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DIY livescope pole ideas?

Posted on 12/17/23 at 12:17 pm
Posted by boudinman
Member since Nov 2019
5655 posts
Posted on 12/17/23 at 12:17 pm
Looking for ideas on constructing a metal pole rather than using pvc. Maybe by using galvanized pipe or metal conduit. PVC only as a last resort. Anyone here ever made their own metal livescope pole, or if made with pvc then how did you strengthen it to keep it from bending when trolling or in current? TIA
Posted by OntarioTiger
Canada
Member since Nov 2007
2167 posts
Posted on 12/17/23 at 4:54 pm to
Gonna follow this. I bought a pole w a clamp and use a rod holder. Its ok but i know there are better
Posted by GREENHEAD22
Member since Nov 2009
19846 posts
Posted on 12/17/23 at 4:57 pm to
I know the feeling, still trying to perfect my crossbow/thermal combo.
Posted by ccard257
Fort Worth, TX
Member since Oct 2012
1340 posts
Posted on 12/17/23 at 5:49 pm to
No, I have not made a livescope
pole, because I prefer fishing to playing video games
This post was edited on 12/17/23 at 5:50 pm
Posted by OntarioTiger
Canada
Member since Nov 2007
2167 posts
Posted on 12/17/23 at 5:53 pm to
Ccard
I enjoy catching fish and that means following schools of perch and walleye... livescope is money
Posted by boudinman
Member since Nov 2019
5655 posts
Posted on 12/17/23 at 6:00 pm to
It's called fishing not catching. I bet you use fishfinder, which is cheating right? Just because I can see what's down there, I still have to get them in the boat.

Posted by ccard257
Fort Worth, TX
Member since Oct 2012
1340 posts
Posted on 12/17/23 at 6:01 pm to
quote:

I bet you use fishfinder


Sure don’t
Posted by boudinman
Member since Nov 2019
5655 posts
Posted on 12/17/23 at 6:31 pm to
I didnt until this year. I have a 6 yo son that loves bream fishing and crappie fishing. Got tired coming home with very little catch. So sold my old jon boat with tiller Evinrude and got a used Basstracker. Now putting electronics on it for some quality family fishing trips. Just wanting fish for the freezer, not into tourney fishing.
Posted by WhiskeyThrottle
Weatherford Tx
Member since Nov 2017
5838 posts
Posted on 12/17/23 at 7:51 pm to
I’m not hardcore on either side of the fence. But livescope definitely gives an edge to the fisherman. It’s super nice to have but I can see it’s prevalence becoming a hinderance to fish populations.
Posted by AlxTgr
Kyre Banorg
Member since Oct 2003
82922 posts
Posted on 12/17/23 at 7:52 pm to
On the TM is where it's at. Cannot imagine having to deal with a separate pole.
Posted by skidry
Member since Jul 2009
3356 posts
Posted on 12/17/23 at 8:04 pm to
I Don’t know anything about livescope. But I can tell you I went crappie fishing in Arkansas with a guide and his was pvc.

That being said I don’t see why you can’t use aluminum conduit.
This post was edited on 12/17/23 at 8:05 pm
Posted by Barneyrb
NELA
Member since May 2016
5562 posts
Posted on 12/17/23 at 8:06 pm to
I took a bicycle work mount like below



I cut a piece of 1-1/4 aluminum conduit 8 inches long to clamp into the mount. I cut a 42" piece of 1" aluminum conduit and slipped inside the 8" piece of 1-1/4. I put an ell on top a short piece of conduit for turning directions. I also used a set collar on top and bottom of the short piece to hold it at the proper depth.

All total I've got probably $100 in a mount that works great for my usage.
Posted by skidry
Member since Jul 2009
3356 posts
Posted on 12/17/23 at 8:51 pm to
This is exactly what my guide had to mounted to his boat.

You happen to guide on Nimrod Lake?
This post was edited on 12/17/23 at 8:57 pm
Posted by boudinman
Member since Nov 2019
5655 posts
Posted on 12/18/23 at 4:31 am to
Where and how did you attach the bike mount? Nuts and Bolts or with Screws? To wood flooring or along side rail of boat where rod holders are usually mounted?
Posted by Barneyrb
NELA
Member since May 2016
5562 posts
Posted on 12/18/23 at 6:12 am to
quote:

You happen to guide on Nimrod Lake?


No, never been on that lake in my life

quote:

Where and how did you attach the bike mount?


My boat has bases installed for spider rigs and I adapted it to screw on those. The bases are for Tite-Lok Black Widow Spider Ultra Rigging System

Posted by AwgustaDawg
CSRA
Member since Jan 2023
9394 posts
Posted on 12/18/23 at 7:02 am to
I mounted mine on an old shakespeare transom mount trolling motor shaft and use the pivoting bracket and the motor to turn it. I have been working on one that will deploy and scan slowely through 180 degrees and can be controlled by a remote on my trolling motor remote lanyard but I haven't finished it yet.

As for those who do not like live scope you do you boo. I fish about 50 days a year. I spend about half that time looking for fish. I fish a bunch of different lakes and rivers. I fish to catch fish, not ride in a boat and soak baits or cast lures...live scope has made it slightly more likely that I catch fish. I also will fish a night crawler to catch cut throat trout out west or will soak a mullet head to catch red fish...some folks think a dry fly is the only legitimate way to catch trout and that catching a redfish on anything other than a fly rod ought to be outlawed. I am of the opinion that what other people do is their business, not mine...
Posted by MTG325
Shreveport, LA.
Member since Oct 2011
425 posts
Posted on 12/18/23 at 8:20 am to
Mount it to the troll motor. Lots of new Livescopers mount the transducer to a pole, then realize the troll motor is the only way to go. We put the long poles up years ago and mainly cast with 7 ft. rods. We once had an old troll motor we gutted and mounted transducer to the pole with no foot, still sucked. We made a PVC pole at first when Livescope first came out, sucked. Too much going on, rod in one hand, pole in other hand, trying to keep the bait and fish together, just hard to do with a pole. But we dont fish a lot of tops, we move fast chasing roamers, then drop the paddles and put on the brakes, and cast out 25 to 30 ft. You have to constantly sweep the transducer back and forth all day, never stopping, tough to do on a pole
Posted by Barneyrb
NELA
Member since May 2016
5562 posts
Posted on 12/18/23 at 9:54 am to
quote:

Mount it to the troll motor.


Doesn't work with spot lock trolling motors if you are trying to zero in on one spot
Posted by AlxTgr
Kyre Banorg
Member since Oct 2003
82922 posts
Posted on 12/18/23 at 10:24 am to
quote:

Doesn't work with spot lock trolling motors if you are trying to zero in on one spot
It doesn't, but still beats using a separate pole. Hands off and foot/brain connection becomes instinctive. I guess that's why you almost never see pros using anything other than on the TM.
Posted by AwgustaDawg
CSRA
Member since Jan 2023
9394 posts
Posted on 12/18/23 at 10:54 am to
quote:

It doesn't, but still beats using a separate pole. Hands off and foot/brain connection becomes instinctive. I guess that's why you almost never see pros using anything other than on the TM.


I do a lot of looking with mine with the trolling motor. The motor never stays anywhere...it is constantly moving. Even worse on spot lock. I fish out of the back of a tiller boat about 90% of the time, the pole works good for me but If I were on the front most of time it would be a PIA.
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