Texas Freshwater

by MATT WILLIAMS :: TF&GFreshwater Editor

Eye See You

IT’S NO SECRET THAT FORWARDfacing sonar is all the rage these days in the shing world. Pros and recreational anglers alike are relying on real-time technology such as Garmin Panoptix LiveScope, Lowrance ActiveTarget and Humminbird MEGA Live Imaging to sni out sh and catch them like never before.

Anyone who has found success with the forward-facing concept it will agree that it’s a signi cant improvement over conventional down scan and side-scan sonar introduced more than a decade ago.

Traditional sonar requires boat movement using the outboard engine to function properly. ough still e ective, spooking sh is an inherent risk with the droning sound of a motor or the shade of a boat passing overhead.

Forward-facing sonar is di erent. It works using a special transducer that mounts to the trolling motor or an independent pole. Likewise, anglers can slip quietly along as the transducer scans the water column. High-res imagery relays to the electronics screen in real time. e beauty of the technology runs deep. One of the main bene ts is it boosts the chances of seeing sh without blowing your cover.

Another is it helps anglers make precise bait presentations to sh and, more important, see how they react to baits. You can even pinpoint grass lines, channels, brush piles and other key structure from a considerable distance away to make every cast count.

If a sh or a school of shad swims by, you see them without delay. Violent strikes on moving baits are frequently witnessed in real time.

Other times, a sh will charge the bait, but won’t eat it. It’s not uncommon to see sh tuck tail and run for no apparent reason. is is really cool stu that can be addictive in a sense.

Used correctly, the technology can be deadly on individual sh that are suspended in the water column. It’s even deadlier on large schools of sport sh such as crappie.

Simply put, the sh can run but they can’t hide from persistent anglers willing to put in the time to learn the ropes. ink of it as video game shing, only this is the real deal. No wonder the young guys who grew up playing Donkey Kong on their cell phones are so quick to catch on.

Glen Webb of Bethel, Oklahoma, has played a few video games. He likes fooling around with forward-facing sonar even more.

Apparently, the 32-year-old angler is pre y handy with it, too. In 2021, he claims he used the technology to win 11 of the 12 tournaments he entered on his home lake, Broken Bow Reservoir.

More recently, Webb brought his Garmin LiveScope to Sam Rayburn on 10 through12 February. ere, he used it to catch 14 pre-spawn bass weighing 63 pounds,12 ounces in the Toyota Series Southwestern Division bass tournament. Webb topped a eld of heavy hi ing locals in his rst pro-level event and banked $54,000.

A week earlier he tied for third in the Brandon Belt team event and won $18,750. Webb claims the intel provided by his forward-facing sonar was a huge factor in both events.

“Every sh I weighed in during the Toyota tournament I saw with my forward-facing sonar,” he said, “and I saw them all eat the bait. It’s a really valuable tool. You are de nitely at a disadvantage if you don’t have it.”

Webb caught a 6.90-pounder on an Alabama rig the second day, but it didn’t come easy. He said the bass knocked slack in his lure twice without ge ing hooked before swimming o the opposite direction. e angler used LiveScope to keep an eye on the sh as he followed it with his trolling motor and eventually sealed the deal.

“I chased her for probably 100 yards,” he said. “Once she nally se led down and stopped, I was able to get her to bite again.”

Webb wasn’t the only Toyota competitor to use forward-facing sonar to their advantage. Just about every angler in the Top 10 said they relied on the technology to catch a percentage of their sh.

Todd Driscoll of Brookeland didn’t compete in the Toyota Series event, but he is well-versed on the ins and outs of using forward-facing technology. Driscoll is a TPWD sheries biologist and hardcore angler who does some technical work for Garmin on the side. He has been a student of LiveScope technology since it was introduced in 2018.

Learning to interpret what you are looking at is a major hurdle to success, Driscoll says.

“It makes you much more e cient on the water — no more hedging bets and guessing where the sweet spots are. Learn to use it and you won’t waste a single cast all day long.” e biologist cautions that using LiveScope to sh for bass can be a double-edged sword.

