"Once you take the unknown from fishing, you lose everything that fishing is about" is probably one of the greatest quotes about fishing that I have ever heard
Huh? It’s technology, ain’t gonna stop it. Randy is stuck in the Stone Age. That’s why the comments about him. It’s okay if you like shallow fishing. And it’s okay if you like live sonar. I love fishing with livescope it’s exciting to me. You can only go 4mph with livescope. You still have to know where to look and know fish behavior. It doesn’t put fish in the boat for ya. Randy don’t tell me how to fish and I won’t tell ya how to fish. And don’t tell us what’s best for us. I think Swidle and myself have a lot of respect for you. You have a lot of knowledge and appreciate you sharing your experience. Where you are losing the younger crowd is telling us how to fish. We have to fish like you and not use live sonar? That rubs the wrong way and why you are losing ppl. But uh yeah buddy keep up the good fight (the good fight is only in YOUR OWN MIND).
@@casey10614 What If I started a company that sold 1 million dollar submarine sonar units that were 100x more accurate than livescope? I’d make it available to the open market but sell for 2 million a piece. Only the wealthiest people would be able to afford it and they would win every tournament in history. To you that would be fair. Because it’s just “technology.” We already have technology that is more powerful than livescope. Every year it will get more advanced and more expensive with upgraded components. It’s eventually going to be too much and the tournament organizations will have to draw the line.
If all you think Randy is talking about is forward facing sonar you are clearly not paying attention. The issue he is talking about is the bigger picture. He has lived long enough to see the unbelievable advances in technology in a single lifetime. He is expressing a concern more than a complaint. He sees a day when technology has advanced to a point where even the proponents of forward facing technology will say we’ve gone too far. If you don’t believe technology can get to a point where a person with no understanding of bass behavior, seasonal patterns, weather and all the other factors can go win tournaments then you have not lived long enough to see unbelievable technological advancements in your lifetime. In addition to sonar technology you might want to consider what artificial intelligence could do for complete novices. The big question and concern is where do draw the lines?
It's great to hear that tournament anglers are now starting to step and say what you have been saying all along about ffs. I still find it a shame that the driving factor to that is a monetary reason and not an issue of the sustainability and well being of bass and fisheries. I would love to see national and state wildlife departments get more involved in this ban for the sake of sustainable quality fisheries.
For those who want to ban FFS I have some rule changes I want to see. 1. No electronics period. No mapping, FFS, 2D, 360, etc. 2. No powerpoles 3. All lakes limited to on the e tournament per month regardless if it is local or pro. 4. All events will be maxed at 100 anglers. 5. On 5 fish limit events any angler brings in a dead fish is disqualified for that event. 6. Any event organizer who release dead fish back into the lake will incur a fine.
I agree 100% no electronics. You cant be half way. You either shun technology completely or leave it be. I think going without tech is a fantastic idea and it will truly showcase talent.
Mike Iaconellis Classic winning fish is why I love watching the Bassmasters. I love the unknown and using the skills they have to find and catch fish. Its many other situations like that, that make me love watching. Live scope is not competition fishing.
Thank you, Randy. It is time to get back to the talents and instincts of the angler and not the electronics. It is time more of us speak up and let MLF and Bassmasters know how we feel. Please keep up up your fight.
Randy, as I have from the beginning, I STAND BEHIND YOU, I know you’re getting hammered and I have huge respect for you standing up for the truth. You will go down as the most legendary conservationist in bass fishing history. No matter how it shakes out, no one can take that away from you, thanks.
Right on Randy!...what u said at the end about primal instincts and learning how to hunt these bass is true...i got to thinking yesterday...look at all the new advancements man has thrown at these gorgeous creatures of the water...yet the bass themselves are the same as when they entered this planet...and in most cases the bass are still the kings of this game :)
Even the new 2024 MLF Bass Pro Tour schedule reflects about five shallow water late winter, prespawn, and spawn time frames consecutively. The success of FFS in these tournaments already is going to be limited. And I think this was intentional, in preparation for what is to come with the new rules for 2024. You’re on the right side here, Randy. There’s no question the purity of the sport has been assaulted. Hopefully BASS will follow suit.
@@davidschori2417 Yeah, I get it, but I don't think the problem is FFS; it's the anglers silently staring at it, not talking or entertaining the viewers. It they were engaging while doing that, it would make it a lot better.
I watched a video the other day of KVD on one of the Great Lakes fishing a deep diving crank bait in moderate waves catching smallmouth without spotting the individual fish he was casting to.
True Randy so true they have taken the fun out of going out there and finding the fish with their senses and common knowledge and giving the fish a chance to make them work to win a tournament hands Down!!!🐠👍👍👍👍👍🎣
It will also kill sponsors for that tour. It’s support with be reduced. Which will reduce participation and will go by the wayside. I assure you lowrance and hummingbird garmin put to much into these tourneys to let that happen.
@@jeremybassett123 They could replace these large electronics sponsors with many smaller companies that sell power fishing and flipping equipment. The ban on Livescope would open up opportunities for these smaller fishing equipment companies to increase their revenues. This is because people have no need for power fishing gear anymore, only drop shots and plastic worms.
@@davidschori2417 yeah they could do a lot of things. Who cares really at the end of the day. I’m gonna keep using ffs. Why not it’s a tool that helps me find structure and brush piles to shorten my limited time I have to pre fish. I really don’t give a crap if they ban it or not. Pretty tired of arguing about something that really has no real influence on my life. I do know this if you can’t catch fish without it you shore can’t catch fish with it. Listening to a lot of these self righteous “true self proclaimed anglers” in these comments is as exhausting as trying to show a democrat that Joe Biden has destroyed this country.
