There have been study’s One in PA was little over 40%. 22% if culled later in the day. There is another case study that track the bass to see where they go after and it wasn’t good.
@@DennisMorgan-ls8sc that is no where near the same as FFS. If you're lucky enough to see schooling bass it's a surprise, you didn't know they were there. That's part of the magic.
With the cost of a ''basic'' bass boat, accessories and electronics. It has left the regular guy behind and not cost effective. Fishing in general, and especially bass fishing, has become an unattainable sport for a lot of people who would like to get a boat and basic electronics and not have to win the lottery to do so. Gone are the day's of the ''true'' fishermen.
Well said! We had a guy in our club for a few years who had a CRAPPY old boat, but his electronics package was made up of everything Humminbird offered. The boat was worth MAYBE $5,000 and he had probably $15K worth of electronics! It definitely didn't help him in the catching fish department at all!
I am 25 and personally prefer going down the bank or graphing over a brush like with 2D and down image and then backing off and firing in there and seeing what bites. No FFS needed. Takes the fun out of it. I’d take a square bill or a topwater going down a seawall no electronics on the boat over anything too. It’s just plain simple fun.
Bass fishing to me will always be pulling up to a nothing looking bank and finding 3-5lb bass stacked on the little grass line that you don't know is there.
We’ll articulated! Bassmaster & pro-fisherman have been hijacked by high tech sonar companies! This is more about $$$ than a passion for the sport! My greatest fishing memories go back decades when the sport was dependent on personal knowledge, experience, and passion!
What about all the good ole boys coming on stage and thanking Rapala or whatever sponsor they represent and saying how great their lures are when In fact they caught their fish on a classic wiggle wart that’s not even made anymore!
These major circuits receive A LOT of $ from the likes of Garmin, Lowrance and Humminbird They are not going to ban it. But they had no issue banning the A-Rig because they weren’t pouring in the big bucks.
randy i may not agree with everything you say, but the part where you said "those fish need that water out there where they can get out there and live undisturbed." many hunters know these as sanctuary areas and understand how vital they are to protecting the resource you are hunting. very well said and with this sir, i could not agree more.
I could honestly care less about the tournament results, but the ffs has ramped up the catch rates to the point that it has to be impacting the bass. Toss in the fact that they continue to hold tourneys during spawning times and the bass have no chance. This is akin to making hunting season year round, allowing guys to spotlight deer, and removing the take limit.
I'm 78 years old I learned about that mystery and magic sitting in the bottom of a12 ft. Wooden boat,leaking wooden boat ,with a 3 ft piece of line tied to my finger with piece of worm on a hook. 4yrs. Old that's when the mystery and magic began,and still does to this day, ffs is bullshit we don't need it period
I cut my teeth bass fishing on the shore line of lakes in my area back in the early 80's. Tossing spinnerbaits to bass in the weedbeds. We couldn't afford a boat. I had a Abu Garcia 5000, 12lb test Stren, and 5'-6" Boron pistol grip rod. Back then, my fishing buddies said I was cheating with that spinnerbait. LoL, how times have changed.
That was way before tournament fishing and the lakes were full of fish. Tournament fishing is more of a harm than livescope. If Randy were really concerned for the fish he would be preaching to stop tournament fishing all together. That would require him to get a real job though. Without this livescope arguing every other day, he has little to nothing to talk about and gets no clicks. No clicks = getting a real job. Livescope has saved him from getting a real job, lets face it. He should be praising Garmin, not cussing them.
Technology in graphs could get so advanced that graphs could tell where the top 20 biggest fish in the lake resides down to precise location. So all fishermen will wait in line to make a cast at just those fish at any given moment. And guys will argue that it's right and ethical.
Yup, just clicked on BASS live from Texas. Guy watching fish on a screen cheering them on "oh come on ,oh he just missed it " TURNED IT OFF. Nothing to see here !
Why is that all these old losers are the ones complaining. They did it with the past with 2D sonar and now technology is now to advance for them to learn. All I see is a bunch of complaining from the older guys and they are the ones ruining it for the sport.
@@Kojo-co7xjim 25 nobody wants to see dudes watching a screen fishing for bass if your a pro you shouldnt need ffs. Most people cant afford a nice bass boat much less ffs. Its lame asf and boring to watch
@@1100blake Then you should be hip enough to know that they were watching screens 10 years ago. How about this, cal bass and lobby for them to have the anglers read you bedtime stories again and tell you more falsehoods about bass behavior so you feel warm and cozy inside. Or you can watch what’s happening and learn more about fish behavior in 30 seconds than you have ever known your whole life in blind casting . But that would take critical thinking skills
@@JohnSmithFFS i watch screens at home i dont go fish to watch tv. Might as well hook your vr headset up to see your fish finder since your basically playing a video game. Fishing is about getting into nature using your instincts and knowledge to find the fish, ffs take all the tradition and fun out of the sport. Blind casting isnt so blind if you actually know what your doing and know how to fish.
@@1100blake Of course you come back with the laziest reply possible. Please explain how you aren’t using your instincts or knowledge? You think it takes instinct or knowledge to blind cast in 5 feet of water? You think because Randy flys off with the mouth that gives you license to dj the same. But I’ll wait for your reply of how it removes the skill and knowledge. After I nuke that, I’ll nuke your next conspiracy theory.
Let's get back to the skill and know how of fishing. Learning the right spots at the right time and make it challenging and fun again for all. There's more than enough information in books, magazines and on the internet for anyone to become a good or better angler. As well as anglers like you Randy who are willing to share experience to help bring up new anglers an help us get better. Thank you for all you do!
