Randy, I was a HS teacher for 30 years and kids will do whatever to get an advantage, and breaking rules or being "blind" of rules is nothing to them. This generation of young fisherman are way different than ours. They create pressures amongst themselves and none of this surprises me. I support your views all the way. And to the dude whose forward sonar broke down, wah wah wah, get up on the reefs or the bank and throw a grub or jerk bait and you'd probably win going away. It would be so funny if BASS would pull the plug on the forward sonars at blast off of the first day of a tournament. The OG fishermen would dominate and the TV would be a heck of a lot better.
I agree with everything you said, along with Randy. This generation, you give them an inch and they’ll take 5 miles. Yes that’s an old school saying, but I’m sure you remember it as give an inch, take a mile. Lol. But with this generation, my opinion is they don’t have respect for their elders, they want their parents to support them in EVERYTHING they do. I know first hand, a 24 year old still living at home, daddy pays everything and I do mean everything. He likes the idea of being an adult because he says he can do what he wants. But he’s doing nothing, playing video games, and living off daddy. I raised my girls how I was raised. You follow rules, if you break em, you get in twice as much trouble when you get home. Kids don’t want a job unless it’s “easy”. I’ve actually heard them say, they’re not going to do any manual labor. This is a sad generation. I’m sorry but in my opinion, the parents are at fault. They need to teach them, nothing comes easy. But that wasn’t done. Sorry for the “off subject” rant. If these kids or supposed “adults” can’t do fishing without livescope, how good of fisherman are they? You lose skills by relying on something else to do it for you. I believe that’s why a lot of people don’t like FFS, they don’t want to lose their original skills and it’s hard to change something, especially when you don’t believe in it. This is just my opinion. But, Kudos to you, as a teacher, to say the exact truth. I love and agree with you 100%. Good video Randy, can’t wait to see if any results are actually put out on the polygraphs.
I’m sorry did you just say livescope is Cory Johnson’s umbilical cord? Randy come on man, you know good and well either one of those boys can catch them however with whatever. I get it with Thompkins and then maybe… but NEITHER of the brothers need that. That may be the most ignorant thing you’ve said honestly
I love your terminology: 'LIvescoper's Benefit Tournament'..priceless! Sadly, I think the days of the old Bassmasters are long gone and we have now entered a new generation of those who think only of themselves; the 'Me' generation, and to heck with anyone else.
@@stevencroft4850 every angler in the "pro" circuit can use ffs. If they choose not to is on them. They didnt become pros by being stupid or denying a technigue or technology.
@@hunterjarnigan7220 Watching someone actually FISH, talking about what they are doing and why, instead of playing a video game on the water involves a whole lot more angling ability. Nice false equivalency, though. 👍🙄
Did they even have the internet when Randy was a competitive tournament fisherman? It's hard to accept when you're 60- 78.. that you're no longer the future of the sport... Some people move on with class like the great Rick Clunn..
I have a buddy that just stated bass fishing almost 1 year ago. He was going out learning and not catching much from the get go but enjoying the outdoors and struggling to learn the fish, he bought a 3k livescope package and now it obsessed with it and cannot fish without it. His neck and back is hurting so much he has to get a mount that lifts his screen up to his head… it’s sad. You take that away from him he is going to struggle
Sickening man, just like cell cameras for hunting, I'm ready too just take up knitting, don't think there's many ways I could get blamed for cheating and I can work on my skills every day and maybe sell some awesome sweaters some days with years of experience trying to be the best knitter ever 😢
I can’t remember a person complain about something as much as Randy. Complaining about technology while using a cellphone, posting videos to TH-cam. If you could still compete, my guess is you would not complain.
I tried the LiveScope thing 4 years ago when I fished a few BFL's. And I caught myself being a screen Zombie too. After a few trips to the Chiropractor, I sold it three years ago. Its nice looking up again.
these kids are currently the best guys in the world at catching bass. thats a fact. the livescope is the latest edge. sidescan, lcd, flasher, electric trolling motor, hell much less the rods and reels, its just technology marching forward. and yes, the microcosm at BASS is just part of the march to oblivion.
it starts at the top and obviously based on what I’m saying they’re going to continue doing it and I think it’s about time that we jump in and take back What rightfully is the sport.
This been happening since the 90s. Biffle screamin at ppl, kvd and ikes beef, swindle, hack dq, i could go on. Ppl cutting each other off in tourneys aguing etc.
@@Letzgobrandun-wi1pc there was a tournament this year I believe, and I’m not quite sure what is was called but there was no electronics allowed on the boats. Some real hammers competed and those guys had to pay a large amount of money to compete in it. I can’t remember who won though.
Not saying FFS is right or wrong but the pros are using it as a tool just like a landscaper used a string trimmer to edge a sidewalk rather than a set of hand clippers.
Come on Randy. There have been incidents in the past. Hack got DQ'd, Swindel got DQ'd and cried at the classic. Biffle has yelled at a bunch of people. The list goes on. It is just there was no social media back then. At least it is good food for you Podcasters.
This has happened for years. It just gets exposed by all the coverage they have now. I remember Robert tucker showing his ass at my traveling partner over fishing a bank that was “his”. Lots of egos and jackass guys in bass fishing. The young kids are rude but they were thrown out in the sport so quick without paying their dues. Go to a high school tournament and n see for yourself.
Hey Randy. I agree with the comment from the high school teacher. The younger generations have no respect for rules or laws and they think they can do whatever they want whenever they want. The only thing they can possibly do wrong is get caught. Whatever they are doing isn’t wrong but getting caught is wrong. After they are caught breaking rules or laws it isn’t their fault. The fault is with whoever caught them. The people enforcing the rules or laws are the real problem. The younger ones are not used to punishment of any kind.
I will add…getting information has been a part of fishing for as long as I remember. Getting info on what they are biting on and where IS bass fishing. Crossed the line when you had paid informants. This for sure happened back in the day. I got it first hand from a guide who fished pro and spilled the beans on what pros did to get info back in the day.
