Summer 2025
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fish on perspective, so I would choose forward over it every time. But it still has value but is not as powerful with the technology that is available now.”
TOP BAITS FOR SHALLOW ‘SCOPING
When fishing shallow water with forward-facing sonar, Gill and Hatfield employ a wide range of lures to help them catch fish. They each serve a purpose and help them be more efficient.
For Hatfield, a Texas-rig, Neko rig, and minnow are his top choices. “A creature bait on a Texas rig is great for casting to fish you see shallow, and it’s the same with a Neko or wacky rig,” he said. “I still use a jighead minnow a bunch in shallow water; you just have to change the head size, so it doesn’t fall as fast.”
While watching his screens, Gill uses some of the same lures but mixes in more reaction lures.
“A stop-and-go topwater is a must, whether it’s a prop bait, walking bait, or frog,” he said. “I also use a seven-inch Big Bite Nekorama worm on a Neko or a dropshot. Then a ChatterBait, no shallow list would be complete without it, with or without forward-facing sonar.”
Gill will cast and wind a bait like a ChatterBait and watch his screen simultaneously.
“It’s incredible how often I watch my bait come back to me on the screen, and one follows it and bites within 15- feet of my trolling motor,” he shared. “I only catch those fish
because I’m aware of their presence and fish my cast back in instead of just reeling it in to make another cast when it gets close.”
SHALLOW LESSONS
This technology has taught bass anglers many things about bass behavior, including debunking many things that anglers have always assumed to be true. Both pros have learned things from watching bass in shallow water that have changed their thinking.
“The biggest eye-opener for me has been how tight bass will be to cover, and you won’t even be able to see them next to a stickup or something really small,” Hatfield said. “Then you throw your bait over there, and one appears. Even the smallest stick or little stump may have a fish on it, so I cast to everything I see now.”
Gill’s takeaway has been how many more fish can be caught shallow by paying attention to the little things. “When offshore fishing is good, you have plenty of chances to catch them with LiveScope, but shallow fishing is all about being precise and making the most of your chances,” he said. “When using it shallow, you can be much more effective by focusing on targets others miss. Your chances of catching those shallow fish increase if you make those precise casts.”
Forward-facing sonar has unlocked a window into the bass world in deep water and up shallow. It’s still evolving, and savvy bass anglers are finding more ways to use it to catch bass. Stay tuned; this is just the beginning. •
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