I think when you take skill out of something it becomes worthless. I stopped watching all BASS/MLF. If I want to see someone stare at a screen I can drive around town and watch people drive.
Your comment indicates that you do not have a very good understanding for how FFS actually works or how difficult it is to master. Ask Matt Stephans about it . He is trying to master it because he knows he needs to to be competitive but continues tp struggle. Different does not equate to wrong no matter what randy says ...
Being able to learn and use your electronics to find and catch bass IS a skill. Just because you can't do it or afford it doesn't make you the judge. Congrats to the anglers who have worked hard to hone their fish catching SKILLS and be successful.
Its not only forward facing sonar that needs to be banned! Bass tournaments in general need to be limited on all of the lakes across this country. There are way too many tournaments on these lakes, way too much pressure!
Speaking as a local fisherman most of us pull our boats out of the water when there’s a tournament!!! They show up and think it’s their lake and no rules apply and are soooooooo damn rude to any other fishermen
It sounds like it may be time to gather up all the old pros and start your own tournament. A FFS free league of real fisherman. I agree with you 100%, all tech is not necessarily good tech. It is simple, FFS takes the "sport " out of fishing.
The 8lb bass caught was hooked in the mouth. The spoon snagged fish was a 4 lb fish. BUT...that fish was snagged in the back with a spoon and it was all done using ffs. That fish should've been released because it was snagged using a technique that is just like sight fishing a bedded bass.
The 8lb fish was not snagged, Goober! There was a 4lber snagged that people are talking about..This is exactly how shit gets spread, u have no clue of what your talking about !!
I was at Norfork Lake a couple months ago. Dude asked me what I was using. I showed him my Alabama rig and he said, “That’s kind of cheating, isn’t it?” I looked over at his boat and the dude had a live scope attached to the front…smh.
@@patriztau3499you’d be out $50 bud. It was older gentleman. Back in the day the A-rigs were always banned and looked down on. I’m assuming because of all the hooks idk. I just thought it was funny that a dude in his 60s or so would hold that old school value on A-rigs but not feel the same way about FFS. 🤷
The way to approach this issue, is at the State Fisheries dept level.,We all need to demand a public forum to discuss removing this from use. It is no different than other techniques banned for hunting , like use of drones, shining after dark, etc, it needs to end, This is a call to action, contact your state Dept of inland fisheries, NOW!
I have sent emails to Florida fish and wildlife to bring this to a stop before it decimates our bass fisheries here in Florida. Waiting for something back I don't care if I have to send a email every week I will this has to stop.
Randy, I totally agree with your thoughts on Forward facing sonar. I also think that the poor fishing over the last several years is also because there are 2 to 3 times the number of people fishing our lakes. I can’t go to a local lake without competing with at least 50 to 60 trailers in the parking lot. I go to my favorite cove and there are 3 or 4 boats there already. The bass have seen 15 to 20 lures that day before mine hit the water.
If you watched the angler that caught the 8-12 bass on Eufala, he was looking at his livescope unit, and his line was 45 degrees to the left of him. He saw the fish eat his lure. I totally agree with Randy and the other veteran anglers about this. The professional anglers that have put the time in honing their skills and craft don't deserve to lose due to a technology advancement. There has to be a line drawn in this sport, and FFS needs to be banned during any sanctioned competition .😊
So the guys that dominated years ago didn’t master 2D and side imaging?? Come on. Most guys criticizing FFS never used it because they would realize it’s not easy and is a skill! Go ahead with the comments that it’s not a skill. If you want to kill this sport then take it away because the only reason young anglers are interested is because of the technology its what they grew up with.. you have to adapt with the time or get passed by 🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️
I don't have anything against you, but if you can see fish in "real" time and see your bait in front of them, that's cheating. There is no exception, whether you like it or not. I have no problem with anyone using it, just not in tournaments for monetary gain! If you think it's okay, go fish a tournament without it and let me know how you do. Feel free to let me know when you do that and let me know how you perform. 😊
@@user-gn1dg8fs6e I am glad we can have an adult conversation about it, I am 44 years old so I have fished my whole life without it however I also adapt to the times and last time I checked it’s only cheating if it’s against the rules is bed fishing cheating because you can also see those in real time and that’s been happening since tournament fishing started. At the end of the day we’re all outdooorsmen and are going to have different opinions on a lot of things hope you enjoy the rest of your day I don’t want this to be an argument this is just my opinion you have the right to your opinion.
@@jonnycieslak I think the correct argument against it is that you can manipulate your bait in real time to get that fish to react which is apples to oranges vs traditional sonar. You can’t argue that it’s not a skill because it’s developed just like any other and the younger guys that started younger will have an advantage. Also I wouldn’t call it cheating in the true sense because it’s not against the rules.
U wouldn't believe how many seniors approach me and talk about what fishing WAS LIKE. A lot of the failure of fisheries in California is the cost vs benefit analysis that ultimately results in recreational fishing losing. I've talked to our city staff and they respond with their job is water management, NOT fisheries management, that responsibility falls on the state. And here in California we all know how the state is being managed. Yes, plan on moving out of Ca.in the future! California sucks!
BASS I thought was worried about conservation , when Ray Scott ran it , it’s sad what BASS is doing today , if they don’t stop it they won’t have any bass to catch on their shows
I have ffs and hardly use it because I end up fishing the way I've fished for the last 40 yrs. And I just don't like staring down at it so I wasted my $ I'm thinking. I would rather enjoy the nature around the lake while I fish. 🤔
I remember watching a tournament in California. Long time ago. State law (at least then) that if you don't hook the fish in the mouth you can't keep it. I don't expect states to "outlaw electronics" but Bass Master has to take a stand and go back to skill instead of electronics.
Randall, you need to understand that once you brought in 6, 7 and 8 th graders , juniors and then High School leading to college…..the days of getting out of High School becoming a carpenter, struggling for five years to make End meet and then finally making it into the professional levels of bass fishing after living in your car and struggling and not having any money to do anything, then making it, like a Cinderella story and being able to tell everybody for the rest of your life, you slept in your car and ate Doritos and finally made it as a professional bass fisherman, those days are over. Parents are buying kids bass boats in high school, parents are buying kids, Bass, Boats, and Trucks to send their kids to college. Live scope or not there is nothing you can do to stop that. It’s the way the sport is progressing.
Nothing like spending an entire life time becoming a superior fisherman at all the techniques to have some kid playing a video game come in and take over. These new guys are great at spotlight because it is a video game and they grew up playing video games that is all they do.
Livewells aren't the problem. Its the fish care that kills them. Not fizzing fish, keeping them in hot water, dropping them in the boat and stuff like that. But i do agree if doing away with Livewells would help solve the problem then im all for it.
@@DennisMorgan-ls8sc i would agree on that statement, nobody that bitches about FFS had a problem with spot lock so you could make the same cast to a school of fish. maybe all those anglers should be called LAZY also!
Agreed, they carry an official on the boat, have that person weigh and snap a picture and leave the fish where you found him/her. Absolutely zero reason to haul live fish around other than a photo op at the end. On Lake O in Florida, after every tournament dead bass everywhere. Stupid.
You want to see disturbing, watch the Chris Zaldain video, where he pulls up on the guy at Lake Murray. Changed my mind about him. I wont be watching his pod casts anymore.
Totally agree. What surprised the hell out of me is Chris had a second vid on the incident still doubling down like he was in the right. I bashed the hell outa Chris in the comments! He was 100% in the wrong. I undoubtedly unsubscribed after watching his pathetic actions with his encounter!