One thing about the Johnston brothers is that they can fish old school when the LS isn’t working if anyone was paying attention to the Champlain or the St. John’s River. Not a huge fan of LS as my son has one which has relegated me to the disgruntled co-angler now when we go together but if you’re gonna compete you have to put yourself in a competing position. It’s up to the tournament officials to set the rules. And by the way, the smallmouth fishery wasn’t as prevalent on Lake Ontario 25 years ago. I watched Lynn Johnston (their dad) win the GM Pro Bass Classic out of Belleville Ontario Canada by running 100 miles downstream to load up on green fish in the Thousand Islands. Sometimes we just forget really how it was until we got GPS, side scan capabilities etc. I don’t know that anyone refused to use a flasher when they were first invented?
Randy, back in those days when you first started, the Pros had respect for one another and helped one another as I watched all of it. The fellowship you guys had then made me want to be a bass pro. Now it is totally different. It is brutal. Dog eat dog type. I don't even watch it any more. The cheater box is out there and I don't think it is going away. Our fisheries are coming to an end in a few short years. That is what I think.
I absolutely agree! Although I have been to SLR for my tourney last year didn’t have live scope caught shit finished crazy low. It’s for sure a livescope fishery my buddies fishing 30+ feet but it’s not fair to the recreational tournament anglers. All in all tighten up!
Trey passed the polygraph. I'm not a fan of his, too much smoke. Several threads on BBC have lots of details. If I heard him correctly, Rick Clunn caught his two day total on a spinnerbait. BASS needs adult supervision.
The Johnston’s have been crushing the St Lawrence/Lake O prior to the invention of LS. You could take LS away and one of them would win this stop every year. Cory got pissed that a rookie was giving his brother shit for fishing the same spot. That spot was one Chris and Cory found before LS and fished back when they were doing team events in Canada. The Ewok comment was funny, I don’t mind a little shit talking adds to the entertainment.
I don’t mind the banter, but you can’t justify fishing down on Gee like that just because you fished it back in the day. What kind of lame ass excuse is that?
@@parisite99Gee fished it cause a Johnston brother won on it during live coverage. That’s the only reason anyone knew about it. If you fish a spot cause you heard about it and didn’t find it yourself don’t chirp when the person that discovered it pulls up. Show respect and say thank you, you wouldn’t have been there without them.
@@parisite99do you even fish tournaments bro ? Like seriously. It’s ok if Trey McKinney does it though. Maybe Gee should use his brain a little more next time and not invite another angler to come fish the exact spot but also give him the bait he was using out of spite . Maybe that cost Gee the tournament…… I don’t know how did Trey do day 3 and 4 ??????? I remember not to shabby. but noooooooo it was big bad Chris Johnston’s fault, Gee didn’t win. Gees lack of maturity and brain cells cost him this tournament. I guess karma is real but all the Biden lovers don’t wanna hear that.
The bottom line is these guys are catching their fishing Canada and needs to be off-limits. The goddamn tournaments in the St. Lawrence River in Waddington you got 50 miles plus to get to the mouth of Lake Ontario. Stop turn around and go back the other way stay in the St. Lawrence river number one number two get rid of Ford facing solar. Number three no more sharing information between anglers in the tournament you do all that those guys dominate well then I’ll take my head off to him, but I’m gonna say good luck isn’t gonna happen.
Randy you really should do more research and thought into your opinion videos. The Johnston/Gee controversy was not simply about a battle for a spot….. Chris Johnston went to that spot on the final day only to help his brother win.
Just found a tournament stat on Dick Garlock from 2011 when he was 80 years old. He Won a tournament on the St Lawrence River with a bag of smallmouth that weighed in at 24 lbs 12ozs. It was his 8th win of the year.
Thanks Randy. Glad you got me Corey Johnson Clip and Zona's "might have to actually fish" Glad Mark made the comment before leaving the show. What a Mess pro fishing has become...One big soap opera!
Randy, you have to give these kids more credit, they are all good kids fishing since they were 12 year olds, i promise they could beat half the field without ffs, Its not a good old boys club no more, all the rookie classes coming up are good, with or with out ffs!.
I found that spot in practice for a Red Man in 1986. I finished 5th, it’s a community hole at this point, in 1986 with 2d sonar and no GPS it was my spot. Non of those clowns were even born yet.
I agree with 99% of what you said here. That is rare for me with your videos but why I listen. This tournament had a lot of craziness that does look bad on the sport
i disagree with calling it the "cheaterbox"! I agree that electronics have gotten to the place that a weekend angler, who works a 7 to 3 job can hardly afford to get to that leval of sophistication. But back in the Ray Scott era I fished an "Invitational" on the Hudson River and on the St Lawrence river, and the top guys carried their chart recorders that were also expensive. So were the chart recorders "Cheaterboxes"? But concerning rule violations, if I remember correctly I had to sign a slip at weight in that my partner for the day caught his fish legally, and if I lied for him, and was caught helping him cheat, I would be banned from BASS for life.
I don’t feel livescope should have a place in competition. That being said, if a guy is just out trying to feed themselves and/or their family, go for it. It’s still a somewhat free country, so far.
The Livescope fishermen have set a break line which has left the older anglers behind. Ike had some early hope in the last two tournaments only to fall way back. Hackney the same as he just missed the projected BM Classic cut line. And I noticed how many of these young anglers have come out of the college ranks. They are experts in electronics and as wound up competitively as an angler can be. So maybe some may need to grow up quickly. Anyway, I agree the next excitement coming down the road will be the lakes they will fish in BASS and the new rules.
It's the decline and possible fall of our culture. Randy, you're old enough to remember the 80's as an adult and that's when the slide started. First it was "gangsta rap" that glorified thugs, advocated shooting cops and put down women tremendously. The quality of entertainment went down as did comedy when butt shaking and the f word became the norm. Followed by the self-absorbed "selfie" generation who couldn't let a day go by without a selfie. Sliding further, shoplifting, running stop signs & red lights, road rage, drive by shootings killing kids. Then the POTUS thought it was a good idea to let 10 million people into the country, some of whom are Chinese army, some cartel members, felons, mentally ill people, terrorists in waiting, todlers with no parents. The Secret Service is falling to pieces, the FBI was politicized. So it's easy to rationalize cheating in a fishing tournament. Very easy.
I started back fishing this year after being away from the river for several years. Same stuff I used 15 years ago still works. Worm, crank bait, spinner bait, etc. These guys couldn’t catch a Bream without sonar.
