Denny Hamlin says forward-facing sonar in professional bass fishing has gone 'a little overboard'

Denny Hamlin thinks forward-facing sonar has gone too far in professional bass fishing .

The NASCAR star, who has spent the past year diving headfirst into bass fishing after purchasing a boat last winter, says the technology may be helping pros catch more fish — but at the expense of some of the sport’s traditional skill.

"I think the guys on the pro tour, it’s a little too much," Hamlin told OutKick OutDoors.

"It’s a little too much." CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE FROM OUTKICK OUTDOORS Hamlin pointed to what he sees as a disappearing part of the game: finding fish without relying so heavily on electronics.

"I think that there’s a lost art form of going out there, doing the homework, finding the spots," he said.

"It’s probably better for TV that these guys are catching monster bass and, you know, 100-pound bags, but I can see where it’s probably getting a little overboard." And he doesn’t expect the technology arms race to slow down anytime soon.

"The technology is going to just keep getting more," Hamlin said.

"Eventually it’s going to become even easier." That debate has become one of the hottest topics in professional bass fishing, with both of the sport’s major circuits already taking steps to limit the influence of forward-facing sonar.

Watch Denny Hamlin's full interview with OutKick OutDoors here: For the 2026 Bassmaster Elite Series , B.A.S.S. allows forward-facing sonar at no more than five of the nine regular-season events.

The organization went so far as to use coin flips to determine which stops would permit the technology, creating a mix of traditional and electronics-heavy tournaments throughout the schedule.

DENNY HAMLIN CHASES MONSTER LARGEMOUTH BASS IN TEXAS WITH BASSMASTER PRO CHRIS ZALDAIN Major League Fishing has taken a different approach on the Bass Pro Tour.

Rather than banning forward-facing sonar at certain events, MLF limits anglers to using forward-facing and/or 360-degree sonar during just one of three 2.5-hour competition periods each day.

Anglers must declare in advance which period they intend to use it, and the technology must be disabled during the other two.

MLF also limits competitors to two forward-facing or 360-degree transducers.