Agree! Zaldain definitely displayed a elitist attitude and is in the wrong. The locals were already fishing the point and Chris rolled up on them. I would be pissed as well. Most fisherman could care less if he was fishing a BASS Elite tournament. Zaldain has not had a top 10 finish the last 2 years and is probably feeling the pressure. Chris's wife Trait recently accused Trey McKinney of cheating on Lake Wheeler and blasted him on Twitter. Not sure if emotions are getting heated in their expensive RV or if the family money handouts is drying up. Regardless, both of these acts are very unprofessional and should be scrutinized by BASS.
Dude, so sorry that’s what it took for y’all to realize what a clown that guy is. Hearing him talk for 5 minutes on that god awful podcast convinced me years ago.
i can send my lure down and watch fish swim to it and eat it on a 7 inch hummingbird with no ffs people need to quit getting their feeling hurt because they cannot afford the technology yet.
People should take notice as some states are making trail cameras illegal as far as hunting goes. So be patient as it's coming. Just taking longer than we would like. Your comment on fishermen getting lazy looking for shortcuts. Well, isn't that our society in general, nobody wants to work for anything anymore. Everyone wants it on a silver platter!!! It's definitely frustrating!!!!
I have 1 year into this hobby. I spent the winter binging on the last 2 years of Randy's tips. I haven't had a skunk day since the pre-spawn, and I fish multiple times a week and go to the lake every weekend. I expect to get skunked at some point during the dog days, but Randy's seminars already have me catching like a veteran. Never used livescope. Kayak and bank fishing only. That's what shortened my learning curve...TH-cam tips.
Unfortunately, like too many things today, it may be about the almighty dollar. Follow the money and see how much money the equipment manufacturers pay MLF and Bassmaster and contribute to the purses. It is a real shame, real fisherman study the nuances, habits and weather to put together a stringer, while today's competitors just focus on a game console.
Have these fisherman started using stealth drones above and below the water along with ai targeting to win yet? That's coming unless people call for change.
Hey Randy I’m a new subscriber to your channel I like your content. I’ve never been much of a Bass fisherman I’m more of a crappie and catfish guy but I remember watching Bass back when Ray Scott was still around it I’m sure he would agree with you. Keep up the good work.
I'm your age or older randy.the world is not going to back up to make things better fir us.we nay not even be here the next 10 years. Its preparing for the young minds.we have to except the future technology gets better not worse.
Roland Martin won this event in 1972 with 62-13 lbs. Pretty much no electronics, fast boat, best gear ever, and conservation we have today. I tried to find more recent records to compare differences, hard to find them on this lake.
They had one on Eufaula OK in 1972. If I remember, Houston was 2nd. My Dad was 17th. They fished an area that is no longer accessible by boat due to silt from the river. That was a 10 fish limit also. The old lake was only 3-4 years old then. It's a far different lake now. About the only shoreline cover now is docks unless it's 3 ft high.
We have failed the younger generations coming up. Living wages, affordable housing, trophies for everyone! It’s no wonder they want to take the easiest way possible. WE TAUGHT THEM TO TAKE THE EASIEST WAY!
Randy, I've been watching your channel for a few years now. Thanks for all the knowledge on fishing. Why don't you start your own tournament series? If you build it, they will come...
Wow. Just because you don't like the color red doesn't mean you need to keep railing against it. This same rant has gotten Very Old. IF forward facing is detrimental to fishing, (?) the DNR will ban its use on their body's of water - period, and it might not be tomorrow, but it will happen if it needs too. And that's where I stand, as I'll use my FF unit until the DNR says I can't for their conservation reasons. You said they have reduced creel limits on one lake for crappie, but that's because people keep and eat the crappie, where the bass fisherman for the most release their catch, which is a clear and positive difference. The last time I can recall ever seeing anyone with a "stringer of bass" was only in photos back in the 1960s". You say that the young angler isn't learning anything using forward facing vs the old man's way of how he had to do it (like myself), by spending countless hours fishing where there are no fish till ya' finally figure it out, and that's only if they ever do. Well, FF is changing that for the better as they won't spend their only day to fish on the weekends, fishing the shore line or a point when the fish have moved for instance, which has sped their learning curve into hyper speed. You don't think they're going to learn where the fish are in the spring vs summer vs fall vs winter, or any other reason by using FF. I'll argue, they'll learn faster than ever !? It would be ridiculous to think not. And what's wrong with tournament weight in's being higher than in the past? And what's different in watching the back of someone's head fishing a long point or a flat in the middle of the lake then someone peering at their screen while Forward Facing !? Your entire argument seems to boil down to, or end with, "because they haven't put in the time". I'm also willing to bet that many people that comment on their hate of FF don't own, or can't afford FF, and have never used it, never realized how hard it actually is, and think it's as easy as a playstation. I mean no disrespect in your opinion, it's just different from mine.
I noticed a comment on an earlier video by a fisheries biologist that claimed something to the effect that maybe YOU don't need a study to know the fisheries are declining, but THEY do. Well, that may be true normally, but it is my belief that FFS is an anomaly that needs to be handled differently. I actually abhor government intervention in our lives normally, but we do of course need laws and regulations, and this is one time where the agencies in charge need to admit that their normal pace of study is inadequate to deal with the effect of FFS. We cannot wait for 10 years of study to deal with this, but I have no faith that they will change their ways. They will insist they there is no other way and we should shut up and let them do their endless research. By then the only people catching any fish will be those equipped with FFS, which most people cannot afford. There may even be the same volume of harvest, but I hope they realize all the fish are caught by 15 guys with $10,000 worth of sonar.
Randy, that is not what I see. I see a LOT of the fishermen staying up in the top 20 with the same people, like Hank Cherry, and J. Lucas, przniak,. You are blinded by your bias. Take a good look at the top 40 in each tourney. You will recognize more than not.
Omg, you said guys are saying over the last 2-3 years it’s become harder to catch bass and it’s because spotlighting? You’ve lost your mind now. Fishing has gone downhill over the last 15 plus years because the amount of pressure and the internet. Omg bro. Dumb words...
Why work for decades when you can have have it all handed to you. Hard work is a thing of the past. Bring back Hard working AMERICANS before it’s too late.
As a seasoned walleye fisherman, I see the impact to that species... Too many times, I'm out there, watching people chasing them down staring at the screens. This year, has by far, been the worst year for walleye fishing that I've had in a long time.
I agree with you. I don’t have any electronics and I still can get fish in the boat. If I don’t catch them, we’ll, I just say “that’s why they call it fishing and not catching”.
Well Randy, I tried to watch it long enough to see how their using the scope,it's the first time I've seen it used to the side going down a dock flipping between boats,look down flip,look down flip,every boat,on a split screen, four butt's and twelve screens,after an hour I was totally done,you can't make watching paint dry a valid sport.
Randy, Hear, Hear. You are spot on with this. I don't watch MLF or BASS anymore because of the Scopers, who do nothing now but look at their monitors the whole time they are fishing. As long as the sponsors have a say in the management of both leagues, there will be no stopping this. The only way to prevent future use of FFS in tournaments is for all the Pros to pull together and speak out against this technology being used in tournaments. The reality is that they may stop FFS use in the Pro Leagues, but all the mom & pop leagues and all the recreational bass fishermen will continue using them because, as you say, it's quick gratification and being lazy without working hard to hunt and actually use various presentations to catch bass. Pretty soon, bait casters will be obsolete, and you'll need one fairy rod on your boat along with FFS to catch bass. The trend is already happening. You've seen an increase in spin casters and a decrease in bait caster sales.