Randy keep this stand, EVERY TIME I CLICK ON A VIDEO AND THEY HAVE A DROP SHOT ON AND STARING AT A SCREEN I IMMEDIATELY COMMENT ON HOW BORING AND GET OFF THAT VIDEO
@@motorcycleislife8296the only difference is they catch more and bigger fish now lol. I will admit, Champlain was not as entertaining this year because of ff sonar, but that was probably the only one for me and I watched most of the coverage of most of the elite series this year.
@@motorcycleislife8296not the same at all? Looking 2d for structure or rocks yeah? Marking a fish helps. Now staring at a screen that shows a fish moving real time, in open water? No structure around? No skill involved, responding to your bait? Nah, not same at all
Bradley Hallman and Todd Castledine have an interesting video out about how the age of the average top ten tournament angler has dropped from the age of mid 50’s in the early 2000’s to now around 24 years of age. The young anglers have jumped all over FFS. These young anglers have not yet learned to be masters of all the different bass fishing disciplines. If FFS goes away, they will suffer.
In those videos, they site that the cameraman in the boat is what has helped the younger anglers and getting the info right away as to what led they are using and whT techniques they are using is what has helped the younger anglers more than FFS
That is the biggest pile of crap I’ve ever heard. The young guys are so good bc they put the work in and learn every technique and aren’t stuck in their ways like some. They can do all the old school, new school, And they even invent new techniques. FFS ain’t got nothing to do with the age gap
Yes, he is definitely changing his tune. He’s as tired as many pros getting their ass handed to them by 20 somethings with little experience winning almost every event. He’s one of many that are realizing their livelihood is going to go away soon because of the video game aspect of ffs
This is not aimed towards Randy. But this is my take on the whole situation of Forward facing sonar. It is a bunch of mess, all of the back and forth about forward facing sonar. In truth the reason everyone's panties are all twisted in a bunch is because it leveled the playing field. How you say! Let me answer any would be questions. What Forward facing sonar did was cut the learning curve for anglers on unfamiliar bodies of water. Forward facing sonar changed the game by leveling the playing field for those who didn't have the sponsors to pay for them to go out and get practice for a week on a lake or river. It leveled out that type of disadvantaged competition. Anglers Understand I'm not one of these young guys giving out the hooray for forward facing sonar. But I am one of the guys that was not fortunate enough to get sponsor money not because I wasn't good enough but because I didn't fit the build of what a company may have wanted you to look like. I assure you it wasn't about how many fish i could catch. Utilizing the technology of Forward facing sonar should have been treated no differently then when down imaging or side imaging came out. Everyone cried about the cost then too. Was it not a disadvantage to try and locate fish with 2d compared to side imaging. If you guys really want to talk about something, talk about changing these entries fees. Talk about a guy getting a top 10 finish with over 150 boats and getting less than $800 in payout. I respect everyone's take on forward facing sonar. But if people are going to protest then protest the good fight for true change for the anglers. Come Randy this is where your voice needs to be heard.
You are right about these electronic manufacturers in regards to making bank on their sonar units. They all can easily improve the quality of their screens and make these units accept bigger SD or Micro SD cards for their units. All that is needed is down imaging and side imaging and the reason that I say side imaging is that I am looking at it for safety reasons. We just never know what could be lurking under the water that you can easily hit and create unnecessary issues. I agree with you on FFS, it is not needed and when I watch a tournament on T.V. and I see a pro using it I will change the channel or turn off the T.V. Keep up the good fight Randy!!
Dude it is nice when men can talk like men! Randy did not get butthurt over G talking G stuff.. It is what it is and so moving on......We need more men in this sport!
I tuned in to watch the tournament this last weekend on the St Lawrence River and it was all footage of guys that looked like they were staring at their shoes and playing the carnival game where you try to lift up a beer bottle with a ring on string! No real content at all. I get the same thrill watching people stare at their cell phone!
Thanks Randy like your videos and such I never met you but I'm old school seems like we share some of the same views on fishing . I'll keep watching 👀 😊
Everything in professional bass fishing is sponsor driven. So, I highly doubt that Livescope and FFS will be banned. I expect limitations to be put on it from the organizations. Something like that it can only be used during practice.
Amen Brother, preach on. I have been into saltwater fishing for the last 15 years. I just got back into bass fishing and was shocked to hear about this new technology that takes away from the skill an angler has to learn. If your staring at a screen instead of out in front of you, that just don't seem like fishing to me.
Randy I agree 100% with your statement. Last year a local salt water fishing guide that host an outdoor show on radio said with the new technology the fish do not have a chance. Then you factor in guys running rough water with a live well full of fish getting beat to death is not good for the sport.
Here is an interesting fact. FFS is already banned completely (owning and use) in various communes and districts in Switzerland and Germany. Not talking about tournament. I’m talking completely… even recreational use. Pike, pearch and zander breeding stock populations stating declining and the local communes stepped in and banned it immediately.
Well, I am all for not using ffs during tournaments but would allow it to practice. As far as my Garmin....you would have to peel it from my cold, dead hands. I think it is a blast to use and what I have learned about fish behavior is priceless to me.
I’m not a tournament fisherman but watch every single one on both sides. I don’t have a major do or die stand but do have a suggestion and would like to know what people think of it. What if it’s allowed in practice but not in the actual tournament? And in MLF what about being allowed in the qualifying rounds but not in the knockout or championship rounds? Just a thought on a sort of compromise between the two. Love to know what Randy thinks even tho I think I know the answer to that but also what everyone else thinks. Just a thought
SO TRUE. Love the point about this not killing those electronics companies too. Still plenty of money to be made on side imaging and down imaging, and wouldn't break the bank to back off a bit on FFS development after a rules change and limitations placed to preserve the integrity and sustainability of the sport.
