Some anglers praise forward-facing sonar, others say high-tech fishing ruins day at lake

Forward-facing sonar is reshaping recreational fishing, drawing both praise and criticism over how technology changes the sport and may affect fish populations. The debate surfaced in Bismarck, North Dakota, where anglers describe the appeal of real-time views of fish movement in the water column. The article notes that the devices are marketed as hot-selling tools that can help anglers increase their catch while simultaneously raising concerns. Gary Korsgaden, who has written about fishing for decades, said there is worry about what will happen to the sport. Technically, fish-finding sonar is mounted on the bow or stern of a boat and sends sound frequencies that are converted into screen images based on the time it takes for pings to hit the bottom and return. Earlier models mainly indicated where fish were, while newer systems can show images in real time.