Randy unfortunately the river is so beat up you honestly need ffs to catch fish there, yea u might catch a few but youll never compete with out it now on that place
I normally enjoy the videos but this one strikes me as complaining for the sake of complaining. It has to be a good thing that someone got DQd for cheating. That can never be bad for BASS. And I suspect the Johnston brothers can catch plenty of smallmouth without the use of Livescope. But if they are going to allow in the tournament how can you blame one of them for being disappointed when it stops working?
The problem is (in my opinion) is not Live scope or Rookies or Spot sitting... The problem is Social Media & the internet. If a BASS Elite Angler likes another Elites social media & hits that like button they are going to be accused of gathering information. And young anglers today have so much for knowledge at their fingertips and can process information quicker they don't need to spend as much time on the water. Randy, in all fairness, you didn't have to deal with Social Media "back your days". One last thing, kudos to Robert Gee for not letting either of the Johnston brothers get in his head on the final day. From every clip I have seen he was very gracious in his efforts and proud he was competing against "2 of the greatest smallmouth fishermen in the world" his words.
@@BassmasterStevenwhen he who?? And are you talking ethics or rules violations?? If someone did say hey go pull up on “X” I agree not ethical, but not a rule violation.
@@BassmasterStevenSo are you talking ethics? Or rules violations? Because from what I had seen from this weekend not a lot of ethics displayed by a lot of fishermen, but no rules violations either. And did see a lot of Grace given. But hey let’s focus on all the negativity
Not nearly as much cheating today as when you fished. When people staked out fish in boxes. Tied fish to docks and trees. People following the leader to steal his spot. People receiving fish from friends and relatives in the era of no cameras. Scuba diver hooking fish on for TV shows. Pros fishing with guides for days ahead of tournaments. People failed lie detectors regularly. FFS has brought honesty and integrity to the sport with good hardworking young anglers feeding their families.
Your right and the comments sums it up. It's a new world and there's very little room for us old folks. They are going to do what they want no matter what we think. 😢
Dick Garlock won a bunch tournaments off that same area those guys were fighting over back in the early 90s. Randy, you probably remember it. Only he did it because he was one hell of an angler.
Exactly Dick knew to actually lineup location. He was using a flasher, but the guy was deadly with a jig in his hands or spinner bait or jerk, bait, or crank bait.
I got paired with Dick Garlock on the St Lawrence a while back he had an aluminum boat with a swivel seat in it and it was rough out I was hanging on for dear life 😂 so he looked over calm as could be and said hey you alright? I think he was like 80 and I was 35😂
Plain and simple there is no spot on a public lake that belongs to any one. If someone is fishing in a spot you want to fish be a gentlemen and move on to another spot. But the minute they leave that spot anyone who wants to fish there is dead in there rights to fish there. And it would not end well for someone to pull up to me and say that they owned that spot. It doesn't seem to be that much of a deal with the weekend non tournament fisherman. Its these dang people that call there self , pros that the entitlement seems to kick in. Remember PROS when you travel out of your home town to fish a lake you are a GUEST that means you have respect for the people that fish that lake every week unlike you. Its amazing at the bad name the prose and tournament fisherman have given this sport. GROW UP AND BE AN ADULT or stay at home.
So many people forget, you lose skills when you don’t use them. Those who depend solely on electronics are upset because they’ve forgotten a lot of old school rules. Also, money feeds this generation completely!!!! Every man for himself. People used to help each other out. Those days are over with this generation. They make Bassmaster look like a joke that they are, in my opinion. My grandkids don’t cause this much drama. Literally a soap opera. LMAO!!! Sad generation. Parents need to see what they’ve made their children to be…..ME, ME, ME. Who gives a shit how they treat anyone else. Just my opinion. Great video Randy, as always.
Im sure drama happened during "Ray Scott," but social media, cameras, weren't readily available as it's now. Different times, different dime dropping. You had your brown nosers, knee droppers, and grey area anglers.
if BASS wont change things and stop the sonar stuff why wont someone start a new tournament avenue that is strictly for people who are actually trying to fish the way I grew up learning (and watching the pros) by learning what fish like what they do where they hang out and when---the bags might be lighter but oh the fun and satisfaction everyone would get out of a tournament like that----I remember when a fish hooked not in the mouth was not counted because it was considered foul hooked---the way that some of these guys rip lures through the water and snag fish in the side but can still count it is nuts to me also
Ray Scott was the Man. And Forest Wood.. the sport has never been the same. Clunn is done and Zona is done. Lots of change and honestly not for the better..
You really need to just stop whining about FFS. You aren’t offering any constructive or useful criticism. Rick Clunn had an excellent response when he was asked about banning FFS. He said that you will never be able to call yourself the best if you ban FFS or refuse to use it. The best angler is somebody who is able to fish with and without it.
Then let them format some Elite tournaments that way: one with, one without in equal rotation during the year. Much more likely to find the REAL AOY that way.
@@Darryl_P_ BASS and MLF have FAR too much revenue coming from companies that produce FFS to have the balls to ban it. A mixed format would let the true cream rise to the top. That might also help shut up people who have nothing better to do than complain about FFS 24/7/365.
@@rockytopkg you aren’t wrong there. The FFS market is huge and growing. A simple mixed format and a transducer limit would be the best solution. Having 2,3, or 4 FFS transducers is ridiculous.
Watching live sports exposes everything. Look at the drama in other sports? How many turn the tv off when a fight breaks out on the ice, court, or field? Humans can’t not look! It blows up everyone’s page and helps Randy and other like him to get views$ Perhaps on the water referees are in the future. Penalty…10 minutes no sonar! 10 minutes no mapping! Etc etc.
Crazy.....we now have bass fishing tournaments that dont include any actual bass fishermen. If youre using FFS and LS you arent a fishermen. If you cant fish successfully with out FFS and LS you arent a fisher, youre just another person out there with more money than sense.
Like you said at the beginning of the year Randy, every tournament would be won with FFS. They weren't only won, but just about anyone on the final day was using it, with maybe the exception of John Cox. And the childish BS that goes on now is reminiscent of professional wrestling. If changes aren't made, and soon, BASS will be on the way out.
I got second in an open to a guy with strong ties to the Bassmaster upper echelon. 4 people protested him and they said he passed the polygraph... I asked for the results but they never sent them. I quit after that. I'm not saying he cheated but it was fishy. The rules aren't perfect and the way they disseminate them, but I guess it's the best they can do. Still love the sport and think BASS still has the best events.
