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Biosonix unit emits sounds that
stimulate predators into striking
stimulate predators into striking
TOP: Kevin VanDam, a professional bass angler from Kalamazoo,
Mich., adjusts his Biosonix fishing-calling unit while fishing at Lake
Amistad near Del Rio, Texas. BOTTOM: VanDam adjusts his
Biosonix unit. It emits various sounds simulating the sounds made
by baitfish and other fish.
Mich., adjusts his Biosonix fishing-calling unit while fishing at Lake
Amistad near Del Rio, Texas. BOTTOM: VanDam adjusts his
Biosonix unit. It emits various sounds simulating the sounds made
by baitfish and other fish.
Imagine being able to call fish into casting range like a waterfowler
calling ducks to a blind or a deer hunter grunting a buck to a stand.
Biosonix makes that possible.
“It’s really worked for me,” said Kevin VanDam, a multi-year Bassmaster
Classic champion from Kalamazoo, Mich. “I’ve seen some amazing things
with it. It imitates the sound of distressed baitfish or bass attacking shad
and other sounds. That triggers the competitive instinct in fish. Whenever
bass are schooled at all, it really makes a big difference.”
Water conducts sound vibrations extremely well. Fish hunt, avoid
predators and survive largely by “feeling” sounds with their lateral lines and
other sensory organs. By detecting vibrations rippling through the water,
they “listen” to the activities of their neighbors.
For this reason, diverse rattles, clickers and clackers in lures often
provoke strikes. However, certain sounds may produce more aggressive
behavior in fish. For instance, bass attacking a school of shad make
distinctive noises. While splashing, they slurp and crunch food. Agitated
baitfish swim erratically, producing telltale vibrations in the water. Thinking
their neighbors found something good to eat and not wanting to miss the
buffet, greedy bass respond to those sounds in the way that pouring blood
into the water creates a feeding frenzy in sharks.
Coming in a hard plastic case similar to those carried by
photographers, a Biosonix unit transmits various sounds through
underwater speakers. Anglers may play one of several digital sounds
already programmed into the unit or customize the transmission by
changing the volume, sound selection or interval.
“The biggest mistake people make with a Biosonix unit is to think that if
a little works, a lot works better,” VanDam admonished. “People really have
to match the unit to the conditions and to the baitfish in the lake. On a
calm, bright post-frontal sunny day, I want a really subtle pattern. A really
loud, aggressive pattern is not natural on a day like that. If a lake doesn’t
have shad, it’s unnatural to run shad sounds. Run sounds that imitate the
prime forage in that particular lake.
In tests, under “fair” fishing conditions, anglers using Biosonix caught
twice as many fish as when they did not use it. During tests under “good”
fishing conditions, anglers achieved a 216 percent increase in catch rate
with Biosonix than without it, said Dr. Steven P. Holt, a noted fisheries
author and researcher who helped develop the technology.
VanDam and I conducted our own mini test one day at Lake Amistad,
Texas. We fished a shallow flat with Biosonix on and caught 20 to 30 bass
up to 6 pounds in about two hours one hot afternoon. Without Biosonix on,
we caught considerably fewer fish in the same area using the same baits.
“It’s not magic,” VanDam admitted. “People can’t just pull up to a spot
in a lake, turn it on and catch fish. It you’re around fish, it definitely
increases their activity level. I’ve seen too many times where fish come
right up to the boat chasing baitfish when the sound goes off. I know that it
gets me extra bites during the day. It really triggers the competitive instinct
in fish, not just bass, but for any predatory fish that eats baitfish.”
VanDam used Biosonix very effectively to win the 2005 Bassmaster
Classic, his second such championship in four years. Fishing under bright,
clear skies with little wind and no current, he found some smallmouth bass
hanging near bridge pilings in the Three Rivers area of Pittsburgh, Pa.
Under those less than favorable conditions, fish fed mostly at night.
“With the Biosonix running, it triggered that competitive instinct and the
fish really got excited. I was able to win the Classic with a jerkbait in the
middle of a bright, sunny day in clear water. Many times, fish just came up
and busted shad around me. I know the sounds of those baitfish stimulated
those fish. I’ve had shad actually go right into the speaker on the trolling
motor. There’s no question that Biosonix was a big factor in winning the
2005 Classic.”
The unit worked too well during the 2005 Classic. After VanDam’s
victory, anglers not using Biosonix units complained. The Bass Angler
Sportsman Society prohibited Biosonix units during future Classics. Now,
anglers may only use the same standard equipment found on each
designated tournament boat, but that doesn’t preclude anglers from using
Biosonix when fishing for fun or in other events.
