Bassmasters Classic Champion

[5575]

How has it lowered the skill gap. You still have to catch the fish even if you find them. Problem is the old people dont want to learn new techniques. Unless its what you are into they are boring regardless. Its no different than watching field trials unless your into dogs the average person isnt sitting around watching dogs run while I sit and watch every dog for hours as its my thing. No one thinks randomly flipping through channels oh boy theres the bass master classic im going to stop and watch that. You have to be pretty hard core to want to watch fishing. Even when one of my best friends was fishing pro walleye tourneys i would watch 10 minutes of it and be bored. I think 35 hp max motors and 12v trolling motors and ban all electronics if we really want to find out who the best is.

FFS is most definitely hurting bass fishing from a fan and viewers perspective and the sales of bass lures. I see it going the way of the aluminum bat in professional baseball. I mean when your accurately pinpointing only the biggest fish and pestering just that fish until it bites are you even really fishing at that point?
The longer I have it the less I use it, I find it a selfish tool when you have a boat full wanting to catch fish like I usually do. But I'm definitely not against anyone using it that's for sure and we all have the choice to fish tournaments or not to these days. Fishing tournaments used to require a little bit of luck to get a kicker or two each day. That's simply not the case any more as the guys that are good with the FFS can catch pretty much all big kicker fish. Had a friend get in a big walleye tournament where they measure and release. He was jacked when the average on his card was like 27 3/4 inches going in...he took 7th!

I actually dvr and watch most of the walleye and bass stuff on tv.

The producers of Tour level gold have done an excellent job I feel, decide for yourself though. Here is Sakakwea footage from this summer.

 

[Weekender]

I actually dvr and watch most of the walleye and bass stuff on tv.

The producers of Tour level gold have done an excellent job I feel, decide for yourself though. Here is Sakakwea footage from this summer.

I ran camera boat for Tour Level Gold during the Sakakawea event this past summer following Owen and Max. That was a heck of a learning experience!

 

[Kurtr]

I actually dvr and watch most of the walleye and bass stuff on tv.

The producers of Tour level gold have done an excellent job I feel, decide for yourself though. Here is Sakakwea footage from this summer.

Im sure its good but sitting and watching fishing just isnt my jam. Being a chase boat would be interesting as your in the action.

Im guessing most would feel the same about watching three straight days of the super retriever series which i record and rewatch.

 

[Petras]

FFS or not, you still gotta make em bite... Only been around FFS 1 time and we had no problem finding fish... We struggled to get them to bite though.... It's sonar, not dynamite.... They don't just jump into your boat because you went and dropped $3k on a fancy new graph... still gotta make em bite. That being said, when I finally get around to buying another boat, I'll be picking up a FFS unit as well.

 

[1lessdog]

No it should be happening on every lake. Its pro fishing its like listening to the cry babys at the race track when the world of outlaws come in complain they have the best equipment. If you cant run with the big dogs keep your ass on the porch. They all have ffs so its not even an equipment advantage its plain ass skill and kicking the cry babys ass

If there going outlaw FFS do it to all kinds of fishing tournaments. Not just Bass, do it for Walleyes and Crappies . Then you would hear people wining. I would like to know which company is the best. Germin, Lowrance, or Hummingbird ?

 

[Kurtr]

If there going outlaw FFS do it to all kinds of fishing tournaments. Not just Bass, do it for Walleyes and Crappies . Then you would hear people wining. I would like to know which company is the best. Germin, Lowrance, or Hummingbird ?

Garmin is what i have been told and every one has around here. My friends dad just bought a second one for his boat and it was 1900 out the door at cabelas

 

[Weekender]

From what I've heard Humminbird's Mega Live 2 is on par with Garmin now.

 

[1lessdog]

Garmin is what i have been told and every one has around here. My friends dad just bought a second one for his boat and it was 1900 out the door at cabelas

You would think all the other fisherman would jump on the Garmin train. But Sponsorship is the key.

 

[shorthairsrus]

only B.A.S.S. allows FF --- MLF allows one qtr of FF and NPFL doesnt allow it.

I am sure garmin has a new product that they would luv to push out and make some more $$$$. But the states and now the bass tourneys all have undies in a bunch. it will be interesting.

I still have not figured out what i am doing with mine -- trollng mtr or overpriced pole

pick lakes that require more strategy vs open water --- no to small mouth; fun to catch but boring to watch

 

[shorthairsrus]

Smallies and spots zzzzz

 

[Sum1]

I just watched the weigh ins, first and second place, 20 and 22 years old. Professional bass fishing is no longer who can piece together a pattern and figure out the fish the best in that particular lake but rather who is the best gamer on the circuit. As in video games. It’s sad. The guy that took second, Trey McKinney is famous for a controversy last year that involved his parents buying waypoints off a guide on a certain lake on tour. Per rules though this was not illegal. Bass fishing is dead with ffs.

 

[Traxion]

I thought the Tour Level Gold on Sak was telling. Not my style of fun fishing but they can kick ass at it. I have no idea why anyone would want to be a co angler. Just spinning in circles, speed level 10, onto the next fish. You couldn’t fish with a 2 oz jig effectively, you’re essentially just a high pressure net bitch.

Again, I have tons of respect for those who have mastered it and are kicking ass. I’d love to spend a casual day learning from them. But for me with a couple of buddies in the boat, let alone my family, FFS isn’t going to be the way we fish.

I also think it sucks every young guy out there now thinks they need FFS first. We fished out of junk and caught more fish than now. The entry point is so high if FFS sonar is a must have. Not many articles out there that don’t reference it. Just sucks that there is a perceived wall up in front of just going fishing.

