Garmin Panoptix
Does anyone have any experience with panoptix and is it worth it?
We did a lot of filming with Paul Mueller this past fall. He shows us how he uses his Panoptix. If you watched the his recent Bassmaster win on Lake Lanier, you saw him use his Panoptix to win that event last week. Copy and paste the following link to watch Panoptix in action. https://bassu.tv/bass-fishing-video/winter-finesse-swimbait-fishing-for-smallmouth-mueller
Thanks Pete, I am thinking about adding one to the bow with my Humminbird helix. Any suggestions on the best bang for your buck panoptix setup? Do you need to purchase any additional transducer or does everything you need comes with the unit?
Hey Derek... I'm a Humminbird guy, so I'm not knowledgeable on the "best bang for your buck" Panoptix setup. However I don't think you can use your Humminbird transducer for your Garmin unit and I believe transducers are usually included with the head unit. Hope this helps...
Links posted to the forum from this point forward should function properly. Let's test it with the Mueller link: https://bassu.tv/bass-fishing-video/winter-finesse-swimbait-fishing-for-smallmouth-mueller
Cheapest setup is going to be a Echomap Plus. I wouldn't use anything less than a the 9" 93SV. The smaller screens just don't provide enough detail to make Panoptix or LiveScope useful. PS22-TR for the transducer. Shop around, you can find combo deals from some marine electronics dealers like BBG, GPS Store or BOE for $1600 or less. I've seen LiveScope combo's for $2200. Or hit up the for sale section of BassBoatCentral for some used options. There are also sponsored dealers on there that run specials.
Re: " Does anyone have any experience with panoptix and is it worth it?
I kinda do ( partner has it ) ....I hate it . Kinda like Gman said , He don't want to know the fish under the boat or there about.
Now I am sure it has it's advantages, and I am more apt to believe most do not know how to dial it in . I say this , because once you fish with someone that has it , all they want to do for hours is play video games , and guess what , they do not catch anything.
Gman basically said this too. Bottom line is I bet there is a serious learning curve, But once figure it out , It could be a player. But for me , most of my practice or tourney day is eaten up by a video game player that never gets bit.
I just purchased a Garmin Livescope unit and will mount on bow with Humminbird Solix 10 unit with 360. Do we have any videos on how to use these units can be used together to
locate bass. Tips and tricks, etc.
I got it last fall. I haven't used the Forward view much, but I have been using the Perspective mode. It's like a live 360, but is only about 160 degrees.
I do think it will be a huge advantage for following weedlines and seeing structure.
I did have one time last fall that I was flipping along a floating reed matt and I watched a fish coming up along behind me. So I waited and flipped a couple feet in front of him and caught him.
IF I didn't have it, I wouldn't have known, and I probably would have stayed ahead of that fish by 10 feet.
I think it can also be a disadvantage like Jon said. I have seen fish and tried everything but the kitchen sink to catch them, and never did. In that aspect, it's going to be a learning curve of learning to read their reactions to the baits. By those reactions, learning when to walk away or keep trying.
It's just one more tool in the tool box. You don't use a hammer for Screws, just gotta use the right tool for the job!