I'll never fish another tournament ever again until they ban it. I think fishing like that is not only cheating but boring. I refuse to do it. I will also never fish beds. Tournaments need to stop with the spawn Tournaments and spotlighting.
Randy, give it five years. Mother nature always corrects itself. Our generation pushed the bass offshore by fishing shallow. This generation is going to push them back to the shallows.
Between spotlighting and the formation of MLF muddying the waters as to which league is the highest level of competition, I stopped even paying attention to professional fishing.
It’s NOT CHEATING when everyone is allowed to use it. If you’re already a professional, it’ll only make you better. It’s so salty, to say they’re cheating…you actually have the advantage
It's having a negative impact on the fishing population. FFS is worse than cheating as a whole imo. Bag limits are going to be dropping all over the place.
Just learn to use it. Bass fishing has always been an sport that has evolved over time. Your buddy needs to put the time and learn it. FFS has taught us that bass behavior is not what we were feed by bass master and im 58 yrs old. When i started the flasher was it. I enjoy these new electronics dont want to go back to flashers. 12 volt trolling motors, 2 stroke motors its called progress and we never go backwards.
another side to this, those companies that have invested millions in this is not going to sit back and let a group of old school anglers muddy up their pool, if you know what i mean. i mean this is Military tech that has been declassed, so you know there are lobbiest involved somewhere down the line
The spotlight kids aren’t fishing. That’s the difference. They are run and gunning just like a 13 year old kid on an Xbox. What they are doing is not fishing. Aren’t pros. And are disrespecting the sport the fish and every person with a working brain. That level of technology isn’t allowed in any other sport.
Very true. I fished a tournament this morning and got beat by a 14yo and 16 to kids. No disrespect but all they talked about was using live scope all day and how they saw everyone they caught. Take that away and all they're catching is bluegills.
@@zimks it's not whining it's making a point. Without the cheater box they wouldn't know what to do. I fish with my teenage son and we do it old school we fish where we think fish are I'm not where we can see them on a screen in Open water. You take away livescope these bassmaster and elite tournaments numbers would reduce by 60%
The only way to get rid of FFS will be to start a separate circuit that does not use FFS. Bassmasters won’t change but you might be able to create a better alternative.
Professional bass fishing will go the way of NASCAR. Only rich kids will be able to compete ! Such a great sport is becoming unwatchable. They have video game rooms on TH-cam with more action.
I'm sure randy buddy you want read this but maybe others will 1. if bass to mlf does not satisfy you are folks then START YOUR OWN "" DONT say it takes money yep so does buying Gas food so on but use your platform to raise are get partners...""" now I'm not a live scope guy ok before I text number 2 2. live scope makes lakes worst WRONG no it does not if the population is going down means a few things water quality limits are to high bass not laying eggs u do know math don't lie people do so let's do numbers if one bass lays one egg that survive until they lay eggs then one bass over 5 years is over 264 bass added by one bass in 5 years I'm sure you guys don't catch all bass on beds say a lake is 50,000ac that's millions of bass so you guys catch millions of bass in spawn months no no no no so I say this to end it START YOUR OWN TOUR FIRST OK I HELP I OWN A COMPANY STARTED WITH 3 FOLKS NOW I HAVE RIGHT AT 4,000 PEOPLE.. SO HERE ENTRY FEE IS 1,200 FIND 100 FOLKS TO DO THAT PER TOUR DO 8 A YEAR ok 1st 30,000 2nd 10000 3rd 8000 4th 6000 5th 5000 6th 4000 7th 3000 8th 2500 9th 2300 10th 2100 11 to 30 2000 that will leave yall about 8000 for stuff per tournament with any sponsor helping out as sponsor comes on board then u can pay more FACT IS your pay out better than all tours with entry fees only 1,200 and u pay at almost 24.59% to winner bass and mlf is only around 18.4963% way better AGAIN IF THE BALL PARK YOU PLAYING IN IS OWN BY SOMEONE ELSE THEN BUILD YOUR OWN STOP COMPLAINING AND DO IT IF NOT THEN SHUT UP ABOUT IT
Technology and money is all that seems to matter these days 😢we are having to many tournaments here on Gaston lake NC/VA and it’s killing the fishing. I’m only 44 and I can see a big change in bass fishing and it’s not a change for the good either 😢
I was explaining FFS to my 76 year old dad and he was blown away that FFS is legal because he said that’s unfair to the bass and dangerous to fish populations, he said that’s not fishing or what fishing is about! I was telling him how they should ban it for tournaments and recreational fish all together and he said absolutely because that will ruin the sport! I can’t agree more
100 % agree. As a novice, new to kayak fishing, I’ve entered two local tournaments, but I’m intimidated by many of the anglers who have the latest technology, specifically live scope. I can’t compete with that and figure, why throw my money away on a tournament fee when I have no chance of competing with the “big boys?” I’d be interested in participating in a tourney with a level playing field and no electronics allowed.
I would be mad too if I was a pro that has always fished traditionally and was always high in the points standings then all the sudden spot lighting comes along and butchers their standings. But the tournaments don’t care about true pro fishermen legacies they only care about how fat their pockets can get.
With age comes wisdom. Respect your elders. The problem is these 2 morals are lost in Pro fishing newbies. Once that wisdom is lost , it can never be brought back. Us old geezers are lucky to have learned from previous generations. All of us would love to pass it on.
Randy instead of saying it's like spotlighting, it's really more like using a Thermal Scope. Ofcourse we get the point either way but it is about the same as, just saying.
Agree 100% I’ve been an avid Bass fisherman for years and have watched Bassmasters and MLF for years and when ffs came out I told anyone that would listen it’s gonna ruin the sport!! I’m talking when Rick Clunn for instance was a rookie!!Thats how long I’ve been following the sport!! Keep the videos coming Randy🙏🏼
For anyone wanting to see what happened, go watch the final weigh in. The stage interviews were a mess. I was shocked to hear what I heard about the difficulty in scoping from these guys. BASS should give them some talking points!
I know you don’t like fishing Florida, but our fisheries are so much more fucked than anywhere in the country. It’s so much bigger and more complicated than FFS. Our current Administration has reduced the funding so much that nothing, let me repeat NOTHING is being enforced in Florida.
BASS and MLF have a target to lower the average membership age and average age of tournament participants. They call it "growing the sport". To survive as a corporation they have no choice. Livescoping plays right in to this. It allows teenagers to become relevant in a sport where they wouldn't have a prayer. BASS has an agenda and it's not in the long term best interest of our fisheries.
Respect. That is what I have said before. People get upset over FFS because those that use it, are disrespecting and taking advantage of OUR fish! They act as if they are the only ones who count. That is why it is so personal.
I'm a walleye guy from wi. My last tourney i saw so many 20 pound weights it was crazy. Thing is a lot of us never heard of these guys. I talked to one. He had a crick in his neck from looking down!!. Livescope just aint right.
@@zimks that was day 1. We've finished as high as 14th in that 350 boat event. Been fishing it since 86. No sour grapes here. It's just these guys i've never heard of and big time electronnics. I'll be 77 soon and don't wanna quit until i'm 80. Been fishing this lake since i was 12 with my dad. Maybe younger. Just not going to spend that kind of money.
