Forward-facing sonar
Also called FFS, live sonar
What is forward-facing sonar?
Sonar that shows a live, moving picture of the water in front of the boat, so you can watch fish, and your lure, in real time.
Forward-facing sonar at a glance
- Shows
- A live view ahead and to the sides
- Usually mounted
- On the trolling motor
- So it can be aimed
- Best at
- Suspended fish in open water
- Needs
- A boat, boat power and a large screen
How is forward-facing sonar different from a regular fish finder?
A traditional fish finder looks straight down and draws a history: the screen scrolls, and what you see is what the boat has already passed over. Forward-facing sonar points its transducer out ahead and refreshes continuously, so fish, bait and your lure appear as moving shapes while they are still in front of you.
How do anglers use forward-facing sonar?
The transducer usually mounts on the trolling motor shaft so it can be turned to scan an area. Anglers find a fish or a school on screen, cast past it, and watch the lure come through. Berkley notes it is particularly good at showing suspended fish that bottom-focused sonar tends to miss.
It has also become a point of argument in tournament bass fishing, where some anglers feel it makes fish too easy to find.
Does a beginner need forward-facing sonar?
Mostly no. It needs a boat with a trolling motor and a large display, and it costs many times what a basic unit does. Our fish finder guide for beginners makes the same call: learn depth, structure and down imaging first.
If you fish from the bank or a kayak without a trolling motor, a castable sonar or a basic down-imaging unit teaches you far more for the money.
Common questions
What is the difference between forward-facing sonar and side imaging?
Side imaging scans out to both sides and builds a detailed picture of the bottom as the boat moves. Forward-facing sonar shows a live, updating view in one direction, which makes it better for watching fish move and worse for mapping the bottom.
Can you use forward-facing sonar from shore?
Not in any practical way. The transducer has to be mounted and aimed from a boat, and the systems run on boat power.
Where this is defined
- What Is Forward Facing Sonar?, Berkley
Where this comes up
The guides that use forward-facing sonar and show it on real gear.
Last reviewed . Forward-facing sonar is one of 222 terms in the fishing glossary.