I watched St. Lawrence for about five minutes and turned it off. You knew as the broadcast switched from angler to angler that it was going to be just more offshore footage of someone bouncing up and down on the front deck staring at their screens. I’d rather watch Blaukat or Swindle throw a jig into gnarly cover with muddy water. It’ll be interesting if there’s a showdown between the broadcast companies (ex Fox Sports), the fishing leagues (ex Bassmaster, MLF), the series sponsors (ex Garmin) and the TV advertisers (commercials) if ratings go down. The broadcasters pay the leagues for the rights to the broadcast and the broadcasters make money by selling commercial slots to the TV advertisers. The broadcasters many times guarantee their advertisers a minimum TV rating or viewership…if not the advertisers could be owed “make-good” money from the broadcast company if the ratings are poor. It’ll be interesting if a tug of war breaks out because a company like Garmin has a vested interest and so does a company who advertises their products during the broadcast. The TV advertisers could actually be the ones who make a push for leagues to drop FFS if ratings suffer. In fact, TV advertisers dictate more than we know, right down to dictating the product on the field of play itself. If Bassmaster and MLF aren’t careful, a rival league free of FFS or electronics altogether will rise up.
If you really want to get rid of FFS, you need to lobby state fish and wildlife agencies and the US Fish & Wildlife Service along with tournament organizations. After that go after the entity that has jurisdiction over individual bodies of water.
Keep up the great work Randy, I believe no one should be using ffs except may game and fish or for conservation!! Great video, I turn the channel the minute I see anyone using it, if I wanted to watch something like that I can watch my nephews play their x-boxes. I hope the ban comes soon
The skill of finding fish with your knowledge and understanding of bass, weather, and mood etc. and your skill as an angler to find fish with their baits and minds and not their video game setup. The hunt is one of the best things about bass fishing. I like watching people fish. Not stare at a screen with a drop shot or a damiki rig. Or whatever bait to see them and your bait and see how they react.
Well said Randy, and just look at the recent Elite tournament on Lake Champlain, what a waste of a camera on a boat when the leader and winner of that event spent most of his day looking at his monitors and not casting till he seen something. Real exciting to watch he was just one of many anglers spending the day holding a pole in their hand. Then the same week later St. Lawrence. I hope MLF and Bass can see beyond the money.
I used to watch and follow every event to find out how they caught them, i haven’t followed any tournaments for the past two years. The mystery has been taken out of bass fishing !
For the pros that are proficient and lean heavily on livescope that bash the critics, they will not respond when you ask them what the limit will be. Soon livescope sales will plateau and they’ll be working on something new. Will it be a remote control to swim a bait into a fish’s mouth? Or a transducer linked to sunglasses that let you see live underwater view wherever you look?
Agree 💯 with not allowing in tournament fishing. For the sport it self and what you said about taking the hard work and skill that makes talent. Unfortunately this mindset is not only in the sport of fishing-but in other careers as well. Any monkey can do it, but few understand it
Let's get an organization started that won't allow it, even in practice. It time to make it happen, it's killing our fisheries and opportunities for our children and grand children. WE should ALL be concerned.
I agree 100%. i use my electronics to locate structure and thats it...i dont even use it to locate bass...livescope and FFS has change the sport from fishing to catching
Kyle Welcher covered the topic as well. You should do a live round table discussion with you, Gerald, Kyle, KVD, and Jacob Wheeler to discuss the topic.
I agree with you on ban. Due to I have stopped watching a lot less. I would love to see the old ways come back with minimal sonar use.. because it really does show the ability of the anglers experience to fish the lake.. I’ve recently added Garmin just to keep up with my tournament club.. trust me I love it it’s helped me I’ve been able to win with it this year.. I’d like to see few tournaments without it on professional side..belive this would be interesting to see..
I use FFS literally every single day; however, it never used to be that way. I now use it to stay competitive, and I would not care if it was banned tomorrow. BUT, and this is a big BUTTTTT... on the same note, I personally know at least 3 anglers with 35k in electronics and they do not even know how to read side scan. So to say that reading electronics it does not take skill is a bit of a stretch. It certainly takes different kinds of skill. These guys fish WORSE when they are staring at their electronics, they are limited in skill ceiling because of this. I grew up shallow water sight fishing most of the time, shallow grass etc, this was new to me, and I put in 2823 hours on my first graph just learning how to utilize it as a tool. I am with you Randy, FFS can go away tomorrow, but it does take a different level of dedication, and its worth acknowledging. Good video! Tight lines, brothers!
As a Viewer and an intermediate bass angler hoping one day to enter the bass circuit tourns, I started bass fishing as most did without sonars so that’s where my opinion is coming from. I believe compromise will be the answer here, years of fishing without the aid of technology brings about set”s” of skills that are nullified with the use of forward facing sonar, the tech does what it’s supposed to and that’s to make it easier to find and put more fish in the boat. The problem is when it comes to tournaments which is supposed to filter out the best of anglers, FFS not only evens the playing field but it also take from those anglers that have spent years acquiring skills that one can only acquire from experience the well deserved title of being one of the best . Now anyone who’s financially capable of having the technology without putting in much time on the water can become an “Elite” therefor it really takes away from the main goal of the tournament which is filtering out the best of the best. I believe the best solution is throughout the circuit… the first couple tournaments (qualifiers) should allow FFS to narrow down the competition then as it gets to the top tournaments it should then start to back away from FFS and solely rely on intuition and experience “raw skills only” your senses to determine the Elite amongst the competitors. Not only would this make Bass Master Elite so prestigious but it would give a great importance and respect to the game in which will be the “talk of the town” more than it does now with the anglers and viewers but it would also encourage challengers to really practice engaging with their environment more from mapping where the forage are, where the herrings are hunting, where the wind and currents are hitting, and creating activities in the water (food chain), to feeling out bottom composition and so forth etc. These are important skill sets that become insignificant with FFS. So In summary forward facing sonar should be use to thin out the competition then as it moves to the “Super Bowl” BMElite/classics; FFS should be banned and require only traditional raw angling skills. Really filler out the best of us.
