The conversation around forward facing live sonar and the technology’s impact on competitive bass fishing has been an omnipresent theme amongst professional anglers, fans, and industry pundits for several years now. You’ve likely heard countless passionate opinions surrounding FFS and, unfortunately, like many differences of opinion in 2025 the dispute around FFS has become highly divisive.
The essence of the debate is simple. Most anglers and fans unanimously agree that live sonar is an incredible tool that helps anglers catch more and bigger fish, but should it have a place in the highest levels of bass fishing competition?
Notable national tournament trails made regulations limiting or outright banning FFS technology for the 2025 tournament fishing season. Industry giant B.A.S.S. is the latest to address forward facing sonar’s place in the highest levels of tournament competition with a new ruling for the Bassmaster Elite Series going forward in 2026. The new rule reads:
“Beginning in 2026, forward-facing live sonar will only be permitted in five of the nine regular-season Elite Series events. Which events allow the technology will be determined randomly. The remaining events will prohibit its use entirely, including during official practice. Restrictions implemented for 2025 — limiting anglers to one live sonar transducer and a maximum of 55 total screen inches — will remain in place.”
B.A.S.S. gave careful evaluation to this question over the course of the past two years and ultimately came to their decision based on the input of professional competitors, fans, and the larger bass fishing community. Elite Series competitors voted in favor for a change to FFS regulations two years straight.
We caught up with Brandon Palaniuk, Mike Iaconelli, Matt Arey, and Gerald Swindle – the four Team Toyota pros competing on the Elite Series to get their thoughts fresh off Bassmaster’s announcement.
This piece is in no way intended to fan the flames of negativity or wedge any more division around a conversation that has more than its share of antagonistic rhetoric. Instead, we wanted to highlight the perspectives of four top level pros who between them, have 93-years of cumulative experience as professional fishermen.
Brandon Palaniuk:
“Overall, I like the variable schedule. As of now, we don’t know which tournaments will allow FFS and which ones won’t. I have always loved the unknown and this new ruling will add a new wrinkle for all Elite Series competitors. It’s going to be interesting to go back to fisheries where we’ve been allowed to use it (FFS) in the past… I think not having the ability to see real time feedback will be more mental than people realize.
The past few years so much of our confidence has been put into being able to see fish in real time. Confidence and momentum are huge factors in tournament fishing, and this will affect that confidence for all Elite anglers. Age is not a determining factor. Every angler on the Elites is capable of catching bass with or without the technology and winning events. Period.
This will come down to who can make the right adjustments in line with the latest rules. Can you mentally compete at the same level without seeing them in real time? This will give anglers and fans alike the chance to see.”
Mike Iaconelli:
“I am moderately happy that B.A.S.S. recognized the voice of anglers and fans. To me it seemed obvious that something needed to be done. The majority of Elite Series pros voted in support of that. Outside of our small circle of 100 pros, just look at social media. Social media is a weird animal right now, which is a much bigger issue than fishing, but just look at the comments. If there were 300 comments on a post, 200+ were negative. That’s not good.
I like that this ruling is somewhat of a compromise. We meet in the middle, and I’ve always been a fan of that. Will it help old school anglers like me? Maybe, maybe not. Now we’ll get to see.
In regard to FFS more so than just this new rule, I’m in an interesting place personally. I see my son Vegas use and absolutely love FFS. I see other young anglers do the same. The new technology has helped them become passionate about fishing, which is all I can hope for. But I gotta tell you… FFS is a world away from what I grew up understanding as the art of fishing. For me, fishing has always been about casting into the unknown. You could be analytical, but you had to use your senses, your intuition, and interpret the clues that Nature offered. FFS is a completely different animal. I’m not a hater; I just don’t know that it’s fishing. To me, it’s something else entirely.”
Matt Arey:
“I think this is a positive move. There are a lot of misconceptions and wild arguments around this conversation, but for me this is about preserving the sanctity of fishing as a professional sport. The purpose of any pro sport is to see who trains the hardest. Who has the best work ethic. Who uses their instincts, natural abilities, and the tools available to them to outperform the competition.
From my perspective, nothing in the history of fishing has been as dominant or changed how the game is played more than FFS or live feedback through your electronics. I don’t believe that’s necessarily a good thing, and I think it’s fair to question whether it has a place at the highest levels of competition within our sport. But let me be clear, this is only my opinion pertaining to professional fishing. If new technology helps grow the sport or get young people out on the water, then by all means… use it! It’s an incredible tool!”
Gerald Swindle:
“No one knows if this going to be the wrong decision or right decision, but in my opinion, this is a step in the right direction. Regardless of what you think, I’m not dead set against FFS or new technology. It (FFS) is an amazing tool and is super fun to learn from. I can 100% honestly say I think Chris Johnston (reigning 2X Angler of the Year) is the best angler in the world right now, with or without FFS. But I like that now we are going to learn just how much of an impact FFS is having at the highest levels of competition. We are going to learn.
Most of all I don’t like the division FFS has helped to create. With this ruling, it’s 50/50. Hopefully the bass fishing community can come together, and everyone can have a little something to be happy about. I mean, it’s like now everyone got a little something in their Christmas stocking to smile about. Hopefully now we can all just come together and go fishing.”