The tournament organizations deserve every bit of drama that has been happening. They care nothing for the anglers. It’s all about profits for them. It’s been like this since Ray Scott sold it. I was a victim of the poorly/disgracefully run BASS organization too. They sweep it all under the rug to save face and leave the innocent anglers out to dry with the guilty ones while doing nothing. Pathetic!
The spot arguments this tournament were about spot ownership based on tournaments in the past history! Finding fish in practice and during the tournament are one thing- but 'owning a spot' from years past is getting ridiculous.
Spot stealing is the funniest pro trick out there, I've had it happen so many times on my home lake,I probably fished a 1000 times,or way more,or way point stealing, always something, I think in a year or two the ffs is going to be a nightmare for tournaments,as soon AI is in the comp box,nothing but jealousy and finger pointing, soap opera back stabbing.
Let’s fast forward about 10 years. Someone will figure out how to clone the way points from hundreds and hundreds of tournaments or hack winners phones and their GPS coordinates and generate a very successful app for bass fishing. Technology is outpacing the ability of tournaments directors . Much like navionics where you can download a specific lake , you will now have all of the previous spots where winners have caught their best fish. Hidden spots or secret locations will cease to exist and be accessible to any amateur that downloads the app and follows the Ai generated preferred plan of attack, all things will be factored in , weather, season, previous stressors, angles ability or lack of ability, just follow the game direction and you can succeed. I know that sounds crazy, but I said the same thing about FFS and look at how much success it has given young fishermen, time will tell whether it is sustainable
Well Randy we do agree on the process of how not to get DQ'd! Call the tournament director!! Duh! Oh recently several Anglers were catching largemouth not on FFS! I think that was Champlain though!
Back when the flasher was introduced I bet you had some that were good and some that hated it simply because they didn’t know how to use it to keep up. Those were the ones that hated it. Just like today, with everything evolving the ones that adapt like it and the ones that are t good with it talk crap. The same enthusiasm for the FFS coming out was probably the same and the flasher. Different times same concept. Look at the cell phones. What was communicating like when the flasher was out and now look with FFS. It’s constantly evolving.
How did you allow two brothers to fish the same tournament? You know they are going to help each other - Even if they have to use unethical means- Ethics means you have a sense of right or wrong- Illegal means breaking a law or rule- Remember the saying Blood is thicker than water- Pun intended!!
Very sad. First off, these rookies have 0 respect for the sport or the guys that have been doing this for year's. Watching Gee bitch to Chris Johnston and then during the tournament stopping to tell other anglers to go fish on top of Chris! If your leading your taking away fishing time to do that!? And after every fish he poses for the camera? Just by the amount of penalties this year, most by rookies is absurd. Polygraph, buying way points , I never heard of this shit. Even the announcers seem annoyed with the livescope Murphy saying at one point another over achieving rookie leading the tournament which has been theory the 3 years. And Zona, saying his livescope is down, maybe he'll have to really fish now! These guys are lost now without livescope! This is really sad to watch.
Gee was leading the tournament and those Canadian dorks acted like Gee stole their waypoints in some kind of heist. Acted like they owned the whole fucking lake. Rolled in on THE LEADER. Thats so weak. Bunch of middle schoolers. If i’m leading a $100,000 tournament and two bitches roll in on me, im gonna be PISSED too. You would be too.
I am not a fan of Cory and Chris but I have very much respect for their ability. I have watched them grow up and fished against them for years. I would put money on either of them against whoever wether they can use ffs or not. They can fish old school, new school and compete anywhere they drop their boats.
Imagine the shenanigans that would have been uncovered if we had all the cameras and social media 30-40 years ago 😂
You are dead on. Its been around forever.
10 times less cheating now.
That's a fact
He acts like it didn't go on in the good Ole days unbelievable
Right? Ive watched bassmasters and elites since the 90s. There were arguments onn espn lol.
Randy, I was a HS teacher for 30 years and kids will do whatever to get an advantage, and breaking rules or being "blind" of rules is nothing to them. This generation of young fisherman are way different than ours. They create pressures amongst themselves and none of this surprises me. I support your views all the way. And to the dude whose forward sonar broke down, wah wah wah, get up on the reefs or the bank and throw a grub or jerk bait and you'd probably win going away. It would be so funny if BASS would pull the plug on the forward sonars at blast off of the first day of a tournament. The OG fishermen would dominate and the TV would be a heck of a lot better.
I agree with everything you said, along with Randy. This generation, you give them an inch and they’ll take 5 miles. Yes that’s an old school saying, but I’m sure you remember it as give an inch, take a mile. Lol. But with this generation, my opinion is they don’t have respect for their elders, they want their parents to support them in EVERYTHING they do. I know first hand, a 24 year old still living at home, daddy pays everything and I do mean everything. He likes the idea of being an adult because he says he can do what he wants. But he’s doing nothing, playing video games, and living off daddy. I raised my girls how I was raised. You follow rules, if you break em, you get in twice as much trouble when you get home. Kids don’t want a job unless it’s “easy”. I’ve actually heard them say, they’re not going to do any manual labor. This is a sad generation. I’m sorry but in my opinion, the parents are at fault. They need to teach them, nothing comes easy. But that wasn’t done. Sorry for the “off subject” rant.
If these kids or supposed “adults” can’t do fishing without livescope, how good of fisherman are they? You lose skills by relying on something else to do it for you. I believe that’s why a lot of people don’t like FFS, they don’t want to lose their original skills and it’s hard to change something, especially when you don’t believe in it. This is just my opinion. But, Kudos to you, as a teacher, to say the exact truth. I love and agree with you 100%.
Good video Randy, can’t wait to see if any results are actually put out on the polygraphs.
Cory did win the tournament and his brother won the AOY.
They were never told no as children
2:16
B.A.S.S. needs a complete overhaul. Lisa is nice but they are running all over her. This would never have been tolerated under trip weldon
I’m sorry did you just say livescope is Cory Johnson’s umbilical cord? Randy come on man, you know good and well either one of those boys can catch them however with whatever. I get it with Thompkins and then maybe… but NEITHER of the brothers need that. That may be the most ignorant thing you’ve said honestly
I love your terminology: 'LIvescoper's Benefit Tournament'..priceless! Sadly, I think the days of the old Bassmasters are long gone and we have now entered a new generation of those who think only of themselves; the 'Me' generation, and to heck with anyone else.
That includes the organizers of all tournaments.