Yep done with watching young guys with electronics making guys who built the sport and learned different techniques not relying on FFS. I canceled my renewal to BASS after many years. Yes I'm only 1 but others are over it as well. I may not catch as many with my old school electronics but I enjoy knowing I figured it out on my own. That's gives me satisfaction.
his poll wasn't about liking livescope, it was do they not like watching tournaments where the angler uses livescope. I dont like watching it on TV, but really like livescope its a awesome tool.
I agree brother I been bass fishing for 50yrs always love watching bass fishing tournaments now only watch early season once they go north and start livescope I quit watching thanks again
One thing that I haven't heard talked about is how are the pros going to promote baits other than drop shots when you will rarely see them thrown. Only a small spring window, then back to the drop shots, 10 inch worms, and jigs. crankbaits will prob just go extinct.
A lot of Pros are saying; They are catching lots of Largemouth, but there Trolling Motor is on high covering water, than use Live Scope as they they caught the only Bass of the day
I’ve passed on fishing local BFL division events as a co in recent years if the regional is going to be a high probability of it being a livescope fall deal. I used to always fish full seasons for something to do.
Even Jacob Wheeler, who seems to have mastered FFS or at least be one of the first to dial it in, said that if not banning it there should be a limit on the amount of screens or total inches of screens on a boat.
I totally agree. The young pros today have not proved that they belong in the elites because of live scope. As you said, they proved they can play a video game. Take it away and let’s see how good they really are.
I just started fishing again as a 50 year old. I loved fishing as a kid. I love catching fish. I love being out in nature and I love the surprise of hooking a fish. I did not even know of this trend or equipment. This is not fishing.
I think it should be allowed in practice but not in competition. BASS should take notes from Big Sportfishing tournaments like the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament where there is a separate division for boats running half million dollar sonar.
I'm not disagreeing with you, but you keep bringing up the health of the fish. How do you feel about getting rid of live wells and going to a type of CPR format? (catch, photo, release) I pulled up to a ramp last week and watched a guy pull 14 fish out of his livewell and throw them back. Fish aren't doing well getting run all over the lake on a hot day for miles either.
I like Swindle..but I have to agree with you on this one…people need to stop bad mouthing others just because they have a different point of view..we must not hate each other because we disagree on stuff..that’s crazy!!!Go Dawgs!!
Just implement a 1 pound penalty per fish caught on ffs to level the playing field and let them fish. It happens in other sports such as drag racing for people that choose to run different induction systems. Happens in golf with a handicap or an age bracket
"Once you take the unknown from fishing, you lose everything that fishing is about" is probably one of the greatest quotes about fishing that I have ever heard
Slowly getting closer to fishing out of a barrel..
Huh? It’s technology, ain’t gonna stop it. Randy is stuck in the Stone Age. That’s why the comments about him.
It’s okay if you like shallow fishing. And it’s okay if you like live sonar. I love fishing with livescope it’s exciting to me.
You can only go 4mph with livescope. You still have to know where to look and know fish behavior. It doesn’t put fish in the boat for ya.
Randy don’t tell me how to fish and I won’t tell ya how to fish. And don’t tell us what’s best for us. I think Swidle and myself have a lot of respect for you. You have a lot of knowledge and appreciate you sharing your experience.
Where you are losing the younger crowd is telling us how to fish. We have to fish like you and not use live sonar? That rubs the wrong way and why you are losing ppl. But uh yeah buddy keep up the good fight (the good fight is only in YOUR OWN MIND).
@@casey10614 What If I started a company that sold 1 million dollar submarine sonar units that were 100x more accurate than livescope? I’d make it available to the open market but sell for 2 million a piece. Only the wealthiest people would be able to afford it and they would win every tournament in history. To you that would be fair. Because it’s just “technology.” We already have technology that is more powerful than livescope. Every year it will get more advanced and more expensive with upgraded components. It’s eventually going to be too much and the tournament organizations will have to draw the line.
Its not talent to by a 20k unit and drive around looking for fish, thats not fishing at least at a professional level.
If all you think Randy is talking about is forward facing sonar you are clearly not paying attention. The issue he is talking about is the bigger picture. He has lived long enough to see the unbelievable advances in technology in a single lifetime. He is expressing a concern more than a complaint. He sees a day when technology has advanced to a point where even the proponents of forward facing technology will say we’ve gone too far. If you don’t believe technology can get to a point where a person with no understanding of bass behavior, seasonal patterns, weather and all the other factors can go win tournaments then you have not lived long enough to see unbelievable technological advancements in your lifetime. In addition to sonar technology you might want to consider what artificial intelligence could do for complete novices. The big question and concern is where do draw the lines?
Very proud you for standing up, need more men like you
It's great to hear that tournament anglers are now starting to step and say what you have been saying all along about ffs. I still find it a shame that the driving factor to that is a monetary reason and not an issue of the sustainability and well being of bass and fisheries. I would love to see national and state wildlife departments get more involved in this ban for the sake of sustainable quality fisheries.
For those who want to ban FFS I have some rule changes I want to see.
1. No electronics period. No mapping, FFS, 2D, 360, etc.
2. No powerpoles
3. All lakes limited to on the e tournament per month regardless if it is local or pro.
4. All events will be maxed at 100 anglers.
5. On 5 fish limit events any angler brings in a dead fish is disqualified for that event.
6. Any event organizer who release dead fish back into the lake will incur a fine.
I agree 100% no electronics. You cant be half way. You either shun technology completely or leave it be. I think going without tech is a fantastic idea and it will truly showcase talent.
