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Posts: 9
| Just read recent Muskyinsider email which commented on FFS. It went into great detail about can musky hear/feel sonar. Then, it stated several guides went from dozens of figure eight caught Muskies annually to zero when using FFS. Finally ends with we need more studies. I do not have or use FFS, so my question is: Do all of you folks who have used it agree that your figure eight catches get drastically reduced when using FFS. And lastly, do heavy weeds reduce FFS accuracy. Sincerely appreciate comments. |
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Posts: 1292
Location: Walker, MN | I don't use Livescope for muskies at all, I take the transducer pole off of my boat when targeting muskies. I can tell you that I watch fish swimming away from the boat all day long when we're walleye and smallmouth fishing. At first, I thought it must be the sonar spooking fish. Then I wondered if the fish had always done this, and we just couldn't observe it in real time. The past couple of years, getting smallmouth and walleyes to bite within 50' of the boat has seemed harder, even when you can see that they are there. Targeting muskies (again without FFS), The bites seem further out as well (and yes, way fewer follows). My conclusion is: Between FFS, side-imaging, better maping etc, fish have been targeted much more efficiently the past 5-6 years, and they know what a boat is now. They've become much more wary of boats. There are still very good bite windows at times, and persistent anglers with good tech can still catch fish, but the easy bites are fewer w/o the best technology.
Can they feel FFS? I know they can feel the presence of the boat very well these days, especially within 40'-50'. I feel like fish can feel sonar, but I'm not convinced this is the main reason they are more boat shy these days. |
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Location: Vilas | It hasnt affected my follows one bit! As far as its usefulness in heavy weeds, I cant say that it helps, but Im not constantly staring at the graph like people seem to think everyone does. |
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| Recently saw a FB video from a self-identified guide and he said the problem folks have with FFS is that they can't afford it so don't want anyone to have it. |
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Posts: 2085
| North of 8 - 2/26/2026 11:19 AM
Recently saw a FB video from a self-identified guide and he said the problem folks have with FFS is that they can't afford it so don't want anyone to have it.
LAUGH OUT LOUD!!! |
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Posts: 84
| In recent years, fish pressured lakes definitely avoid it, especially as the season progresses. My kids' aquarium fish rush to the top of the water to get food whenever somebody walks near. Similarly, I'm sure that game fish can learn that they or their friends are likely to get caught when live scope is buzzing. It's very loud underwater. |
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Posts: 61
| You hit the nail there , it’s a combination of all things that cause the fish to be more aware . It’s not like this is something new though ,Bill Murphy made reference to this very thing in his book about giant bass some 40+ years ago. If you are fishing heavily fished water maybe take a more stealthy approach to what electronics are running while you fish . It’s certainly an interesting topic to explore! |
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