@@stevencroft4850 every angler in the "pro" circuit can use ffs. If they choose not to is on them. They didnt become pros by being stupid or denying a technigue or technology.
@@donyarborough4114 The technology has replaced technique and "fish sense." It's boring as hell to watch, too.
@@rockytopkgbecause watching someone drag a Carolina rig around all day is so much more exciting
@@hunterjarnigan7220 Watching someone actually FISH, talking about what they are doing and why, instead of playing a video game on the water involves a whole lot more angling ability.
Nice false equivalency, though. 👍🙄
Did they even have the internet when Randy was a competitive tournament fisherman?
It's hard to accept when you're 60- 78.. that you're no longer the future of the sport... Some people move on with class like the great Rick Clunn..
You realize John Cox doesn't have ffs on his boat , right ? So any fish he caught was legitimately caught
I have a buddy that just stated bass fishing almost 1 year ago. He was going out learning and not catching much from the get go but enjoying the outdoors and struggling to learn the fish, he bought a 3k livescope package and now it obsessed with it and cannot fish without it. His neck and back is hurting so much he has to get a mount that lifts his screen up to his head… it’s sad. You take that away from him he is going to struggle
Sickening man, just like cell cameras for hunting, I'm ready too just take up knitting, don't think there's many ways I could get blamed for cheating and I can work on my skills every day and maybe sell some awesome sweaters some days with years of experience trying to be the best knitter ever 😢
no insult intended Randy. Im simply tired of all the shit, I just want to put my boat in the water and fish for fun!
Way too many negative videos on this channel.
@Dennis How do you know that?
Amen on fishing for fun
Nobody is stopping you
Agree…..
Chris has won non live scope tournaments, they're amazing anglers. I'm not a big fan of live scope but Chris and Corey are amazing anglers hands down.
I can’t remember a person complain about something as much as Randy. Complaining about technology while using a cellphone, posting videos to TH-cam. If you could still compete, my guess is you would not complain.
Then don't watch him. He gives out tons of juice on fishing tips for free.
These circuits are a sinking ship the drama will be double next yr i hope both circuits go out of business
I tried the LiveScope thing 4 years ago when I fished a few BFL's. And I caught myself being a screen Zombie too. After a few trips to the Chiropractor, I sold it three years ago. Its nice looking up again.
Spoiled rich kids. Enough said
these kids are currently the best guys in the world at catching bass. thats a fact. the livescope is the latest edge. sidescan, lcd, flasher, electric trolling motor, hell much less the rods and reels, its just technology marching forward. and yes, the microcosm at BASS is just part of the march to oblivion.
it starts at the top and obviously based on what I’m saying they’re going to continue doing it and I think it’s about time that we jump in and take back What rightfully is the sport.
Years ago at the Carolina Team Tournaments, we required polygraph tests of the top 3 finishers and one at random in the top ten.
This been happening since the 90s. Biffle screamin at ppl, kvd and ikes beef, swindle, hack dq, i could go on. Ppl cutting each other off in tourneys aguing etc.
You forgot to mention Mark Zona stepping down from Bassmaster Live. Makes you wonder what THAT’S all about.
Wants to do the Zona show.
100% correct.
And those Johnston boys can fish without live scope. There is no doubt about it. They are derby boys!!
Phssssss...Canadian scoper jokers now wake up
@@Letzgobrandun-wi1pc there was a tournament this year I believe, and I’m not quite sure what is was called but there was no electronics allowed on the boats. Some real hammers competed and those guys had to pay a large amount of money to compete in it. I can’t remember who won though.
@@matthewculp4518 Chris Johnson
@@johndoran7331 really ? No way ! They can only compete with FFS I thought. Huh……. That’s weird.
Ya ppl forgot so quickly how dominate they were prior to FFS.
I think Cory and Chris were both in the no FFS tournament on lake linear , pretty sure Chris won and Cory was top 5
@@lobster864 the Johnstons are hammers with or without FFS!
Is it even bass fishing anymore or is it just one big commercial for the latest fishing technologies! The more money involved the worse it gets!
100%
I stopped watching all bass fishing tournaments on tv and you tube because of all bs.
Me also . 👍🙏💕
I stop watching too.
Not saying FFS is right or wrong but the pros are using it as a tool just like a landscaper used a string trimmer to edge a sidewalk rather than a set of hand clippers.
When it comes to spots, it's public water I can fish were ever I want.
Come on Randy. There have been incidents in the past. Hack got DQ'd, Swindel got DQ'd and cried at the classic. Biffle has yelled at a bunch of people. The list goes on. It is just there was no social media back then. At least it is good food for you Podcasters.
Finally some truth.
Kvd and ike
Nice work gents, truth!
This guy is total trash. Typical Democrat always trying to divide.
This has happened for years. It just gets exposed by all the coverage they have now. I remember Robert tucker showing his ass at my traveling partner over fishing a bank that was “his”. Lots of egos and jackass guys in bass fishing. The young kids are rude but they were thrown out in the sport so quick without paying their dues. Go to a high school tournament and n see for yourself.
Hey Randy. I agree with the comment from the high school teacher.
The younger generations have no respect for rules or laws and they think they can do whatever they want whenever they want.
The only thing they can possibly do wrong is get caught. Whatever they are doing isn’t wrong but getting caught is wrong.
After they are caught breaking rules or laws it isn’t their fault. The fault is with whoever caught them. The people enforcing the rules or laws are the real problem. The younger ones are not used to punishment of any kind.
I will add…getting information has been a part of fishing for as long as I remember. Getting info on what they are biting on and where IS bass fishing. Crossed the line when you had paid informants. This for sure happened back in the day. I got it first hand from a guide who fished pro and spilled the beans on what pros did to get info back in the day.
Current rookie class has obviously never heard the adage, "Don't bite the hand that feeds you".
One thing about the Johnston brothers is that they can fish old school when the LS isn’t working if anyone was paying attention to the Champlain or the St. John’s River. Not a huge fan of LS as my son has one which has relegated me to the disgruntled co-angler now when we go together but if you’re gonna compete you have to put yourself in a competing position. It’s up to the tournament officials to set the rules.
And by the way, the smallmouth fishery wasn’t as prevalent on Lake Ontario 25 years ago. I watched Lynn Johnston (their dad) win the GM Pro Bass Classic out of Belleville Ontario Canada by running 100 miles downstream to load up on green fish in the Thousand Islands. Sometimes we just forget really how it was until we got GPS, side scan capabilities etc. I don’t know that anyone refused to use a flasher when they were first invented?
