B.A.S.S. announces LIVE Sonar decision for 2025 

These guys are so embarrassed by these new rules that they don’t even tell you what they are! What a joke. Real professional fisherman don’t need a live sonar

I'm done with BASS. I miss Ray Scott.

So absolutely nothing changed. Sounds like the results of a political committee...utterly useless

So I guess you can’t fight $ ! So disappointed in Bassmaster ! The committee failed miserably! Bass doesn’t care about its fans ! 😢

When you have the makers of the technology as sponsors, how is this a fair decision?

Then unban the A Rig.

Very disappointing I got into bass fishing 25 years ago and I marveled at how these guys could locate bass and figure out how to catch them it’s not that way anymore and I know ffs isn’t easy, but it’s way easier than doing it. The old way I seldom watch most of these tournaments anymore. I used to watch every minute of them. i’m even embarrassed to tell people about this technology because even people that don’t know much about bass fishing think it’s cheating. The sport of bass fishing is become a complete joke.

GREAT JOB GUYS! I can still have a 20 inch screen up front with FFS and 2 on the console, thanks for changing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

Glad to know nothing changes. I will go watch the NPFL & let my Bassmaster membership expire in 2027. Why skip a dock or pull a 5 lber out a brush pile when you watch them eat it in open water. Pathetic

BASSMASTER needs to stop bringing over 1200 BASS to the weigh in stage every tournament

So much for skills in hunting fish. The top 200 can now qualify for the “Play Station Bass Masters Classic”.

Bunch of emasculated cop outs, shame on Davy for actually thinking hes did something good here, lmao

So absolutely nothing changed got it 😂

The committee to study this is laughable!Bunch of yes men. Ffs destroys fishing period

I've really tried to embrace the FFS change, but simply don't enjoy watching competitive fishing anymore due to what it's become. What you are doing is simply not enough, so when I start seeing changes I'll subscribe and start watching again. Viewers & subscribers = Sponsors!

The NPFL is now the leader of the sport. 118 pros and growing. FFS allows great video gamers to beat true pros after a few months. Take it away and back to the bottom they will go. The cheater box is their only way. Ray Scott would not ruin the sport.. No more BASS junk for me. I hope they wake up ! Ratings going down and advertising dollars. Sickening joke of a rule change. Who wants to watch people watch a screen. ? Not most people i know !

The right amount is 0. There's no good amount of FFS gear that belongs on pro fishing setup.

Absolutely the worst decision!

Cool. There’s zero reason to watch BassLive anymore.

I expected better from Davey Hite.

Part of me wants to delete social media so I don’t have to see all the ridiculous comments on either side. The other part wants to be entertained and see how ridiculous the comments can get 😆

As long as they use FFS I want nothing to do with BassMaster. No magazine, no tv watching, no anything to do with the organization!

I’ll never watch another BASS tournament it will continue to be boring

Name 1 professional sport globally, dominated by 1st year/season rookies. Ill wait...

I have canceled Bass and will NOT Longer invest, what little money I have in Bass! Going to NPFL🤬 we know Bass is getting millions from this!

I wish all they could use is GPS and 2d sonar . Then you would separate the pros from the video game fisherman.

Tommy I miss you and Jerry calling the play by play of real hammers . B.A.S.S. has ruined something that I have watched for over 40 years . I haven't watched their tournament's since this ffs travesty has changed this great sport . Im a life member and I just tear my name off of the magazine and throw it in the trash .I bet Ray is pissing in his pants . Davey I love you like family but you sounded like a politician today . If this wasn't bad for the sport you wouldn't have had to do this video because you would be right , true ? The love of money is tragic .

dumb choice i will continue not to watch bass live

Obviously electronic companies mean more to the sport than the actual fans that watches it

The fact they even started a committee for this is a joke. Davey isn't doing himself any favors with this. They just made things worse. 👎

This simply blowing smoke up our you know what. They are doing this to dance around the main issue and that is FFS, this proposal didn't even mention FFS, which was the main issue for anglers. typical BS

Bs nothing has changed. Yes men .

