One trend we have seen on the Bassmaster Elite Series over the past couple of seasons is the addition of electric motors mounted to shallow water anchors. Many anglers saw the additional motors as overkill. Others thought the extra motors made the use of live sonar a little too easy. And other anglers felt these motors would make rules infractions like trolling and long-lining impossible to identify. These voices were heard.
Alongside other steps being taken to standardize equipment moving forward on the Bassmaster Elite Series, B.A.S.S. has decided to limit anglers to just one electric motor. Below is the official rule that is to be put into place for the 2025 season.
“Each competitor’s boat shall be restricted to one (1) electric motor to be mounted at the bow of the boat. Electric motor(s) mounted at the stern of the boat are prohibited. Each competitor may keep a spare trolling motor in the boat in case one malfunctions.”
While these electric motors were used by a minority of Elites in 2024, their popularity was certainly increasing. Why? These motors are being used as brakes for boats, primarily when anglers are scanning with live sonar. Competitors who use these extra electric motors will typically have the bow trolling motor on high, scanning for fish. Once a bass or school of bass is identified, the angler will hit the reverse button on the transom-mounted electric motors, which stops the boat in its tracks. This allows the angler not to overrun the fish he has found and effectively target them. Now, Elite competitors will have to illustrate more skill with a single motor when employing this tactic. As with all of the new standardization rules for 2025, B.A.S.S. is making the live sonar game more challenging for those who want to play it.
As for spotting infractions and enforcing rules, that is a bonus for tournament officials. Their efforts are already Herculean throughout an event with more than 100 anglers over a playing field that could span hundreds of miles. To be clear, there has not been a single report of an angler misusing the electric motors mounted to shallow-water anchors. Still, eliminating the possibility will allow officials to focus on other aspects of the competition to ensure fairness of competition throughout each event.
