Gerald Swindle’s Recent Facebook Post Is A MUST Read For All Bass Anglers… 

I’ll tell you this I love the way John Cox fishes basic trolling motor basic boat basic electronics and he’s a hammer.

I always felt that the excitement of fishing came from the fact that my Quarry is invisible.

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.

The real issue with bass is catch, weigh, and release. How many of these giant bass being caught are dying at the weigh in?

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.

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.

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 🙏🏾

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.

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.

Respect the hell out of you both. Keep up the good fight

If you are a Pro, you shouldn't need it, is what I take from all this.

Ban all FFS

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.

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....

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

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.

When I saw 5 rookies in the top 10 today, I told my buddies...time for a Seniors Tour!!

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"

Shouldn’t be allowed practice days. Especially with this NASA level tech. And really to be a pro you have to play on pro arenas/(meaning lakes). So build your own “pro” lakes and stop hammering public water. That water is for the public not for your business to exploit and rape to death our lakes. That’s how I feel. Get off our public lakes completely. NASCAR isn’t driving down the highways and y’all look like nascar with all your sponsors so seriously we need the government to kick bass and mlf off public lakes.

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 !

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.

Thank you Randy!

I have to agree 100% the real tradition of fishing and truly learning how fish live and transition is gone!

This was so well articulated Randy. Thank you.

Spotlighters benefit tournament! 😂😂 great name..!

Always spot on Randy, totally agree!

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

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 any other professional sport cannot be compared to fishing. Fishing is using a live animal. The other sports you are talking about don't use electonics. With that being said every angler on tour has used the latest and greatest technology available. This continual rant against the newest technology in my opinion is just sour grapes. I've been fishing for over 50yrs and have no problem with the FFS

Instant gratification bass fishing

Hank Cherry video is on point about FFS

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.

So well said Randy, thank you for being the voice of reason and common sense

I saw a boat on my local river with all that stuff on it. looked like a command center on a space ship. BAN

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?

FighttheGoodFight❤

❤ hunter stalker comment. Not good at video games. I pay attention to nature, not just the water....just love it.

You are right Randy

I would like to know what the kill ratio is on the bass at fort Lake

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 !

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!

Sorry Randy. I don’t agree with you about FFS. Seeing the fish react is very intimate. You are just money hungry and trying to capitalize off FFS for gain. (Views). I am unsubscribing. Good luck. I will never watch anything you do again.

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.

So were you crying about sonar when it was being used 20-30 years ago? Im guessing not, because you were actually half way relevant then and didnt care. And spare me the "oh its hurting the fish" bs too, because if that were a fact then there wouldnt have been the numbers of quality fish caught yesterday in Lake Fork. At one point, there were 77 4lb fish alone that were caught. Thats insane quality considering there were a ton of 5s, 6s, 7s, 8s, a few 9s, and a couple 10s. If your bs logic was true, those fish wouldnt even exist in the lake.

Time to hand the torch over -- sorry but its the evolution of life. Things change and you change with it or you are left behind. We see it every day with just about everything in life. Years ago you made your money on your performance - now its all about perception and getting your name and sponsor’s names out there. Social media presence is more important than tournament standings. No one is saying boycott Facebook, Instagram, etc. because you would get no where with that philosophy. Quit complaining about evolution. FFS benefits the sport because it keeps it alive for the younger generation who is more in tune with data overload. Think back - you snatched tournament fishing away from all those old timers that could not afford a decked out Ranger Bass Boat - no different than what is going on now. Stop crying over evolution - 20 years ago we complained about sight fishing during the spawn and holding tournaments where big females were targeted while on the bed. Then came side scan sonar and everyone said it was an unfair advantage -- blah blah blah. Time doesn’t sit still for anyone - you change with the times or get left behind.

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!

Preach it Brother. Well said. I appreciate you fighting the good fight.