Go back to 18' boats, 150hp max, and 2d sonar. Then we'll see who can actually still find fish on a regular basis.
We can only wish .
I’d be ok with 19ft and a 200
Exactly then we will see the real fisherman shine like clunn and Nixon
With the forward sonar, why do they need a 100,000 dollar boat? Why not a flat bottom with a 25 tiller in it?
@@patrickd6450. simple because you have the money to spend and in bassmaster most boats cant pass the bassmasters inspection
Great job. Thanks for continuing to fight the fight! Love your videos!
Randy you’re absolutely right there is nothing like using natural instinct to catch bass!!
Mike Iaconellis Classic winning fish is why I love watching the Bassmasters. I love the unknown and using the skills they have to find and catch fish. Its many other situations like that, that make me love watching. Live scope is not competition fishing.
Exactly. FIshing isn't supposed to be easy to learn. It's experience and dedication that makes a true professional angler.
Thank you, Randy. It is time to get back to the talents and instincts of the angler and not the electronics. It is time more of us speak up and let MLF and Bassmasters know how we feel. Please keep up up your fight.
"Spotlighting" bass is the best definition of the technique.
Randy, as I have from the beginning, I STAND BEHIND YOU, I know you’re getting hammered and I have huge respect for you standing up for the truth. You will go down as the most legendary conservationist in bass fishing history. No matter how it shakes out, no one can take that away from you, thanks.
Wonder what the pros will have to say about him if it does end up banned...
Right on Randy!...what u said at the end about primal instincts and learning how to hunt these bass is true...i got to thinking yesterday...look at all the new advancements man has thrown at these gorgeous creatures of the water...yet the bass themselves are the same as when they entered this planet...and in most cases the bass are still the kings of this game :)
Kings of this game for now... unless people learn how to see beyond themselves.
@@davidschori2417 very insightful!
Even the new 2024 MLF Bass Pro Tour schedule reflects about five shallow water late winter, prespawn, and spawn time frames consecutively. The success of FFS in these tournaments already is going to be limited. And I think this was intentional, in preparation for what is to come with the new rules for 2024. You’re on the right side here, Randy. There’s no question the purity of the sport has been assaulted. Hopefully BASS will follow suit.
I thought the same thing when I saw the schedule. I too think it was intentional.
If you've not used FFS, you should know that it can still be quite effective in shallow water.
@@KenWoodFishing Docks and Standing TImber...
@@KenWoodFishing Still boring to watch...
@@davidschori2417 Yeah, I get it, but I don't think the problem is FFS; it's the anglers silently staring at it, not talking or entertaining the viewers.
It they were engaging while doing that, it would make it a lot better.
I watched a video the other day of KVD on one of the Great Lakes fishing a deep diving crank bait in moderate waves catching smallmouth without spotting the individual fish he was casting to.
I applaud you for your efforts and principles. God Bless.😊
True Randy so true they have taken the fun out of going out there and finding the fish with their senses and common knowledge and giving the fish a chance to make them work to win a tournament hands Down!!!🐠👍👍👍👍👍🎣
I feel that the first Pro Tour that bans FFS will be looked at being more legitimate. They can definitely use it to their advantage
It will also kill sponsors for that tour. It’s support with be reduced. Which will reduce participation and will go by the wayside. I assure you lowrance and hummingbird garmin put to much into these tourneys to let that happen.
@@jeremybassett123 They could replace these large electronics sponsors with many smaller companies that sell power fishing and flipping equipment. The ban on Livescope would open up opportunities for these smaller fishing equipment companies to increase their revenues. This is because people have no need for power fishing gear anymore, only drop shots and plastic worms.
@@davidschori2417 yeah they could do a lot of things. Who cares really at the end of the day. I’m gonna keep using ffs. Why not it’s a tool that helps me find structure and brush piles to shorten my limited time I have to pre fish. I really don’t give a crap if they ban it or not. Pretty tired of arguing about something that really has no real influence on my life. I do know this if you can’t catch fish without it you shore can’t catch fish with it. Listening to a lot of these self righteous “true self proclaimed anglers” in these comments is as exhausting as trying to show a democrat that Joe Biden has destroyed this country.
Hi Randy!
I love your videos and don't forget swindle is a young Bass Angler.
God Bless you and your family!😊
Randy keep this stand, EVERY TIME I CLICK ON A VIDEO AND THEY HAVE A DROP SHOT ON AND STARING AT A SCREEN I IMMEDIATELY COMMENT ON HOW BORING AND GET OFF THAT VIDEO
Go watch lake saint clair tournaments before livescope. They were won offshore staring at the screen with 2d. Its no different.
@@motorcycleislife8296the only difference is they catch more and bigger fish now lol. I will admit, Champlain was not as entertaining this year because of ff sonar, but that was probably the only one for me and I watched most of the coverage of most of the elite series this year.
@@motorcycleislife8296not the same at all? Looking 2d for structure or rocks yeah? Marking a fish helps. Now staring at a screen that shows a fish moving real time, in open water? No structure around? No skill involved, responding to your bait? Nah, not same at all
@@Jake-ky9ed 2d switchfire is live sonar
@@motorcycleislife8296 lol, no one down south even cares bout a small mouth
Bradley Hallman and Todd Castledine have an interesting video out about how the age of the average top ten tournament angler has dropped from the age of mid 50’s in the early 2000’s to now around 24 years of age. The young anglers have jumped all over FFS. These young anglers have not yet learned to be masters of all the different bass fishing disciplines. If FFS goes away, they will suffer.