@@fisherguy719 so if you heard of there name back in 86, those are the only guys that should do well for the rest of history right, god forbid new people come into the sport do good right? lol y’all crack me up, everybody at some point in history was a nobody
@@zimks well, i know and knew plenty of young guys. Darn good sticks too!! Even taught them a thing or two. It's just the live scoping stuff i don't like. Too many short cuts for me. Like i said, no sour grapes here, i'm no the jealous type. I'll still be out there. Still have a few tricks up my sleeve. Tight lines to ya.
I've fished for over 5 decades. This technology is ridiculous. I have a friend whom I've been teaching how to bass fish. He has recently been putting the pieces of knowledge together and doing better at catching. We were fishing a lake last week and saw a very young man with FFS. He hit the areas we had already fished. We anchored and watched him for a short time. His eyes never left his screen. He caught those fish. I explained to my friend how the ffs works etc... he now understands just how easy ffs makes catching fish. He was in the fence of wanting one for his boat, but now realizes just how bad it is for the sustainability of our fisheries. I rarely miss catching fish when I'm out. I use my knowledge gained over the years. If I don't catch anything, I'm happy for the fish. They out did me. Your topic and facts discussed in this video solidify what we know about FFS. Turning our headway and trying to deny it, doesn' help.
Well randy don't know witch is worse FFS or fishing the hell out of coves were big fish hang out but then you got these weekend bass tournaments that fish every dock catch fish put in livewell then haul these fish around in a tiny livewell till weigh in far from wear these bass were cought half die or never make it back to wear they were these fish were cought I really think that is really messing up the fish big time like come to ur house put a photo sack over ur head drive you miles away from ur house then tell you good luck finding ur way back lake Conroe is way messed up from way to many bass tournaments on the lake close to 150 /200 tournaments a yr on lake Conroe just in less then 5 yrs huge change in the bass fishing on lake Conroe or any dam lake catch n release right wear you catch the dam bass not haul around all day in small ass livewell then take to weigh in other side of the lake then let back in the lake their water Temps n high 80s low 90s tiny livewell haul around all dam day not good BASS TOURNAMENTS NEED TO CATCH N RELEASE RIGHT WEAR THE BASS WAS COUGHT
I feel bad for the all the coanglers that are getting screwed in these events. It used to be a great learning experience for them but now it’s just a waste of time and money.
Still yet to hear a valid reason for FFS use Pro events! Other than it would hurt the tech companies feelings. Completely eliminates individual skill strength! Forces every angler to use 1 technique just to complete. It’s absolutely ridiculous! And even more ridiculous than normal on a mud pit like Eufala. Pro tours aren’t even competitive fishing. If u have to work harder to watch ur screen closer to see it right in front of the fishes mouth because the water is muddy, ur just not fishing. That’s cheating.
Okie here born and raised.. I grew up fishing eufaula in and around blocker oklahoma at grandma's property as well.. learning patterns, what to use and when is what bass fishing needs to be! The forward facing sonar needs to be banned! Or it needs to be used in select tournaments! I'm going to prague lake to fish in the morning in my kayak. I don't use any fish finders although I wouldn't mind one for the depth..I enjoy the challenge of tracking the fish.. Anyways subscribed to your channel enjoy your tips and old school fishing demeanor..
Do you think the historical anglers you mention / mentioned would place well in a tourney without FFS? I do not. In fact, I think they would get crushed.
I am seeing snaggers now with forward facing sonar. They stay in one spot sometimes for hours, three feet from shore, yanking the lure over their head again and again until they finally snag a bass laying on it's spawning bed. I don't fish tournaments but find it hard to believe if this practice is legal.
Thanks, Randy. My comment doesn't really relate to your point of the video, but (3:52) you're simply not going to recognize as many names in the top 20 of these open tournaments. Most of the recognizable names are in the Elite Series or Bass Pro Tour.
Then I should be able to use a chainsaw in a wood chopping competition. It’s only fair because I’ve never chopped wood with an axe before, 😂. All BS aside the live scope/FFS should be outlawed for fishing in general and especially for competitive fishing.
One of the arguments is that not many people can afford it. After fishing this weekend at one of my local lakes, there must be alot of rich people. We watched boat after boat launch with it, even a 12' Jon boat and a kayak had FFS. It is kind of expensive but not unaffordable which makes the problem even worse. It will be standard equipment shortly and I don't think it can be stopped.
Well said, all your points are right on. The cigarette analogy and reducing the number of transducers or FFS units is right on. I've been making tackle and designing fishing tackle over 40 years and every point you make in this video are true. The tackle business has always been successful and driven by new exciting inovatioin and discovery of new techniques. That's all gone if all you need is a couple of plastics and FFS. Your points are valid, keep up the good fight brother.
You really are dropping the hammer down on live scope. I love it. Keep it up. Bring back the tradition of fishing ✌️
That is why I stopped watching Bass tournaments on TV . It is a shame what has happened to the sport.
I agree!
I think when you take skill out of something it becomes worthless. I stopped watching all BASS/MLF. If I want to see someone stare at a screen I can drive around town and watch people drive.
Ha! Yes.
Your comment indicates that you do not have a very good understanding for how FFS actually works or how difficult it is to master. Ask Matt Stephans about it . He is trying to master it because he knows he needs to to be competitive but continues tp struggle. Different does not equate to wrong no matter what randy says ...
Being able to learn and use your electronics to find and catch bass IS a skill. Just because you can't do it or afford it doesn't make you the judge. Congrats to the anglers who have worked hard to hone their fish catching SKILLS and be successful.
Sounds like you should strap a livescope on your bow and go win that 100k!
Exactly. I laughed at the other folks who commented on your comment! Blah blah blah! About how spotlighting IS a skill!! 😂😂😂
Its not only forward facing sonar that needs to be banned! Bass tournaments in general need to be limited on all of the lakes across this country. There are way too many tournaments on these lakes, way too much pressure!
@@carynp26 you think it's bad know?how bout the 90s
Facts there tournrnaments every week
Speaking as a local fisherman most of us pull our boats out of the water when there’s a tournament!!! They show up and think it’s their lake and no rules apply and are soooooooo damn rude to any other fishermen
It sounds like it may be time to gather up all the old pros and start your own tournament. A FFS free league of real fisherman. I agree with you 100%, all tech is not necessarily good tech. It is simple, FFS takes the "sport " out of fishing.
I emailed BASS about starting a Legends Tour with no FFS on competition days. Heard nothing from them.
Dude that one snagged an 8lber with a spoon while looking at it on Livescope. Fish should not count!
A lot of foul hooked fish getting counted lately.
The 8lb bass caught was hooked in the mouth. The spoon snagged fish was a 4 lb fish. BUT...that fish was snagged in the back with a spoon and it was all done using ffs. That fish should've been released because it was snagged using a technique that is just like sight fishing a bedded bass.
@DatGuy960 dude even with live scope you can't really snag them lol spoons are just prone to snagging fish in general.
The 8lb fish was not snagged, Goober! There was a 4lber snagged that people are talking about..This is exactly how shit gets spread, u have no clue of what your talking about !!
@TGossOutdoors Yes u can
I was at Norfork Lake a couple months ago. Dude asked me what I was using. I showed him my Alabama rig and he said, “That’s kind of cheating, isn’t it?” I looked over at his boat and the dude had a live scope attached to the front…smh.