I doubt that very seriously.
Don’t always agree Randy but I always watch
Randy, back in those days when you first started, the Pros had respect for one another and helped one another as I watched all of it. The fellowship you guys had then made me want to be a bass pro. Now it is totally different. It is brutal. Dog eat dog type. I don't even watch it any more. The cheater box is out there and I don't think it is going away. Our fisheries are coming to an end in a few short years. That is what I think.
I absolutely agree! Although I have been to SLR for my tourney last year didn’t have live scope caught shit finished crazy low. It’s for sure a livescope fishery my buddies fishing 30+ feet but it’s not fair to the recreational tournament anglers. All in all tighten up!
Trey passed the polygraph. I'm not a fan of his, too much smoke. Several threads on BBC have lots of details. If I heard him correctly, Rick Clunn caught his two day total on a spinnerbait. BASS needs adult supervision.
Reminds me of the movie happy gilmore
The Johnston’s have been crushing the St Lawrence/Lake O prior to the invention of LS. You could take LS away and one of them would win this stop every year. Cory got pissed that a rookie was giving his brother shit for fishing the same spot. That spot was one Chris and Cory found before LS and fished back when they were doing team events in Canada. The Ewok comment was funny, I don’t mind a little shit talking adds to the entertainment.
I don’t mind the banter, but you can’t justify fishing down on Gee like that just because you fished it back in the day. What kind of lame ass excuse is that?
@@parisite99Gee fished it cause a Johnston brother won on it during live coverage. That’s the only reason anyone knew about it. If you fish a spot cause you heard about it and didn’t find it yourself don’t chirp when the person that discovered it pulls up. Show respect and say thank you, you wouldn’t have been there without them.
@@parisite99do you even fish tournaments bro ? Like seriously. It’s ok if Trey McKinney does it though. Maybe Gee should use his brain a little more next time and not invite another angler to come fish the exact spot but also give him the bait he was using out of spite . Maybe that cost Gee the tournament…… I don’t know how did Trey do day 3 and 4 ??????? I remember not to shabby. but noooooooo it was big bad Chris Johnston’s fault, Gee didn’t win. Gees lack of maturity and brain cells cost him this tournament. I guess karma is real but all the Biden lovers don’t wanna hear that.
The bottom line is these guys are catching their fishing Canada and needs to be off-limits. The goddamn tournaments in the St. Lawrence River in Waddington you got 50 miles plus to get to the mouth of Lake Ontario. Stop turn around and go back the other way stay in the St. Lawrence river number one number two get rid of Ford facing solar. Number three no more sharing information between anglers in the tournament you do all that those guys dominate well then I’ll take my head off to him, but I’m gonna say good luck isn’t gonna happen.
@@parisite99 trying to win AOY and gee trying to win the derby fair game
Randy you really should do more research and thought into your opinion videos. The Johnston/Gee controversy was not simply about a battle for a spot….. Chris Johnston went to that spot on the final day only to help his brother win.
Thanks Randy!
Just found a tournament stat on Dick Garlock from 2011 when he was 80 years old. He Won a tournament on the St Lawrence River with a bag of smallmouth that weighed in at 24 lbs 12ozs. It was his 8th win of the year.
Correction, Thompkins was DQ'ed for not passing a Polygraph Test... Not for breaking rules. Words matter.
Failed a poly because he lied about breaking the rules, aka breaking the rules
Thanks Randy. Glad you got me Corey Johnson Clip and Zona's "might have to actually fish" Glad Mark made the comment before leaving the show. What a Mess pro fishing has become...One big soap opera!
Yup since the johnston bros havent been dominate way before FFS lol.
I think Cory was on zonas show once
Randy, you have to give these kids more credit, they are all good kids fishing since they were 12 year olds, i promise they could beat half the field without ffs,
Its not a good old boys club no more, all the rookie classes coming up are good, with or with out ffs!.
I found that spot in practice for a Red Man in 1986. I finished 5th, it’s a community hole at this point, in 1986 with 2d sonar and no GPS it was my spot. Non of those clowns were even born yet.
Wrong again Randy it’s not a cheater box it’s a legal box and if you don’t have it you can’t win get over it
I feel lost when i have to go scopin guess I'm an old guy now lol
I agree with 99% of what you said here. That is rare for me with your videos but why I listen. This tournament had a lot of craziness that does look bad on the sport
i disagree with calling it the "cheaterbox"! I agree that electronics have gotten to the place that a weekend angler, who works a 7 to 3 job can hardly afford to get to that leval of sophistication. But back in the Ray Scott era I fished an "Invitational" on the Hudson River and on the St Lawrence river, and the top guys carried their chart recorders that were also expensive. So were the chart recorders "Cheaterboxes"?
But concerning rule violations, if I remember correctly I had to sign a slip at weight in that my partner for the day caught his fish legally, and if I lied for him, and was caught helping him cheat, I would be banned from BASS for life.
Rule change for next year.......no change for FFS and the A rig is legal to use again!
Tyler Williams past his test... No word on JT yet.
I don’t feel livescope should have a place in competition. That being said, if a guy is just out trying to feed themselves and/or their family, go for it. It’s still a somewhat free country, so far.
It's not bout fishing anymore, it's SICK.
Randy, let’s see the boat you bought!!!
The tournament orginizations have no one to blame but themselves ; Ban the cheater box bring back real BASS fishing , FFS has got to go !
The Livescope fishermen have set a break line which has left the older anglers behind. Ike had some early hope in the last two tournaments only to fall way back. Hackney the same as he just missed the projected BM Classic cut line. And I noticed how many of these young anglers have come out of the college ranks. They are experts in electronics and as wound up competitively as an angler can be. So maybe some may need to grow up quickly. Anyway, I agree the next excitement coming down the road will be the lakes they will fish in BASS and the new rules.
