Garmin Just Changed Fishing Forever: Meet the New Spy Pole

Garmin dropped something big this week, and if you fish Gull Lake, Pelican Lake, or anywhere on the Brainerd Lakes area, you're going to want to hear about this. The new Garmin Spy Pole and GT360UHD transducer just launched, and we're carrying it here at Ben's Marine. We can also rig it onto your boat. This is the kind of product that comes along once every few years and genuinely changes the way you fish.

What Is the Garmin Spy Pole?

The Spy Pole is a motorized pole system that gives you full, independent control of your LiveScope transducer, completely separate from your trolling motor. That's the key word here: independent.

Up until now, wherever your trolling motor pointed, your LiveScope pointed. If you were locked on a waypoint or holding position in anchor lock, your sonar was locked too. The Spy Pole changes that entirely. You can now spin, angle, and aim your LiveScope at whatever you want, whenever you want, even while your trolling motor stays anchored.

It's available in 42" and 49" lengths, priced at $1,999.99 and $2,199.99 respectively, and it works with any LiveScope transducer you already own.

The GT360UHD: 360-Degree Sonar You've Never Seen Before

Pair the Spy Pole with the new GT360UHD transducer and things get really interesting. This is Garmin's brand-new 360-degree scanning sonar (called OneVü sonar) that shows you a bird's-eye view of everything around your boat, in both 2D and 3D.

That's not a gimmick. We're talking a full scan of fish and structure in every direction at once, with the ability to scan and store up to a football-field's worth of sonar imagery at a time. The system uses built-in True Motion technology that integrates with GPS, so when you move around a piece of structure, the sonar image holds its position. You don't lose track of where the fish were while you reposition.

You control all of it right from your compatible Garmin chartplotter. Adjust settings, change colors, switch between auto, manual, or constant scan modes. No fumbling around.

The GT360UHD bundled with the Spy Pole starts at $2,999.98 for the 42" setup and $3,199.98 for the 49".

SpyLock, SpyScan, and SpyLink: Three Features Worth Knowing

Garmin built three specific features into the Spy Pole that set it apart from anything else out there:

SpyLock™: Point your LiveScope at a specific target and lock it there. Your transducer holds aim at that exact spot while you maneuver the boat. This is huge for targeting fish suspended off structure.

SpyScan™: The Spy Pole automatically sweeps your LiveScope back and forth to cover a wide search area. Great for locating fish before you commit to a spot.

SpyLink™: If you're running a Garmin Force Pro trolling motor, SpyLink synchronizes the Spy Pole with your foot pedal. You control motor direction, speed, and sonar aim from one place, and it stays active even in anchor lock.

How You Control It

Three ways to run the Spy Pole:

• Wireless foot control: low-profile, included with the unit

• Rod-mountable gesture remote: control it without taking your hands off your rod

• Chartplotter control bar: dedicated controls right on your compatible Garmin display

On a spot like North Long Lake where walleye stack up on subtle breaks, being able to work your sonar while keeping both hands free is a serious edge.

Add LiveScope for an All-New 3D View

Run the Spy Pole with the GT360UHD and a LiveScope transducer and you unlock a combined 3D view on a single display. You'll also get a beam overlay in 2D mode that shows exactly where your LiveScope is pointed within the 360-degree sonar picture. One screen, the full picture.

Get It Rigged at Ben's Marine

We sell the Garmin Spy Pole and GT360UHD here at Ben's Marine, and our Garmin-certified team handles the boat rigging too. A proper Spy Pole installation isn't just about bolting it on. Cables run through the pole shaft for protection, the quick-release system needs to be fitted right to your Force or Force Pro trolling motor (or a gunnel mount if that's your setup), and everything needs to be dialed into your chartplotter.

We've done hundreds of electronics installations on Brainerd Lakes area boats. We know how to set these systems up so they work right from day one.

Walleye opener is coming up fast. If you want a Spy Pole on your boat before the fish hit Gull Lake, reach out now. Installation slots go quick this time of year.

📞 Call Ben's Marine: (218) 820-9781 

FAQs: Garmin Spy Pole

Does the Spy Pole work with my existing LiveScope transducer?

Yes. The Spy Pole is compatible with any LiveScope transducer. You don't need a new transducer to use it, though pairing it with the new GT360UHD unlocks the full 360-degree sonar experience.

Do I need a Garmin Force trolling motor to use the Spy Pole?

No. The Spy Pole mounts to a Force or Force Pro trolling motor, but it also works with a gunnel mount (sold separately). The SpyLink feature, which syncs the Spy Pole with the Force Pro foot pedal, does require a Force Pro motor.

What length Spy Pole should I get, 42" or 49"?

Boat size and mounting position are the main factors. Our team can help you figure out the right fit. Call us at (218) 820-9781 and we'll talk it through.

Can Ben's Marine install the Spy Pole and GT360UHD together?

Absolutely. We handle the full boat rigging: mounting, cable routing, GT360UHD setup, and chartplotter integration. Call or message us online to get on the schedule.

When is the Garmin Spy Pole available?

Both the Spy Pole and GT360UHD go on sale March 13, 2026. Contact Ben's Marine now to order yours and lock in your installation date before opener.

Want to get your boat set up before walleye opener? Call Ben's Marine at (218) 820-9781 or stop by in Merrifield!