PartsVu Xchange Talks Boating spoke with Luke Dunkin, a former professional angler on the FLW tour and current host of the renowned podcast, Luke Dunkin’s Traveling Circus and Luke Dunkin’s Low Budget Live. He’s also a commentator for the National Professional Fishing League and has been a sales representative for T-H Marine for over 17 years.
He is one of the most recognized podcasters in the fishing industry, but he places a high value on the time he spends with his five children. Luke prioritizes his time with them and enjoys spending as much time with them on the water as possible.
In this episode, Luke discusses the inner workings of professional bass fishing with a behind-the-scenes look at the impact of technology on professional and recreational fishing. In addition, he provides insight into the current state of bass fishing technology and a glimpse into what the future holds for the industry.
Want to listen to the podcast? You can find PartsVu Xchange Talks Boating on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, and Stitcher.
Can you give us your thoughts on technology advancements and how they have impacted professional fishing?
Luke Dunkin: I feel like electronics and technology are at the forefront of people’s minds. Whether on social media or at the boat ramp, everyone from pro anglers to recreational anglers talks about these things daily.
It’s almost like the gold rush. Back in the day, everyone moved out west looking for gold. Bass fishing technology is similar, and everyone is trying to find that next little nugget to advance them over the competition or catch more fish recreationally on a Saturday.
We’ve come a long way since the old flasher-style depth finders. What technology is most exciting now to professional bass anglers?
Luke Dunkin: I think the most overwhelming thing in the last few years has been the advent of forward-facing sonar systems like Garmin Livescope and live versions offered by Humminbird and Lowrance.
It is the most exciting development that I’ve seen in a while. It’s taught us a lot about fish and how they react to different situations, seasons, and baits. It’s still relatively new, but I can’t imagine not having it because so many events are won using this technology. The guys who are good with this technology are winning and creating new ways to use these tools to give them an edge over the competition. The possibilities seem endless.
Trolling motor technology is also rapidly improving. It’s constantly changing, and it’s continually getting better. Trolling motors are putting less strain on batteries. They’re also capable of locking on a position so you can focus on a specific area or target without keeping your foot on the pedal.
Anglers can use graph technology in conjunction with trolling motor locking functions to make a real difference in their fishing.
In addition to being able to lock in place, what other new, cutting-edge technology is available for trolling motors?
Luke Dunkin: Minn Kota was the first to have a locking feature, but Lowrance and Garmin soon followed. They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so those two big brands jumping into this particular feature says a lot about how Minn Kota was able to be a pioneer for this kind of trolling motor technology.
Another big push with newer generations of trolling motors is efficiency. Brushless motors are a key player in making trolling motors that use less battery power, for example. The second thing that manufacturers are emphasizing in newer motors is stealth. Quieter trolling motors are increasingly important to anglers, especially in shallow water.
We see a lot of brand loyalty in the fishing industry, but we also see anglers combining different electronics brands to get the best setup possible. How have you seen that play out?
Luke Dunkin: It’s always been that way in the recreational world, but once you advance to the pro ranks, sponsorship deals can play a part in decision-making. In the past, pros have been locked into contracts, which makes things tricky. However, we’ve witnessed pros who like different aspects of the three major brands, so they combine Lowrance, Humminbird, and Garmin into one big system that they feel works best for them.
It’s the same with other parts of the industry. For example, no lure company will make the perfect lineup of lures. Likewise, no boat company will offer every feature. Instead, each company provides products with unique features and benefits.
The bottom line is that pros are now mixing and matching to try to get any advantage when it comes to electronics.
How do you think the battery innovation in electric cars has advanced marine battery innovation?
Luke Dunkin: It seems like the marine industry lags behind the development in the automobile industry. For example, I’ve been a part of some of the research and development regarding new ideas related to gasless boats. It will be tricky to balance efficiency with performance in high-performance bass boats. Pro anglers rely on speed in competitive situations, and I think it may take a little time to create a gasless motor that operates at the two hundred fifty horsepower range.
I do think we will see it eventually, and I think that would be great for our industry.
How have you seen graph electronics evolve in terms of mapping capabilities?