Did you ever think all that info we were force fed was just bulls-t to get us to buy the latest and greatest tackle! They are catching 30lb bags of bass on an oversized crappie jig and jerkbaits.
@johneverly-oz5nj there is definitely propaganda involved in a lot of it. Most people I've learned from have been pretty straight forward. I've found things that work for me just by trying new gear and techniques.
This is bigger than Bass & MLF. Think of crappie & perch populations that most people are catching to eat. (Brood stock needs protected) at some point you'll say remember back when we caught fish? (Buffalo, wolves etc.) Dept. Of Natural resources is the one really sleeping on this one....
have a friend who couldnt catch a bass or crappy in a 5gallon bucket with fish grippers on both hands.....until ffs rolled in.........hes been murdering the crappy for 2-3 years......he laughs at how easy it is.
@@bobbyswain7049 it's a shame that's its gotten this bad! Most of the guys fishing tournaments now wouldn't be in that position without their technology!
I have many problems with this topic..... crappie are definitely getting hammered... sitting ducks! Where I am yellow perch creel limit has gone from 100 to 50 to 30 and now 10 per day (could be environmental commercial fishing? But add this into the mix and what's next?.... as far as tournament fishing goes if I live trap an animal in my back yard it is illegal for me to relocate that animal. Yet fisherman are permitted to haul fish around for hours and then relocate them and potentially disrupt another ecosystem.... again DNR is sleeping or lobbyists with deep pockets are doing their JOB!!!
If you are catching that many fish to eat, you are also the problem. A few to eat a month sure, if you are cathing 50 crappie or perch a week to feed a family, you are going to wipe out the population
As a relatively moderate angler, I can tell you how frustrating it is to watch a ton of videos with dudes catching monster bass, and me not being able to afford the equipment they use, I was looking forward to the day when I could get my hands on new equipment. But, this video has changed my outlook and have made me realize how satisfying it is, though few and far between, when I land a nice fish using the skills that I have acquired over the years. Thank you for your insight, true knowledge from an old school fisherman 🙏🏾
Randy I don’t agree with you much, but you fight and don’t give up. I respect that. I fish boat ramp tournaments occasionally and fish more traditional ways early mornings then finish off scoping. I enjoy it and feel it gives me a full day fishing.
I've been a fan of your Randy for years, and love the TH-cam channel. Out of all the great videos you've made this is perhaps the best one to date! Makes so much sense and all great facts.
If you are a "pro", FFS should NOT be needed...it's bad enough as an illegitimate piece of equipment for any angler in the sport of fishing, let alone anglers considered "pro level"
Me and my dad has discovered the last 3 to 4 yrs the fishing has gotten very hard to ever have a great day. It's like the fish is gone from traditional spots.
Randy, I applaud you for all the knowledge you have provided the fishing community. We are of the same era. I refuse to watch an angler watch a screen. I still watch the Ray Scott Bassmaster's.
Randy, you are 100% right! You hit ALL the points. Its purely driven by money. I quit tournament fishing decades ago just because I started seeing things evolve. Conservation was going away then and its way beyond gone at this point.
Keep up the good work Randy, as a senior fisherman I still remember learning to fish in a small pond in the field. I still feel that magic today when I hook a big smallmouth using my brain to find and catch them. Nothing is as fun as hunting Smallies and putting together a pattern based on daily and seasonal conditions. I always look at electronics as a tool to find depth and structure, not fish. To each his own but if I had to decide it would be no FFS in tournaments.
The only good I can see with FFS is if someone is hungry and just fishing for the food. If you’re fishing for the sport of it, then keep it just that, no FFS is needed for the sport of fishing.
I think pro fishing should be old school... I've said for years that for pros should us depth sonar only....How good of a fisherman are you.... Someone should start another league of no graph tournaments
I honestly believe many of the guys that have retired in the last few years, have done it at least partially because of FFS. (KVD included if the truth were known.)
@@JohnSmithFFS got a couple young guys in our club that I’ve been helping over the last 3-4 years, they have started fishing with those FFS and they are doing really good and getting a check now days. They told me they don’t pattern fish anymore! It’s not a sport to some of these guys anymore!
Would Ray Scott allow FFS…HELL NO!!! There a QUOTE in Bassmaster magazine from Ray Scott when aqua view come out…He said any Pro caught using BANNED FOR LIFE!!! The strongest point to make on this question on FFS…would RAY SCOTT allowed FFS this happen to BASS?
Great video and well spoken. I fish tournaments out west and I have seen about half of these great competitors and wonderful people quit tournaments all together because of forward sonar. It's a shame. Keep up the great videos.
I agree and also works the same way with the PWT and crappie tournaments. I am in a multi species fishing league and the leaders are bass fishermen with forward facing and live imaging. I will have to join them!!!!
I'm 70 years old after watching Chris zaldans video I has very depressed about my chance to catch fish anymore with my old 2d sonar just feel like I probably don't have a chance they'll all be hooked at least once before
@@bobbyswain7049 I think some of them know they wouldnt be there with out but also know ffs os a laughing stock so they try to act like they dont like it Ik one pro that cant. Catch a fish with out it
I hate ffs because I used to be good offshore the Don iovino ways. Now that half the boats are chasing fish with ffs it has changed the fish behavior without a doubt.