I'm starting the N.E.B.A. - No Electronics Bass Association

NPFL is better

So Davey said it's about making it an even playing field when we all know it's about everybody complaining about the FFS. All these guys are still going to be standing there with their heads buried in their electronics. That's the worst part about it and they did nothing to fix it. Put a cost/dollar limit on the boats and accessories if you think it's an uneven playing field.

Do tournaments without any electronics! Now that would be a challenge.

Next announcement made will be that B.A.S.S. will be allowing live bait since it will be just another tool for the "Professional" anglers to use. I have been a member and proud supporter of B.A.S.S. since 1988 and could not be more disappointed. I will be showing my disappointment by unsubscribing from all B.A.S.S. social media, not renewing my membership and never watching a live event again. Ray Scott is rolling over in his grave watching what B.A.S.S. has become.

The only way is Ban FFS… staring at screen seeing the fish (LIVE) reacting the bait isn’t fishing!

Disappointed in the decision. From a recreational angling perspective I have zero issues with live sonar. It's horrible to have it at the top level of fishing IMO. Oh well, we as viewers do have other alternatives.

Watched this two times… did I miss the changes???

Professional bass fishing is dead. What a joke. 🤦

It’s been said for quite a few years take a kid fishing to get them to enjoy the outdoors and not set in the house and play video games.Can’t really understand how ffs plays into that equation but IM old and dumb

When you have to watch a screen to watch in real time to see the fish grab your bait to know when to set the hook , Im out. When will we have lures to swim into rhe fishes mouth , because thats next ? These announcers are selling out the sport of fishing for fame and fortune . I love how they spin and twist their words to justify all this . Absolutely no honor .

What a joke Bassmasters has become!

We all “Bass Fishermen” grew up under the conception of being able to understand seasonal fishing patterns, appropriate equipment and techniques; yet, we kept fishing blind and casting our arms out a zillion times a day to catch a hand full of fish (I’ve always called it “Lottery Fishing”); and IMO seeing a fish on the screen, does not guarantee you will be able to catch it (Bedding Fish is a good example)…. You still need to find them, you still need to use your knowledge to make them bite, and you still have to put them in the boat. Glad to see our sport is keeping up with technology, I’m happy to have access to it (Is not as easy as one may think).

Look forward to learning from and aspiring to grow as a BASS angler from those on the NPFL circuit. Would be great to see some of the top guns take thier skills there and share those experiences with us fans through thier social channels. Cheers BASSMASTER.

Won't change anything, FFS has no place in tournament fishing. You can't compare DI/SI to FFS, not the same animal. Guess I will continue to NOT watch the bass fishing video game competitors.

Must not have been too big a drop in viewership to make this decision. I know I'm just one guy, but FFS is so boring. I stopped watching. Haven't watched one tournament this year. I'm not against using FFS at all. Just don't like watching it.

There isn’t much change, I hope they ban it in the opens so the co anglers have a chance. Ray Scott would not be happy about this. My membership will not be renewed. BPT and MPFL will now be the leader in bass fishing.

Who wants to ban the money associated with sponsors like Garmin, lowrance, hummingbird.

I dont have a problem with FFS for recreational use or in pre toury fishing. But I dont think it should be used during a "fishing" tournement. The FFS makes it a catching tourney. Reduces the skill level and years of crafting and honing ones skills to buying a peace of technology and using it to find the prize... It is taking the skill out of fishing. Kind of like people who bait animals and hide in a tree or a tent and sit and wait for an animal to arrive and be killed. That's not hunting.

The individual states will probably have the last word on this if longer term the extra pressure on the fish has negative effects on the fisheries themselves.

BASS has lost a diehard, lifelong bass fan. You’re losing viewership. Guys staring at their screens pitching a minnow 5 feet in front of him sucks to watch. For the first year in decades, IM questioning renewing my membership. It makes for a boring product.

Should have known, corporate greed money always wins!! I’m done watching these kids backs on tv, why can’t they learn to fish like the ones before them did!

Fishing is boring to watch…FFS didn’t change that. The idea that young people are priced out of the sport because of FFS instead of a 100k boat is insane.

