A monster muskie like this one would be a lifetime accomplishment for most anglers, but the use of forward scanning sonar has made it much easier in recent seasons. (Fish Ontario)

Because I’ve been in the “what’s new” end of fishing for many decades, I tend to like new technology, including Forward Facing Sonar or FFS. Catching more fish equals more fun, in most varieties of our sport.

But there are some unforeseen issues arising from the effectiveness of FFS for some species in some waters.

On Northwestern Ontario's Eagle Lake east of Winnipeg, which has a world-class muskie fishery, a group of lodge owners is urging anglers to voluntarily avoid using FFS for the giant pike due to concerns that it could threaten the health of the population there, reports Gary Rinne of NWO News.

"FFS allows anglers to 'sharpshoot' deep-water muskies with unprecedented precision and effectiveness," Cal Ritchie, a local fishing guide, told Rinne. "That repeated targeting and handling, especially of large fish, leads to increased stress, delayed mortality (where death occurs after release back to the water), and potential long-term impacts on the lake's size structure and trophy potential."

The concern is particularly appropriate in these Far North waters where growth is extremely slow for nearly all species. Biologists estimate it takes 15 to as much as 20 years to reach the Holy Grail 50” class for this species in the far north. If we kill one, it takes a long time to replace.

FFS technology delivers a live image of exact fish location, as well as an angler's lure or bait presentation, allowing the angler to see how the fish reacts to the offering. It’s particularly deadly for large fish like muskies, which are very easy to make out on the real-time screens out to well over 100 feet from the boat.

If one muskie angler catches a 40-pounder, lands it quickly, handles it carefully and gets it back into the water promptly after a photo, likely no problem. The fish will recover quickly so long as it was not hooked deeply.

Forward Facing Sonar offers a live vision into the water within casting range, making catches much easier for some species.(Humminbird)

But if another angler comes along three days later and catches that same fish, and then a third a week later, it’s likely that the fish is not going to do well. The combination of repeated injuries and maybe even the fear of prey-size food that’s instilled is going to have a negative impact on survival, to say the least. And FFS just makes it relatively easy on big, slow fish like muskies—which are otherwise known as the “fish of 10,000 casts”.

And the quality of FFS is only going to get better, probably to the point that we can just about count the scales on old Esox.

I mean, let’s face it, if fishing were all about efficiency in catching, we could get out there and tow 300’ wide gill nets and get it done in a hurry. 

Sport fishing is the art of imposing restrictions on ourselves in chasing critters that have much lower IQ than we do. That’s why most use light tackle, artificial lures, and fly rods to pursue them. It’s more about the pursuit than taking home something for the table for the majority of U.S. anglers, though panfish and catfish anglers might disagree in fresh water, flounder and sheepshead fishermen as well as offshore anglers in salt.

And FFS is not a problem in some fisheries, at least not yet. At my home lake, Guntersville, everybody who can afford it is now forward-scanning their ass off, and so far it has not hurt those of us who still can only look straight down with our sonar. 

The amazing FFS detail along with the real time image display allows anglers to pick out individual fish, see their reaction to a lure and catch them much more often than previously. (Garmin Electronics)

As I write these words I can see at least three boats out there with two guys up front intently watching the screen. But I know I can go out there this afternoon and—if I don’t screw it up—catch a couple of nice ones on the channel not a hundred yards from where the FFS guys have been straining the water with their little swimmer jigs. I can’t beat them in a tournament, but I can enjoy my way of fishing, and they can enjoy theirs.

Staring all morning at a screen while appearing not to notice the spectacular sunrise, the fog drifting over the mountains and the occasional passage of a bald eagle overhead is not my cup of tea, but of course for tournament anglers and for guides, it ain’t about smelling the daisies, it’s about earning a living.  

As with so much in angling—and in life—there are multiple ways of looking at FFS, and some of us are going to be big fans, some of us are going to see it as the worst thing since gill nets for sportfishing. Hopefully we’ll keep an eye on the science and the fish populations, and put reasonable limits on the technology where it’s needed or preferred by the majority.