Most are complicit by not saying a damn thing. Now look most are irrelevant. I bet they didn’t think it would happen as fast as it did but it’s over for most of them. They are now obsolete in the Bass fishing world.
Absolutely. They are, and have always been, the ones who influence trends in technique, tackle, equipment, etc for recreational anglers. I wish we’d ban it not just for tournament fishing, but for recreational angling as well. The latter is where the greater impact will be down the road as the technology advances and becomes cheaper and more widely adopted by casual anglers
It is generally that way with a lot of sportsman oriented issues- these guys just have an aversion to speaking up! No wonder environmentalists treat sporting men like their little beatches! Too many hunters and fishermen are too timid to fight back- even when being attacked by a cancer from within!
Everything you said needs to be heard before it's to late. Behind you 100 per cent. Traditional bass fishing is one of the greatest adventure you will ever have in a lifetime. Don't miss it. Thank you Randy for trying so hard to save it.
Randy you and Greg are dead on! I played basketball in College at a pretty high level and can truly say i love the game. I been kayak tournament fishing for 5 years now and what i see is people dont love the sports of bass fishing, they love catching bass. Good luck Randy
Agree! I've seen too many young anglers that don't respect the fish. Flipping 5lbers back into the water, slapping them on the belly, keeping them out of the water forever...etc. They just like catching, not the magic of fishing.
Randy.. was talking to a friend with one of the big three forward facing sonar companies and they are testing having a menu that anglers can enter the waypoint, lure weight and color used and depth and the unit will add clarity and temperature. All of the will upload through gps to the maker of the units and then AI builds an algorithm that units can download back to all fisherman combing millions of input data to tell you exactly where to go and what to use etc
That is 100% correct! When the organizers start losing viewers (lost me a long time ago) then they will realize it's effecting their bottom line, something will change Garmin et. al, can throw tons of money at them, but if no on e is seeing their commercials it doesn't mean crap.
As a $178 Lifetime kayak fisherman, I love FFS. I don't use it but it keeps all the bourgeois fisher folk in the middle of the lake. I got the banks and the bayous all to myself. They are bound to run the fish back up here sooner or later.
This is possibly my favorite video. The fact you talk about the bass out in the deep offshore that need to be protected. I think it is very important as well. That's what keeps our fisheries healthy. Then they go out there and start ripping fish from deep undisturbed waters. It's killing the fish.
Randy there’s an other aspect to this forward face sonar subject,The public use this for meat catching and on my lake I’m seeing it already,These same people never followed the rules on daily catches and now it’s become the Wild West,If the individual states band it,It’s game over !
Another approach that might stop it is an assessment of the impact on the bass population. If determined to be negative then that would outweigh the money factor.
I am new to strictly bass fishing in an area of the country, N.Georgia, that is very different than the inland lakes of Michigan where I grew up. I have many years of experience fishing multiple types of fish. I bit the bullet last year and bought FFS. I use it as a tool to learn to enhance my skills and knowledge of fish habitat/reaction to techniques. I still implement maps, pressures, temps, winds etc. ffs is helping me to understand what and why. This being said… I think that once anglers get to the elite pro level that it should be restricted. Maybe even allow during practice days. Many other sports use mass amounts of technology during preseason and practice. However, Training pants have to come off and fish with knowledge/experience on game day…
@@jedmeadows6226 sooo… for catching more fish being electronically seen and targeted that normally wouldn’t be pressured…Which means also you support ffs when it fits specific criteria. Thank you for supporting the same opinion I have.
I tried live scope the other day. I couldn't believe the amount of bedding fish I could detect in 4' or less from ten foot on the edge of lilly pads on lake Seminole. I went back at night with a spot light and verified the beds. It was amazing how accurate it was.
I’m 71 years old, been fishing most of my life, my dad and fished out of a aluminum boat with a trolling motor on the back , he used a 6 foot paddle as a depth gauge, then we moved up to bigger boat and motor an newer electronics, now at 71 , I can’t afford the newer boats and all the electronics, fishing is supposed to be fun and relaxing . I watched the MLF in Alabama this weekend, the fisherman were watching their FFS to catch these big bags of fish !
There is a lake in Northern Montana that has walleye tournaments. On April 27 of this year the one day total for 5 fish was 60.35 lbs. I've talked to a few of the anglers in yrs past as the weights keep getting higher and higher. These guys will spend two hrs following a big walleye around until they get him.. That's an average of just over 12lbs per fish.. just three yrs ago the average was around 43-46lbs.. all forward facing sonar weights..largest fish was 14+lbs..
Something I started thinking about with FFS is 10-20 years from now,these younger guys/kids that use FFS won't have any memories of the fish they've caught while using it I can guarantee it
Things are turning Randy. Just like in the dangerous video you could see it in their faces all the veteran pros. I also saw the video that you were talking about this morning. Frustration was on his face. I know for a fact that if they banned front-facing sonar tomorrow if you listen carefully you would hear a giant sigh of relief. Let's go !
@@randyblaukatintuitiveI watched the weigh-ins last night not live and several of the seasoned vets voiced their opinions on ffs. I was proud to hear it from those guys. I know there are others that feel the same way that didn't voice their opinion but maybe baby steps will eventually get us there. Thank you for your videos and being our voice of reason sir! I agree with you completely and I will continue to help fight the good fight and keep watching your videos! Thank you for trying to help make bass fishing like it was meant to be!!
