Forward facing sonar, led by systems like Garmin LiveScope and Lowrance ActiveTarget, remains one of the most divisive topics in musky fishing. It has already reshaped professional bass fishing, influencing tournament strategies, viewership of events like the Bassmaster Classic, and overall fan engagement. The fact that the bass community still has not reached consensus after years of debate tells us musky fishing is nowhere close to common ground.
As a guide who was on the water long before forward facing sonar and modern musky fishing electronics existed, I have stayed neutral. I have shared my approach multiple times on the Musky 360 Podcast. My use is measured and intentional. I typically run a fixed transducer pointed down the side of the boat at roughly a 40 foot range. This helps me detect deep follows and give clients a timely heads up when a muskie is tracking their bait.
Beyond that, I use it primarily as a positioning tool to identify edges, maintain consistent distance from structure, and refine boat control. My application is conservative compared to open water sharpshooting, where anglers target individual fish on the screen before making a cast. In many ways, that style of forward facing sonar musky fishing has become its own specialized discipline.