I'll take things that didn't happen for $50
@@patriztau3499you’d be out $50 bud. It was older gentleman. Back in the day the A-rigs were always banned and looked down on. I’m assuming because of all the hooks idk. I just thought it was funny that a dude in his 60s or so would hold that old school value on A-rigs but not feel the same way about FFS. 🤷
Randy back in the PAPERGRAPH DAYS BACK IN THE EARLY SEVENTIES YOU COULD SEE YOUR FISH ON THE GRAPH suck your bait?
Big money
Van Dame saw the writing on the wall & called it quits before the bottom fell out. Between this & $100k boats can’t even participate no longer.
Kvd had a 150 k boat
The way to approach this issue, is at the State Fisheries dept level.,We all need to demand a public forum to discuss removing this from use. It is no different than other techniques banned for hunting , like use of drones, shining after dark, etc, it needs to end, This is a call to action, contact your state Dept of inland fisheries, NOW!
Agreed 💯
I have sent emails to Florida fish and wildlife to bring this to a stop before it decimates our bass fisheries here in Florida. Waiting for something back I don't care if I have to send a email every week I will this has to stop.
Its already happening.... I heard Louisiana is considering a ban on the tech.
Randy, I totally agree with your thoughts on Forward facing sonar. I also think that the poor fishing over the last several years is also because there are 2 to 3 times the number of people fishing our lakes. I can’t go to a local lake without competing with at least 50 to 60 trailers in the parking lot. I go to my favorite cove and there are 3 or 4 boats there already. The bass have seen 15 to 20 lures that day before mine hit the water.
💯 agree, it’s no different from hunting with a drone with a thermal scope,
Takes the sport out of it. It’s no longer fishing, it’s catching.
Add high fence hunting to the list. How can anyone be proud of shooting an animal inside a fence?
If you watched the angler that caught the 8-12 bass on Eufala, he was looking at his livescope unit, and his line was 45 degrees to the left of him. He saw the fish eat his lure. I totally agree with Randy and the other veteran anglers about this. The professional anglers that have put the time in honing their skills and craft don't deserve to lose due to a technology advancement. There has to be a line drawn in this sport, and FFS needs to be banned during any sanctioned competition .😊
It should be banned permanently for all fishing. The minimum that should happen is reducing limits especially on crappie.
So the guys that dominated years ago didn’t master 2D and side imaging?? Come on. Most guys criticizing FFS never used it because they would realize it’s not easy and is a skill! Go ahead with the comments that it’s not a skill. If you want to kill this sport then take it away because the only reason young anglers are interested is because of the technology its what they grew up with.. you have to adapt with the time or get passed by 🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️
I don't have anything against you, but if you can see fish in "real" time and see your bait in front of them, that's cheating. There is no exception, whether you like it or not. I have no problem with anyone using it, just not in tournaments for monetary gain! If you think it's okay, go fish a tournament without it and let me know how you do. Feel free to let me know when you do that and let me know how you perform. 😊
@@user-gn1dg8fs6e I am glad we can have an adult conversation about it, I am 44 years old so I have fished my whole life without it however I also adapt to the times and last time I checked it’s only cheating if it’s against the rules is bed fishing cheating because you can also see those in real time and that’s been happening since tournament fishing started. At the end of the day we’re all outdooorsmen and are going to have different opinions on a lot of things hope you enjoy the rest of your day I don’t want this to be an argument this is just my opinion you have the right to your opinion.
@@jonnycieslak I think the correct argument against it is that you can manipulate your bait in real time to get that fish to react which is apples to oranges vs traditional sonar. You can’t argue that it’s not a skill because it’s developed just like any other and the younger guys that started younger will have an advantage. Also I wouldn’t call it cheating in the true sense because it’s not against the rules.
I used to get up at 4 am every day. Took the first couple years of retirement to learn to sleep until 7.
Good old days are gone
😢
W that attitude, yes
U wouldn't believe how many seniors approach me and talk about what fishing WAS LIKE. A lot of the failure of fisheries in California is the cost vs benefit analysis that ultimately results in recreational fishing losing. I've talked to our city staff and they respond with their job is water management, NOT fisheries management, that responsibility falls on the state. And here in California we all know how the state is being managed. Yes, plan on moving out of Ca.in the future! California sucks!
BASS I thought was worried about conservation , when Ray Scott ran it , it’s sad what BASS is doing today , if they don’t stop it they won’t have any bass to catch on their shows
@BodyWeightStrong wait till every public angler has FFS , game over
I have ffs and hardly use it because I end up fishing the way I've fished for the last 40 yrs. And I just don't like staring down at it so I wasted my $ I'm thinking. I would rather enjoy the nature around the lake while I fish. 🤔
I remember watching a tournament in California. Long time ago. State law (at least then) that if you don't hook the fish in the mouth you can't keep it. I don't expect states to "outlaw electronics" but Bass Master has to take a stand and go back to skill instead of electronics.
There is most deinfitley skill involved with electronics buddy. Prior to livescope no one really cared.
Noone saying outlaw electronics goober!
Randall, you need to understand that once you brought in 6, 7 and 8 th graders , juniors and then High School leading to college…..the days of getting out of High School becoming a carpenter, struggling for five years to make End meet and then finally making it into the professional levels of bass fishing after living in your car and struggling and not having any money to do anything, then making it, like a Cinderella story and being able to tell everybody for the rest of your life, you slept in your car and ate Doritos and finally made it as a professional bass fisherman, those days are over. Parents are buying kids bass boats in high school, parents are buying kids, Bass, Boats, and Trucks to send their kids to college. Live scope or not there is nothing you can do to stop that. It’s the way the sport is progressing.
Nothing like spending an entire life time becoming a superior fisherman at all the techniques to have some kid playing a video game come in and take over. These new guys are great at spotlight because it is a video game and they grew up playing video games that is all they do.
Iam all for banning FFS but they also need to ban keeping fish in live wells as well if we are trying to save fishery!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Livewells aren't the problem. Its the fish care that kills them. Not fizzing fish, keeping them in hot water, dropping them in the boat and stuff like that. But i do agree if doing away with Livewells would help solve the problem then im all for it.
@@DennisMorgan-ls8sc i would agree on that statement, nobody that bitches about FFS had a problem with spot lock so you could make the same cast to a school of fish. maybe all those anglers should be called LAZY also!
Very well said…
Agreed, they carry an official on the boat, have that person weigh and snap a picture and leave the fish where you found him/her. Absolutely zero reason to haul live fish around other than a photo op at the end. On Lake O in Florida, after every tournament dead bass everywhere. Stupid.
@@AshStomper72yes, especially in the heat. And now there is a tournament 5 times a week on every lake in the country.
Randy, you are spot on. Unfortunately it’s probably here to stay. To much money involved for to many people.
You want to see disturbing, watch the Chris Zaldain video, where he pulls up on the guy at Lake Murray. Changed my mind about him. I wont be watching his pod casts anymore.
Totally agree. What surprised the hell out of me is Chris had a second vid on the incident still doubling down like he was in the right. I bashed the hell outa Chris in the comments! He was 100% in the wrong. I undoubtedly unsubscribed after watching his pathetic actions with his encounter!
Agree! Zaldain definitely displayed a elitist attitude and is in the wrong. The locals were already fishing the point and Chris rolled up on them. I would be pissed as well. Most fisherman could care less if he was fishing a BASS Elite tournament. Zaldain has not had a top 10 finish the last 2 years and is probably feeling the pressure. Chris's wife Trait recently accused Trey McKinney of cheating on Lake Wheeler and blasted him on Twitter. Not sure if emotions are getting heated in their expensive RV or if the family money handouts is drying up. Regardless, both of these acts are very unprofessional and should be scrutinized by BASS.