In those videos, they site that the cameraman in the boat is what has helped the younger anglers and getting the info right away as to what led they are using and whT techniques they are using is what has helped the younger anglers more than FFS
That is the biggest pile of crap I’ve ever heard. The young guys are so good bc they put the work in and learn every technique and aren’t stuck in their ways like some. They can do all the old school, new school, And they even invent new techniques. FFS ain’t got nothing to do with the age gap
@@williedunn-rj6nq You must be young. :D
@@williedunn-rj6nq you can shit the fans but you can’t shit the players
I'm fishing Truman no ffs next tournament. Never had it dont need it. Cant wait to weigh in as an honest, real fisherman. Great video Randy 🤟
Thanks!
Thx Paul!
Yes, he is definitely changing his tune. He’s as tired as many pros getting their ass handed to them by 20 somethings with little experience winning almost every event. He’s one of many that are realizing their livelihood is going to go away soon because of the video game aspect of ffs
Exactly he’s feeling the heat
@@Digglerdirk79-l4y we are discussing Swindle
I just got my new bass master magazine. They should call this issue, livescope master! I’m with you Randy, keep up yet fight
All the magazines are like this now. Nothing being taught, nothing to learn. Just use your live scope, find the fish and cast to them.
I agree with you 💯!! Fishing is fishing not looking at a screen...learn the fish how to fish and figure out what the fish want. Well said Randy!👍
This is not aimed towards Randy. But this is my take on the whole situation of Forward facing sonar. It is a bunch of mess, all of the back and forth about forward facing sonar. In truth the reason everyone's panties are all twisted in a bunch is because it leveled the playing field. How you say! Let me answer any would be questions. What Forward facing sonar did was cut the learning curve for anglers on unfamiliar bodies of water.
Forward facing sonar changed the game by leveling the playing field for those who didn't have the sponsors to pay for them to go out and get practice for a week on a lake or river. It leveled out that type of disadvantaged competition. Anglers Understand I'm not one of these young guys giving out the hooray for forward facing sonar. But I am one of the guys that was not fortunate enough to get sponsor money not because I wasn't good enough but because I didn't fit the build of what a company may have wanted you to look like. I assure you it wasn't about how many fish i could catch. Utilizing the technology of Forward facing sonar should have been treated no differently then when down imaging or side imaging came out. Everyone cried about the cost then too. Was it not a disadvantage to try and locate fish with 2d compared to side imaging. If you guys really want to talk about something, talk about changing these entries fees. Talk about a guy getting a top 10 finish with over 150 boats and getting less than $800 in payout. I respect everyone's take on forward facing sonar. But if people are going to protest then protest the good fight for true change for the anglers. Come Randy this is where your voice needs to be heard.
You are right about these electronic manufacturers in regards to making bank on their sonar units. They all can easily improve the quality of their screens and make these units accept bigger SD or Micro SD cards for their units. All that is needed is down imaging and side imaging and the reason that I say side imaging is that I am looking at it for safety reasons. We just never know what could be lurking under the water that you can easily hit and create unnecessary issues. I agree with you on FFS, it is not needed and when I watch a tournament on T.V. and I see a pro using it I will change the channel or turn off the T.V. Keep up the good fight Randy!!
Dude it is nice when men can talk like men! Randy did not get butthurt over G talking G stuff.. It is what it is and so moving on......We need more men in this sport!
I tuned in to watch the tournament this last weekend on the St Lawrence River and it was all footage of guys that looked like they were staring at their shoes and playing the carnival game where you try to lift up a beer bottle with a ring on string! No real content at all. I get the same thrill watching people stare at their cell phone!
I agree, 100%. My resolve would be game-day ban, BUT you can use it prefishing.
I think it should be limited to pre fishing only like you said. After that only Down Scan & Side Scan and Chirp during tourney hours.
Need more dudes like this out there!!!! The mystery of bass fishing is gone
Thanks Randy like your videos and such I never met you but I'm old school seems like we share some of the same views on fishing . I'll keep watching 👀 😊
Everything in professional bass fishing is sponsor driven. So, I highly doubt that Livescope and FFS will be banned. I expect limitations to be put on it from the organizations. Something like that it can only be used during practice.
I think one will ban it so they appear as more legitimate than others.
Amen Brother, preach on. I have been into saltwater fishing for the last 15 years. I just got back into bass fishing and was shocked to hear about this new technology that takes away from the skill an angler has to learn. If your staring at a screen instead of out in front of you, that just don't seem like fishing to me.
Randy I agree 100% with your statement. Last year a local salt water fishing guide that host an outdoor show on radio said with the new technology the fish do not have a chance. Then you factor in guys running rough water with a live well full of fish getting beat to death is not good for the sport.
Amen Randy keep it going I hope Bass and MLF are going to step up to the plate. Then the rest will follow hopefully.
Here is an interesting fact.
FFS is already banned completely (owning and use) in various communes and districts in Switzerland and Germany.
Not talking about tournament. I’m talking completely… even recreational use. Pike, pearch and zander breeding stock populations stating declining and the local communes stepped in and banned it immediately.
Well, I am all for not using ffs during tournaments but would allow it to practice. As far as my Garmin....you would have to peel it from my cold, dead hands. I think it is a blast to use and what I have learned about fish behavior is priceless to me.
That’s right Randy. As an LEO I can reciprocate what you’re talking about. It ain’t always easy doing the right thing, but what’s right is right.
Pretty soon reaching into a bucket of fish will be called "bass fishing".
I have some glasses that allow me to see thru water just like looking thru air, can I use them in bass tournaments?