It's the decline and possible fall of our culture. Randy, you're old enough to remember the 80's as an adult and that's when the slide started. First it was "gangsta rap" that glorified thugs, advocated shooting cops and put down women tremendously. The quality of entertainment went down as did comedy when butt shaking and the f word became the norm. Followed by the self-absorbed "selfie" generation who couldn't let a day go by without a selfie. Sliding further, shoplifting, running stop signs & red lights, road rage, drive by shootings killing kids. Then the POTUS thought it was a good idea to let 10 million people into the country, some of whom are Chinese army, some cartel members, felons, mentally ill people, terrorists in waiting, todlers with no parents. The Secret Service is falling to pieces, the FBI was politicized. So it's easy to rationalize cheating in a fishing tournament. Very easy.
Yeah, Randy...how do you feel about that, especially the POTUS part?
Nailed it. He won't answer
I started back fishing this year after being away from the river for several years. Same stuff I used 15 years ago still works. Worm, crank bait, spinner bait, etc. These guys couldn’t catch a Bream without sonar.
Randy unfortunately the river is so beat up you honestly need ffs to catch fish there, yea u might catch a few but youll never compete with out it now on that place
I normally enjoy the videos but this one strikes me as complaining for the sake of complaining.
It has to be a good thing that someone got DQd for cheating. That can never be bad for BASS.
And I suspect the Johnston brothers can catch plenty of smallmouth without the use of Livescope. But if they are going to allow in the tournament how can you blame one of them for being disappointed when it stops working?
The problem is (in my opinion) is not Live scope or Rookies or Spot sitting... The problem is Social Media & the internet. If a BASS Elite Angler likes another Elites social media & hits that like button they are going to be accused of gathering information. And young anglers today have so much for knowledge at their fingertips and can process information quicker they don't need to spend as much time on the water. Randy, in all fairness, you didn't have to deal with Social Media "back your days". One last thing, kudos to Robert Gee for not letting either of the Johnston brothers get in his head on the final day. From every clip I have seen he was very gracious in his efforts and proud he was competing against "2 of the greatest smallmouth fishermen in the world" his words.
How about when he went and got Trey McKinney and told him come over here and pull up on Chris? That wasn't very ethical.
@@BassmasterStevenwhen he who?? And are you talking ethics or rules violations?? If someone did say hey go pull up on “X” I agree not ethical, but not a rule violation.
@@mikejuby270 interfering with another angler is a violation.
Gee
@@BassmasterStevenSo are you talking ethics? Or rules violations? Because from what I had seen from this weekend not a lot of ethics displayed by a lot of fishermen, but no rules violations either. And did see a lot of Grace given. But hey let’s focus on all the negativity
Not nearly as much cheating today as when you fished. When people staked out fish in boxes. Tied fish to docks and trees. People following the leader to steal his spot. People receiving fish from friends and relatives in the era of no cameras. Scuba diver hooking fish on for TV shows. Pros fishing with guides for days ahead of tournaments. People failed lie detectors regularly. FFS has brought honesty and integrity to the sport with good hardworking young anglers feeding their families.
Trey and JT are baby daddies??
BREAKING NEWS!!
I hope you're being sarcastic.
And this is why I no longer subscribe to Bassmaster
Your right and the comments sums it up. It's a new world and there's very little room for us old folks.
They are going to do what they want no matter what we think. 😢
@@johnparsons4332 sounds like what's going on in the nation!
Its ridiculous and ruining the sport you are 100% correct
Dick Garlock won a bunch tournaments off that same area those guys were fighting over back in the early 90s. Randy, you probably remember it. Only he did it because he was one hell of an angler.
Exactly Dick knew to actually lineup location. He was using a flasher, but the guy was deadly with a jig in his hands or spinner bait or jerk, bait, or crank bait.
I got paired with Dick Garlock on the St Lawrence a while back he had an aluminum boat with a swivel seat in it and it was rough out
I was hanging on for dear life 😂 so he looked over calm as could be and said hey you alright? I think he was like 80 and I was 35😂
@@frankmiller8021 That sounds like Dick.
You mentioned mark Zona, I heard Mark Zona is leaving BASS ? maybe ? I don’t know?
He is leaving
He’s sick of the FFS shit too
Tournament anglers don't care about following rules... They care about avoiding being caught. Integrity is a myth.
None of that crap was going down when Trip Weldon was in charge.
Trip was bad ass!
You got that right!
Plain and simple there is no spot on a public lake that belongs to any one. If someone is fishing in a spot you want to fish be a gentlemen and move on to another spot. But the minute they leave that spot anyone who wants to fish there is dead in there rights to fish there. And it would not end well for someone to pull up to me and say that they owned that spot. It doesn't seem to be that much of a deal with the weekend non tournament fisherman. Its these dang people that call there self , pros that the entitlement seems to kick in. Remember PROS when you travel out of your home town to fish a lake you are a GUEST that means you have respect for the people that fish that lake every week unlike you. Its amazing at the bad name the prose and tournament fisherman have given this sport. GROW UP AND BE AN ADULT or stay at home.
Well said
Randy in your opinion when should the Elite anglers mommy's stop driving them to the tournaments?
So many people forget, you lose skills when you don’t use them. Those who depend solely on electronics are upset because they’ve forgotten a lot of old school rules. Also, money feeds this generation completely!!!! Every man for himself. People used to help each other out. Those days are over with this generation. They make Bassmaster look like a joke that they are, in my opinion. My grandkids don’t cause this much drama. Literally a soap opera. LMAO!!! Sad generation. Parents need to see what they’ve made their children to be…..ME, ME, ME. Who gives a shit how they treat anyone else. Just my opinion. Great video Randy, as always.
Im sure drama happened during "Ray Scott," but social media, cameras, weren't readily available as it's now. Different times, different dime dropping. You had your brown nosers, knee droppers, and grey area anglers.
if BASS wont change things and stop the sonar stuff why wont someone start a new tournament avenue that is strictly for people who are actually trying to fish the way I grew up learning (and watching the pros) by learning what fish like what they do where they hang out and when---the bags might be lighter but oh the fun and satisfaction everyone would get out of a tournament like that----I remember when a fish hooked not in the mouth was not counted because it was considered foul hooked---the way that some of these guys rip lures through the water and snag fish in the side but can still count it is nuts to me also
Ray Scott was the Man. And Forest Wood.. the sport has never been the same. Clunn is done and Zona is done. Lots of change and honestly not for the better..
You really need to just stop whining about FFS. You aren’t offering any constructive or useful criticism.
Rick Clunn had an excellent response when he was asked about banning FFS. He said that you will never be able to call yourself the best if you ban FFS or refuse to use it. The best angler is somebody who is able to fish with and without it.