“It gets my heart rate up every time I see a sh tracking my bait and racing to eat it,” Driscoll said. “But it’s equally frustrating to see a group of sh track a lure for 15 feet and never eat it.

“Seeing how far bass can detect an arti cial lure, and how quickly they can get to it, has been one of biggest surprises to me,” he said. “It’s not uncommon for a bass to race to a lure from 10-plus feet away. I’ve seen it happen over and over.”

E ective as forward-facing sonar can be in bass shing arenas, Lake Fork shing guide Gary Paris believes it’s even deadlier for targeting crappie.

“ ere’s no doubt about it,” Paris said.

Crappie typically run in large schools. ey are prone to hang out around brush piles, timber, bridges and other structure, o en at suspended depths. Paris says forward-facing sonar is a great tool for exploiting these sh for two reasons.

“First o it helps eliminate a lot of unproductive water very quickly,” he said. “If LiveScope isn’t showing you any sh, there is no sense in shing there. You just keep looking until you nd them.”

Second, Paris pointed out that crappie shing is all about bait presentation at the proper depth. LiveScope makes it possible to tune in quickly and make adjustments on the y.

“If you know what depth the sh are,” he said, “it helps keep the bait right in their faces 100 percent of the time because you can see it. at isn’t possible with traditional sonar. If the sh move, you just stay with them.”

Email Matt Williams at ContactUs@fi shgame.com

SK ANY FISHERMEN ABOUT THEIR MOST TREASURED shing moments and most will share childhood memories at the beach, at a lake, or on a pier with their family. Sure, they’re proud to show you their bull red sh, tarpon or big cat sh photos, but family shing time is next-level special. Although any time with the family at the beach, on a pier, or on the water is fun, it’s really fun when you catch sh.

And a big part of that is having the right gear.

We have put together a list of gear that will help families maximize their precious time together and lead to more family sh photos to share on social media.

MONOFILAMENT CAST NET

Cast nets can save anglers lots of money in catching live bait and cut bait for storing. ey are also lots of fun, and it’s a skill kids can easily be taught. is net comes with a ⅜-inch mesh size, environmentally friendly weights, and is designed to open easily and sink quickly. at means more mullet, mud minnows, or shad for the bait bucket.

FOLDING NET

Nets are a necessity for family shing, and this is a great one for shore and wade shing. is one measures 13 inches by 10 inches by 23 inches opened and 14 inches. collapsed It’s nineinches deep so it’s not going to hold an alligator gar or bull red sh, but it’s more than adequate for most of the cat sh, perch and croakers caught on family shing trips.

SPINCAST COMBOS

Spincast combos are an important part of family shing, especially for younger children or inexperienced anglers who rarely get on the water. ese two Proton spincast combos are built around distinctive, extra tough, stainless steel reel bodies. ese South Bend classics come in two rod lengths and actions with a 20- or 40-size reel. e ve-foot, six-inch rod has reel size 20; action, medium; lure weight, 3/16 to 1/2 ounce. e seven-foot rod has reel size 40; action, medium-heavy; lure weight, ½ to 3 ounces.

TACKLE BOX KITS ese tackle boxes come with everything you need to get started shing. One-, two-, and three-tray kits are loaded with hooks, lures, bobbers, and other tackle necessities. e deluxe tackle kit is one big tray with 137 pieces to get you going. ese are a “can’t miss” for family shing.

WATERPROOF DUFFEL e Calcu a Keeper Dry Du el bag o ers all the functionality of a regular du el, but with the added feature of being 100 percent waterproof to protect your valuables from the elements. It’s a great place to keep cell phones, wallets, purses, and other valuables while the family is shing.

It is lightweight and made of 840D TPU material, so it is abrasion-resistant and durable. e external mesh pocket provides easy access for small items and allows you to keep wet and dry gear separate. e du el has four strong webbing loops on the sides to allow you to a ach it to vehicles, boats, etc.

PACK COOLERS e pack series of coolers are easy and comfortable to carry. Instead of lugging out a heavy plastic cooler for a short surf shing trip, this is a comfortable and a ordable option.

