Forward-Facing Sonar (FFS) has been the most talked-about technology in modern bass fishing. Over the past few seasons, live sonar has changed how anglers find, target, and catch fish, leading to record-setting performances, shifting tournament strategies, and sparking spirited debate across the sport.

For 2026, tournament organizations are drawing clearer lines as it pertains to FFS. Rather than fully embracing or eliminating the technology all together, most leagues have landed on measured limits designed to protect competitive balance, and bring traditional fishing skills back into the spotlight.

To keep it simple for our subscribers we’ve developed a straightforward breakdown of the new forward facing sonar rules across the biggest bass fishing tournaments in 2026, and what it means for anglers and fans alike.

Bassmaster (Elite Series)

Bassmaster is taking a split-season approach, forcing anglers to adapt throughout the year.

How it works in 2026 on the Bassmaster Elite Series:

• FFS is allowed in 5 of 9 events in 2026
• Which events would allow FFS was randomly selected via coinflip.
• Events without FFS ban it completely, including during official practice, meaning no pre-fishing with live sonar.
• When FFS is allowed, equipment limits remain the same as the 2025 season:
  • 1 live sonar transducer
  • 55 total inches of screen

For more information: B.A.S.S. announces Live Sonar rule change for 2026 Elite Series – Bassmaster

Bassmaster Classic:

The 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic will allow FFS, since all qualifiers earned their spots under the 2025 rules.

Bassmaster Opens & Elite Qualifiers (EQ)

Bassmaster Opens and Elite Qualifier (EQ) events will follow the same Forward-Facing Sonar framework used at the Elite Series level, ensuring consistency across Bassmaster’s professional pathway.

How it works in 2026 on the Bassmaster Opens

• Forward Facing Sonar will be permitted in 2 of 4 events in Division 1 and Division 2 of the Bassmaster Opens.
• Events that do not allow FFS will prohibit its use entirely, including during official practice.
• When FFS is allowed, the existing 2025 equipment restrictions remain in effect:
  • One live sonar transducer maximum
  • 55 total inches of screen space

How it works in 2026 on the Elite Qualifiers (EQ)

• EQ Event 1: FFS allowed.
• EQ Event 2: FFS prohibited.
• EQ Event 3: FFS use decided by a coin flip after the Opens season. 
• Events that do not allow FFS will prohibit its use entirely, including during official practice.
• When FFS is allowed, the existing 2025 equipment restrictions remain in effect:
  • One live sonar transducer maximum
  • 55 total inches of screen space

For more information: B.A.S.S. announces 2026 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens schedule, Live Sonar rule change and EQ qualifications updates – Bassmaster

Major League Fishing (MLF)

MLF continues to focus on time-based restrictions rather than full bans, turning FFS into a strategic decision instead of a constant advantage.

Bass Pro Tour

• FFS may be used during only one of three competition periods per day.
• Anglers must declare their chosen period in advance, locking in their strategy before lines-in.
• Anglers can utilize FFS during practices days.
• No FFS restrictions apply during Heavy Hitters or Team Series events, where all anglers compete in identical, league-issued boats.

Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit

• FFS is allowed for one continuous 3-hour window per competition day.
• The window cannot be split or paused.
• Compliance is enforced using:
  • Electronic lock boxes that track usage time
  • Onboard live-stream security cameras

Toyota Series & Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL)

Boater rules:

Co-angler rules: (BFL)

• Co-anglers serve as accountability partners.
• They may only use FFS during the boater’s selected window.
• If a boater chooses not to use FFS, co-anglers may use it during the final three hours of the day.

For more information: Everything you need to know about MLF’s 2026 forward-facing sonar rules – Major League Fishing

National Professional Fishing League (NPFL)

NPFL maintains the sport’s most traditional stance.

• Forward-Facing Sonar is completely banned during official practice and competition.
• Anglers must either:
  • Remove all FFS equipment, or
  • Use an NPFL-issued lockout device to disable it

For more information: thenationalprofessionalfishingleague.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2026_Rule_v10_18_25.pdf

Across all leagues, the 2026 season represents a reset rather than a rollback for competitive bass fishing. Forward-Facing Sonar remains part of the game, but it now must be managed or timed, placing greater emphasis on when and how it’s used. As a result, traditional skills like pattern development, understanding seasonal movements, and reading water conditions are once again decisive, rewarding well-rounded anglers. Ultimately, 2026 isn’t about choosing sides—it’s about restoring balance and elevating those who can excel both with and without FFS.

Did we miss something? Send us an email: info@bestontour.net 

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In the modern bass fishing world, a pro’s value to a brand goes far beyond what they weigh in on tournament day. That’s why we developed the Best on Tour Most Valuable Pro Index (BOT MVP Index) — a proprietary system designed to evaluate a professional angler’s total impact and value.

Current Top 10 Most Valuable Pros:

*As of fall 2025.

NOTE: The list includes current touring pros only.

We will only ever publicly publish the top 10. The rest of the list remains private. 

How does it work?

The BOT MVP Index uses a weighted scoring model built around 10 key metrics, including social following, influence, career performance, and more. Each factor contributes to a composite score that reflects an angler’s overall value to potential sponsors and partners.

While the exact formula remains private, the goal is simple: to create a clear, objective way to compare and understand an angler’s reach, reputation, and results in today’s industry. The BOT MVP Index is used internally by Best on Tour when evaluating pro staff considerations, helping brands make informed decisions based on data—not guesswork.

Of course, not everyone will agree with the rankings. You may be surprised by where certain anglers fall, or wonder why your favorite pro isn’t listed as high as you expected. The BOT MVP Index isn’t about opinions or favoritism; it’s purely data-driven. It’s one way to look at an angler’s overall value through the lens of measurable impact.

