4 benefits to having Spy pole on your boat

April 8, 2026
Efficiency is the name of the game when it comes to being a better angler. It’s important to take the time to hone in on your angling skills, but it’s even more important to have the necessary marine electronics to help you do it.
That’s where Garmin Spy™ pole comes into play. Having Spy pole on board helps increase your chances of a catch. Plus, the Garmin live sonar pole connects with both your Garmin chartplotter and the Garmin Force® trolling motor so you can control more of your boat and use your Garmin LiveScope™ system to its fullest potential.
Let’s breakdown the benefits of having Spy pole on your boat for even better fishing.
1. Independent positioning
Stay locked in on fish and worry less about maintaining your position. Thanks to built-in True Motion technology, keep your true position without losing sight of your next catch.
If you’re locked in on a certain brush pile or school of fish, you can trust that your trolling motor will work to maintain ideal heading position while your Spy pole and LiveScope show you where the fish are in real time with SpyLock™.
2. Seamless integration
When you have both a Garmin chartplotter and trolling motor, Spy pole is an ideal addition. The trio allows you to control your LiveScope pole directly from your chartplotter for a simplified, performance-driven outing. When paired, take advantage of predefined modes such as SpyLock™ to lock your LiveScope on a point of interest and SpyScan™ to oscillate the pole as you search for fish and structure.
Plus, Spy pole can mirror the speed and mount direction of your Force trolling motor in SpyLink™ mode. Traditionally done with a LiveScope transducer, users can scan the underwater world with their trolling motor remote and foot pedal. Even when your anchor lock is set, use the Force foot pedal to control your pole.
With a Garmin live sonar pole, GPS integration results in clear imagery and precise structure position.
3. Advanced sonar imagery
With Spy pole, there’s no excuse for not having the full picture. When you mount the GT360UHD transducer to your Spy pole, see 360-sonar 3D and 2D images with OneVü™. With views all around, scan and store the equivalent of up to 120 yards of sonar imagery – the size of a football field. When viewing imagery on your Garmin chartplotter, customize the color, dial in the settings, and engage auto, manual or constant scans depending on your preference.
4. Ultimate control
Whether you’re casting your line or surveying a bank or channel, remain in control in most situations. Have the choice of hands-free fishing with the gesture remote and wireless foot controls. Attach your gesture remote to your rod or hold it and point your Spy pole in the direction you prefer to scan.
If you prefer hands-free control, Spy pole includes a low-profile foot control. To switch up your views as you hold onto your rod, change the position of the Spy pole by shifting the weight of your foot.
When you’re on the move, anglers can troll and scan simultaneously with independent control of their trolling motor.
For every angler and every catch, Spy pole should be your next upgrade. Learn more about Garmin LiveScope and other marine electronic offerings so you can be up to date on all thing’s live sonar.