Real-World Comparison
Over the last thirty years, we have seen how technology has been used in warfare. Smart bombs, guided missiles, stealth planes, drones, and up-armored vehicles have all advanced the way we deal with warfare. Are all of these advances; cheating? Or advances in the efficiency of warfare? In our opinion, just like those advancements of warfare, Livescope is another tool to improve angling efficiency.
The Missing Factors
An argument against the Livescope technology is that it "ruins the fishing." This false argument ignores some of the factors when catching fish. The first one is the user must interoperate what they are seeing. An untrained individual doesn't know what he is watching on the Livescope. The second factor is that you still have to entice the fish to bite. Third, just because you see fish doesn't mean it's the fish being targeted. It may be a Sucker instead of a Walleye. Last of all, it changes its users' mindset. Just because one has learned to use a Livescope doesn't make one want to keep a limit. We've noticed it increases the desire to improve conservation efforts.
The Takeaway
Livescope beginners have been known to dumb their scopes quickly after their first device usage. These actions are mainly contributed to the misconception that it will make it easier to catch fish. Livescope fishing is advanced fishing. It isn't easy to see how many decisions are being made by the angler every minute while using the Livescope. The angler also must still get the fish to bite.
Using the Livescope system is not cheating, in the same way, the United States used stealth aircraft in the Persian Gulf War. They used advanced technology to better target whom they were fighting. Livescope usage is similar; it's a tool to eliminate unproductive waters, targeting the fish. Usage of the system is not cheating; it's using reasoning, deduction, and skill to improve angling productivity.