@@BassmasterStevenbro are u watching the same thing I am yes they are using ffs in 8 foot to catch em lol maybe a couple guys are catching blind casting and guess where they are in 90th place
I really like what I heard on your video. The best is the analogy between spot lighting deer and forward looking sonar. I totally agree that 90% of todays bass anglers are so desperate to be better than Bill Dance, Roland Martin and Rick Clun just to name a view of the great anglers they have jumped on the forward facing sonar because it is no doubt taken a lot out of the sport and turned it into a video game which by the way they grew up playing. Sports are not video games but tests of your knowledge and ability to put this together.
Randy, I have FFS on my boat. I'm 61 and I use it only for finding structure. So, don't get angry, BUT the same subject was also about sight fishing on bedding bass. Better sunglasses, fluorocarbon, plastic dyes, mapping systems, and really sonar I can see my line go down below the TM. All this was in your day. Was it banned then, No. Tell me you never sight fished. You would be lying. Also mapping, setting a wave point at each bedding bass you found. Sight fishing still used today, so what's the difference? See the bass, throw a lure until it takes it. Yes, I agree that it should not be used in derbies. But it's not going away. Better get use to it.
I think all the electronics and radars and all this other stuff todays Fisherman depend on it too much these days and I don’t use any of it and I catch a ton of fish. I feel that the old way without all electronics all is a true angler way.
I totally agree with Randy on this post. But more importantly, I believe that the states should make the limiting laws. IMHO any vessel equipped with FFS must by law; Immediately release all sport fish caught. Be allowed only one lure per angler in the water. No soft plastic baits. No live bait. Only one hook per lure. Only barbless hooks. Only lead free lures. This is what is done in the Yellowstone and Grand Teton national forest lakes for all fishing.
One elite pro is experimenting with VR googles. No need to even look at a screen. Just turn on the googles. He said he’s not using them in practice but that’s where everything is heading.
Fella just got fined for using a webbed glove to get a better grip on the steering wheel in nascar! Keep a great pastime turned sport what it was and it will last forever. Right now it’s quickly turning into one of those memories you only tell your kids about.
The problem with some of the older pros is they let their pride get into their decision making. As they continue to lose they will start to change their tune. Some are starting to complain the other direction a little bit now. Randy is right
I’ll tell you this I love the way John Cox fishes basic trolling motor basic boat basic electronics and he’s a hammer.
He would out fish any of them without ffs. He is a Hammer
The real issue with bass is catch, weigh, and release. How many of these giant bass being caught are dying at the weigh in?
There have been study’s One in PA was little over 40%. 22% if culled later in the day. There is another case study that track the bass to see where they go after and it wasn’t good.
Exactly. Tournament anglers are worse than commerical fisherman. What gives them the right to make careers by utilizing OUR public resource?
All tournament organizations need to adopt the weigh and release policy.
Exactly
The era of blind casting and guessing is over, in my eyes that’s not real bass fishing. This new era is good for the sport
I always felt that the excitement of fishing came from the fact that my Quarry is invisible.
Exactly
@@DennisMorgan-ls8sc that is no where near the same as FFS. If you're lucky enough to see schooling bass it's a surprise, you didn't know they were there. That's part of the magic.
100% well said!@@Traylors_outside
@@DennisMorgan-ls8sc even more so. You see those fish for a fleeting few seconds
@@DennisMorgan-ls8sc FFS sees fish 24/7 365... little bit different! If you want to compare apples with apples, i'm all ears
With the cost of a ''basic'' bass boat, accessories and electronics. It has left the regular guy behind and not cost effective. Fishing in general, and especially bass fishing, has become an unattainable sport for a lot of people who would like to get a boat and basic electronics and not have to win the lottery to do so. Gone are the day's of the ''true'' fishermen.
Well said! We had a guy in our club for a few years who had a CRAPPY old boat, but his electronics package was made up of everything Humminbird offered. The boat was worth MAYBE $5,000 and he had probably $15K worth of electronics! It definitely didn't help him in the catching fish department at all!
I am 25 and personally prefer going down the bank or graphing over a brush like with 2D and down image and then backing off and firing in there and seeing what bites. No FFS needed. Takes the fun out of it.
I’d take a square bill or a topwater going down a seawall no electronics on the boat over anything too. It’s just plain simple fun.
You are spot on! Glad to hear that from a young man!!
Bass fishing to me will always be pulling up to a nothing looking bank and finding 3-5lb bass stacked on the little grass line that you don't know is there.
Using a topo map like days gone by. That is the way it should be.
@@christopherwood2290 lol
We’ll articulated! Bassmaster & pro-fisherman have been hijacked by high tech sonar companies! This is more about $$$ than a passion for the sport! My greatest fishing memories go back decades when the sport was dependent on personal knowledge, experience, and passion!
Amen Brother
I also believe that the old school guys who do videos on how to improve your FFS skills are forced to do so as part of their sponsorship dollars.
What about all the good ole boys coming on stage and thanking Rapala or whatever sponsor they represent and saying how great their lures are when In fact they caught their fish on a classic wiggle wart that’s not even made anymore!
Thats what there paid for, to promote there product .
That’s their job.
This was so well articulated Randy. Thank you.
These major circuits receive A LOT of $ from the likes of Garmin, Lowrance and Humminbird They are not going to ban it. But they had no issue banning the A-Rig because they weren’t pouring in the big bucks.
bingo........but at the end of the day if all they have is their money and no participants..........theyll do something........guaranteed
It is pretty crazy to think they banned a - rigs, but not FFS…
randy i may not agree with everything you say, but the part where you said "those fish need that water out there where they can get out there and live undisturbed." many hunters know these as sanctuary areas and understand how vital they are to protecting the resource you are hunting. very well said and with this sir, i could not agree more.
