Is it cheating if you use sonar and GPS?
Big opinions by key anglers on major events happening within carp fishing right now
The big question
Is the use of sonar and GPS on remote controlled boats to locate fish good angling or is it an easy option to learning watercraft? We ask Steve Briggs and Steve Whitby...
Steve Briggs: Overseas expert
“I think using sounders for actually finding fish is a bit of a misconception – or perhaps I should say misleading, as there’s no real way of telling if the symbols on the screen are carp or not. As for using them to find an area and then keep it logged, well that to me is sensible fishing, as it generally causes much less disturbance in the swim.
“I don’t really use GPS much but I’ve used sounders for close on 30-years and it’s the time they save as much as anything when you’re faced with an expanse of water and limited time in which to find out what’s out there.
“In reality I can’t believe that many people actually use them for finding fish as they are just not that good, however they are a very useful addition alongside normal watercraft skills and that’s exactly how I like to use them.”
Steve Whitby: YouTube star
“I have used the Smartcast Sonar Sensor for around two years but I still lead and marker around the area I’ve found. Good angling is using the tools you have available, so if someone wants to use a boat/GPS then that’s fine by me. I don’t use either but like I have mentioned, I do use a Smartcast. I cast this to the areas I want to know about and then use rod and line to lead around and cast my baits. Sure, it would be easier to use a boat but I wouldn’t get pleasure from that.
"Watercraft isn’t just about finding fish, as you don’t often see them, it’s about finding areas (given the conditions) where you might expect them to be or to turn up in. Using the Smartcast is a quick and silent way of finding out the topography and thus finding possible areas.”