READ THIS i fish ontario alot i personally killed 20 fish over 5 pds last summer because i caught them in 50 foot of water due to ffs a few died in livewell a few died during thr weigh in and no doubt they all died. When u catch them in 50 of they dont go back instantly its 100 percent mortality. Our smallie fisheris are being destroyed. Club tourneys dont have no where nesr the right holding tanks

Its years of experience, knowledge, and skill being defeated by technology. BAN FFS.

Tournament bass fishing has completely jumped the shark as a spectator sport since FFS has taken over.

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.

Everything changes if you don’t like it get out and I’m an old guy before I retired from truck driving my company started buying trucks with automatic transmissions none of the new guys could shift the truck but they were getting paid the because they were doing the same job I didn’t think it was fair but there wasn’t anything I could do about it unless I quit my so unless you want to quit and not get paid stop bitching there’s to much money in it and you’re not going to stop it good luck

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.)

I’m fortunate to have tournament fished throughout the 90’s.

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.

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

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

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.

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

Well said

Anyone use Swindles "double shindo" knot? It's been my go to for 4 years now.

Keep Ranting ! Thanks Randy !

As usual, spot on. It's still depressing.

Pro fisherman are the ones selling our sport out

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

You are spot on, long for good old days. Just cancelled bass Masters and bass times don't have to read just look at pictures back off someone's head🤪

Trey McKinney "Thanks for playing my game" while releasing fish! HAHAHA

How can you make a video speaking on a tournament you’re clearly not following! MULTIPLE guys in the top 15 were fishing on the bank or less than 5 foot Stetson caught his 37lbs in 2-3ft of water…..get it together WAAAAndy

Keep it up Randy, good job. Agree 110.

I’m 72 years old..I don’t have it yet, cat wait to get it😊‼️

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.

It’s like golfing with rifle scope. Just shoot the ball in the hole. Yay!!!! Hole in one. 😆😆😆

Randy I couldn’t agree more. This is a topic that BASS and others are going to have to address. A good example is MLB not allowing Aluminum baseball bats in the major leagues although the technology is much more advanced. It does way more harm than good.

Uncle Randy is so right. Let’s keep at it and get bass fishing back to how it is supposed to be.

Being I'm 60 plus.So bear with me and the neutral rant... Big Tire Road Hugger L50 Tires with cherry bomb mufflers and built balanced, big lope cams, high compression pistons, 2-4 barrel double pumpers..... then the rice burners arrived, and the youth GOT IT.We now go to car Shows or spend 100K to reminisce . when Richard petty showed up with the Hemi and ran the doors off of competitors on the high line, Then Rules slowly modified the HUGE EDGE. When Tom Mann showed up with the flasher... When Ray Scott formed BASS, all these things are a progression of natural growth. The Internet, The Cell phone, The Smart Phone. Our Youth that are replacing us Ole School consumers have grew up with so many advantages in the sport of Bass Fishing, it feels wrong. But It isn't wrong or their fault. It's technology evolution. We should work with ALL to accommodate Technology, Youth, and The GRAND AGE of OLD SCHOOL Bass fishing as it is period of change WE CAN'T STOP< WE MAY QUIT BUT WE CAN'T STOP WHAT HAS ARRIVED. Lets put our heads and thoughts together make suggestions for a SOLUTION.. OLE Fashioned Bass Torneys... no Spotlighting New Tech Torneys Spotlighting Allowed. There may be room for a dual Technique BassMAster Classic. Nobody, no invention will take my passion for the sport of fishing (since i was 4 with the cane pole). Nor will it erase the Greatness of Our ANGLERS who mastered the art of BASS fishing. We must find a way to accommodate our Growth as Human Beings... because its not technology, it's US that are changing the World. I do though fully support a remedy and solution to WID+E GAP between Spotlighters and Hammers... Maybe allow Spotlighting in Practice only

Can the true real bass fishing left in America vote on this. I'm 41 years old. I love bass fishing so much. And spot lights make me sick!!!!!

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.

I'm 100% on the right side of history with you.

