Bassmaster pro Cooper Gallant says bass fishing is actually more fun without LiveScope sonar

There's no more divisive piece of equipment in bass fishing than forward-facing sonar.

Depending on whom you ask, technology like Garmin LiveScope is either one of the greatest tools ever handed to an angler or the thing that's sucking the fun and skill out of fishing.

Cooper Gallant sees both sides.

The Bassmaster Elite Series pro certainly isn't anti-technology. He uses LiveScope, knows how valuable it can be and understands that, at his level, refusing to adapt isn't really an option.

But is fishing actually more fun without it?

Yeah, maybe.

The timing of Gallant's comments is especially interesting now that we know exactly when Elite Series anglers will — and won't — have access to the technology next season.

B.A.S.S. revealed the results of its 2027 live-sonar coin flips Tuesday, and perhaps the most intriguing result is Lake St. Clair. When the Elite Series visits the famed smallmouth fishery Aug. 5-8, forward-facing sonar will be prohibited.

That's notable because St. Clair has become closely associated with the electronics-driven techniques that have transformed modern smallmouth fishing. It'll also be the eighth event of the season, with Angler of the Year points and Bassmaster Classic qualification increasingly important.

The coin also determined that live sonar will be allowed at the 2027 Bassmaster Classic on Lake Hartwell, while the 2028 Classic will be contested without it.

Gallant will have to compete under both sets of rules next season. And while he's certainly not giving up his electronics when they're allowed, he admitted there's something to be said for fishing without them.

Gallant gave me a crash course in LiveScope while we were fishing Table Rock Lake in Missouri last week.

Watch the full video here:

For those who don't know, forward-facing sonar allows anglers to see what's happening beneath the water in real time. Instead of simply casting toward a promising spot and hoping there's a fish hanging around, an angler can use the technology to locate fish and even watch how they react to a lure.

"This transducer basically shoots wherever my trolling motor is facing," Gallant explained. "I have it set at 120 feet, so I can see 120 feet out in front of me."

Fish, trees, rocks — whatever is down there, he can see it. And, more importantly, he can see what the fish does next.

"You can see your bait, you can see the fish react to your bait," he said. "It's all in real time."

That's obviously incredibly useful when you're trying to make a living catching bass. It's also a heck of a time-saver.

Of course, not every tournament allows LiveScope. So I asked Gallant whether fishing without all that technology feels like a welcome challenge or a daunting task.

Turns out, he actually enjoys it.

"I think sometimes without it, its more fun," Gallant said. "Theres more unknown. You dont know if theres a fish there, and when you get a bite, its more of a surprise."

That's a pretty interesting admission from someone who competes at the highest level of a sport that has spent the past several years arguing about this exact technology.

Without LiveScope, you might know you're fishing a good-looking spot. You might have a pretty good idea there are bass nearby. But you don't get to watch the whole thing unfold on a s