Steve Graf      

It’s finally time to put forward-facing sonar to rest. Last week, I gave a great breakdown on this topic. Now, I’m tired of all the debates about banning this new technology. I’m tired of hearing all the whining from anglers who either can’t master it or just refuse to learn it. It’s time to put this topic to rest and move forward!

This controversy is no different from any other issues that have arisen in other sports. This is not about some drug that enhances an angler’s ability to perform and fish better. It has nothing to do with any one angler having a bigger advantage over another. Why? Because every angler has the right and access to the same technology as the next one.

The problem with this controversy is the fact that it’s not the young anglers who are complaining. It’s the guys who have helped build the sport of professional bass fishing into what it is today. It’s the legends of the sport and guys who have made a good living fishing with B.A.S.S. or Major League Fishing (MLF).
They don’t like the fact that today’s young anglers are stepping out onto the big stage and not just competing with them but winning tournaments. They feel that forward-facing sonar is the only reason this is happening. So rather than get on board and improve, some have chosen to file complaints.
I relate to this topic the same way I had to become a better hitter to get the opportunity to get drafted by Major League Baseball.

One thing that separates an average hitter from a great hitter is the ability to hit the curve ball. This has kept more baseball players out of the highest level than any other baseball skill.
I was only an average hitter until I got better and learned how to go with the pitch. But I spent two years of my college career getting better, spending countless hours hitting in a batting cage and working off a batting tee. This was hours of what is referred to as soft toss and programming my body to hit the curve ball and go with the pitch.

I didn’t complain to Major League Baseball and push for a “no curve ball rule!” No, I worked at it and got better by putting in the work! These fishing pros need to apply this same effort. Instead of using the offseason to go hunting, it might be a promising career move to get on the lake and get better using forward-facing sonar.

Here’s some food for thought. If the older anglers on tour were winning with this new technology, would anyone be complaining about it? If Rick Clunn or Kevin Van Dam was kicking everyone’s butt with it, I’ll bet a dollar-to-a-donut that all pros would be figuring out how to get better with forward-facing sonar!
So, for all the anglers who just can’t grasp this new forward-facing technology, you have two choices: either get better with it or load your boats and go home. You cannot stop technology in an age where a new computer today is out of date before the end of the month you bought it.

Like any other advancement in the bass fishing world, forward-facing sonar is here to stay. Stop waiting on B.A.S.S. or MLF to make rule changes to accommodate the older anglers. In the words of my team partner, who got tired of my negative complaining, “Shut up and fish, you big baby!”