Dude, so sorry that’s what it took for y’all to realize what a clown that guy is. Hearing him talk for 5 minutes on that god awful podcast convinced me years ago.
Yeah I unsubscibed as soon as I seen it. He's an entitled prik
@@TeamTriton86iin
So live scope legal, live bait not? And the difference?
When one can put a bait right on a fish’s nose, that’s not a depth finder, that’s a video camera!!!
i can send my lure down and watch fish swim to it and eat it on a 7 inch hummingbird with no ffs people need to quit getting their feeling hurt because they cannot afford the technology yet.
@@thermanparker much less efficiently and not in real time
@@Basscater81 i mean depends on your idea of efficient limit out on any fish sounds efficient to me! Tight lines brother!
@@Basscater81 also there is a sec delay but master it and your just as efficient as ffs quit worrying about your fellow man and go fish.
@@thermanparker then why isn’t everyone doing this?
If FFS is considered a cheat box, what is the 250 outboard on the back considered?
People should take notice as some states are making trail cameras illegal as far as hunting goes. So be patient as it's coming. Just taking longer than we would like. Your comment on fishermen getting lazy looking for shortcuts. Well, isn't that our society in general, nobody wants to work for anything anymore. Everyone wants it on a silver platter!!! It's definitely frustrating!!!!
I have 1 year into this hobby. I spent the winter binging on the last 2 years of Randy's tips. I haven't had a skunk day since the pre-spawn, and I fish multiple times a week and go to the lake every weekend. I expect to get skunked at some point during the dog days, but Randy's seminars already have me catching like a veteran. Never used livescope. Kayak and bank fishing only. That's what shortened my learning curve...TH-cam tips.
Whats the difference between catching them on a dock or out deep w sonar?
Unfortunately, like too many things today, it may be about the almighty dollar. Follow the money and see how much money the equipment manufacturers pay MLF and Bassmaster and contribute to the purses. It is a real shame, real fisherman study the nuances, habits and weather to put together a stringer, while today's competitors just focus on a game console.
Have these fisherman started using stealth drones above and below the water along with ai targeting to win yet? That's coming unless people call for change.
Many of these college anglers will admit that without the scope they have no idea how to catch a bass. Ridiculous!
Hey Randy I’m a new subscriber to your channel I like your content. I’ve never been much of a Bass fisherman I’m more of a crappie and catfish guy but I remember watching Bass back when Ray Scott was still around it I’m sure he would agree with you. Keep up the good work.
I'm your age or older randy.the world is not going to back up to make things better fir us.we nay not even be here the next 10 years. Its preparing for the young minds.we have to except the future technology gets better not worse.
Roland Martin won this event in 1972 with 62-13 lbs. Pretty much no electronics, fast boat, best gear ever, and conservation we have today. I tried to find more recent records to compare differences, hard to find them on this lake.
I believe that was lake you Eufaula Alabama not Oklahoma
@@randyblaukatintuitive I looked again says OK.
They had one on Eufaula OK in 1972. If I remember, Houston was 2nd. My Dad was 17th. They fished an area that is no longer accessible by boat due to silt from the river. That was a 10 fish limit also. The old lake was only 3-4 years old then. It's a far different lake now. About the only shoreline cover now is docks unless it's 3 ft high.
@@cchrisfish773 I see I was not aware of that
We have failed the younger generations coming up. Living wages, affordable housing, trophies for everyone! It’s no wonder they want to take the easiest way possible. WE TAUGHT THEM TO TAKE THE EASIEST WAY!
Randy, I've been watching your channel for a few years now. Thanks for all the knowledge on fishing. Why don't you start your own tournament series? If you build it, they will come...
Wow. Just because you don't like the color red doesn't mean you need to keep railing against it. This same rant has gotten Very Old. IF forward facing is detrimental to fishing, (?) the DNR will ban its use on their body's of water - period, and it might not be tomorrow, but it will happen if it needs too. And that's where I stand, as I'll use my FF unit until the DNR says I can't for their conservation reasons. You said they have reduced creel limits on one lake for crappie, but that's because people keep and eat the crappie, where the bass fisherman for the most release their catch, which is a clear and positive difference. The last time I can recall ever seeing anyone with a "stringer of bass" was only in photos back in the 1960s".
You say that the young angler isn't learning anything using forward facing vs the old man's way of how he had to do it (like myself), by spending countless hours fishing where there are no fish till ya' finally figure it out, and that's only if they ever do. Well, FF is changing that for the better as they won't spend their only day to fish on the weekends, fishing the shore line or a point when the fish have moved for instance, which has sped their learning curve into hyper speed. You don't think they're going to learn where the fish are in the spring vs summer vs fall vs winter, or any other reason by using FF. I'll argue, they'll learn faster than ever !? It would be ridiculous to think not.
And what's wrong with tournament weight in's being higher than in the past?
And what's different in watching the back of someone's head fishing a long point or a flat in the middle of the lake then someone peering at their screen while Forward Facing !?
Your entire argument seems to boil down to, or end with, "because they haven't put in the time".
I'm also willing to bet that many people that comment on their hate of FF don't own, or can't afford FF, and have never used it, never realized how hard it actually is, and think it's as easy as a playstation.
I mean no disrespect in your opinion, it's just different from mine.
I noticed a comment on an earlier video by a fisheries biologist that claimed something to the effect that maybe YOU don't need a study to know the fisheries are declining, but THEY do. Well, that may be true normally, but it is my belief that FFS is an anomaly that needs to be handled differently. I actually abhor government intervention in our lives normally, but we do of course need laws and regulations, and this is one time where the agencies in charge need to admit that their normal pace of study is inadequate to deal with the effect of FFS. We cannot wait for 10 years of study to deal with this, but I have no faith that they will change their ways. They will insist they there is no other way and we should shut up and let them do their endless research. By then the only people catching any fish will be those equipped with FFS, which most people cannot afford. There may even be the same volume of harvest, but I hope they realize all the fish are caught by 15 guys with $10,000 worth of sonar.
They only do whats best for the corporations and themselves. Govt always puts whats best for the people or nature last.
You are the tip of the sword on this topic. Keep on it. I cant believe more OG pros aren't speaking up about this.
Randy, that is not what I see. I see a LOT of the fishermen staying up in the top 20 with the same people, like Hank Cherry, and J. Lucas, przniak,. You are blinded by your bias. Take a good look at the top 40 in each tourney. You will recognize more than not.
Omg, you said guys are saying over the last 2-3 years it’s become harder to catch bass and it’s because spotlighting? You’ve lost your mind now. Fishing has gone downhill over the last 15 plus years because the amount of pressure and the internet. Omg bro. Dumb words...
Why work for decades when you can have have it all handed to you. Hard work is a thing of the past. Bring back Hard working AMERICANS before it’s too late.
As a seasoned walleye fisherman, I see the impact to that species... Too many times, I'm out there, watching people chasing them down staring at the screens. This year, has by far, been the worst year for walleye fishing that I've had in a long time.
I agree with you. I don’t have any electronics and I still can get fish in the boat. If I don’t catch them, we’ll, I just say “that’s why they call it fishing and not catching”.
Well Randy, I tried to watch it long enough to see how their using the scope,it's the first time I've seen it used to the side going down a dock flipping between boats,look down flip,look down flip,every boat,on a split screen, four butt's and twelve screens,after an hour I was totally done,you can't make watching paint dry a valid sport.