 

[CatDaddy]

It’s definitely hurting the sport from a spectator standpoint. No spectators, no sport. Tournaments will always be around just not on tv

I'm interested to hear it takes spectators away. I like watching big fish get caught and FFS seems to do that. If I was watching for hours and it was small fish, few bigs mixed in, or nothing at all that sounds boring to me.

Maybe they should allow FFS to locate the spot, then they have to put the screen cover on it before they can cast.

 

[CatDaddy]

I'm talking specifically tournaments - which are supposed to be based on skill and knowledge to find/catch fish. There is a reason why we cannot use drones or thermal imaging devices to take trophy big game - but if we could I guarantee people would be doing it.. Or should I say the "younger" crowd would be? us outdoorsman use the word "fair chase" in every facet imaginable, but when it comes to fishing tournaments there is obviously a double standard.

The days of networking, pre-fishing, studying lake topography, baitfish movement patterns, water temps, structural differences, studying lake maps, mapping out weed lines, contour lines, understanding feeding patterns/windows, biology, etc. to locate "big fish" goes away if I can simply image them before even making a single a cast.. Tournament fishing using multiple FFS to scan open water just to pitch to individual "big" fish and pulling baits away from the lesser sized fish is not tournament fishing.

I argue that networking, prefishing, studying lake topography, etc. are still very much alive. If it's so easy, why do many guys still struggle to find big fish with FFS? As much as I can't stand him, I've followed Ben Milliken and he's a FFS guru. Came out of the gates strong with his career and now has really struggled to compete.

Do you own FFS? I do and it's certainly not a cheat code. Not going to say it doesn't help, but it doesn't guarantee "no tough days" or putting fish in the boat - let alone the RIGHT ones. It's still fishing.

 

[CatDaddy]

Watching a shorthair never gets old. Dedicated video after video watching sht they pull and do.


My take on bass masters and MLF ---- this year is the "gill" year

Isn't a shorthair just nature's version of FFS but for upland birds?

 

[1lessdog]

I'm interested to hear it takes spectators away. I like watching big fish get caught and FFS seems to do that. If I was watching for hours and it was small fish, few bigs mixed in, or nothing at all that sounds boring to me.

Maybe they should allow FFS to locate the spot, then they have to put the screen cover on it before they can cast.

I agree, watching them locate a fish and having the finesse to catch it.

The old saying innovate or die. FFS is just another tool. The young guys have it figured out for sure. The old guys better figure it out soon.

 

[svnmag]

FFS removes a lot skill in the equation IMHO. I'm also tired of averting gaze from male buttocks. I'd also tire of chicks in jean shorts...after about a couple minutes. Anyways: I don't watch fishing to stare at ass. I watch to learn.

If I were the ruler of BASS, MLF etc; I'd allow it in practice ONLY to locate with ZERO casting/fishing. A weather shift could still destroy the pattern/bite: In the dreaded new "haw haw haw/talking talking" MLF "Team Series" there's no practice: There should also be no FFS. Ask any golden trout in the Hills: Spotting/location helps and doesn't guarantee shit: After a short while they get tired of pounding and relocate. The key right out of the hatchery is "usually" the right drift and the right #24 Black Gnat.

^^^^FWIW: Vibrating jig/drop shot: Some "frog".

Bass tournaments have caused a shift to stunting by fishing a place out then convincing America they're not good table fare. Channel cats are now in "shit eating" vogue...The Tailrace could be stripped...

 

[Vollmer]

The longer I have it the less I use it, I find it a selfish tool when you have a boat full wanting to catch fish like I usually do.

This is my opinion. Using FFS, especially when mounted on the trolling motor, turns the whole boat into a one man/one rod show.

The rest of the people in the boat are hung out to dry, for the most part.

As far as FFS goes, in general, I believe it helps a person catch big fish, but not necessarily more fish. The typical fisherman, out trying to catch a limit, will tire of it quickly.

 

[SDMF]

I don't have FFS or any sort of "live view" stuff on my boat, yet. I definitely see the value in having more information regarding what's going on under the surface. I just hate mandatory "clutter". I create enough clutter on my own w/lures, rods, Plano-boxes, bait containers, etc, etc, etc.

I'll get it when it's fully integrated into the bow-mount or there's a way to deploy it off the transom that doesn't stick up above the motor like a power-pole.

 

[5575]

I thought the Tour Level Gold on Sak was telling. Not my style of fun fishing but they can kick ass at it. I have no idea why anyone would want to be a co angler. Just spinning in circles, speed level 10, onto the next fish. You couldn’t fish with a 2 oz jig effectively, you’re essentially just a high pressure net bitch.

Again, I have tons of respect for those who have mastered it and are kicking ass. I’d love to spend a casual day learning from them. But for me with a couple of buddies in the boat, let alone my family, FFS isn’t going to be the way we fish.

I also think it sucks every young guy out there now thinks they need FFS first. We fished out of junk and caught more fish than now. The entry point is so high if FFS sonar is a must have. Not many articles out there that don’t reference it. Just sucks that there is a perceived wall up in front of just going fishing.

Exactly. Yea co-angler net boy doesn't look like much fun. You notice on tour level how in some places the pro catches the fish up front then hands the rod to to co to reel in so he can net the fish he caught. But now that fish is considered the Co's fish because he reeled it in..
Actually left my FFS out of my boat last summer, didn't miss it whatsoever. I still enjoy it in the ice house though watching it on the big screen even if they aren't biting it makes a boring day allot more interesting.