Then let them format some Elite tournaments that way: one with, one without in equal rotation during the year. Much more likely to find the REAL AOY that way.
@@rockytopkgthat would make perfect sense. It’s a much better option than just saying it needs to be banned
@@Darryl_P_ BASS and MLF have FAR too much revenue coming from companies that produce FFS to have the balls to ban it. A mixed format would let the true cream rise to the top. That might also help shut up people who have nothing better to do than complain about FFS 24/7/365.
@@rockytopkg you aren’t wrong there. The FFS market is huge and growing.
A simple mixed format and a transducer limit would be the best solution. Having 2,3, or 4 FFS transducers is ridiculous.
@Darryl_P_ i asked BASS if they could do something like that, they said that could be confusing for anglers 😂😂😂
Watching live sports exposes everything. Look at the drama in other sports? How many turn the tv off when a fight breaks out on the ice, court, or field? Humans can’t not look! It blows up everyone’s page and helps Randy and other like him to get views$ Perhaps on the water referees are in the future. Penalty…10 minutes no sonar! 10 minutes no mapping! Etc etc.
Maybe that’s Rick Clunn left bass, he got tired of all the B.S.
or hes old...
@@MrJNOTHUMYes, been doing this for 50 years.
Money changes everything. I just want to fish.
Crazy.....we now have bass fishing tournaments that dont include any actual bass fishermen. If youre using FFS and LS you arent a fishermen. If you cant fish successfully with out FFS and LS you arent a fisher, youre just another person out there with more money than sense.
Like you said at the beginning of the year Randy, every tournament would be won with FFS. They weren't only won, but just about anyone on the final day was using it, with maybe the exception of John Cox. And the childish BS that goes on now is reminiscent of professional wrestling. If changes aren't made, and soon, BASS will be on the way out.
I got second in an open to a guy with strong ties to the Bassmaster upper echelon. 4 people protested him and they said he passed the polygraph... I asked for the results but they never sent them. I quit after that. I'm not saying he cheated but it was fishy. The rules aren't perfect and the way they disseminate them, but I guess it's the best they can do. Still love the sport and think BASS still has the best events.
The tournament organizations deserve every bit of drama that has been happening. They care nothing for the anglers. It’s all about profits for them. It’s been like this since Ray Scott sold it. I was a victim of the poorly/disgracefully run BASS organization too. They sweep it all under the rug to save face and leave the innocent anglers out to dry with the guilty ones while doing nothing. Pathetic!
The spot arguments this tournament were about spot ownership based on tournaments in the past history! Finding fish in practice and during the tournament are one thing- but 'owning a spot' from years past is getting ridiculous.
They know more and understand FFS better than they do life
Mlf just sent out a survey on FFS rules for next year!
Spot stealing is the funniest pro trick out there, I've had it happen so many times on my home lake,I probably fished a 1000 times,or way more,or way point stealing, always something, I think in a year or two the ffs is going to be a nightmare for tournaments,as soon AI is in the comp box,nothing but jealousy and finger pointing, soap opera back stabbing.
Let’s fast forward about 10 years. Someone will figure out how to clone the way points from hundreds and hundreds of tournaments or hack winners phones and their GPS coordinates and generate a very successful app for bass fishing. Technology is outpacing the ability of tournaments directors . Much like navionics where you can download a specific lake , you will now have all of the previous spots where winners have caught their best fish. Hidden spots or secret locations will cease to exist and be accessible to any amateur that downloads the app and follows the Ai generated preferred plan of attack, all things will be factored in , weather, season, previous stressors, angles ability or lack of ability, just follow the game direction and you can succeed. I know that sounds crazy, but I said the same thing about FFS and look at how much success it has given young fishermen, time will tell whether it is sustainable
Well Randy we do agree on the process of how not to get DQ'd! Call the tournament director!! Duh! Oh recently several Anglers were catching largemouth not on FFS! I think that was Champlain though!
You really need to watch something before you comment on something.
Back when the flasher was introduced I bet you had some that were good and some that hated it simply because they didn’t know how to use it to keep up. Those were the ones that hated it. Just like today, with everything evolving the ones that adapt like it and the ones that are t good with it talk crap. The same enthusiasm for the FFS coming out was probably the same and the flasher. Different times same concept. Look at the cell phones. What was communicating like when the flasher was out and now look with FFS. It’s constantly evolving.
Ray Scott not being in charge is a big difference. Morales are not the same.
I like watching the tournament just to see the drama….could care less about the fish catching. 😂
Bassmaster is a dumpster fire
That's the problem hardly anyone follows the rules.
I have stopped watching Bassmaster. Even though I am a lifetime member.
Way too much drama ! Bass leadership needs to lead and drop the hammer !
How did you allow two brothers to fish the same tournament? You know they are going to help each other - Even if they have to use unethical means- Ethics means you have a sense of right or wrong- Illegal means breaking a law or rule- Remember the saying Blood is thicker than water- Pun intended!!
Im sure Trey got polygraphed because he is close friends with JT..... nothing more than that
Unfortunately it's the way the society in our country has gone.
Very sad.
First off, these rookies have 0 respect for the sport or the guys that have been doing this for year's.
Watching Gee bitch to Chris Johnston and then during the tournament stopping to tell other anglers to go fish on top of Chris!
If your leading your taking away fishing time to do that!?
And after every fish he poses for the camera?
Just by the amount of penalties this year, most by rookies is absurd.
Polygraph, buying way points , I never heard of this shit.
Even the announcers seem annoyed with the livescope Murphy saying at one point another over achieving rookie leading the tournament which has been theory the 3 years.
And Zona, saying his livescope is down, maybe he'll have to really fish now!
These guys are lost now without livescope!
This is really sad to watch.
Gee was leading the tournament and those Canadian dorks acted like Gee stole their waypoints in some kind of heist. Acted like they owned the whole fucking lake. Rolled in on THE LEADER. Thats so weak. Bunch of middle schoolers. If i’m leading a $100,000 tournament and two bitches roll in on me, im gonna be PISSED too. You would be too.
I am not a fan of Cory and Chris but I have very much respect for their ability. I have watched them grow up and fished against them for years. I would put money on either of them against whoever wether they can use ffs or not. They can fish old school, new school and compete anywhere they drop their boats.
Awwww poor babies can't catch a Bass without your video game.