Luke Dunkin: I hear rumors that mapping may be the next big push for significant advancement. For example, Garmin bought Navionics and created a new view called “relief shading,” which is almost like a three-dimensional overlay showing contours that really make them jump out at you.
Depth shading has also been a huge part of fishing strategy and planning. With depth shading, you’re able to color code different depth ranges. By designating different depths with specific colors, I’m able to key in on certain areas of a body of water where I think fish are during different times of the year.
For example, the bass may be set up on points in five to ten feet of water in a certain fishery. By color-coding that depth range with red, I can make those areas stand out so that I can only aim to fish these kinds of high percentage areas.
I’m not exactly sure where things are heading, but I hear that mapping may be the next frontier, the next arms race for big manufacturers.
Is there any evidence that fish are getting used to the sounds that come from sonar units?
Luke Dunkin: I do believe that could be the case. For example, I grew up fishing the Tennessee River, where schools of bass set up offshore in the summer. Many people around here became good at using their electronics to find these schools in advance of many anglers in other parts of the country.
When I was growing up and fishing in this area, we would use paper maps and cross-reference them to spots on land to find where we would fish. When high-tech mapping became available to the multitudes, you could see an immediate effect on how the fish reacted to lures and how they would bite. The bite was easier to come by ten years ago. Electronics have made things more accessible to many anglers, resulting in increased fishing pressure.
Anglers are also more educated because of things like podcasts and online videos. We are all hungry for content and eager to learn, which shows in the quality of anglers out there.
What sorts of things are you seeing regarding fishing rods and line?
Luke Dunkin: Braided line has changed a lot recently. Braid now casts better and includes a coating that prevents abrasion against the rod guides. As a result, the life cycle of line is a lot longer. Also, hooks are much sharper than they used to be, which makes a considerable difference in hook-up ratios. Additionally, with the introduction of tungsten into the terminal tackle market, weights are much smaller and less intrusive.
How has the introduction of composite rods affected the fishing industry?
Luke Dunkin: Rods are much more responsive and lighter than in the past. The weight and balance of the rods almost make you feel like they’re going to break, but the strength of these new rods is amazing when you consider how light they are.
How have shallow water anchors impacted bass fishing?
Luke Dunkin: Shallow water anchors have changed over time, much like many other things in the fishing world. New models are lighter, deploy quicker, and operate more efficiently.
In the past, people were hesitant to hang bulky shallow water anchors off the back of their boats. However, companies have made significant strides to streamline their products so that having them on will not negatively affect performance.
Technology has also come a long way. Now, shallow water anchors even include Bluetooth connectivity with several enhanced features.
People sometimes wonder if shallow water anchors are necessary for deep water fishermen. But, I can honestly say there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t use them on the water. Whether using them to dock the boat, fish a shallow-water cove, or re-rig, I’m constantly finding ways to use them.
Hydraulic jack plates are another tool that has come a long way. They are now lighter, faster, and stronger than they used to be. I think we’ll see Bluetooth features included with jack plates much like we have with shallow water anchors.
The benefits of a product like an Atlas Jack Plate are sometimes misunderstood. However, when used properly, jack plates can make a tremendous difference in speed and fuel efficiency for an outboard motor.
What other new bass boat design features or advancements pique your interest in your work with boat builders and your role with T-H Marine?
Luke Dunkin: One of the biggest challenges for tournament and recreational anglers is livewell management. I expect new advancements in livewell technology to come soon. Keeping fish alive is of utmost importance to the world of tournament fishing. We’ll likely see saltwater boat technology transfer to the freshwater market, especially regarding livewells.
I also look forward to tackle and rod storage changes in bass boats. Boat organization is very important to bass anglers, and I think there is room for improvement.
Carpet is another component of bass boats that is susceptible to change. We’re starting to see a minor trend creeping into the flooring of bass boats. Many boat manufacturers are experimenting with alternatives to carpet. For example, I use SeaDek instead of carpet in my Express boat, which has been amazing. It’s quiet, soft, and easy to clean, so I am really enjoying having it in my boat.
Please check out Luke Dunkin Traveling Circus hosted on various platforms, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Amazon. His “Low Budget Live” podcast features interviews with top professional anglers, industry experts, news, tips, and more.
