It’s been interesting to see how the bass tournament landscape is shaping up since Bassmaster Elites and other leagues have put limitations on the use of forward-facing sonar (FFS).
When B.A.S.S. announced it would allow the equipment in half of the tournaments, I wasn’t sure how it would work out, nor did I have the foresight to make that decision. But now that we’re a few events into the season, I think tournament organizations made the right decision to apply limitations based on their formats.
Although it’s still fairly early in the season, it’s been interesting. We’re beginning to see how anglers fare when technology is allowed and when it isn’t. We’re also finding out – contrary to some opinions – that some of the young guys who are skilled scopers can catch ‘em without it.
The first Elite was a non-scoping event, and the top four finishers were anglers not known for scoping. I’m not saying they can’t do it, but it’s not their strength. Several others who aren’t known as dedicated FFS users also had good tournaments.
The next tournament was an FFS event and the guys who were good with the equipment did well.
Jason Christie, who can scope but is best known for fishing without it, won the third, a non-scoping event.
The fourth on the Arkansas River was won by scoping but the fish were spawning, so a lot of guys did well without using FFS. Had it not been a spawning tournament, the technology might have had more influence.
There are two more non-FFS tournaments remaining and three in which it will be allowed. It will be a player in the upcoming Lake Murray event and at Santee Cooper, but I’m not sure it will be as critical at Santee, where you can do well without it because a lot of fish will be caught shallow.
Anglers will be allowed to use it at the Pasquotank River following the Santee-Cooper tourney, but that could be a wild card as far as how much it will be needed to do well.
The Elites then head to Lake Champlain, a non-scoping tourney, which will make it interesting. If it were an FFS event, it probably would have been dominated by smallmouth using the scope. But since it’s not, largemouth could play a role at Ticonderoga or Missisquoi Bay, known as largemouth areas.
They finish up with an FFS tourney at the St. Lawrence River, a place where the equipment will play a huge role in the outcome.
Obviously, there is still much to be learned, but I think B.A.S.S.’s decision to split usage of FFS was the best it could do to please everyone – fans and anglers included – which isn’t easy to do.