Great video! Agree 💯

Dang dude, it's so painful watching this. Just challenge anyone you think is a scoper and prove your skills to each other without sonar. Stealthy !!! You absolutely have no idea how hard is to get a fish to bite if you are not 50+ ft and stealthy with ffs. Your lack of using it and speaking on it makes it invalid. Go use it for 1 year and then share your opinion. Alabama rig does hurt the fish, 5 or 3 jig hooks go deep into these fish and no need form that. It was originally banned to competitive advantage, but as we know you can buy a bite on it these days. Man randy you really got to allow to just not be so negative. You want to protect fish? Banned bass fishing in the summer and no site fishing, but that does not fit your agenda. Mental capacity...lol. that healing therapeutic can still be done on your recreational time. Stop mixing that with competition events.

Traditional bass/sport & recreational fishing is the creator's medicine. FF sonar is the cheap whiskey/illicit drugs that will destroy our waters for the financial benefit of 3 electronic manufacturer's for only a few decades until fishing waters are void of sportfish. Tournament directors state DNR's y'all went to school, figure it out!

The spawning smallmouth tournaments are just disgusting! Smallmouth are the easiest bass to catch from a bed yet these guys rape them off the beds drag them to a weigh In that will decimate a fishery as smallmouth aren’t as prolific of spawners as largemouth. This was going on WAYyyyyyyyyyyy before FFS Randy

New Mercer with D Hite- Davy says... Forward Facing has ruined the Allure of the surprise. A democratic vote by the anglers would solve the whole issue/ imo

I’m so tired of hearing all this crap nobody whines and complains about using gas powered engines, polluting the water nobody whines and complains about all the lead that’s eaten by the fish or snagged on the bottom of the lake polluting the water there is always going to be change no matter how you look at it will say it’s positive. Some will say it’s negative you’re never going to change either of the sides in your favor, if we didn’t have change we wouldn’t have the nice fancy hundred thousand dollar boats we have nowadays or bait casters or any of the other major advancements that have made fishing not only more fun but more economical and safer for everyone involved including the fish, so stop whining like a baby and move onto something else. Dude I mean damn Ford facing sonar is here to stay. It ain’t going nowhere either get with the times or get out of the sport you don’t see people out here in 1979 Sears Roebuck bass boats using vintage Evinrude motors. Nope that’s because there’s better things to use. This is the same thing dude

You said co-anglers should be done away with that's wrong who are you to say things like we want to learn but with people like you it kinda makes you want to just fish buddy tournament's like Texas team trail but you are what you are but you aren't the only one I thought you were different I guess I was wrong.

And the one and only reason they dont stop it immediately............MONEY.........what a dayum disgrace they are

Keep your voice loud and clear, Randy.

Randy everytime you make a whining video you make yourself out to be a washed up has been. If you value your wisdom then make videos that pass that knowledge and wisdom down to the next generation without complaining about the future

It would be interesting to see if BASS banned FFS and say MFL allowed it, which organization would the majority pro anglers flock to?? And which would be more popular?

I can not watch any tournament where every time an angler is on camera he is staring down at his livescope. I immediately turn off the channel because it is boring to watch. I’m sure there are many other anglers that feel the same way.I totally agree that it should be banned from tournaments.

I totally agree with you, Randy, it needs to be banned or restrictions limitations to how many freaking graphs and transducers you can have on your boat.. seriously out of control !!

Well said, Money is driving this, they don't let track stars use drugs to give them more speed same thing to me;;;;

You're paid to put fish in the boat. ... now... figure out a way to put fish in the boat

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.

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'm a new fan if BASS. Really enjoyed the last 2 tournaments and not against the tech. You still gotta catch fish. Tech only gets you so far

It's turning fishing into a competition or a job that *really* takes the magic of if it.

I agree that FF sonar should not be allowed in professional bass tournaments. Having said that I am 51 years old and just bought my first bass boat, which happens to have it installed on my 36 year old champion boat. I haven't had the boat out yet, but I have never fished in a tournament and maybe never will. I'm a catch and release angler that might take a quick picture of a good one. But crappie and walleye eaters are coming home and joining me for 🍽️.

Wow!!! no truer words have been said, "younger generation missing out on the most valued parts of bass fishing". Put your work in!!!