I was vehemently against FFS a year ago at this time, but I was in a weird place where my dad had talked me into buying one 4 or 5 years ago for our jon boat that was out of commission the last 3 years. I finally got it put together and all set up earlier this year, and I have used it a hand full of times and I can tell you first hand, it is nice to be able to see fish, but I cannot for the life of me get used to using it like these pro's. They make it look so easy, but it's incredibly challenging to do what they do. That may be besides the point for a lot of people that don't like it, but I feel the need to point it out that it still takes a lot of skill to utilize.
when the super detailed lake maps came out was there a huge issue? spot lock trolling motors? side scan sonar? carbon fiber fishing rods? down scan sonar that you can see a drink can on the bottom? there have been major advances in how we catch fish in the past 10 years. my take is that if you're a pro fisherman you had better keep up with all the newest do dad to help you boat more fish because the more you catch the more likely you are to win. there is a reason most have boats that go 80 miles an hour. and yes, if i could afford one dang right i would have a ffs on my boats they are that good
I have FFS and I use it strictly to find and see off shore brush piles here in Florida. I have learned that my chances of catching fish from brush piles I see with FFS is much greater than chasing a fish around and trying to catch it. In my opinion it is a huge time saver. Time is important to me because of my age (78) and because of the brutal hot days in the Florida summer I’m lucky to get 4 hours to fish. When you can only fish half a day I don’t want to be wasting time fishing unproductive water.
BS.....maybe thats what they said. FFS has and is killing the sport of tournament bass fishing. 99.99999% of tournaments are won that way these day's. Total BS!!!
This is how I use it here in Alabama on the Coosa River. Guntersville also to find grass edges. Not there is times on guntersville where I use it to make exact cast to the school in a ditch or point or something. But most of the time FFS is just a tool mainly because of my personal preference. I don’t want myself to become to reliant on FFS, cause nothings better than a broomstick and a 1 1/2-2oz weight and dropping that big weight on their heads. Enjoyed your take on this JT! You staying with falcon?
JT I understand both sides but just feel like it takes away some of the mystery of fishing. My wife and I have been bass fishing for 4 years now, We are not experts at all for sure but have enjoyed the learning process. We live in Palm Bay and fish the areas you fish. One of the most exciting parts for us was learning the environmental things that help you catch fish. Second was watching yours and other videos on techniques on You Tube and using them to learn how to catch fish. You are correct it is an interesting time in the sport. I also would like to Thank you for the time you spent with me and a young man who watches your videos all the time. He is 18 just started fishing and meeting you was why he wanted to come to I cast. I know you said you were getting a Vexus soon. Hope to get to see you at the ramp with it. I am sure it will be very cool.
Honestly arent all the pros using it?? With all the graphs they already have.. spending an extra 1600-2k isnt alot “for them and the amount of expences they incur and alot of them get it free!” BUT i think if ALL HAVE IT seems like its like “are they mad because they saw the fish on ffs BUT couldnt catch em??
JT I want your opinion. With all the gripes about FFS, what if the rules start treating it like sight fishing where all fish must be hooked inside the mouth.
Why are so many people saying it’s ruined fishing for them? if you don’t like it don’t use it. If you don’t like watching it then don’t it’s pretty simple.i use mine primarily to find cover shallow and i use it to fish groups of fish deeper. It’s not as easy as non users think it is either, at least not for me!🤣I’m 62 and started with a flasher! technology is never ending. You either adapt or get left behind. I remember when compound bows came out and the traditionals said it would ruin archery season’s and they would shorten archery season’s and limit how many deer we could take. as we all know there’s more opportunity now than ever! just my take on the whole thing, my opinion doesn’t matter. just my 2 cents.God bless you all!
Yes, 100% legitimate. If the tournament rules allow for it then it's legitimate. It's like saying someone who won the tournament on a specific bait isn't legitimate because you don't like the bait. If it's legal by tournament rules then it counts whether you like the technology or not.
If their going to start noting FFS wins, shouldn't they do the same for wins where side scan or 360 was used when fishing structure? As for using FFS, if I'm ever in a position to add FFS to my boat, my main reason would be to scan an area to find submerged cover much more efficiently than paddling around with side imaging not so much to "work the fish".
Personally I just don’t see how it’s fun. I kayak fish and watch tourney anglers every weekend trolling around just starting at their monitors. My wife who doesn’t even fish asked me why they bother. She said they look like our kids staring at their phones. 😂
No. It's also ruined every big smallmouth catch I've seen lately. These guys are catching fish suspended over 100ft of water that don't even want to eat. I don't respect it.
The risk I see is that it takes away from the entertainment side of the sport. And if you’re fishing on TV, you need to be entertaining. Success of MLF and BassMasters, and the industry, is based on revenue from advertisers. And ad rates are driven by viewership numbers. These younger anglers who stare at a screen holding a spinning rod don’t interact with the camera very well. It’s entertaining to watch the OGs who fish, talk, make amazing casts, big hook sets. It’s entertainment. I really enjoy watching fishing shows. But when it’s a FFS finesse fishing event, I don’t watch long. It’s just not fun to watch. I’m all for new tech and better ways to fish. But don’t forget that for pro tournaments, you’re selling a product that needs viewers to keep it going.
It’s legit- but the sports foundation has been blown up. Honestly, I was going into retirement excited about fishing tournaments. Obviously not at a pro level. But I’m not interested in the tournaments anymore- not even the locals. They have destroyed the game. I’ll just go fishing now.
Seriously JT?? 1/2 to FFS??? What about 1/2 to side imaging or 1/2 to downscan or 1/2 to sonar or 1/2 to mapping. FFS is legal and available to ALL anglers to learn and use. Give me a break. Stop hating on someone that wins and doesn’t break any rules. It doesn’t matter to me if they allow FFS or not, but if it’s allowed, stop the hate. The main issue we are seeing is jealousy.
FFS win no matter how it is used . I am for the FFS and i am 55 yrs old ,not much different then from fishing for them on beds , no 1/2 doesnt matter . It was used !!!.
FFS is straight cheating in my opinion and is no different that spot lighting deer, exactly the same thing. Also it is and has ruined bass fishing tournaments especially viewership! Absolutely there should be an asterisk or even better not count at all. Skill in bass fishing is the only thing that should be allowed in a tournament 2D and side scan with GPS for safety but FFS is destroying bass tournaments, viewership and most importantly the career of guys that put in the years on the water to learn the skills
FFS fishing is so boring to watch. I don't care what tournament organization you are watching. I would suggest that it be banned from tournaments. Additionally, it should not allowed on any boat that is harvesting fish (any species). Fun fishing and tournament practice only. I have FFS and I see an advantage it gives me over not having it.
Have you watched them fish a tournament while fishing for fish on beds ? Exactly the same ,all you see is the Pros back and they make cast after cast to the same fish . No different.
@JAMESJONES-wt4rz No arguments here. I'm not a fan of bed fishing either. I have FFS, and I strictly use it for fun fishing, and I can tell you it is unfair for the fish. You still have to make them bite. Which is so much easier when you can see the fish and your bait.
Honestly JT between all the cheating these days and now with ffs the sport just dosnt interest me anymore! The allure of fishing for me was always where’s the fish when your not catching them, and ffs has ended the mystery of fishing !