I’m not a tournament fisherman but watch every single one on both sides. I don’t have a major do or die stand but do have a suggestion and would like to know what people think of it. What if it’s allowed in practice but not in the actual tournament? And in MLF what about being allowed in the qualifying rounds but not in the knockout or championship rounds? Just a thought on a sort of compromise between the two. Love to know what Randy thinks even tho I think I know the answer to that but also what everyone else thinks. Just a thought
SO TRUE. Love the point about this not killing those electronics companies too. Still plenty of money to be made on side imaging and down imaging, and wouldn't break the bank to back off a bit on FFS development after a rules change and limitations placed to preserve the integrity and sustainability of the sport.
Have you had the opportunity to talk to Rick Clunn on his views? That would be a great interview. We need an old school, map only tournament.
I watched St. Lawrence for about five minutes and turned it off. You knew as the broadcast switched from angler to angler that it was going to be just more offshore footage of someone bouncing up and down on the front deck staring at their screens. I’d rather watch Blaukat or Swindle throw a jig into gnarly cover with muddy water.
It’ll be interesting if there’s a showdown between the broadcast companies (ex Fox Sports), the fishing leagues (ex Bassmaster, MLF), the series sponsors (ex Garmin) and the TV advertisers (commercials) if ratings go down. The broadcasters pay the leagues for the rights to the broadcast and the broadcasters make money by selling commercial slots to the TV advertisers. The broadcasters many times guarantee their advertisers a minimum TV rating or viewership…if not the advertisers could be owed “make-good” money from the broadcast company if the ratings are poor. It’ll be interesting if a tug of war breaks out because a company like Garmin has a vested interest and so does a company who advertises their products during the broadcast. The TV advertisers could actually be the ones who make a push for leagues to drop FFS if ratings suffer. In fact, TV advertisers dictate more than we know, right down to dictating the product on the field of play itself.
If Bassmaster and MLF aren’t careful, a rival league free of FFS or electronics altogether will rise up.
Perfectly said
That’s ENTERTAINING!!!
If you really want to get rid of FFS, you need to lobby state fish and wildlife agencies and the US Fish & Wildlife Service along with tournament organizations. After that go after the entity that has jurisdiction over individual bodies of water.
Yep. I figure there will eventually be tournaments that don't allow livescope/FFS. Just depthfinder only or old school flasher!!
Keep up the great work Randy, I believe no one should be using ffs except may game and fish or for conservation!! Great video, I turn the channel the minute I see anyone using it, if I wanted to watch something like that I can watch my nephews play their x-boxes. I hope the ban comes soon
Lol hes won 2 tournaments in 30 years... hes crying
The skill of finding fish with your knowledge and understanding of bass, weather, and mood etc. and your skill as an angler to find fish with their baits and minds and not their video game setup. The hunt is one of the best things about bass fishing. I like watching people fish. Not stare at a screen with a drop shot or a damiki rig. Or whatever bait to see them and your bait and see how they react.
Randy you haven’t lost me or us original 70 & 80’s tournament guys 👍
Well done tired of livescope refuse to use it well spoken
Well said Randy, and just look at the recent Elite tournament on Lake Champlain, what a waste of a camera on a boat when the leader and winner of that event spent most of his day looking at his monitors and not casting till he seen something. Real exciting to watch he was just one of many anglers spending the day holding a pole in their hand. Then the same week later St. Lawrence. I hope MLF and Bass can see beyond the money.
Totally agree!! Get rid of it! As soon as I turn on a televised tournament and it's ffs driven...I'm out
Watching the Smith Lake event I actually saw some real fishing here and there.
You and G should get together and do a weight lifting/arm wrestling tournament and stream it on RUclips! Lol I’d tune in to see that🎣
Better yet, a cage match! Only one man leaves alive. Winner gets a green box flasher and a pistol grip rod.
🤣
I used to watch and follow every event to find out how they caught them, i haven’t followed any tournaments for the past two years. The mystery has been taken out of bass fishing !
For the pros that are proficient and lean heavily on livescope that bash the critics, they will not respond when you ask them what the limit will be. Soon livescope sales will plateau and they’ll be working on something new. Will it be a remote control to swim a bait into a fish’s mouth? Or a transducer linked to sunglasses that let you see live underwater view wherever you look?
I’m with you 100%
Agree 💯 with not allowing in tournament fishing. For the sport it self and what you said about taking the hard work and skill that makes talent. Unfortunately this mindset is not only in the sport of fishing-but in other careers as well. Any monkey can do it, but few understand it
Live scope blows keep rocking Randy
Let's get an organization started that won't allow it, even in practice.
It time to make it happen, it's killing our fisheries and opportunities for our children and grand children.
WE should ALL be concerned.
I agree 100%. i use my electronics to locate structure and thats it...i dont even use it to locate bass...livescope and FFS has change the sport from fishing to catching
Eye opener for me is how huge of a PR boost it will be to the first federation that makes “No ffs” law.
It takes the mystery out of it. You know the saying "leave something to be desired"
Randy start a petition tir. it into your state let's go I'll sign it
Kyle Welcher covered the topic as well. You should do a live round table discussion with you, Gerald, Kyle, KVD, and Jacob Wheeler to discuss the topic.
Yes, you're right. I do not watch bass tournaments anymore, it's not a sport anymore, it's a commercial fishing venture....
I’m so sick of livescope I’m watch UFC FIGHTING NOW INSTEAD OF FISHING
Keep it going Randy!
It’s getting some traction.
Wheels are turning! Hopefully BASS and MLF listen
Randy you are spot on I have said that ever since live scope came out
Hes won 2 tournaments in 30 years ....hes crying
I agree with you on ban. Due to I have stopped watching a lot less. I would love to see the old ways come back with minimal sonar use.. because it really does show the ability of the anglers experience to fish the lake.. I’ve recently added Garmin just to keep up with my tournament club.. trust me I love it it’s helped me I’ve been able to win with it this year.. I’d like to see few tournaments without it on professional side..belive this would be interesting to see..
I know you take a lot of shit for your opinion on this, but I respect the fact that you stand by your opinion.