I could honestly care less about the tournament results, but the ffs has ramped up the catch rates to the point that it has to be impacting the bass. Toss in the fact that they continue to hold tourneys during spawning times and the bass have no chance. This is akin to making hunting season year round, allowing guys to spotlight deer, and removing the take limit.
I'm 78 years old I learned about that mystery and magic sitting in the bottom of a12 ft. Wooden boat,leaking wooden boat ,with a 3 ft piece of line tied to my finger with piece of worm on a hook. 4yrs. Old that's when the mystery and magic began,and still does to this day, ffs is bullshit we don't need it period
👍💪
lol this man says this on every Randy post
@@randyblaukatintuitiveha ha ha
I cut my teeth bass fishing on the shore line of lakes in my area back in the early 80's. Tossing spinnerbaits to bass in the weedbeds. We couldn't afford a boat. I had a Abu Garcia 5000, 12lb test Stren, and 5'-6" Boron pistol grip rod. Back then, my fishing buddies said I was cheating with that spinnerbait. LoL, how times have changed.
That was way before tournament fishing and the lakes were full of fish. Tournament fishing is more of a harm than livescope. If Randy were really concerned for the fish he would be preaching to stop tournament fishing all together. That would require him to get a real job though. Without this livescope arguing every other day, he has little to nothing to talk about and gets no clicks. No clicks = getting a real job. Livescope has saved him from getting a real job, lets face it. He should be praising Garmin, not cussing them.
As I recall it fishing was and for me still is a Disconnect from the world from work, news, tv, phone and everything that was with it.
So well said Randy, thank you for being the voice of reason and common sense
Technology in graphs could get so advanced that graphs could tell where the top 20 biggest fish in the lake resides down to precise location. So all fishermen will wait in line to make a cast at just those fish at any given moment. And guys will argue that it's right and ethical.
If you are a Pro, you shouldn't need it, is what I take from all this.
Nobody should need it
It's turning fishing into a competition or a job that *really* takes the magic of if it.
Yup, just clicked on BASS live from Texas. Guy watching fish on a screen cheering them on "oh come on ,oh he just missed it " TURNED IT OFF. Nothing to see here !
Why is that all these old losers are the ones complaining. They did it with the past with 2D sonar and now technology is now to advance for them to learn. All I see is a bunch of complaining from the older guys and they are the ones ruining it for the sport.
@@Kojo-co7xjim 25 nobody wants to see dudes watching a screen fishing for bass if your a pro you shouldnt need ffs. Most people cant afford a nice bass boat much less ffs. Its lame asf and boring to watch
@@1100blake Then you should be hip enough to know that they were watching screens 10 years ago. How about this, cal bass and lobby for them to have the anglers read you bedtime stories again and tell you more falsehoods about bass behavior so you feel warm and cozy inside. Or you can watch what’s happening and learn more about fish behavior in 30 seconds than you have ever known your whole life in blind casting . But that would take critical thinking skills
@@JohnSmithFFS i watch screens at home i dont go fish to watch tv. Might as well hook your vr headset up to see your fish finder since your basically playing a video game. Fishing is about getting into nature using your instincts and knowledge to find the fish, ffs take all the tradition and fun out of the sport. Blind casting isnt so blind if you actually know what your doing and know how to fish.
@@1100blake Of course you come back with the laziest reply possible. Please explain how you aren’t using your instincts or knowledge? You think it takes instinct or knowledge to blind cast in 5 feet of water? You think because Randy flys off with the mouth that gives you license to dj the same. But I’ll wait for your reply of how it removes the skill and knowledge. After I nuke that, I’ll nuke your next conspiracy theory.
Let's get back to the skill and know how of fishing. Learning the right spots at the right time and make it challenging and fun again for all. There's more than enough information in books, magazines and on the internet for anyone to become a good or better angler. As well as anglers like you Randy who are willing to share experience to help bring up new anglers an help us get better. Thank you for all you do!
Did you ever think all that info we were force fed was just bulls-t to get us to buy the latest and greatest tackle! They are catching 30lb bags of bass on an oversized crappie jig and jerkbaits.
@johneverly-oz5nj there is definitely propaganda involved in a lot of it. Most people I've learned from have been pretty straight forward. I've found things that work for me just by trying new gear and techniques.
This is bigger than Bass & MLF. Think of crappie & perch populations that most people are catching to eat. (Brood stock needs protected) at some point you'll say remember back when we caught fish? (Buffalo, wolves etc.) Dept. Of Natural resources is the one really sleeping on this one....
Crappie are getting absolutely hammered! Nobody has to put in the work to find them anymore. They just shine around and limit out!
have a friend who couldnt catch a bass or crappy in a 5gallon bucket with fish grippers on both hands.....until ffs rolled in.........hes been murdering the crappy for 2-3 years......he laughs at how easy it is.
@@bobbyswain7049 it's a shame that's its gotten this bad! Most of the guys fishing tournaments now wouldn't be in that position without their technology!
I have many problems with this topic..... crappie are definitely getting hammered... sitting ducks! Where I am yellow perch creel limit has gone from 100 to 50 to 30 and now 10 per day (could be environmental commercial fishing? But add this into the mix and what's next?.... as far as tournament fishing goes if I live trap an animal in my back yard it is illegal for me to relocate that animal. Yet fisherman are permitted to haul fish around for hours and then relocate them and potentially disrupt another ecosystem.... again DNR is sleeping or lobbyists with deep pockets are doing their JOB!!!
