For generations, fishing success depended on instincts honed over time. Anglers read the wind, studied seasonal patterns, trusted their electronics only to confirm depth and bottom composition, and relied heavily on experience. Fish were found through deduction, not detection. You fished water and conditions, not individual fish.

That changed with the arrival of forward-facing sonar, commonly known as FFS. Unlike traditional sonar, which shows what’s beneath the boat after you pass over it, FFS allows anglers to see fish and structure in real time, often 50 to 100 feet ahead or to the side. Fish movements, bait reactions, even how fish respond to a lure can be watched live on a screen. For the first time, anglers can cast directly to visible fish they’ve never spooked.

To some, it’s revolutionary. To others, it’s sacrilege. To whitebeard anglers who came from the age of using a window sash weight to identify water depth, it has created a divided fishing world.

Across the country, opinions split sharply along experience lines, but not always predictably. Younger anglers and tech-minded competitors often view FFS as simply the next step in fishing evolution, similar to GPS mapping or side-scan sonar when those tools first appeared. Many veteran anglers, however, see it differently. They argue that FFS removes much of the mystery and skill traditionally required to locate fish. Instead of patterning fish based on conditions, anglers can hunt individual targets, sometimes ignoring large stretches of water that once required thoughtful exploration. “It feels less like fishing and more like playing a video game,” is a common refrain.

Tournament organizers are similarly divided. Some major circuits now restrict or ban FFS, citing concerns over fairness, fish stress, and the widening gap between those who can afford the technology and those who cannot. Other tournaments fully embrace it, believing innovation should not be resisted and that anglers must adapt or fall behind.

Is It Expensive?

One of the biggest points of contention is cost. A full FFS setup that includes transducers, compatible electronics, mounts, and installation can easily exceed $4,000 to $8,000. That price tag puts the technology out of reach for many recreational anglers and creates a perceived “pay-to-win” environment in competitive fishing. Critics argue this undermines the level playing field that tournaments are meant to represent.

Does using FFS require skill?

Yes, but a different kind. Despite claims that FFS makes fishing easy, experienced users will tell you otherwise. Learning to interpret live sonar images, track moving fish, control boat position precisely, and present lures properly and accurately takes time and practice. It’s not plug-and-play mastery, but it’s not a sash window weight either.

However, the skill set is undeniably different. Traditional fishing rewards patience, intuition, and pattern recognition. FFS rewards hand-eye coordination, electronics knowledge, and real-time decision-making. Whether that’s “less skill” or simply “new skill” depends on perspective.

Some call it cheating, are they wrong?

That’s the ongoing discussion. The word “cheating” comes from one central belief: fishing has always been about the pursuit, not the certainty. Seeing fish before they bite changes that equation. For purists, success should come from understanding nature, not observing it on a screen. Others counter that fish still must be fooled, and technology doesn’t guarantee bites. The debate mirrors past arguments over depth finders, trolling motors, and even graphite rods.

What about the future of fishing?

Well, one thing for sure, forward-facing sonar isn’t going away. Its influence is already reshaping tournament rules, boat layouts, and angler strategies. The real question isn’t whether FFS belongs in fishing – but where, when, and how it should be used. As with many revolutions, the answer may lie somewhere between tradition and technology, with room on the water for both styles of angler to coexist.

For decades and everywhere else, Western New York anglers learned their craft the hard way. On Lake Erie, Chautauqua Lake, the Niagara River, the Finger Lakes – all waters, fishing success came from time on the water. Learning seasonal movements, reading currents, understanding forage, and trusting instincts built over years. Electronics helped, but they didn’t do the thinking for you. Then came forward-facing sonar (FFS), and everything changed. I fished with a guide using a Hummingbird FFS unit last year. All I can say is…”Incredible.”

Gotta love the outdoors!

Outdoors Calendar

Jan. 10: Learn to Cross-Country Ski, Jan 10, 10 a.m.-11 a.m., Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve and Environmental Education Center, small fee, Ages 12/older. Register: 716-683-5959.

Jan. 12: West Falls Conservation Society, monthly meeting, 55 Bridge St., West Falls. 8 p.m. start.

Jan. 13: Children in the Stream, Youth Fly Fishing program, free, Costello Room, Rockefeller Art Center, SUNY Fredonia, 7-8:30 p.m., 12 yrs old and older, info: 716-410-7003 (Alberto Rey).

Jan. 13: Westfield Fish & Game, monthly meeting, 8150 Ogden Rd., Westfield; 716-326-2289

Jan. 15: Erie County Federation of Sportsmen, monthly meeting, 7 p.m. start, Bison City, 511 Ohio St., Buffalo.