For more information, see www.biosonix.com on the web.
calling ducks to a blind or a deer hunter grunting a buck to a stand.
Biosonix makes that possible.
“It’s really worked for me,” said Kevin VanDam, a multi-year Bassmaster
Classic champion from Kalamazoo, Mich. “I’ve seen some amazing things
with it. It imitates the sound of distressed baitfish or bass attacking shad
and other sounds. That triggers the competitive instinct in fish. Whenever
bass are schooled at all, it really makes a big difference.”
Water conducts sound vibrations extremely well. Fish hunt, avoid
predators and survive largely by “feeling” sounds with their lateral lines and
other sensory organs. By detecting vibrations rippling through the water,
they “listen” to the activities of their neighbors.
For this reason, diverse rattles, clickers and clackers in lures often
provoke strikes. However, certain sounds may produce more aggressive
behavior in fish. For instance, bass attacking a school of shad make
distinctive noises. While splashing, they slurp and crunch food. Agitated
baitfish swim erratically, producing telltale vibrations in the water. Thinking
their neighbors found something good to eat and not wanting to miss the
buffet, greedy bass respond to those sounds in the way that pouring blood
into the water creates a feeding frenzy in sharks.
Coming in a hard plastic case similar to those carried by
photographers, a Biosonix unit transmits various sounds through
underwater speakers. Anglers may play one of several digital sounds
already programmed into the unit or customize the transmission by
changing the volume, sound selection or interval.
“The biggest mistake people make with a Biosonix unit is to think that if
a little works, a lot works better,” VanDam admonished. “People really have
to match the unit to the conditions and to the baitfish in the lake. On a
calm, bright post-frontal sunny day, I want a really subtle pattern. A really
loud, aggressive pattern is not natural on a day like that. If a lake doesn’t
have shad, it’s unnatural to run shad sounds. Run sounds that imitate the
prime forage in that particular lake.
In tests, under “fair” fishing conditions, anglers using Biosonix caught
twice as many fish as when they did not use it. During tests under “good”
fishing conditions, anglers achieved a 216 percent increase in catch rate
with Biosonix than without it, said Dr. Steven P. Holt, a noted fisheries
author and researcher who helped develop the technology.
VanDam and I conducted our own mini test one day at Lake Amistad,
Texas. We fished a shallow flat with Biosonix on and caught 20 to 30 bass
up to 6 pounds in about two hours one hot afternoon. Without Biosonix on,
we caught considerably fewer fish in the same area using the same baits.
“It’s not magic,” VanDam admitted. “People can’t just pull up to a spot
in a lake, turn it on and catch fish. It you’re around fish, it definitely
increases their activity level. I’ve seen too many times where fish come
right up to the boat chasing baitfish when the sound goes off. I know that it
gets me extra bites during the day. It really triggers the competitive instinct
in fish, not just bass, but for any predatory fish that eats baitfish.”
VanDam used Biosonix very effectively to win the 2005 Bassmaster
Classic, his second such championship in four years. Fishing under bright,
clear skies with little wind and no current, he found some smallmouth bass
hanging near bridge pilings in the Three Rivers area of Pittsburgh, Pa.
Under those less than favorable conditions, fish fed mostly at night.
“With the Biosonix running, it triggered that competitive instinct and the
fish really got excited. I was able to win the Classic with a jerkbait in the
middle of a bright, sunny day in clear water. Many times, fish just came up
and busted shad around me. I know the sounds of those baitfish stimulated
those fish. I’ve had shad actually go right into the speaker on the trolling
motor. There’s no question that Biosonix was a big factor in winning the
2005 Classic.”
The unit worked too well during the 2005 Classic. After VanDam’s
victory, anglers not using Biosonix units complained. The Bass Angler
Sportsman Society prohibited Biosonix units during future Classics. Now,
anglers may only use the same standard equipment found on each
designated tournament boat, but that doesn’t preclude anglers from using
Biosonix when fishing for fun or in other events.
For more information, see www.biosonix.com on the web.