If you are catching that many fish to eat, you are also the problem. A few to eat a month sure, if you are cathing 50 crappie or perch a week to feed a family, you are going to wipe out the population
Preach it Brother. Well said. I appreciate you fighting the good fight.
Instant gratification bass fishing
As a relatively moderate angler, I can tell you how frustrating it is to watch a ton of videos with dudes catching monster bass, and me not being able to afford the equipment they use, I was looking forward to the day when I could get my hands on new equipment. But, this video has changed my outlook and have made me realize how satisfying it is, though few and far between, when I land a nice fish using the skills that I have acquired over the years. Thank you for your insight, true knowledge from an old school fisherman 🙏🏾
Randy I don’t agree with you much, but you fight and don’t give up. I respect that. I fish boat ramp tournaments occasionally and fish more traditional ways early mornings then finish off scoping. I enjoy it and feel it gives me a full day fishing.
Randy, You are Spot On, those fish do not need to be Bothered! PERIOD!!! We knew those fish had wintering places but they were Never Bothered!
When I saw 5 rookies in the top 10 today, I told my buddies...time for a Seniors Tour!!
Ban all FFS
Next time use caps lol
Cry more
@@stonehorn4641 click on Randy's some more he loves the free ml oney
Completely agree, they should definitely be banned in all tournaments. I don't even think they should be legal to sell.
@@ebowalker571complete nonsense
I would like to know what the kill ratio is on the bass at fort Lake
Not a lot since there is a slot limit.
I've been a fan of your Randy for years, and love the TH-cam channel. Out of all the great videos you've made this is perhaps the best one to date! Makes so much sense and all great facts.
Thx man
If you are a "pro", FFS should NOT be needed...it's bad enough as an illegitimate piece of equipment for any angler in the sport of fishing, let alone anglers considered "pro level"
Right! It doesn't make them pros anymore ,it just makes them tech geeks who would be weekend warriors fishermen without the ffs
Me and my dad has discovered the last 3 to 4 yrs the fishing has gotten very hard to ever have a great day. It's like the fish is gone from traditional spots.
Randy, I applaud you for all the knowledge you have provided the fishing community. We are of the same era. I refuse to watch an angler watch a screen. I still watch the Ray Scott Bassmaster's.
Respect the hell out of you both. Keep up the good fight
Randy, you are 100% right! You hit ALL the points. Its purely driven by money. I quit tournament fishing decades ago just because I started seeing things evolve. Conservation was going away then and its way beyond gone at this point.
Spotlighters benefit tournament! 😂😂 great name..!
Keep up the good work Randy, as a senior fisherman I still remember learning to fish in a small pond in the field. I still feel that magic today when I hook a big smallmouth using my brain to find and catch them. Nothing is as fun as hunting Smallies and putting together a pattern based on daily and seasonal conditions. I always look at electronics as a tool to find depth and structure, not fish. To each his own but if I had to decide it would be no FFS in tournaments.
The only good I can see with FFS is if someone is hungry and just fishing for the food. If you’re fishing for the sport of it, then keep it just that, no FFS is needed for the sport of fishing.
Anyone use Swindles "double shindo" knot? It's been my go to for 4 years now.
I do. Extremely strong knot.
Same
Only knot I use
Yep only knot I use on flurocarbon havent had a problem with knots on fluro since learning it 4 to 5 years ago
Yeah it's so strong and so fast to tie, how do you go back?
Randy, I've always agreed with you, but this is your best, most passionate video. Well done. Don't stop fighting!
I think pro fishing should be old school... I've said for years that for pros should us depth sonar only....How good of a fisherman are you....
Someone should start another league of no graph tournaments
Bravo Randy. Well articulated.
Hank Cherry video is on point about FFS
LINK?
@@warsawdougschneller3271
th-cam.com/video/LqLDWoKvLts/w-d-xo.htmlsi=SNmfHIWkot_ro2fx
@@warsawdougschneller3271
th-cam.com/video/LqLDWoKvLts/w-d-xo.htmlsi=SNmfHIWkot_ro2fx
Always spot on Randy, totally agree!
I honestly believe many of the guys that have retired in the last few years, have done it at least partially because of FFS. (KVD included if the truth were known.)
Kvd was the canary in the coal mine
It’s so much fun to watch the way Kevin fishes too.
Its years of experience, knowledge, and skill being defeated by technology. BAN FFS.
Nope not at all. I can see why you’re a member 😂
@@JohnSmithFFS got a couple young guys in our club that I’ve been helping over the last 3-4 years, they have started fishing with those FFS and they are doing really good and getting a check now days. They told me they don’t pattern fish anymore! It’s not a sport to some of these guys anymore!
Just seen the report for mid day leader .. 64 lbs so far in 1.5 days of fishing... that's insane.. guess we all know how that's being accomplished
Would Ray Scott allow FFS…HELL NO!!! There a QUOTE in Bassmaster magazine from Ray Scott when aqua view come out…He said any Pro caught using BANNED FOR LIFE!!! The strongest point to make on this question on FFS…would RAY SCOTT allowed FFS this happen to BASS?
Kinda strange that now that Mr.Ray is gone all this crap is taking over!
GREAT VIDEO! I agree with you 100 percent
Great video and well spoken. I fish tournaments out west and I have seen about half of these great competitors and wonderful people quit tournaments all together because of forward sonar. It's a shame. Keep up the great videos.