Randy, to what conservation groups are you a member and would you recommend us supporting that organization(s)?
I use FFS literally every single day; however, it never used to be that way. I now use it to stay competitive, and I would not care if it was banned tomorrow.
BUT, and this is a big BUTTTTT... on the same note, I personally know at least 3 anglers with 35k in electronics and they do not even know how to read side scan. So to say that reading electronics it does not take skill is a bit of a stretch. It certainly takes different kinds of skill. These guys fish WORSE when they are staring at their electronics, they are limited in skill ceiling because of this. I grew up shallow water sight fishing most of the time, shallow grass etc, this was new to me, and I put in 2823 hours on my first graph just learning how to utilize it as a tool.
I am with you Randy, FFS can go away tomorrow, but it does take a different level of dedication, and its worth acknowledging.
Good video! Tight lines, brothers!
There is too much money in electronics for bass to do anything. I wish it wasn't that way but it is. Having an old soul, living in a new world.
I am listening Randy!!!!!!!! Lynwood
As a Viewer and an intermediate bass angler hoping one day to enter the bass circuit tourns, I started bass fishing as most did without sonars so that’s where my opinion is coming from. I believe compromise will be the answer here, years of fishing without the aid of technology brings about set”s” of skills that are nullified with the use of forward facing sonar, the tech does what it’s supposed to and that’s to make it easier to find and put more fish in the boat. The problem is when it comes to tournaments which is supposed to filter out the best of anglers, FFS not only evens the playing field but it also take from those anglers that have spent years acquiring skills that one can only acquire from experience the well deserved title of being one of the best . Now anyone who’s financially capable of having the technology without putting in much time on the water can become an “Elite” therefor it really takes away from the main goal of the tournament which is filtering out the best of the best. I believe the best solution is throughout the circuit… the first couple tournaments (qualifiers) should allow FFS to narrow down the competition then as it gets to the top tournaments it should then start to back away from FFS and solely rely on intuition and experience “raw skills only” your senses to determine the Elite amongst the competitors. Not only would this make Bass Master Elite so prestigious but it would give a great importance and respect to the game in which will be the “talk of the town” more than it does now with the anglers and viewers but it would also encourage challengers to really practice engaging with their environment more from mapping where the forage are, where the herrings are hunting, where the wind and currents are hitting, and creating activities in the water (food chain), to feeling out bottom composition and so forth etc. These are important skill sets that become insignificant with FFS. So In summary forward facing sonar should be use to thin out the competition then as it moves to the “Super Bowl” BMElite/classics; FFS should be banned and require only traditional raw angling skills. Really filler out the best of us.
I really agree and I think you just took the bull and twisted his nutz. It's not going to kill the guys to put it down. Great Job Randy.
Yep done with watching young guys with electronics making guys who built the sport and learned different techniques not relying on FFS.
I canceled my renewal to BASS after many years. Yes I'm only 1 but others are over it as well. I may not catch as many with my old school electronics but I enjoy knowing I figured it out on my own. That's gives me satisfaction.
Great video , we are gaining momentum, ban Live Scope
Do you feel the same about side imaging
his poll wasn't about liking livescope, it was do they not like watching tournaments where the angler uses livescope. I dont like watching it on TV, but really like livescope its a awesome tool.
I agree brother I been bass fishing for 50yrs always love watching bass fishing tournaments now only watch early season once they go north and start livescope I quit watching thanks again
One thing that I haven't heard talked about is how are the pros going to promote baits other than drop shots when you will rarely see them thrown. Only a small spring window, then back to the drop shots, 10 inch worms, and jigs. crankbaits will prob just go extinct.
A lot of Pros are saying; They are catching lots of Largemouth, but there Trolling Motor is on high covering water, than use Live Scope as they they caught the only Bass of the day
With livescope and FFS, it can no longer be called "fishing". It is now "catching"!!!
Miliken had a pretty good response to your ff sonar position... whats your take?
It's becoming an electronics competition more than a fishing one. I can't watch the summer tournaments up north.
I’ve passed on fishing local BFL division events as a co in recent years if the regional is going to be a high probability of it being a livescope fall deal. I used to always fish full seasons for something to do.
Even Jacob Wheeler, who seems to have mastered FFS or at least be one of the first to dial it in, said that if not banning it there should be a limit on the amount of screens or total inches of screens on a boat.
I totally agree. The young pros today have not proved that they belong in the elites because of live scope. As you said, they proved they can play a video game. Take it away and let’s see how good they really are.
I just started fishing again as a 50 year old. I loved fishing as a kid. I love catching fish. I love being out in nature and I love the surprise of hooking a fish. I did not even know of this trend or equipment. This is not fishing.
I think it should be allowed in practice but not in competition. BASS should take notes from Big Sportfishing tournaments like the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament where there is a separate division for boats running half million dollar sonar.
I love FFS and use it all the time. It’s an amazing tool
Randy, the pole wasn't about do you like or don't like it, it was about if you like watching it on television.
I'm not disagreeing with you, but you keep bringing up the health of the fish. How do you feel about getting rid of live wells and going to a type of CPR format? (catch, photo, release) I pulled up to a ramp last week and watched a guy pull 14 fish out of his livewell and throw them back. Fish aren't doing well getting run all over the lake on a hot day for miles either.
Randy, before anything will happen tournament wise it must start with the pros!
I like Swindle..but I have to agree with you on this one…people need to stop bad mouthing others just because they have a different point of view..we must not hate each other because we disagree on stuff..that’s crazy!!!Go Dawgs!!
Just implement a 1 pound penalty per fish caught on ffs to level the playing field and let them fish. It happens in other sports such as drag racing for people that choose to run different induction systems. Happens in golf with a handicap or an age bracket