Testing Garmin’s game-changing new Panoptix fishfinder

In science-speak, Panoptix is multibeam, phased-array transducer with a continually refreshing display. What does that mean? Simply put, Panoptix lets you see all around your boat in real time. If offers the perspective of traditional sonar, but with the kind of real-time picture you get from an ice-fishing flasher. Like any new sonar, it takes some time to get used to the unfamiliar presentation, but what you see is remarkable. The shot above is in LiveVu Forward mode, and shows the lake shoaling to the right, a fish at 21 feet, and a bait dropping toward it. And the forward-facing transducer (below) mounts to a trolling motor and provides a view even while your boat is stationary.