Hank Parker on Forward Facing Sonar

**E. Taylor** · 03-26-2024, 09:49 AM

Originally Posted by FEETDOWN

Reckon he owns a mud motor?

I do own a mud boat Feets. Don't use it much any more, other than go to Stumphole and catch some shellcrackers. Chasing a few ducks just don't thrill me any more. I killed my share of them. I was killing ducks on Parr when you were still in diapers Feets.

**FEETDOWN** · 03-26-2024, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by E. Taylor

I do own a mud boat Feets. Don't use it much any more, other than go to Stumphole and catch some shellcrackers. Chasing a few ducks just don't thrill me any more. I killed my share of them. I was killing ducks on Parr when you were still in diapers Feets.

Damn you old then

**MolliesMaster** · 03-26-2024, 09:25 AM

Exactly. It doesn't matter if it's cell cams, drones, mud motors, or fancy doo-dads for your boat. Technology is increasing at a rapid rate and, whether we want to admit it or not, is having a huge effect on the way we pursue and take fish and game.

I'm not saying technology is bad. But at some point, WE are going to have to decide what is too much. If not, I'm afraid we are going to lose the resources we love or, even worse, someone is going to decide for us and it may not be what we would like.

**Palmetto Bug** · 03-26-2024, 09:26 AM

GPS drastically changed the game of offshore bottom fishing. Spot lock trolling motors has eliminated the need to know how to anchor up on structure in a lot of cases. I'm told that tournament marlin fishing has been disrupted by the use of sonar and drones. Most of us use internet search engines to research new hunting and fishing techniques. How do we decide which new tech is good or bad?

Contrast that with sports that self-impose difficulty to bring back the challenge, like archery hunting for deer and turkeys.

**jwilliams** · 03-26-2024, 09:32 AM

Originally Posted by Palmetto Bug

GPS drastically changed the game of BASS FISHING offshore bottom fishing. Spot lock trolling motors has eliminated the need to know how to anchor up on structure in a lot of cases. I'm told that tournament marlin fishing has been disrupted by the use of sonar and drones. Most of us use internet search engines to research new hunting and fishing techniques. How do we decide which new tech is good or bad?

Contrast that with sports that self-impose difficulty to bring back the challenge, like archery hunting for deer and turkeys.

GPS and mapping is more of a game changer than a dozen FFS. Those days of triangulation are long gone.

**MolliesMaster** · 03-26-2024, 09:29 AM

I don't know how we decide. It will take coming together as a group to draw the hard lines. We've got to set our greed down, though. And I think that will be the bigger battle.

**Timber Ghost** · 03-26-2024, 09:35 AM

I can’t imagine sitting at the front of the boat and staring at a bunch of pixels to get them to bite. Of course, I don’t see the thrill of tournament fishing either. In a few years, there will be an even crazier advancement that we will argue about and the only thing that will suffer is the resource

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**smallwater** · 03-26-2024, 09:50 AM

I just want to know what the baby doll in the Hank Parker video thinks.

**Catdaddy** · 03-26-2024, 10:37 AM

BassMasters is in the entertainment business. The viewership has gone way up since FFS has gotten popular.
The Lake Fork tournament set new records. For whatever reason, more folks are watching.

I think they may need to limit the number of units and transducers, but FFS is here to stay.

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**3 1/2" MAGUM** · 03-26-2024, 10:46 AM

I have to imagine you are able to estimate the size of the fish based on the FFS signal? So, you can cover water and only cast at the fish you want? How fast can you go?

**Featherduster** · 03-26-2024, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by 3 1/2" MAGUM

I have to imagine you are able to estimate the size of the fish based on the FFS signal? So, you can cover water and only cast at the fish you want? How fast can you go?

I’m not familiar with any of this but a friend fished on a boat with some new fangled apparatus recently. He said they could see bass and crappie on the screen…

**Short_track_champ** · 03-26-2024, 11:02 AM

Watched a bit of the Bassmasters classic before the race started this weekend. Have to admit, it was pretty silly and off putting to see how much these guys are just looking at the screen now a days.

The game has changed.

**Black Bart** · 03-26-2024, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by Short_track_champ

Watched a bit of the Bassmasters classic before the race started this weekend. Have to admit, it was pretty silly and off putting to see how much these guys are just looking at the screen now a days.

The game has changed.

You're the fella who still watches Nascar, eh?

**Short_track_champ** · 03-26-2024, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by Black Bart

You're the fella who still watches Nascar, eh?

Background noises.

I'll watch me some Flo, too.

**dox08** · 03-26-2024, 11:27 AM

FFS is here to stay, like it or not. Just like when when Tom Mann started with the Humminbird Depth Flasher, people said the same thing "If you knew how to fish and where the fish were, why did you need this technology?". After the flasher it was LCR, the list goes on and on, but hey they are part of what got us here today. You either get in or get left behind. Like Timber said, the only thing that will suffer will be the resource. I think you will see tournaments that allow it and others that don't allow it. You already see it in the big saltwater billfish tournament's, levels that allow omni and others that don't. As for Hank's comments, sure I see it being a large expense that some can't afford that give other kids an advantage now but just like football equipment, give these kids that opportunity on their high school bass team to allow them the technology.

**TXFowler** · 03-26-2024, 12:17 PM

Let’s beat the hell out of this dead horse!

It’s an advancement in technology. Get over it. Not too far from the electric brake fishing reels, down riggers, down imaging, side imaging, or a damn fish finder/gps in general when they hit the market. Nobody has a problem with spot lock or power poles…? Boat control is a learned art form that doesn’t hardly exist anymore. Why take the 5-10 years to master hovering 30’ above a Christmas tree in 20 mph winds or being able to quietly stop when drifting a bay or flat without spooking anything??? There’s a button for that now. If you want FFS get it, if you don’t then don’t!

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**MolliesMaster** · 03-26-2024, 01:16 PM

Originally Posted by TXFowler

Let’s beat the hell out of this dead horse!

It’s an advancement in technology. Get over it. Not too far from the electric brake fishing reels, down riggers, down imaging, side imaging, or a damn fish finder/gps in general when they hit the market. Nobody has a problem with spot lock or power poles…? Boat control is a learned art form that doesn’t hardly exist anymore. Why take the 5-10 years to master hovering 30’ above a Christmas tree in 20 mph winds or being able to quietly stop when drifting a bay or flat without spooking anything??? There’s a button for that now. If you want FFS get it, if you don’t then don’t!

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But when does it all become too much?

**Duck Tape** · 03-26-2024, 01:02 PM

More people, more technology, and less game results in reduction your harvest in the long run.

**E. Taylor** · 03-26-2024, 01:31 PM

Since we have so many experts in here on FFS, I just have one question. How many of you have bought it, installed it on your boat, and have spent the time it takes to become proficient in its use.