I agree and also works the same way with the PWT and crappie tournaments. I am in a multi species fishing league and the leaders are bass fishermen with forward facing and live imaging. I will have to join them!!!!
I'm 70 years old after watching Chris zaldans video I has very depressed about my chance to catch fish anymore with my old 2d sonar just feel like I probably don't have a chance they'll all be hooked at least once before
Throw your rods in the trash in 5 years there wont be any fish left
no 1 guy he interviewed was proud of what they are doing.......not 1
@@bobbyswain7049 I think some of them know they wouldnt be there with out but also know ffs os a laughing stock so they try to act like they dont like it
Ik one pro that cant. Catch a fish with out it
Why can’t someone start a FFS-free tournament (state/region level)
Keep fighting the fight, Randy! This is a battle we have to win.
100% agree with you Randy.
Not to mention the connection with God that is lost when staring at a screen and disconnecting from the wonder of creation.
I hate ffs because I used to be good offshore the Don iovino ways. Now that half the boats are chasing fish with ffs it has changed the fish behavior without a doubt.
Pro fisherman are the ones selling our sport out
Most are complicit by not saying a damn thing. Now look most are irrelevant.
I bet they didn’t think it would happen as fast as it did but it’s over for most of them. They are now obsolete in the Bass fishing world.
Absolutely. They are, and have always been, the ones who influence trends in technique, tackle, equipment, etc for recreational anglers. I wish we’d ban it not just for tournament fishing, but for recreational angling as well. The latter is where the greater impact will be down the road as the technology advances and becomes cheaper and more widely adopted by casual anglers
It is generally that way with a lot of sportsman oriented issues- these guys just have an aversion to speaking up! No wonder environmentalists treat sporting men like their little beatches! Too many hunters and fishermen are too timid to fight back- even when being attacked by a cancer from within!
Everything you said needs to be heard before it's to late. Behind you 100 per cent. Traditional bass fishing is one of the greatest adventure you will ever have in a lifetime. Don't miss it. Thank you Randy for trying so hard to save it.
And no one is stopping you from doing it. So perhaps try to do the same. Facts and reality don’t support any claim of Randy’s. Don’t be a sucker.
Thank you Randy!
I saw a boat on my local river with all that stuff on it. looked like a command center on a space ship. BAN
Swindle only caught 3 on Day 1. Even with the entire field not using FFS, three fish would still have landed him in the bottom 50.
Randy you and Greg are dead on! I played basketball in College at a pretty high level and can truly say i love the game. I been kayak tournament fishing for 5 years now and what i see is people dont love the sports of bass fishing, they love catching bass. Good luck Randy
Agree! I've seen too many young anglers that don't respect the fish. Flipping 5lbers back into the water, slapping them on the belly, keeping them out of the water forever...etc. They just like catching, not the magic of fishing.
Randy.. was talking to a friend with one of the big three forward facing sonar companies and they are testing having a menu that anglers can enter the waypoint, lure weight and color used and depth and the unit will add clarity and temperature. All of the will upload through gps to the maker of the units and then AI builds an algorithm that units can
download back to all fisherman combing millions of input data to tell you exactly where to go and what to use etc
Sounds like it will be better than ever. Can’t wait
That’s been available for a long time already
Tournament bass fishing has completely jumped the shark as a spectator sport since FFS has taken over.
That is 100% correct! When the organizers start losing viewers (lost me a long time ago) then they will realize it's effecting their bottom line, something will change Garmin et. al, can throw tons of money at them, but if no on e is seeing their commercials it doesn't mean crap.
As a $178 Lifetime kayak fisherman, I love FFS. I don't use it but it keeps all the bourgeois fisher folk in the middle of the lake. I got the banks and the bayous all to myself. They are bound to run the fish back up here sooner or later.
Well said! You should see Table Rock the last few weeks. Exactly as you describe
I’m fortunate to have tournament fished throughout the 90’s.
Keep up the great work I'm with you 100% on say forward facing sonar has no place in bass fishing.
This is possibly my favorite video. The fact you talk about the bass out in the deep offshore that need to be protected. I think it is very important as well. That's what keeps our fisheries healthy. Then they go out there and start ripping fish from deep undisturbed waters. It's killing the fish.
I saw his post on FB......huge impact he has for sure and has a huge following....
I have to agree 100% the real tradition of fishing and truly learning how fish live and transition is gone!
I think this is the best you ever worded it. It can't go over anyone's head. Your example of baseball n other sports says it best
Keep it up Randy, you know most of the pros agree. They are forced to use FFS.
Randy there’s an other aspect to this forward face sonar subject,The public use this for meat catching and on my lake I’m seeing it already,These same people never followed the rules on daily catches and now it’s become the Wild West,If the individual states band it,It’s game over !
Another approach that might stop it is an assessment of the impact on the bass population. If determined to be negative then that would outweigh the money factor.
as long as they are getting paid huge money........theyll turn their head to any negative feedback
I am new to strictly bass fishing in an area of the country, N.Georgia, that is very different than the inland lakes of Michigan where I grew up. I have many years of experience fishing multiple types of fish. I bit the bullet last year and bought FFS. I use it as a tool to learn to enhance my skills and knowledge of fish habitat/reaction to techniques. I still implement maps, pressures, temps, winds etc. ffs is helping me to understand what and why.
