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 right now?
In the event you ask most younger anglers right now—or many old-timers, as well—the reply would appear to be a convincing sure. “Nearly each query I get today is said to FFS,” notes Z-Man walleye professional Dylan Nussbaum, a sonar sight fishing wiz. “Anglers wish to know learn how to set it up, learn how to set off ‘sonar fish’ to chunk and particularly, which lures to make use of with FFS and learn how to 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 recommend, 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 browse a lot about fishing with sonar today, however I feel there’s an absence of content material actually explaining how and why we do what we do once we’re up entrance, crouched over a display screen, flicking baits and setting hooks. Certain, I take advantage of FFS to catch huge fish and win match cash, however the fact is, it’s additionally an superior studying expertise and actually, one of the thrilling and rewarding methods to catch ‘em.”
Z-Man: Looks like the facility of FFS has shined via at latest walleye tournaments. Most eye elevating are the massive 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, after all, all of it boils all the way down to the actual fact FFS helps us pinpoint and forged to particular person huge fish, one-on-one with a favourite lure, versus towing lures across the common neighborhood of a faculty, hoping one will finally eat. In tournaments, we’re trying to put 5 huge fish within the boat every day, quite than in search of limits of smaller eater sized fish.
So, even in inland seas like Erie, we’re ready to make use of electronics to seek out common 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 most of the high ten putting anglers opted to go ‘scoping quite than trolling. Even amid infinite volumes of potential fish-holding water, a single angler wielding FFS and the appropriate expertise can typically catch extra huge fish than the trollers, who cowl ten occasions extra water, quicker.
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 develop into the default FFS lure, particularly early and late within the season. The 4-inch Jerk ShadZ delivers the right bait-sized profile. I’ve thrown it at each match this 12 months. The ElaZtech® materials is so delicate 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 feel the buoyancy is a big benefit for suspended fish as a result of it retains the bait up and virtually 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 excellent horizontal angle on a jighead. Additionally, I can use a heavier jig for casting distance, however nonetheless profit from a slower, extra seductive charge of fall.
On backside, the Jerk ShadZ’ tail stands up, stays seen and appears alive. In all instances, I like the Jerk ShadZ in tournaments, as a result of this optimum bait (and hook) angle mainly ensures I’ll sting 95-percent of the fish and proper within the roof of the mouth. You virtually 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 vital?
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 proper or if it’s been destroyed, so each forged is pure confidence. Add a single drop of Loctite Gel Management earlier than threading the bait on the jig and also you’ll basically create a bulletproof lure that lasts all day lengthy.
Z-Man: Any pointers in your most well-liked bait colours for FFS fishing?
Dylan: In clear water, I’m throwing pure baitfish patterns like Unhealthy Shad, Disco Cisco or Excellent Perch. If the water’s stained to soiled, I do particularly effectively with Professional Yellow Perch or plain outdated Pearl.
About Z-Man Fishing Merchandise: A dynamic Charleston, South Carolina based mostly firm, Z-Man Fishing Merchandise has melded forefront fishing sort out with expertise 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 Authentic ChatterBait®, Z-Man can be the famend innovators of 10X Powerful ElaZtech® softbaits, among the many most coveted baits in fresh- and saltwater. Z-Man is among the fastest-growing lure manufacturers worldwide.