You dropped the ball. One transducer or six it makes no difference. Take it from a guy who started using FFS in 2019. It is not fishing it is catching. If a dummy like me can use it anyone can. It takes the Pro out of Professional fishing.

This is a a step in the right direction.. Any professional sport can not call itself professional without a level playing field on equipment…what was going on out on the water was ridiculous seriously..

What a joke bassmaster has become.

Well, with due respect, that was a missed opportunity to address an erosion of the sport. FFS is a major shift in the discipline of fishing. That is not recognized and eliminated in tournaments reflects a failure that will continue to negatively affect the entire sport of bass fishing and indirectly continue the erosion of talent and skills that make fishermen real sportsmen and women. Too bad.

I have a great example of another perspective BASS is completely missing if they truly want to capture new viewers. My neighbor saw me in the boat garage and asked me what my live sonar transducer was on the troliing motor. I told him it was a live sonar transducer that allowed me to scan and see fish in real time. He immediately said "wow that's cheating isn't it?" His other comment was "that kinda takes the sport outta fishing doesn't it?" Not saying it should be banned for rec use, but if BASS or any of the other Orgs truly want to get pro bass fishing more mainstream then they have to remove these perceptions!

“Dad, will you take me fishing”? “No son, we don’t have radar and all the bait shops are closed down”.

FFS has ruined watching fishing…hopefully not fishing all together

Using any kind of live sonar like this ion fishing, is the exact equivalent of going on a canned hunt for whitetail. But what’s crazy is that true outdoorsman feel like a canned hunt isn’t a true form of hunting, yet it’s ok to use a live sonar. NOT!!

A disgrace. Will be unsubscibing from anything Bassmaster.

All about the $$$$$$$$ Bassmasters will make the decision that puts $$$$ in their pockets

Would be awesome if you formed a committee of 10 random members of B.A.S.S. and let them decide instead of bought yes men.

To me, FFS is not professional fishing. You really don't have to learn much to be a pro fisherman to day, all you have to do is learn how to be a video fisherman which is driving around until you find a fish and know exactly here to through your swimbait. Six months on the lake and you too can become a champion., I SUSPECT THERE IS MONEY ENVOLVED IN YOUR DECISION NOT TO CHANGE THE RULES. NOT THE BASSMASTER i USED TO KNOW! SO SAD!

Weak but not surprising. Won’t change much, probably, but hopefully I’m wrong and next year is more diverse and exciting than ever before 🙏😋🤞

My boycott of B.A.S.S. will continue!

So you did nothing basically? Great job guys, pat yourself on your backs and keep raking in those Lowrance and Garmin dollars

Did I miss the part where you said what the changes are? Being serious, maybe I missed it.

Well yall spent 7-minutes kicking the can around the parking lot and didn't tell us what the regulations were going to be. Yall are just like politicians say alot but didn't tell us what was decided 🙁

These “new standards” are not enough. Banning FFS is the fairest option for the anglers. BUT if they did that they would likely loose big money from the graph companies. Business is business right!? I’ve been BASS fan and supporter for years. I quit going to Classics and watch very few live events due to how things are now.

Those crying the loudest as if this were an injustice are those who rely the most on technology to catch fish. Having to rely more on their individual fishing ability -or lack thereof- has gotten alot of panties in a knok.

WOW, you guys are screwing up BASS! When you ban forward facing sonar, I'll restart my subscription!! What a shame.

Let's be honest. Before FFS, how many anglers were in the middle of a lake, looking for brush or rocks they didn't know existed. The fish do need a safe haven.

There are lots of silly comments from both sides where people are making straw man arguments. Ultimately, Bassmaster stated themselves that they receive money from the electronics companies, so its like politicians that receive money from lobbying interests. Can't change anything if it upsets the flow of money. Clearly a lot of bias involved. Has it been announced who was on the panel that was consulted by Bassmaster on the electronics changes? Also, polling only the top 10 from every tournament is asking the majority of people who love scoping because thats how the majority of top 10s were made this year meaning there was bias in this regard as well.

