Forward Facing Sonar Banned: FFS Ban Announcement

[WB Staff]

BREAKING NEWS: The Future of Forward-Facing Sonar in the NPFL



https://www.fishermanswarehouse.com

admin
September 2, 2024
11:53 am
Starting with the 2025 season, the NPFL will prohibit the use of real-time imaging units (FFS).

After many sleepless nights and countless hours of discussions that touched every corner of the fishing industry, we at the National Professional Fishing League have come to realize several important things about live forward-facing fishing technology.

First, the issue is complex and compounded by the fact that it elicits an emotional response from many.

Second, for rational discussion and decision-making, it’s helpful to remove as much emotion from the process as possible.

Third, there are serious policy and business ramifications associated with taking any position on this technology.

Finally, there is no way to make every stakeholder happy where a technology policy is concerned.

For what it’s worth, I enjoy using forward-facing sonar in my personal fishing, and I’m grateful for what’s it’s taught us about bass behavior. It’s an incredible tool, and no matter your attitude toward the technology, it’s undeniable that it’s impactful for bass catching. Our concern at the NPFL is whether it’s a proper tool for competitive bass fishing.

FULL PRESS RELEASE: https://thenationalprofessionalfishingl ... -the-npfl/

[jiggin4bass]

Do you really think B.A.S.S & MLF will ban FFS (aka) Cheater boxes one or more of there main sponsors Lowrance & Humminbird dont be silly. Either learn to use them or get left out.

[mark poulson]

Do you really think B.A.S.S & MLF will ban FFS (aka) Cheater boxes one or more of there main sponsors Lowrance & Humminbird dont be silly. Either learn to use them or get left out.

Sad, but true.

[pd]

I’d love to start seeing interesting tournaments again if they ditched FFS - the majority of coverage on the current tourney scene is just frickin’ boring if you ask lots of folks.

[monte300]

I’d love to start seeing interesting tournaments again if they ditched FFS - the majority of coverage on the current tourney scene is just frickin’ boring if you ask lots of folks.

Yep it’s a bunch of dudes standing over a FFS screen looking down with fairy wands In their hands. Did I mention I love watching and participating in power fishing?

[marinerfandave]

For non-tournament anglers, I suppose FFS actually helps to push some of the boat traffic offshore leaving those of us who love fishing close in, more room. I will take fishing lay downs, rocky banks, etc. any day over getting a sore neck offshore looking down at a screen.

[jiggin4bass]

$119.00

[Fast Eddie]

Sorry guys but this is just plain stupidity! Why?
1. Prohibited use of "real time sonar units". So I guess you can't use any electronics at all, because the first blip- on your screen is "real time", whether you're in side finding, down imaging, 2D sonar real time etc., after that it's history. IMHO the wording is wrong, PERIOD! It's what the rule says. The intent is to remove FFS from the tournament, or as Jiggin says "cheater boxes". If you go by the letter of the rule, no electronics can be used........PERIOD!, so will the guys have those clear buckets with the glass bottom to find suspended fish? That's real fun to watch too. knaught! Easily the rule should have stated that FFS is no longer permitted, and check each vessel for the removal of the transducer. Just like the frog tourney checks to see the vessel is empty with the exception of approved baits.
Years ago I was fishing with John Bedwell at Lake Oroville. he taught me to read the Humminbird at the time to find suspended bait and bass 25-30ft under the boat. There was no spot lock in those days (Hey Let's ban trolling motors with spot lock while we're at it, because they allow the angler to stay in one place over suspended fish, rather than angler adjustment Heck lets ban powered anchors too.) Anyway, John would rig up a gitzit on a darter head and fish over 300 ft of water for those suspended fish. I believe Dave Rush, Ron Towery, Dave Symmons, Gary O all would do it on occasion. This type of fishing has been going on for awhile, it's nothing new. Reading your electronics to catch suspended fish. But improved electronics was asked for by the pros, hence the advent of Pin Point. Pin point used to be able to do the same thing. You could follow your bait or lure down to the fish in sort of real time. Soon everyone caught up and now somebody took it a step further, and now it's a problem?
I get the boringness, but as El Presidente says "Comon Man". This is like one organization saying "We don't like what you're doing so lets ban it." Sound familiar?
I'm waiting for the day we have see through glass bottoms on bass boats so we don't have to use buckets during the spawn.
In all seriousness Where does it stop? Let's stop stupid stuff and concentrate on maintaining a heakthy populkation of the fish we love.
As Floyd "Red Crow" Westerman said in DWW "That is all I have to say".
TL
FE

[JVGondal]

Sorry guys but this is just plain stupidity! Why?
1. Prohibited use of "real time sonar units". So I guess you can't use any electronics at all, because the first blip- on your screen is "real time", whether you're in side finding, down imaging, 2D sonar real time etc., after that it's history. IMHO the wording is wrong, PERIOD! It's what the rule says. The intent is to remove FFS from the tournament, or as Jiggin says "cheater boxes". If you go by the letter of the rule, no electronics can be used........PERIOD!,
TL
FE

What is the correct terminology? What happens when my 2 D sonar is mounted 90 degrees on the troll motor instead of down?
I used forward facing sonar back in 1990 the way I see it

[Mitch]

Instead of "Banning" Id like to see it limited to 1 FFS Transducer and only 3 Displays no bigger than a 16". This 5 23" screens and 4 transducers is too crazy !!!

[monte300]

https://x.com/tacklewarehouse/status/18 ... u_iteYUFnQ

[Mitch]

And, there it is !!!

[WB Staff]

Would banning FFS sway your decision to fish a tournament circuit?

[jiggin4bass]

Wouldn't sway me to fish any

[pd]

FFS sucks. Money talks. bologna walks.

There won’t be any sponsors (garmin, humminbird, and all the rest) of these tourneys if people stop watching. Fans go away. They’re going…

[monte300]

FFS sucks. Money talks. bologna walks.

There won’t be any sponsors (garmin, humminbird, and all the rest) of these tourneys if people stop watching. Fans go away. They’re going…

I started boycotting MLF a year ago

[marinerfandave]

I haven't watched MLF or Bassmaster series either, not only is it boring but using FFS offshore on some of these bigger lakes it gets real choppy, I practically get seasick looking.

[pd]

I think they also are realizing all these smally tourneys aren’t great for viewership either, so they’re going to mix up the venues some.

[WRB]

B.A.S.S. Announced their new FFS rules, 1 bow Live Scan unit, 55” max total screen width, TD’s limited to current scan distance etc.
Tom