There are plenty of other ways to rank and compare pros — from BassFan World Rankings to each tournament organization’s Angler of the Year standings — and each tells a different part of the story. The BOT MVP Index just adds another perspective to the ever-evolving landscape of professional bass fishing.

In short, the BOT MVP Index measures more than fishing success—it measures influence, longevity, and brand impact. Because being the most valuable pro means more than just catching fish.

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Looking for the list of every Bassmaster Angler of the Year? Click here.

The Bassmaster Elite Series Rookie of the Year (ROY) award is one of the sport’s best indicators of future greatness. Each season it highlights the top-performing Bassmaster newcomer, and the names on the list show just how often that promise pays off.

The honor actually began on the Bassmaster Tour—the top level of competition before the Elites launched in 2006. Greg Hackney (2004) and Dave Wolak (2005) were the first two winners. When the Elite Series debuted in 2006, the title carried over and became the Elite Series Rookie of the Year.

Over the years, some ROYs have gone on to reach the very top of the sport. Ott DeFoe (2011 ROY) captured the 2019 Bassmaster Classic, while Hank Cherry (2013 ROY) etched his name in history with back-to-back Classics in 2020 and 2021.

Here’s the full list of every Bassmaster ROY winner:

2004 – Greg Hackney

2005 – Dave Wolak

2006 – Steve Kennedy

2007 – Derek Remitz

2008 – Bobby Lane

2009 – Billy McCaghren

2010 – Bradley Roy

2011 – Ott DeFoe

2012 – Brandon Card

2013 – Hank Cherry

2014 – Jacob Powroznik

2015 – Brent Ehrler

2016 – Drew Benton

2017 – Dustin Connell

2018 – Jake Whitaker

2019 – Drew Cook

2020 – Austin Felix

2021 – Josh Stracner

2022 – Jay Przekurat

2023 – Joey Cifuentes

2024 – Trey McKinney

2025 – Tucker Smith

From legends like DeFoe and Cherry to rising stars like McKinney and Smith, the ROY list shows just how often this award is a springboard to bigger things.

To see the official Bassmaster ROY slideshow, click here.

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If you’ve noticed fishing tackle prices creeping up, you’re not alone — and it’s not just ordinary inflation. The bass fishing industry is being squeezed by a combination of tariffs, supply chain pressures, and long-standing taxes that few anglers even know exist. The result? Higher prices at the register, thinner margins for small tackle shops, and new challenges for companies that make the gear we all depend on.

Most Tackle Is Imported

According to the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), about 60% of fishing tackle sold in the U.S. is imported, and a large portion of that comes from China. That means our sport is deeply tied to international trade.

When the U.S. places tariffs on imported goods, fishing tackle is caught in the net. These tariffs aren’t paid by the foreign supplier — they’re paid by the U.S. company importing the product when it crosses the border. That cost is then passed down the line: wholesaler → retailer → angler.

So while tariffs are often framed as a penalty against foreign competitors, the immediate reality is that American companies and American consumers are footing most of the bill.

Even American-Made Brands Feel It

You might think “Buy American” solves the problem. And in the long run, tariffs do create an opening for U.S.-based manufacturers. But even gear made here at home isn’t insulated.

That’s because many domestic factories still rely on foreign-sourced parts, metals, or packaging. If those components get hit with tariffs, costs go up. Even for gear made entirely from U.S. materials, suppliers are raising their prices because they know imports are now more expensive.

One American fishing gear manufacturer told us their raw material suppliers raised prices by 23% in a single year. With imports off the table as a cheaper alternative, suppliers can “get away with it.”

Why Can’t We Just Build Everything Here

On paper, tariffs sound like a great way to encourage U.S. manufacturing. In reality, setting up large-scale tackle production here is anything but simple.

• Building new factories takes years and millions of dollars.

• Supply chains for parts and raw materials are already global.

• Skilled labor and specialized equipment aren’t always available domestically.

This means most companies can’t simply flip a switch and start producing everything in the U.S. overnight. If that does happen in the long run, though, that will be a good thing!

The Hidden Tax Anglers Already Pay

There’s also a tax on fishing gear that predates today’s tariff topic — and many anglers have no idea it exists.

Since 1950, a 10% federal excise tax has been built into the price of rods, reels, lures, and other tackle. The same tax affects the archery industry. Unlike tariffs, though, this tax actually benefits anglers directly. The revenue goes directly into the Sport Fish Restoration Program, which funds fish stocking, habitat projects, boat ramps, and public access.

It’s one of the best examples of a “user pays, user benefits” system in the outdoors. But it still adds to the final price you see on the shelf.

Who Feels It the Most?

Small tackle shops are at the heart of the bass fishing community — and they’re the ones feeling this squeeze the hardest.

These shops already operate on thin margins. When wholesale prices jump 20–30% overnight, they either:

• Raise prices and risk driving away customers, or

• Absorb the costs and cut into their own livelihoods.

Meanwhile, anglers notice reels, rods, and lures climbing higher. A reel that cost $250 last year might be $300 this year — not because the shop is greedy, but because the entire chain of costs leading up to that sale has shifted.

The Bottom Line

Tariffs may help level the playing field for American manufacturers in the long run. But in the short term, they’re effectively a tax on U.S. companies and consumers.

For anglers, that means higher prices at the counter. For tackle shops, it means harder decisions about how to stay afloat.

The best thing we can do? Support your local tackle shop. Every purchase there helps keep the culture, the community, and the sport of bass fishing alive.

 

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