Drawing the Line

Recently, Major League Fishing adopted regulations affecting forward-facing sonar in an attempt to clear up the controversy. Bass anglers across America keep this subject in the headlights, as nothing has impacted the sport more since its organized inception. But things finally seemed settled. Time restrictions would be placed on FFS use, with transducer lock-boxes installed for the big leagues and co-anglers helping to enforce the program at the BFL level.

A press release outlined the details. We were finally moving forward as the league did its best to keep everyone happy and encourage unity. Participation was sure to increase, especially among co-anglers previously disgruntled by scoping boaters. 

A finer look, though, reveals a policy poised to create the biggest problem yet. The rule reads:

"Co-anglers are allowed to bring a portable forward-facing sonar transducer, but may only utilize it during the same 3-hour period that their boater chooses to use forward-facing sonar. If the boater does not use forward-facing sonar, co-anglers may do so during the final 3 hours of the day."

To borrow a phrase from tennis icon John McEnroe, "You cannot be serious!"

While I don’t keep tabs on each minute detail of tournament fishing, I’m not exactly living under a rock when it comes to this stuff. Yet, I had no idea that co-anglers were bringing FFS units into other angler’s boats.

Now, it seems, Major League Fishing is including structured policy on the use of FFS by non-boaters. This – the ultimate “make everyone happy” rule – is beyond absurd. The idea of co-anglers adapting or adding equipment to a boat during competition has no place in our sport, period. 

It’s interesting that the rule mentions only transducers. I guess, then, we’re to assume that the co-anglers will connect these FFS transducers to a boater’s console unit? Will we soon be discussing compatibility, plugs and rewiring issues?

What about co-anglers that aren’t permitted or able to plug in versus those that are? Some will have technology, others won’t.

How about the competition among pro and co while fishing during their joint three-hour scope session? 

Possibly the most laughable is the “final three hours” clause. Can you imagine fishing as a pro angler without FFS and having a co-angler plug in a FFS system for the final three hours of your day? The amount of problems this creates, in terms of fishing strategy and tension in the boat, is endless.

Even more, imagine a boater not using FFS who is suddenly enlightened by a scoping co-angler? How in the world is that fair?

In the past, I’ve seen some strange - even dumb - rules in tournament bass fishing. But this takes the cake. 

Allowing co-anglers to bring FFS equipment aboard their randomly-drawn partner's boat is ludicrous, and further entrenches our sport into the idiotic acceptance of this technology.

Mark my words: The use of FFS by co-anglers, if continued and allowed to become an accepted part of tournament bass fishing, will be one of the leading factors contributing to its demise at the BFL level.

How is Major League Fishing not seeing this?

I must say, as an independent journalist covering the sport for over a decade, I’ve done my best to always consider the impacts of my statements. I’ve painstakingly considered both sides of each issue.

I’ve interviewed the decision-makers at every tournament organization again and again. The vast majority of those times, I’ve opened my eyes and understood their concepts and viewpoints, then broadcasted them to ten-of-thousands of readers. 

But I’ve had it with Forward Facing Sonar. The thought of encouraging its use among co-anglers has no potential outcome except to further push our sport into obscurity. 

As regular readers know, I’m no fan of this technology. But I’ve tried to see both sides of the issue. However, there is only one side in terms of the acceptable level of co-angler use. None. 

As we seem to drift further from reality every year, a primary principle is being ignored. Organized sports must have governing bodies concerned more for the game than for pleasing all of its participants. 

Joe Balog is the Executive Director of Mighty River Recovery, a nonprofit organization working to restore Florida’s St. Johns River. A former national tournament angler, product designer, seminar speaker and guide, Balog has worn just about every hat available to a professional angler. Today, he enjoys rehashing his experiences and adding veteran insight through his weekly Bass Wars column.

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