Built with a no-sweat design, your drinks and ice will stay cold thanks to thick insulation. It’s welded with a waterproof inner liner so water will stay on the inside to prevent it from leaking through. Strong woven nylon carrying straps and handles make for convenient transport.

Whether you plan a day on the beach, a road trip, tailgating, or to visit your favorite shing spot, the pack cooler is there to keep your beverages cold.

JUST ADD BAIT COMBOS (Ready2Fish)

As the name implies, these spinning combos are rigged up and ready to go. Just add bait, and it’s casting time.

As an added cool bonus, there’s a Ready2Fish y shing combo and this is a great one for shore and wade- that’s a great and a ordable shing. is one measures 13 inches by option to get started in the 10 inches by 23 inches opened and 14 fun and challenging pursuit of y shing. BREAM POLES Whether you’re catching bream o the dock at your favorite lake or catching croakers, these extendable poles are lots of fun. ink of a factorymade cane pole that extends up to 16 feet in four sections with the Crappie Stalker Bream Pole. For kids that can’t cast, these are a perfect choice. PIER & SURF COMBOS ese factory-matched Sea Striker combos pair the right rod with the right reel, so you don’t have to. e rods feature comfortable foam grips, and the ball bearing reel system provides smooth operation. e graphite spool comes lled with a highvisibility mono lament line. A twist-free line roller reduces line twists, which is a big help on a family shing day. e seven-foot rod has medium-light action; reel size, 50; line weight, 10- to 25-pound; lure weight,1/2- to 2-ounces, in two pieces. e eight-foot rod has medium action; reel size, 50; line weight, 10- to 25-pounds.

inches. collapsed It’s nineinches deep so it’s not going to hold an alligator gar or bull red sh, but it’s more than adequate for most of the cat sh, perch and croakers caught on family shing trips.

family shing, especially for younger children or inexpeo ers all the functionality of a regular du el, but with the added feature of being 100 percent waterproof to protect your valuables from the elements. It’s a great place to keep cell phones, wallets, purses, and other valuables while the family is shing.

It is lightweight and made of 840D TPU

material, so it is abrasion-resistant and durable. e external mesh pocket provides easy access for small items and allows you to keep

rienced anglers who rarely get on the water. ese two Proton spincast combos are built around distinctive, extra tough, stain-

ties. e deluxe tackle kit is one big tray with 137 pieces to get you going. ese are a “can’t miss” for family shing.

Built with a no-sweat insulation. Strong woven nylon carrying straps and handles make for convenient transport. there to keep your beverages cold.

combos are rigged up and ready to go. Just add bait, and it’s casting time.

As an added cool bonus, there’s a Ready2Fish y shing combo that’s a great and a ordable option to get started in the fun and challenging pursuit of y shing.

the dock at your favorite lake or catching croakers, these extendable poles are lots of fun. ink of a factorymade cane pole that extends up to 16 feet

combos pair the right rod with the right reel, so you don’t have to. e rods feature comfortable foam grips, and the ball bearing reel system provides smooth operation. e graphite spool comes lled with a high-

visibility mono lament line. A twist-free line roller reduces line twists, which is a big help on a family shing day. e seven-foot rod has medium-light action; reel size, 50; line weight, 10- to 25-pound; lure weight,1/2- to 2-ounces, in reel size, 50; line weight, 10- to 25-pounds.

SURF, PIER AND BEACH CART Easily haul all of your shing gear or beach shing gear or beach gear to gear to

the water’s edge. is versatile cart features seven durable PVC rod and accessory holders and has the capability to hold up to a 54 quart. cooler. Galvanized steel construction with a tough powder-coat nish protects the cart from the elements. 11-inch by 4-inch pneumatic wheels allow for easy rolling.

DELUXE SAND SPIKE

A sand spike rod holder is a crucial component of family bank shing trips. is is truly a deluxe sand spike and accessory holder. e PVC head features a built-in bait cup, knife holder, and cu ing board. e sharply angled aluminum stake allows easy entry into the sand.

