February 20, 2025
With the sun committed to the day ahead, the water brightened, revealing the mysteries beneath. John Cox was again looking for fish.
He’d watched the day before as traveling tournament pros relentlessly scanned his home waters using a different method. Bass were no longer safe from forward-facing sonar, even here on the St. Johns River. What was once a traditional pursuit had turned into an arms race.
Cox looked down and noticed that his depthfinder, a traditional down-shooter, hadn’t been turned on. Probably better off.
For four years, FFS has been changing the game of tournament bass fishing, reducing interest and participation at a rate never seen, while converting those who are left into full-scale ‘Scopers. Nearly all tournament pros have found it necessary to utilize the technology in order to survive. All except John Cox.
How long Cox can last is yet to be seen.
“I still haven’t put it on,” he confirmed. “I used it for an hour and decided I don’t like it. But, gosh, it was so good.”
Typical John Cox irony. When I interview him and attempt to delve into complex issues, I’m often handed a conversational workaround.
Cox went on to explain that he recognizes the effectiveness of forward-facing sonar. And that’s why he avoids it.
“If I put it on, I’m doomed. I’m worried that I’ll just troll around all day.”
Tournament bass fishing is a game of efficiency. Wasted time is your enemy. Bad casts, unnecessary long boat rides, downtime changing lures; all lead to fewer chances to catch a bass. Trolling around endlessly while reading sonar, Cox reasons, fits in the same bracket.
But how does this differ from his normal approach? John Cox spends a large amount of time trolling around looking for fish already, often making very few presentations. What difference does it make if his quarry is a bass or a blip?
Only Cox can distinguish among this fine line. Immediately, though, he recognizes reduced adaptability among those dedicated to the ‘Scope.
“I wouldn’t be able to turn it on and off, no way,” Cox reasoned. “I’m 100-percent dedicated to whatever I’m doing.”
Once FFS enters the game for him, Cox believes that his ability to recognize unproductive tactics or inefficiencies in his gameplan would go out the window.
“There’s no way not to use it. It’s so good, how could you not use it?”
Good point. As a fan, I’ve watched FFS help a few competitive anglers, and essentially destroy the rest. Those unaccustomed to the technique – the skill involved – don’t stand a chance against anglers who have developed their careers around the technology. It’s like watching grandpa play video games with the kids. Total annihilation.
“I’m terrible at video games,” Cox declared. “Computers are the same. There’s no way I could ever be as good as the other guys (with FFS).”
Cox reasons that his best performances continue to be the result of fishing with an open mind, looking for developing patterns. His third-place finish at the 2024 Lake Wheeler Elite Series event was a case in point.
“If I’ve got it (FFS) on my boat at Wheeler, I don’t catch those frog fish. It’s that simple.” For now, Cox is sticking to his guns that bass fishing can still resemble bass fishing and get you paid.
There’s more to it. After some prodding, I began to peel the layers back on the Cox irony. Could it be a matter of principle?
“To me, it feels dirty,” he said. While the meaning of that statement may not ever be truly discovered, further conversation made an impression.
My words here, not his. From what I can tell, John Cox feels like many of us. Perhaps, by including forward-facing sonar in bass fishing, we’ve removed some of the aspect of fair chase in fishing.
He compared it to his recent experiences in redfish tournaments, where competitors now routinely fish from “towers” perched 10 feet above the fishing platform, dramatically increasing the ability to stalk shallow-water fish. It’s, by many regards, not even fair.
Cox was uplifted a bit by the recent BPT event on the Harris Chain, even watching the competition as he practiced for his upcoming tournament. The shallow bite resonated.
“I still like throwing at something. I like catching one on a frog every now and then.”
In reality, though, Cox fished through his practice session again watching FFS change the game. Competitors felt no need to throw at anything. Or even throw at all.
In 2025, Cox will do his best to hold his own on the Elite Series. Several events offer a real shot for a shallow-water ace to do well. Still, the opportunities are reduced more each year as FFS infiltrates all aspects of the game.
“I used to feel like I had a shot at every tournament” Cox claimed. Statistics today prove otherwise. Through sheer talent, Cox continues to cash checks, though Top-10 finishes are becoming more elusive.
He’ll fish the NPFL, as everyone imagined, celebrating the league’s move out of the techno arena. Cox also wonders what the future might hold.
In the back of his mind, he wonders if a time will come when FFS is banned across the national competitive scene. “Everyone else would be screwed,” Cox mentioned.
Maybe so.
But it’s going to be a long, long time before it happens.
(Joe Balog is the often-outspoken owner of Millennium Promotions, Inc., an agency operating in the fishing and hunting industries. A former Bassmaster Open and EverStart Championship winner, he's best known for his big-water innovations and hardcore fishing style. He's a popular seminar speaker, product designer and author, and is considered one of the most influential smallmouth fishermen of modern times. )
