Outlaw Outdoors has been holding tournaments in East Texas and Louisiana since 2016, chiefly on Lake Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend Reservoir. Thousands of anglers have entered those tournaments, which are chiefly held as fun competitive fishing events for amateur grassroots anglers. But over the past couple of years, since the introduction of forward-facing sonar (FFS), things have changed among anglers competing in local tournament events, like those organized by Outlaw Outdoors.
After careful consideration, Outlaw tournament owners Clint and Stacy Wade have decided to ban FFS for their upcoming 2026 tournament events.
The Wades posted a lengthy 7-minute video on the Outlaw Outdoors Facebook page that explains, in detail, why they made the decision to ban the highly effective and expensive FFS technology.
FFS Background
Forward Facing Sonar enables anglers to “see” in (real time) what’s underwater ahead of a fishing boat. Instead of a standard-depth sonar or side-scanning sonar, FFS sends a beam forward and returns a video-like display of fish, structure, and even cast lures.
While FFS takes some time to learn to use effectively, many guides and fishermen who have mastered the technology are deadly effective in locating fish and presenting lures precisely to them. A number of major fishing tournament series have placed restrictions on the use of FFS, and the National Professional Fishing League outright banned its used for the 2025 season.
Reasons for the Outlaw Outdoors FFS Ban
Plenty of record fish have been caught using FFS, and some tournaments have been won by those who can afford the pricy new sonar and have the skills to use it well.
This is precisely why Outlaw will limit its use their events; they want to level the playing field in their tournaments for all average anglers who crave bass competition, while also giving everyone the same chance of winning.
According to their statement, the Wades believe an angler without FFS who catches 18-pounds of bass in an event and takes 12th place with a $300 prize is happy, at least until he learns that another fisherman using FFS won the event and several thousands of dollars with 36 pounds of bass.
“That’s not what’s fun for our grassroots guys, and that’s what we’ve lost sight of — grassroots anglers having fun,” Stacy says in the video. “That’s what has been missing from tournament fishing.”
The Wades say they’ve talked to many anglers and have changed their opinions of FFS use in tournaments several times. But, ultimately, FFS will be banned from their events in 2026. They say, however, that only “live” FFS is banned. Other systems, such as the Humminbird 360, is allowed.
Stacy says they’re not against technology in fishing, but this is what’s best for future Outlaw tournaments.
“Just because FFS is better doesn’t mean it’s best for everybody,” Clint says. “By going back to grassroots, it gives the majority of folks a chance to win. And when that happens, the fun is going to come back to tournament fishing.”