All the fishi g pressure from all tournaments is the biggest problem
very true
Randy, Hear, Hear. You are spot on with this. I don't watch MLF or BASS anymore because of the Scopers, who do nothing now but look at their monitors the whole time they are fishing. As long as the sponsors have a say in the management of both leagues, there will be no stopping this. The only way to prevent future use of FFS in tournaments is for all the Pros to pull together and speak out against this technology being used in tournaments. The reality is that they may stop FFS use in the Pro Leagues, but all the mom & pop leagues and all the recreational bass fishermen will continue using them because, as you say, it's quick gratification and being lazy without working hard to hunt and actually use various presentations to catch bass. Pretty soon, bait casters will be obsolete, and you'll need one fairy rod on your boat along with FFS to catch bass. The trend is already happening. You've seen an increase in spin casters and a decrease in bait caster sales.
Spot lighting??? Is that Live scope? I cant belive the crying going on over this.
I'll never fish another tournament ever again until they ban it. I think fishing like that is not only cheating but boring. I refuse to do it. I will also never fish beds. Tournaments need to stop with the spawn Tournaments and spotlighting.
Randy, give it five years. Mother nature always corrects itself. Our generation pushed the bass offshore by fishing shallow. This generation is going to push them back to the shallows.
This shows how little the modern pros know about fishing.
Livescope is actually showing us how little the old pros actually knew about fish behavior. Thats why it’s so threatening to them.
Between spotlighting and the formation of MLF muddying the waters as to which league is the highest level of competition, I stopped even paying attention to professional fishing.
It’s NOT CHEATING when everyone is allowed to use it. If you’re already a professional, it’ll only make you better. It’s so salty, to say they’re cheating…you actually have the advantage
It's having a negative impact on the fishing population. FFS is worse than cheating as a whole imo. Bag limits are going to be dropping all over the place.
Just learn to use it. Bass fishing has always been an sport that has evolved over time. Your buddy needs to put the time and learn it. FFS has taught us that bass behavior is not what we were feed by bass master and im 58 yrs old. When i started the flasher was it. I enjoy these new electronics dont want to go back to flashers. 12 volt trolling motors, 2 stroke motors its called progress and we never go backwards.
another side to this, those companies that have invested millions in this is not going to sit back and let a group of old school anglers muddy up their pool, if you know what i mean. i mean this is Military tech that has been declassed, so you know there are lobbiest involved somewhere down the line
The spotlight kids aren’t fishing. That’s the difference. They are run and gunning just like a 13 year old kid on an Xbox. What they are doing is not fishing. Aren’t pros. And are disrespecting the sport the fish and every person with a working brain. That level of technology isn’t allowed in any other sport.
Sir Randall you are much respected and appreciated
Very true. I fished a tournament this morning and got beat by a 14yo and 16 to kids. No disrespect but all they talked about was using live scope all day and how they saw everyone they caught. Take that away and all they're catching is bluegills.
Can’t imagine whining on the internet about losing to kids at a tournament
@@zimks it's not whining it's making a point. Without the cheater box they wouldn't know what to do. I fish with my teenage son and we do it old school we fish where we think fish are I'm not where we can see them on a screen in Open water. You take away livescope these bassmaster and elite tournaments numbers would reduce by 60%
@@gohoosgo75 it’s definitely whining lol just like Randy you know nothing about any of these guys, you just like to rim Randys hole…
The only way to get rid of FFS will be to start a separate circuit that does not use FFS. Bassmasters won’t change but you might be able to create a better alternative.
Hey randy, since you followed the tournament so closely, what did the anglers that finished 2nd, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th throw?
Professional bass fishing will go the way of NASCAR. Only rich kids will be able to compete ! Such a great sport is becoming unwatchable. They have video game rooms on TH-cam with more action.
I'm sure randy buddy you want read this but maybe others will
1. if bass to mlf does not satisfy you are folks
then START YOUR OWN
"" DONT say it takes money yep so does buying Gas food so on but use your platform to raise are get partners..."""
now I'm not a live scope guy ok before I text number 2
2. live scope makes lakes worst WRONG
no it does not
if the population is going down
means a few things
water quality
limits are to high
bass not laying eggs
u do know math don't lie people do
so let's do numbers
if one bass lays one egg that survive until they lay eggs then one bass over 5 years
is over 264 bass added by one bass in 5 years
I'm sure you guys don't catch all bass on beds
say a lake is 50,000ac that's millions of bass
so you guys catch millions of bass in spawn months
no no no no
so I say this to end it
START YOUR OWN TOUR
FIRST
OK I HELP I OWN A COMPANY STARTED WITH 3 FOLKS NOW I HAVE RIGHT AT 4,000 PEOPLE..
SO HERE
ENTRY FEE IS
1,200
FIND 100 FOLKS TO DO THAT PER TOUR
DO 8 A YEAR
ok
1st 30,000
2nd 10000
3rd 8000
4th 6000
5th 5000
6th 4000
7th 3000
8th 2500
9th 2300
10th 2100
11 to 30
2000
that will leave yall about 8000 for stuff per tournament
with any sponsor helping out
as sponsor comes on board then u can pay more
FACT IS
your pay out better than all tours
with entry fees only 1,200
and u pay at almost 24.59% to winner
bass and mlf is only around 18.4963%
way better
AGAIN IF THE BALL PARK YOU PLAYING IN IS OWN BY SOMEONE ELSE THEN BUILD YOUR OWN
STOP COMPLAINING AND DO IT
IF NOT THEN SHUT UP ABOUT IT
Live scoping is essentially just bed fishing year round.
There should be absolutely no sonar or fish finders at all. Just a topographical map of the lake
Technology and money is all that seems to matter these days 😢we are having to many tournaments here on Gaston lake NC/VA and it’s killing the fishing. I’m only 44 and I can see a big change in bass fishing and it’s not a change for the good either 😢
I was explaining FFS to my 76 year old dad and he was blown away that FFS is legal because he said that’s unfair to the bass and dangerous to fish populations, he said that’s not fishing or what fishing is about! I was telling him how they should ban it for tournaments and recreational fish all together and he said absolutely because that will ruin the sport! I can’t agree more
The thrill is gone - the element of surprise is gone - might as well play video games.
100 % agree. As a novice, new to kayak fishing, I’ve entered two local tournaments, but I’m intimidated by many of the anglers who have the latest technology, specifically live scope. I can’t compete with that and figure, why throw my money away on a tournament fee when I have no chance of competing with the “big boys?” I’d be interested in participating in a tourney with a level playing field and no electronics allowed.
I would be mad too if I was a pro that has always fished traditionally and was always high in the points standings then all the sudden spot lighting comes along and butchers their standings. But the tournaments don’t care about true pro fishermen legacies they only care about how fat their pockets can get.
With age comes wisdom. Respect your elders. The problem is these 2 morals are lost in Pro fishing newbies.
Once that wisdom is lost , it can never be brought back. Us old geezers are lucky to have learned from previous generations.
All of us would love to pass it on.
Randy instead of saying it's like spotlighting, it's really more like using a Thermal Scope. Ofcourse we get the point either way but it is about the same as, just saying.
It's no difference than bed fishing, which everyone does
I dont
I dont
Agree 100% I’ve been an avid Bass fisherman for years and have watched Bassmasters and MLF for years and when ffs came out I told anyone that would listen it’s gonna ruin the sport!! I’m talking when Rick Clunn for instance was a rookie!!Thats how long I’ve been following the sport!! Keep the videos coming Randy🙏🏼
It’s gotta be hard going through life being disturbed so easily 😂
For anyone wanting to see what happened, go watch the final weigh in. The stage interviews were a mess. I was shocked to hear what I heard about the difficulty in scoping from these guys. BASS should give them some talking points!