CRAB NET

Crabbing Supplies Deluxe Crab Net with Harness, 12-ounce Crab Line Weight 48 pounds Crab Line (Danielson)

Crabbing is tons of fun, and blue crabs are superabundant along the Gulf Coast. ese supplies will give you all you need but the bait, for a successful crab boil ingredient-catching operation.

Crabbing is also a great way to keep kids’ a ention focused during surf and bay beach shing trips. On top of that, crabs can be great bait for red sh, black drum, and sheepsheads.

Memories created on the water can give young people a wholesome pursuit they can enjoy for their entire lives. Even if they end up playing pro football or baseball, the fun would only last into their 30s. However, some 100-year-olds still sh.

No doubt those centenarians still smile when they think back to those early, fun family shing expeditions. Make the memories extra memorable with the right gear, not only to go shing, but to help your family actually catch sh.

Calcu aoutdoors.com o ers one-stop family shing shopping with multiple brands ranging across numerous a ordable price ranges.

In just a single order, you can get geared up for summer shing, whether you hit the lake, surf, or somewhere in between. Also, if you need virtually any kind of other shing gear, whether it’s expertlevel bass gear from Matzuo, or pelagic o shore terminal tackle, it’s also available and easy to nd at calcu aoutdoors.com.

with Harness, 12-ounce Crab Line Weight 48 pounds Crab Line

Crabbing is tons of fun, and blue crabs are superabundant along the Gulf Coast. ese supplies will give you all you need but the bait, for a successful crab boil ingredient-catching operaalso a great way to keep kids’ a ention focused during surf and bay beach shing trips. On top of that, crabs can be great bait for red sh, black ries extra memorable with the right gear, not only to go shing, but to help your family actually catch sh.

Calcu aoutdoors.com o ers one-stop family shing shopping with multiple brands ranging across numerous a ordable price ranges.

In just a single order, you can get geared up for summer shing, whether you hit the lake, surf, or somewhere in between. Also, if you need virtually any kind of other shing gear, whether it’s expertlevel bass gear from Matzuo, or pelagic o shore terminal tackle, it’s also available and easy to nd at calcu aoutdoors.com.

HE 2022 CCA-TEXAS STATE OF Texas Anglers Rodeo (STAR) runs May 28 to September 5. This is the chief membership drive for CCATexas, and it spans the entire Texas Gulf Coast. It offers members the chance to win more than $1,000,000 in prizes and scholarships. Fishing categories include two “Catch, Clip & Release” tagged redfish divisions in which winners receive complete boat and truck combos and boats.

It also includes an Offshore Division for dorado, ling, kingfish and red snappers that are weighed in to win a Hoffpauir Polaris UTV.

Tagged redfish are the most pursued prize. STAR Assistant Director Dylan Sassman said last year revealed some important lessons for the organization and anglers.

“We always give the advice of fishing popular spots, easy to access areas and places where they have been caught in the past,” Sassman said. “With this year‘s new tournament format, we were able to learn even more about catching these highly sought-after fish to share with Texas anglers.

Tagged redfi sh are the most pursued prizes in the STAR tournament.

“Even though most tagged red sh are caught not far from where they’re released, we noticed a pa ern among the majority of tagged red sh that were caught.”

He said no ma er whether it was caught on the Louisiana border, mid-coast, or the Rio Grande valley, all but a few sh were caught on the windward side of the bay.

“ e few that weren’t caught on windward shorelines were caught in bayous or drains with moving water,” Sassman added. “When the wind lays and the temperature starts to rise, sh will seek these areas out not only for feeding potential, but the presence of cooler water with more dissolved oxygen.”

He said perhaps the most important takeaway from the 2021 expanded tagged red sh catches is that you never know when that one shing trip, or one more cast, is going to be the sh of a lifetime.

“Whether it was shing while limping a broken boat motor back to the dock, breaking away for a couple hours to sh, or simply going out on the water just to relax and maybe catch a sh a er work, you never know what that next cast may have in store.”

For more information on the STAR tournament, vist startournament.org.

Offshore division has prizes for heaviest snapper, ling, kingfi sh and dorado.

STAR offers scholarships for kids and teens who catch big sheepshead and gafftops. The inshore division includes heaviest gafftop, sheepshead and black drum.