Whoa! The day has arrived when one of the professional bass fishing organizations has made a major decision that will impact a lot of professional anglers both young and old. This decision was to ban forward-facing sonar. Finally, someone has shown some backbone and decided to level the playing field — or have they, and will it?
Let’s first look at who has decided to step up and save the sport of bass fishing as so many legendary pros think needs to be done. The NPFL (National Professional Fishing League) recently announced that forward-facing sonar will NOT be allowed for official practice or tournaments in 2025.
It will not be allowed for scouting (practice) or at any other time. It must be removed from boats, along with the black box and the transducer. As one joyful pro angler said, “Time to go back to old school fishing!” No longer will anglers be able to look at bass on a screen like a version of Xbox and catch fish.
Is this good for the sport or is this decision holding the sport back? The answer you get will depend upon what angler you ask.
A majority of the old school guys will defend this decision and say “yes” it is good for the sport. Most compare this decision to the banning of the A-Rig (or umbrella rig) which many of the pros thought was an unethical way to catch bass by using more than one bait or hook. Old school anglers feel the same about forward-facing sonar in that it’s an unfair advantage for the anglers versus the fish.
I tend to agree with the old school anglers now that I’ve been a user of forward-facing sonar for the last two years and understand how it works. With this device, no fish is safe anywhere on any body of water. It allows anglers to select and zero in on the bigger bass in a school or swimming solo. This is not good for any fishery and could have lasting consequences as anglers do what I would call selective fishing by targeting larger bass.
Let’s face the facts with this electronic device. It has made champions out of anglers who otherwise have never won a tournament. It’s become an equalizer or advantage for the younger or less experienced anglers that are fishing on the professional level. It has allowed them to not only compete but to win with little to no experience compared to the guys that have paid their dues and taken years to acquire the knowledge they possess.
Nothing has leveled the playing field quicker for the younger generation of anglers more than forward-facing sonar. Anglers competing on the NPFL now will have to rely on finding fish with more traditional ways by locating fish either by catching them or using side scan or down-imaging. No longer will they be able to just ride around on a body of water with three or more transducers and locate bass in real time.
While all organizations will not ban this new technology, there will be others that will follow. It’s still hard to understand how the three major electronic companies (Garmin, Humminbird and Lowrance) will move forward.
These companies will not sit on their hands and stop developing new technology. So, what’s next? Will the next advancement be banned as well? If so, how will these companies continue to survive without innovation and advancements in technology?
Here’s my perspective: we can’t just continue to ban every new piece of technology that comes out! Tournament organizations need to adapt by altering the rules presently in place; rules that work for both boaters and co-anglers. At some point, they will have to figure out how to make forward-facing sonar and any future innovations work for the benefit of everyone.
But understand this, just because it’s banned on the professional level, does not mean it will be banned for the everyday angler or anglers fishing on the lower levels of competition.
I do agree that anglers on the professional level should be held to a higher standard; that’s why they’re called professionals. It’s the same reason Major League Baseball does not allow aluminum bats. Hitters would have too much of an advantage over pitchers and it would completely change the game.
But with regards to forward-facing sonar, only time will tell if it is doomed or if it will return. I personally think at some point, it will once again be allowed.
‘Til next time, good luck, good fishing and take the time to enjoy some great fall fishing as lakes are less crowded now that hunting season is upon us.
Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com