Boycott all tournaments that allow this

Did I just sit through this and NOT see the actual changes detailed for us?

They missed a chance to make it more interesting to follow the sport. Make some tournament FFS and some not. Allow it on open water tournaments like at the Great Lakes but don’t allow it on structure heavy lakes like Lake Fork where many techniques can be used to win. Disappointed in this ruling. Probably scared of backlash from the FFS manufacturers. Randy’s just going to get a bunch more subscribers so he can bash you. BASS what are you thinking???

Sport is so diluted you cant even tell a pro from a tom. Didn't watch any lives this season because of ffs and now Zona is gone. Yall really took a knee on the electronics debate. Davy has gone full political shill for bass. The so called rules committee sounds more like a circle committed to pumping each other then any actual real rule changes. Like catch and release

Love watching! As long as everyone plays by the same rules.👍🏼

Pathetic response. Trying to make everyone happy including electronics companies. Didn’t solve a damn thing. Tourneys will still be dominated by scoping.

It's funny as hell to me. Money talks. Bs walks. Davey ain't going to take money out his pocket

This is a joke and completely useless for protecting our sport or the fishery. Clearly Bassmaster is not listening to anyone but their electronics sponsors.

Next they’ll be able to shock fish and snag them !! Let’s make 13 cast a day while watching tv BULLSHIT !!

I’m happy things haven’t changed you want to ban something ban the FG know cause I can’t tie one! 😅

I’ll give the TV ratings to NPFL

They should allow it for pre-fishing and disallow on tournament day. Just my humble opinion.

Good it's just a tool, you still have to catch fish. Bring back the alabama rig too!

This doesnt change anything from a viewer standpoint. Still not going to watch...Bring back the glory days!

I’m a 50 year BASS member. Today marks the end for me. So proud of what the NPFL did & will be following them. Some guy below mentioned the “Play Station Bass Masters”. That’s what watching FFS fishing is to me. I’ll have no part of it! Look at all the drama this season. Un paralleled. Also mentioned was name another major sport where rookies came in a dominated the first year. Take FFS out they don’t even make the Elites. Well the good Ole Elites.

Same ole same ole!! Money wins and BASS shows they dont care about their fan base, all they did was a weak appease all while collecting the money

i can’t imagine being either of these guys turning the camera and audio on to announce this nonsense knowing they’re gonna catch hell in the comment section over this 😂😂😂😂 i feel bad for the INDIVIDUALS don’t be too hard on the folks reporting the decision put the heat on BASSMASTER

I read the article BASS put out by James Hall. Right up front he said this had nothing to do with the effect of sponsorship dollars. "The decision was solely based on what the organization believes will ensure the brightest future for our sport. Period. So, know that the money argument is dumb and was certainly not a consideration." Let me say upfront I am not a fan off FFS in general but if an organization chooses to use it or not use it I say they have the right to do so and anglers and viewers will choose which they prefer. That is the market and that is the way it should be. But for Hall and BASS to make a statement that that says sponsorships were not a consideration and anyone thinking it was is dumb is just disingenuous. Forget FFS or what business we are talking about. No business anywhere who relies on sponsorships makes any mass moves that don't consider the effect on their main income stream. That would be absolute insanity and not taking care of your fiduciary responsibilities to not consider how it would effect your income flow. I don't object to the FFS nearly as much as I object to BASS and James Hall pretending it's fans are idiots and that dollars were no consideration. Nobody who has ever been in business believes that. How disingenuous. Just say we think it's good for us, we don't think it's bad for fish, it's good for the sponsors, and the majority of fans want it and that is the decision we made. That would be honest.

Well that made things easy! I will never watch another B.A.S.S tourney or follow its anglers! Those were some impressive changes. Clearly the Alabama rig wasn't a big sponsor too B.A.S.S? It was innovative but it sure went away fast! What a joke.

Ffs is worse than trolling, worse than live bait! Looks like i drop my membership

Nobody wants to watch fishermen staring at screens. The fish have no chance with this crap, so lame.

Bye bye Bass master it's total snooze fest anyway😂

So what is the decision. You never said. If that's wasn't click bait at its finest