Forward sonar - Opinions

[mygreenihc]

Bud Kennedy posted a thread about sonar and reminded me of something that I have been wondering about.  To set the question,  I have just finished installing a new Lowrance Ghost trolling motor, two nine inch Lowrance graphs, an Active Target transducer, and a 3n1 AI nosecone transducer for the TM.  That gives me sonar,  downscan,  sidescan,  360 degree scan, and forward scan.  I am now trying to learn to use it all and it is a bit much at one time,  but that is a different story. 

I have read in two different articles that forward sonar can actually run fish away from the boat.  The articles claimed that the lateral lines on a fish are sensitive enough that they can feel the sonar beams and in highly pressured areas have learned that if they move they can get away from what they are feeling.  One of these articles was published in a fishing magazine and the other was an online article.

Can fish hear or feel the sonar in the water,  even at depths of 20 to 30 feet?  If these articles are true and fish can feel them,  it could be kind of like riding a 4 wheeler to your tree stand.  What are your opinions?

Brad

[BassmanRudy]

I believe they hear it all. How much it affects them I would think is varied by how far away, depth, etc. I have worked bedded fish that were antsy but after putting both graphs in standby they visibly relaxed.

[FD]

I haven't seen them run away from the boat yet. 

I don't doubt that they can sense something, but what they do with that info who knows. 

[Princeton_Man]

I think fish might be able to sometimes sense sonar in some way and that it can sometimes have an effect on the bite. They may not run, but harmonics or electromagnetic fields can have an effect people or animals, so why shouldn't the harmonics of sonar have an effect on fish? Here's something else to ponder, since sound travels faster in cold water, is it more likely that sonar has more of an effect fish During Winter and Spring?

[D.W. Verts]

Of course they can hear/feel sonar ("feel" may be the best way to describe it). But I imagine it's more that the boats' approach and the constant bombardment in the fishes face, over and over, is more what is "driving" them off. The crappie guys up here said that two or three years ago- the fish "move away".

This is a learning curve for many folks I'm sure- it's really very little difference in how some of us fish when we can't "see" the bass. Pressure is pressure, and I think that the modern angler who has never learned, or forgot, will need a new lesson in STEALTH. I have other opinions on some things that are happening (don't I always) but I'm withholding that info until I learn more. It is impacting how I plan to rig out my new boat. The new boat that will NOT have all the latest & greatest technology. Good luck with this.

Dale

[Wayne P.]

I see fish move away from the trolling motor when approached when using forward facing sonar. It's more about an object in the water than the sound of a sonar unit broadcasting. The sonar pulses travel hundreds of feet, but the fish don't react until the boat/motor gets close.   

[Wayne P.]

Same for shallow water:

[big g]

I will begin by saying I'm technology  challenged, but I have soñar and use it to locate structure, depth, water temp, and the depth of living things in the water column.  Once I'm ready to fish, I turn it off, try to fish with the wind to my back, and off the T/M as much as possible.  I call this Stealth mode, my preferred way to fish when possible.
Would I love to have all the fancy gadgets on board.  Yes!  Would it be a distraction on how I process information on activity, Yes!  Right now I look for plant movement, water movement, bird activity, rock formations, changes in the shoreline, water flow, and unusual sounds.  I don't think I could do that and concentrate on several screens, at the same time.  My mind could not process all that Mother Nature is already giving me, while watching these high tech screens.  I know stealth works, because I have scared the crap out of many a gator, bird, otter, turtle, while floating bye with technology off, in total silence.  In no way is this a criticism of those that use this stuff, buy this stuff, and then master it.  It is just opposite of what I have done for the last 40 years.  Stealth has always been the key element in my Philosophy of fishing.

[Smallie_Stalker]

I have read a lot of articles on these types of subjects (not just forward sonar) over the years and many of the same pros and cons are talked about.

Many pros from old timers like Rick Clunn to younger guns like Patrick Walters have talked about both trolling motor noise and signals from graphs. They swear the fish are affected by these things especially in shallow water or high fishing pressure situations.

Honestly, It's been a lot of years since I owned a boat but back then I didn't notice either one bothering the fish, although I suppose it could possibly be the reason I saw shallow fish scatter when getting into an area holding good numbers.

I am very comfortable fishing offshore and deeper structures and NEVER noticed it affecting fish in these situations

Sent from my Pixel 6 Pro  using Tapatalk

[coldfront]

I think fish might be able to sometimes sense sonar in some way and that it can sometimes have an effect on the bite. They may not run, but harmonics or electromagnetic fields can have an effect people or animals, so why shouldn't the harmonics of sonar have an effect on fish? Here's something else to ponder, since sound travels faster in cold water, is it more likely that sonar has more of an effect fish During Winter and Spring?

if fish get exposed to it enough (and they are in the process of doing exactly that), they 'learn' to associate pressure with negative outcomes.  that's the issue.  conditioning.
why can fish act normally even with construction work/pounding going on in the very near proximity?  because it's not associated with negative outcomes.  now, if you'd pair 'lures in your face' and 'getting hooked' to those stimuli... those fish quickly find other places to be...
we're just in the new phase with these electronics.  'painting' fish and then force-feeding them lures will have a honeymoon phase... just like umbrella rigs did.