I use Lowrance. Period. I know a lot of great anglers that use Lowrance. I’ve seen the other brands, but when it comes to having the best of everything – Lowrance is best – all around for 2D sonar, FFS, and mapping and it is the easiest to use. •
EFS Sidescan
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