This being said… I think that once anglers get to the elite pro level that it should be restricted. Maybe even allow during practice days. Many other sports use mass amounts of technology during preseason and practice. However, Training pants have to come off and fish with knowledge/experience on game day…
FFS should be banned period for everything other than salt water commercial fishing
@@jedmeadows6226 sooo… for catching more fish being electronically seen and targeted that normally wouldn’t be pressured…Which means also you support ffs when it fits specific criteria. Thank you for supporting the same opinion I have.
I tried live scope the other day. I couldn't believe the amount of bedding fish I could detect in 4' or less from ten foot on the edge of lilly pads on lake Seminole. I went back at night with a spot light and verified the beds. It was amazing how accurate it was.
I’m 71 years old, been fishing most of my life, my dad and fished out of a aluminum boat with a trolling motor on the back , he used a 6 foot paddle as a depth gauge, then we moved up to bigger boat and motor an newer electronics, now at 71 , I can’t afford the newer boats and all the electronics, fishing is supposed to be fun and relaxing . I watched the MLF in Alabama this weekend, the fisherman were watching their FFS to catch these big bags of fish !
That really says it all, perfectly said...
Spot on. They banned it from muskie tournaments after the eagle river tourney last year. YOU ARE NOT FISHING, YOU ARE PLAYING A VIDEO GAME
There is a lake in Northern Montana that has walleye tournaments. On April 27 of this year the one day total for 5 fish was 60.35 lbs. I've talked to a few of the anglers in yrs past as the weights keep getting higher and higher. These guys will spend two hrs following a big walleye around until they get him.. That's an average of just over 12lbs per fish.. just three yrs ago the average was around 43-46lbs.. all forward facing sonar weights..largest fish was 14+lbs..
Something I started thinking about with FFS is 10-20 years from now,these younger guys/kids that use FFS won't have any memories of the fish they've caught while using it I can guarantee it
I agree!
Good video, thanks Randy!
Dont stop fighting Randy! You're the voice of reason.
❤ hunter stalker comment. Not good at video games. I pay attention to nature, not just the water....just love it.
Things are turning Randy. Just like in the dangerous video you could see it in their faces all the veteran pros. I also saw the video that you were talking about this morning. Frustration was on his face. I know for a fact that if they banned front-facing sonar tomorrow if you listen carefully you would hear a giant sigh of relief. Let's go !
Well put , thanks for sharing
There are actually a lot of guys catching big ones shallow so far at fork
With perspective mode livescope
@@randyblaukatintuitiveI watched the weigh-ins last night not live and several of the seasoned vets voiced their opinions on ffs. I was proud to hear it from those guys. I know there are others that feel the same way that didn't voice their opinion but maybe baby steps will eventually get us there. Thank you for your videos and being our voice of reason sir! I agree with you completely and I will continue to help fight the good fight and keep watching your videos! Thank you for trying to help make bass fishing like it was meant to be!!
@@BassmasterStevenbro are u watching the same thing I am yes they are using ffs in 8 foot to catch em lol maybe a couple guys are catching blind casting and guess where they are in 90th place
@@randyblaukatintuitivenah regular ffs they deep enough for it
@@randyblaukatintuitivesheesh; that shows it’s getting bad
I really like what I heard on your video. The best is the analogy between spot lighting deer and forward looking sonar. I totally agree that 90% of todays bass anglers are so desperate to be better than Bill Dance, Roland Martin and Rick Clun just to name a view of the great anglers they have jumped on the forward facing sonar because it is no doubt taken a lot out of the sport and turned it into a video game which by the way they grew up playing. Sports are not video games but tests of your knowledge and ability to put this together.
Randy, I have FFS on my boat. I'm 61 and I use it only for finding structure. So, don't get angry, BUT the same subject was also about sight fishing on bedding bass. Better sunglasses, fluorocarbon, plastic dyes, mapping systems, and really sonar I can see my line go down below the TM. All this was in your day. Was it banned then, No. Tell me you never sight fished. You would be lying. Also mapping, setting a wave point at each bedding bass you found. Sight fishing still used today, so what's the difference? See the bass, throw a lure until it takes it. Yes, I agree that it should not be used in derbies. But it's not going away. Better get use to it.
Cheating
I think all the electronics and radars and all this other stuff todays Fisherman depend on it too much these days and I don’t use any of it and I catch a ton of fish. I feel that the old way without all electronics all is a true angler way.
You are making a significant difference... Keep going, Randy.
I totally agree with Randy on this post. But more importantly, I believe that the states should make the limiting laws.
IMHO any vessel equipped with FFS must by law;
Immediately release all sport fish caught.
Be allowed only one lure per angler in the water.
No soft plastic baits.
No live bait.
Only one hook per lure.
Only barbless hooks.
Only lead free lures.
This is what is done in the Yellowstone and Grand Teton national forest lakes for all fishing.
One elite pro is experimenting with VR googles. No need to even look at a screen. Just turn on the googles. He said he’s not using them in practice but that’s where everything is heading.
As usual, spot on. It's still depressing.
Fella just got fined for using a webbed glove to get a better grip on the steering wheel in nascar! Keep a great pastime turned sport what it was and it will last forever. Right now it’s quickly turning into one of those memories you only tell your kids about.
Great video. Thanks Randy.
I'm 100% on the right side of history with you.
Keep Ranting ! Thanks Randy !
Ranting = "Ranting Randy" 😂
The problem with some of the older pros is they let their pride get into their decision making. As they continue to lose they will start to change their tune. Some are starting to complain the other direction a little bit now. Randy is right