The Good old days are gone. Get over it! Retire, move on,
Just ban tournaments already.
Nah. Just ban cash prizes. Nobody's going to cheat like this for a trophy.
@@coyotesmile8972 Don't bet on it.
Agreed
I know you don’t like fishing Florida, but our fisheries are so much more fucked than anywhere in the country. It’s so much bigger and more complicated than FFS. Our current Administration has reduced the funding so much that nothing, let me repeat NOTHING is being enforced in Florida.
BASS and MLF have a target to lower the average membership age and average age of tournament participants. They call it "growing the sport". To survive as a corporation they have no choice. Livescoping plays right in to this. It allows teenagers to become relevant in a sport where they wouldn't have a prayer. BASS has an agenda and it's not in the long term best interest of our fisheries.
Truth
Under high school age kids are tournament fishing now. I'm not surprised there are 19 year old pros now.
You are singing the exact same song the professional photography industry sang 20+ years back when DSLR's and the digital sensor hit mainstream.
Respect. That is what I have said before.
People get upset over FFS because those that use it, are disrespecting and taking advantage of OUR fish! They act as if they are the only ones who count. That is why it is so personal.
I'm a walleye guy from wi. My last tourney i saw so many 20 pound weights it was crazy. Thing is a lot of us never heard of these guys. I talked to one. He had a crick in his neck from looking down!!. Livescope just aint right.
😂 if you can’t catch a 20 pound walleye bag in WI without livescope you just suck
@@zimks that was day 1. We've finished as high as 14th in that 350 boat event. Been fishing it since 86. No sour grapes here. It's just these guys i've never heard of and big time electronnics. I'll be 77 soon and don't wanna quit until i'm 80. Been fishing this lake since i was 12 with my dad. Maybe younger. Just not going to spend that kind of money.
@@fisherguy719 so if you heard of there name back in 86, those are the only guys that should do well for the rest of history right, god forbid new people come into the sport do good right? lol y’all crack me up, everybody at some point in history was a nobody
@@zimks well, i know and knew plenty of young guys. Darn good sticks too!! Even taught them a thing or two. It's just the live scoping stuff i don't like. Too many short cuts for me. Like i said, no sour grapes here, i'm no the jealous type. I'll still be out there. Still have a few tricks up my sleeve. Tight lines to ya.
Sorry for stupid question ...is the term snagging a fish the same as foul hooking a fish ?
Yes
@@jaym8257 thanks there, still learning some terms used in USA.
I've fished for over 5 decades. This technology is ridiculous. I have a friend whom I've been teaching how to bass fish. He has recently been putting the pieces of knowledge together and doing better at catching.
We were fishing a lake last week and saw a very young man with FFS. He hit the areas we had already fished.
We anchored and watched him for a short time. His eyes never left his screen. He caught those fish. I explained to my friend how the ffs works etc... he now understands just how easy ffs makes catching fish. He was in the fence of wanting one for his boat, but now realizes just how bad it is for the sustainability of our fisheries.
I rarely miss catching fish when I'm out. I use my knowledge gained over the years. If I don't catch anything, I'm happy for the fish. They out did me.
Your topic and facts discussed in this video solidify what we know about FFS. Turning our headway and trying to deny it, doesn' help.
Well randy don't know witch is worse FFS or fishing the hell out of coves were big fish hang out but then you got these weekend bass tournaments that fish every dock catch fish put in livewell then haul these fish around in a tiny livewell till weigh in far from wear these bass were cought half die or never make it back to wear they were these fish were cought I really think that is really messing up the fish big time like come to ur house put a photo sack over ur head drive you miles away from ur house then tell you good luck finding ur way back lake Conroe is way messed up from way to many bass tournaments on the lake close to 150 /200 tournaments a yr on lake Conroe just in less then 5 yrs huge change in the bass fishing on lake Conroe or any dam lake catch n release right wear you catch the dam bass not haul around all day in small ass livewell then take to weigh in other side of the lake then let back in the lake their water Temps n high 80s low 90s tiny livewell haul around all dam day not good
BASS TOURNAMENTS NEED TO CATCH N RELEASE RIGHT WEAR THE BASS WAS COUGHT
Sad. I’m so glad I grew up when it took you to learn the skills to catch bass. Sad these young guns don’t know how to catch them
I feel bad for the all the coanglers that are getting screwed in these events. It used to be a great learning experience for them but now it’s just a waste of time and money.
Still yet to hear a valid reason for FFS use Pro events! Other than it would hurt the tech companies feelings. Completely eliminates individual skill strength! Forces every angler to use 1 technique just to complete. It’s absolutely ridiculous! And even more ridiculous than normal on a mud pit like Eufala. Pro tours aren’t even competitive fishing. If u have to work harder to watch ur screen closer to see it right in front of the fishes mouth because the water is muddy, ur just not fishing. That’s cheating.
Okie here born and raised..
I grew up fishing eufaula in and around blocker oklahoma at grandma's property as well.. learning patterns, what to use and when is what bass fishing needs to be! The forward facing sonar needs to be banned! Or it needs to be used in select tournaments!
I'm going to prague lake to fish in the morning in my kayak. I don't use any fish finders although I wouldn't mind one for the depth..I enjoy the challenge of tracking the fish..
Anyways subscribed to your channel enjoy your tips and old school fishing demeanor..
Change of times.......went out this morning.... didn't even turn on a unit... caught 8 keepers....had a great day
Great post, every other boat on the lake using ffs didn’t affect your day one bit.
They are changing it from fishing to catching! Put them on a lake with just a plain ole graph and see what happens!
What is spot lighting?
Mark my words, somebody will come up with a "Bare Bones" tourny trail. Just a flasher or downscaning sonar.. 150hp max . It will be well recieved.
Do you think the historical anglers you mention / mentioned would place well in a tourney without FFS? I do not. In fact, I think they would get crushed.
I am seeing snaggers now with forward facing sonar. They stay in one spot sometimes for hours, three feet from shore, yanking the lure over their head again and again until they finally snag a bass laying on it's spawning bed.
I don't fish tournaments but find it hard to believe if this practice is legal.
Thanks, Randy. My comment doesn't really relate to your point of the video, but (3:52) you're simply not going to recognize as many names in the top 20 of these open tournaments. Most of the recognizable names are in the Elite Series or Bass Pro Tour.
Then I should be able to use a chainsaw in a wood chopping competition. It’s only fair because I’ve never chopped wood with an axe before, 😂. All BS aside the live scope/FFS should be outlawed for fishing in general and especially for competitive fishing.
One of the arguments is that not many people can afford it. After fishing this weekend at one of my local lakes, there must be alot of rich people. We watched boat after boat launch with it, even a 12' Jon boat and a kayak had FFS. It is kind of expensive but not unaffordable which makes the problem even worse. It will be standard equipment shortly and I don't think it can be stopped.
Well said, all your points are right on. The cigarette analogy and reducing the number of transducers or FFS units is right on. I've been making tackle and designing fishing tackle over 40 years and every point you make in this video are true. The tackle business has always been successful and driven by new exciting inovatioin and discovery of new techniques. That's all gone if all you need is a couple of plastics and FFS. Your points are valid, keep up the good fight brother.
Thx man!