Most anglers know that forward facing sonar is a great tool when bass are deep or suspended over deep water, but what about using it in shallow water – not to spotlight spawning bass in murky water, but to scan for peaked out grass beds, rocky points or around schools of baitfish?
Lake Anna Guide C.C. McCotter has been using Humminbird MEGA Live for 16 months now and he’s learned its value even in the summer and fall.
“Deep fish are fun because you can pretty much see them, the bait presentation and the bite. In the beginning it appeared that was the extent of this new technology’s usefulness. However, FFSis also very helpful in shallow water too, as you can find cover, bait and the fish around both. In less than five feet it’s a great way to augment your side scanning sonar and what your eyes are showing you on the surface,” he says.
McCotter also noted, “I think on most lakes there are two kinds of bass: ones in a school chasing bait or individuals on structure waiting for bait. Forward facing sonar helps me find both in shallow water in the fall.
Crappie anglers have long since understood how helpful FFS is.
Josh Morris, Tournament Director for the Richmond Crappie Club, and a highly skilled angler told W2, “The first time FFS seemed to click for me in shallow water was when I started playing with the range on the screen settings. I started out leaving the range on the screen set to 50’ and the depth set on 20’ and never changing it. In shallow water there’s a good chance that you’ll miss seeing fish if you don’t adjust your range and depth settings for the water conditions you’re fishing.”
Morris had won numerous regional crappie derbies as well as some national events. When it comes to crappie fishing with FFS, he’s one of the best in Virginia. He says shallow water to him is less than 20’ and he told W2 he fishes that depth range 95% of the time. Here’s his take on FFS settings.
“When crappie fishing, I’ll generally have my range set to as far as I can to get a glimpse of a crappie and then as I approach the fish, I’ll gradually adjust my range to zoom in. Most of the time my range is set to 25’ while actively fishing. While in search mode my range is 50-100’. For beginners, I recommend starting at 50’ and as you get better at understanding what you’re seeing work towards extending the range.”
Morris had this to say about using FFS for shallow water bass.
“For bass fishermen, I recommend keeping the range set at much further distances – probably close to 100’. As for depth, I keep my screen set at the shallowest setting that I’m finding fish but not shallower than 15’. For example, if I’m fishing 25’ of water but I’m finding crappie 8-12’ down in the water column, I’ll set my depth on 15’. If I’m fishing five feet of water, I’ll still keep my depth on 15’. The screen image can become a bit distorted if you bring the range closer than 25’ and the depth closer than 15’. The other recommendation I have is that if you’re consistent with these settings, sizing fish will become much easier.”
Morris noted he started out with a Garmin Echomap 93SV with the LVS32 transducer and now uses a Garmin Echomap 126SV with the LVS34 transducer.
“I used to think that the only difference between the two screens was the size, but the processor on the 12” screen is significantly better, so the clarity is much better as well. If you crappie fish and you’re just looking for schools of fish, the nine-inch screen is perfectly fine, but if you’re fishing competitively, you’ll want at least a 12” and bigger seems to be better.
Morris says he predominantly uses his FFS to locate fish, brush piles, and rock piles and reminds anglers that fish can sometimes be difficult to see on your screen, especially when they’re on the bottom or around boulders. He also uses FFS to find bait, especially when he’s bass fishing.
Like Morris most anglers adept with FFS will recommend you maintain different settings for shallow water than deep. In open, deeper water, anglers often set the scan distance at 100 to 120 feet. In shallow water, you will get a clearer image with the distance set at 80 feet.
“For clear water, you can turn your unit’s gain up a little bit and for dirtier water, you can turn it down depending on the amount of silt or nutrients in the water.
As far as a general rule of what depth you should be scanning down to, it’s accepted by most to set the depth on your FFS about five feet deeper than the bottom. On most area lakes and rivers 15 feet is a good start.
Another good thing about using FFS sonar in shallow water while fishing a new lake or river, especially the murky water that often occurs after fall rains, is that it will show the structure you’ll want to fish as well as not hit before you get too close.
A good lure to use when FFS fishing in the fall is a crankbait. McCotter is a big fan of the Berkley Frittside and the Berkley Dime crankbaits.
“The Frittside gets down to five feet deep. When I see bass or baitfish deeper, I it’s time to cast a Berkley Dime 10 crankbait, which gets down to 10 feet.
Tidal river anglers like W2 Pro Team member Steve Chaconas also know forward-facing sonar is helpful identifying shallow water targets. When fish leave shallow water cover at the end of an outgoing tide FFS can help find holding places on docks and cypress knees, still in 2-3’.
A properly set up FFS sonar unit will also show fish on cypress knees and dock pilings. This capability is invaluable during a tournament practice session so you can waypoint the trees and docks with fish and not waste time during the tourney fishing others.
Understanding the concept of a timed bite window is only reinforced by FFS. McCotter says before when fishing without FFS you didn’t know if fish were there unless you got bit.
“Now, you can fish on a hunch and see if fish are there MEGA Live, note their presence and then figure out the timed bite window. I just come back throughout the day and usually find them biting one of those times.”
It’s the same thing with fishing a tidal river, you where the fish are in practice with FFS. You note their positioning during different tide levels and log the activity window for tourney day.
McCotters says using FFS around the grass beds of late summer and fall is very helpful.
“I can scan a hydrilla line from a parallel angle and see where the fish are on it. On a perpendicular angle I find out how far off the grass they are. If they are in it, I’ll see them come out of it and chase my lure. It’s amazing how accurate MEGA Live is.
A final word of caution from McCotter about relying on FFS too much.
“Look, it’s helpful, however I believe it’s possible to look at it too much – like spending too much time on your phone, you can lose touch,” he said. “Sometimes you won’t see fish on the screen for whatever reason and you should be fishing instead of watching. I do think you can see almost as many clues above the surface as on your screen when you are tuned in and paying attention.”
This fall enjoy the benefits of modern technology on your boat and the migration of fish back to the shallows.
