Computer programs for locating and catching bass aren’t new. In fact, I still have Bassmaster magazines sitting at home from the ’80s that had Bill Dance and Roland Martin promoting the greatest thing since sliced bread in bass fishing success.
It was called ‘Basstronics’ and was a simple input database about the size of a paper graph that mounted in your boat, and with some simple ‘conditional’ inputs on your part would spit out the color, type, size and retrieve of lure Bill and Roland would use in various fishing situations. Like all the knowledge of two of bass fishing’s greatest minds in a box at your disposal. And of course it didn’t catch on.
But technology, along with processing power, has grown exponentially since those times. Almost extinct are the flashers and paper graphs I grew up on, replaced now with digital units that have highly accurate GPS built into them. You can now simply record and download screen shots and captures to your home computer. The latest and greatest in these machines is the down imaging and side imaging versions, brought to us courtesy of advancements in powerful computing.
But while browsing through the assortment of technology now available to we bassers this Labor Day weekend, I got to thinking about how we judge the value of such wonders. What makes you shell out money for a new piece of electronic greatness? Did you buy a pH meter, a Color-C-Lector or a Hydrowave unit? Yet guys are falling all over themselves to dump $3,000 into a side-imaging unit, or double that into a networked setup on both the bow and console of their rigs.
So I’m curious – What are you willing to spend your hard earned money on, and what can you live without in the way of the latest and greatest in technology, and why?
Jeff Hahn
September 6, 2011 at 7:41 am
Jay: As a Sociologist and a bass angler, I did a piece of research on this very topic many years ago. Consistent with Hobson Bryan’s (Hobson is a Sociologist at the University of Alabama who used to fish the B.A.S.S. events and did a lot of their economic impact studies) Theory of Angler Specialization, the bass anglers in my study would purchase electronic devices that aided them in finding bass, but shied away from buying electronic devices that aided them in catching bass. A few years later, a student of mine replicated this research for his senior research project in Sociology, essentially confirming my findings and Hobson’s theory.
admin (mostly Jay)
September 9, 2011 at 10:08 am
Jeff, interesting…though note that Brian wrote this one. I wonder where that leaves FishingGold.com, which does both?
Chad Keogh
September 6, 2011 at 8:01 am
What I need: Side Imaging sonar. The lakes where I live don’t have very detailed depth maps available, so side imaging would uncover some hidden gems.
What I will NEVER need: Hydrowave. I still say that it is cheating since it really is audio “chumming” and possibly bringing the fish to you to some degree.
admin (mostly Jay)
September 9, 2011 at 10:09 am
It IS chumming but you will need it if everyone else is using one and you’re sick of donating your entry fees to them….
Ronald J. Lindner
September 6, 2011 at 9:28 am
the Lakemaster map system combined with a “all the nuts and bolts” Humminbird units WHEN PROPERLY RIGGED and used in a knowledgeable manner can be one of the greatest fish finding tools made to date
admin (mostly Jay)
September 9, 2011 at 10:10 am
So you’re saying if I have all of that and you and Al don’t, I beat you on Mille Lacs? Just kidding Ron!
Bass Pundit
September 7, 2011 at 12:49 am
Since I don’t fish tournaments seriously and don’t use my boat for tournaments I get by at this point in time without a mapping chip and GPS. At a minimum to be successful in tournaments these days here in MN I think you need a mapping chip and GPS. Sure there are instances where those things don’t matter, but they apply in more cases than not.
admin (mostly Jay)
September 9, 2011 at 10:12 am
Really — no GPS. At this point I think it’d be tough to do without one…but at the same time not sure if it hurts sometimes too.
Recklessbasser
September 7, 2011 at 10:23 pm
This year I shelled out the big bucks for two 1198s with side imaging. On the other hand, most of the reels I use were discontinued 8 or 10 years ago, and most of my rods are older as well. They’re top notch sticks, just scratched and dented much like me. My reasoning for the new tech is that at the level I’m fishing now, I’d be handicapped without the latest in fish locating technology.( BTW, it is phenomenal how much faster you can eliminate water with these units.) As for the older setups, I am confident newer rods and reels wouldn’t put more fish in the boat. The latest trends of rod and reel makers of lighter and smaller don’t necessarily translate into more fish. If new stuff equals more fish, that’s my reasoning.
admin (mostly Jay)
September 9, 2011 at 10:11 am
Would like to hear more about that eliminating water thing. Care to do a writeup on it?
Recklessbasser
September 12, 2011 at 10:53 pm
Yea, man. I’m in.