A Q&A rap session with Z-Man® professional and sonar savant Dylan Nussbaum
Do we actually want one other article about catching fish with forward-facing sonar (FFS), the singular matter that appears to invade each fishing dialog at this time?
In case you ask most younger anglers at this time—or many old-timers, as well—the reply would appear to be a convincing sure. “Virtually each query I get as of late is said to FFS,” notes Z-Man walleye professional Dylan Nussbaum, a sonar sight fishing wiz. “Anglers wish to know how you can set it up, how you can set off ‘sonar fish’ to chunk and particularly, which lures to make use of with FFS and how you can retrieve them.”
In line with tremendous expert, youthful anglers like Nussbaum, fishing traditions are shifting. Younger, energetic fishermen are mastering new skillsets, birddogging bogeys on fish radar and firing heatseeking missiles with military-like precision. Furthermore, as Nussbaum and different FFS specialists will counsel, going one-on-one with huge fish, flipping a jig and Jerk ShadZ™ on their piscine snouts is an absolute adrenaline rush.
“We watch movies and skim a lot about fishing with sonar as of late, however I believe there’s a scarcity of content material actually explaining how and why we do what we do after we’re up entrance, crouched over a display screen, flicking baits and setting hooks. Certain, I exploit FFS to catch huge fish and win match cash, however the fact is, it’s additionally an superior studying expertise and truthfully, some of the thrilling and rewarding methods to catch ‘em.”
Z-Man: Looks like the ability of FFS has shined via at latest walleye tournaments. Most eye elevating are the large water tournaments, like on Lake Erie, the place trolling strategies that cowl giant swaths of water are steadily being supplanted by casting a single lure to a single fish noticed on sonar. Why are anglers adapting?
Dylan Nussbaum: Past the enjoyable issue, in fact, all of it boils right down to the actual fact FFS helps us pinpoint and solid to particular person huge fish, one-on-one with a favourite lure, versus towing lures across the basic neighborhood of a faculty, hoping one will ultimately eat. In tournaments, we’re trying to put 5 huge fish within the boat every day, moderately than in search of limits of smaller eater sized fish.
So, even in inland seas like Erie, we’re in a position to make use of electronics to search out basic fish-holding zones—usually effectively off-structure—after which zero in on bigger, particular person walleyes. We noticed it on the final two nationwide tournaments on Lake Erie, the place lots of the high ten putting anglers opted to go ‘scoping moderately than trolling. Even amid infinite volumes of potential fish-holding water, a single angler wielding FFS and the fitting abilities can generally catch extra huge fish than the trollers, who cowl ten instances extra water, sooner.
Z-Man: Inform us in regards to the baits you’re casting with FFS fishing.
Dylan: Proper now, it looks as if everybody’s throwing a jig and Scented Jerk ShadZ, which has turn out to be the default FFS lure, particularly early and late within the season. The 4-inch Jerk ShadZ delivers the proper bait-sized profile. I’ve thrown it at each match this 12 months. The ElaZtech® materials is so smooth and it’s buoyant, too; strikes in another way than some other fluke-minnow bait I’ve used. Get it good and straight on a jighead and watch the bait as you reel in. If it’s rigged proper, you’ll get this killer crankbait-like motion, a delicate wobble and shimmy that may’t be duplicated due to its superplastic materials.
Z-Man: Why are anglers experiencing a lot success with this bait, together with in each walleye and bass tournaments just like the 2023 Bassmaster Traditional?
Dylan: I believe the buoyancy is a big benefit for suspended fish as a result of it retains the bait up and nearly hovering in place. You profit from a slowed-down drop, so it’s not falling previous fish too quick. Underwater, the bait’s buoyancy additionally retains it completely aligned at that very best horizontal angle on a jighead. Additionally, I can use a heavier jig for casting distance, however nonetheless profit from a slower, extra seductive price of fall.
On backside, the Jerk ShadZ’ tail stands up, stays seen and appears alive. In all instances, I really like the Jerk ShadZ in tournaments, as a result of this optimum bait (and hook) angle principally ensures I’ll sting 95-percent of the fish and proper within the roof of the mouth. You nearly by no means lose a fish on this arrange, both. Really feel that thump and you bought ‘em.
Z-Man: What in regards to the sturdiness of the ElaZtech materials. Why is that this necessary?
Dylan: The actual fact I can fish with one bait all day and by no means have to fret in regards to the tail getting ripped off by a brief biter or nipped in half by nuisance fish; that’s large. I’m by no means fishing and questioning if my bait appears to be like proper or if it’s been destroyed, so each solid is pure confidence. Add a single drop of Loctite Gel Management earlier than threading the bait on the jig and also you’ll primarily create a bulletproof lure that lasts all day lengthy.
Z-Man: Any tips in your most popular bait colours for FFS fishing?
Dylan: In clear water, I’m throwing pure baitfish patterns like Dangerous Shad, Disco Cisco or Excellent Perch. If the water’s stained to soiled, I do particularly effectively with Professional Yellow Perch or plain previous Pearl.
About Z-Man Fishing Merchandise: A dynamic Charleston, South Carolina primarily based firm, Z-Man Fishing Merchandise has melded forefront fishing sort out with know-how for almost three a long time. Z-Man has lengthy been among the many business’s largest suppliers of silicone skirt materials utilized in jigs, spinnerbaits and different lures. Creator of the Unique ChatterBait®, Z-Man can also be the famend innovators of 10X Robust ElaZtech® softbaits, among the many most coveted baits in fresh- and saltwater. Z-Man is among the fastest-growing lure manufacturers worldwide.
