Say Goodbye To All Your Favorite Bassmaster Elite Series Pros… 

My last tournament, an angler asked me if i had FFS. And if not, why? I said, "I enjoy fishing and competing. I refuse to loose the skills i have developed. The education about fish Ive acquired over the years. When I was deer hunting, my friends were buying long range rifles. Harvesting deer at 6-700 yards. I was bow hunting, harvesting deer at 30 yards. I guided elk hunters for years. I never ever got lost. The days i started useing a GPS, my skill fell away. Now i can't walk miles in dense forest without one." Technology destroys our god given gift of human skill and self satisfaction of earned success from hard work.

Why can't FFS be banned like the umbrella rig. Oh yeah, $$$.

I watched bassmaster bout 30 seconds on my lunch break n cut that shit off. Like watching paint dry

Randy, I keep saying it. There is an opportunity to start a new tournament trail that prohibits the forward facing live sonars. Call it the Real Fisherman's tournament trail. No more video game players. Just guys like yourself, like me for that matter. As you said, guys who have honed their skills through their understanding of seasonal patterns and fish movements. Understanding of "match the hatch". Ive fished with a few greats in my day. And I learned so much about fishing from them. Peter "T" taught me a lesson on Carolina rigging in 1992 that I was able to apply to my Federation tournaments and win several with what he taught me. These video game guys would be lost without their crutches. And with what I know, I could probably beat most of them on any lake without their TV's in their boats. Im so sick of it, I actually called BASS and told them to stop sending me magazines even though Im a life member from the early 90's. The way to win this battle is hit them in the wallet. If people stop watching, then the sponsors will stop paying. Its as simple as that. And if enough people would stop watching, suddenly payouts would start dropping. No more 100K bass rigs. Ray Scott must be rolling over in his grave at what this sport has become. Get the cameras out of the boats. And just let the guys fish. It used to be fun. Its not any more.

What irritates me the most about the whole forward facing sonar as those guys call themselves professional and they are far from it

Well, at this moment I am in Canada fishing Wolfe Lake out of a 13 ft aluminum boat with a 9.9 on it. I left my bass boat home in Syracuse and I am having more fun than I've had in 45 years.

Thinking a 19yr old techy can outfish Randy is a joke....heck, they can't even tell time....or so I've heard. BAN FFS..GO RB!

It’s a sad time for the whole country man. Not just fishing.

You're spot on with this one man. I was a marshal at smith lake. My angler (who is a complete hammer) straight up told me if something isn't done soon himself and a lot of others won't be there much longer. Smith was pitiful man.

MLF and Bassmaster are also straight up liars when it comes to the reporting the viewership numbers.

Guys so focused on their little video screen that they have to have Mommy call them to tell them they are late to weigh in…

I'm with Randy, no way those young guns would ever beat Randy without electronics!!! Or any of the other real pros!

Make no mistake, like everything, the God Almighty dollar rules. The owners of BASS and MLF only care about the amount of money they make.

Man did u nail it on that video about FFSonar!!!! We need to leave those untapped fish alone !!! Remember when we went fishing for fun and not for money!!! We want to see anglers use brains and wits to catch fish.. not just sonar!!! Preach on buddy!!!!!

The St James BPT was a decent watch this weekend! Pretty awesome to see Reese get his first BPT win power FISHING! Yes, there were some scopeadoping, but the dominant players were actually fishing! A refreshing watch for sure!

It’s life and we all have to face that there is always going to be someone pushing to take our spot. I watched as much of the Smith Lake coverage as I could and enjoyed the way they linked up units and cameras so we could see what they were doing as well as the shallow water coverage . I am 71 years old and my tournament days are numbered but I can still get excited watching these young guns . Keep up the good work BASS.

Randy, your point is well taken and I agree 100%. With that being said, there is one word you are forgetting which is MONEY. Bassmaster and others are given incentives for allowing FFS to be used in competition. The boat manufacturers, dealers, sponsors are making more money by rigging FFS in the products they sell for those who can afford it. Fishery Biologists that I have spoke to in different states are starting to become concerned about the damage FFS is doing to the resource. It seems hypocritical to me that certain states want to limit the amount of hooks I can fish on an A-Rig but allow FFS with NO Restrictions. Go Figure....

All the new generation needs to understand is how the Internet has given them all attachment disorders because they've spent so much time physically alone

Sir Randall MLF and Bassmaster has made me start watching women's basketball 🏀 which I never used to do.

I Love the picture of Skeet in the thumbnail..As he's about to Win today..lol

It's saddening when a hard-earned profession/skill is no longer marketable. I had to change mine several times ... carefully. Some say, "Specialization is for insects."; I say it's _mind-numbing,_ as most routine activities become ... for me.

Meanwhile Skeet Reese just won the BPT on the James River.😂

Hey Randy, idea: Bassmaster livescope series - Hear me out: they could qualify for the classic thru the livescope series, BUT they can’t use livescope at the classic or any other elite series tournaments. Then we’d find out how well a representative from the livescope community would do against real bass fisherman.

Watching the BPT guys on the James River “fishing” is refreshing. I fish the Opens & Toyota’s- I can’t tell you how many co anglers say “Thank God” when I tell them I’m not Livescoping. They are getting frustrated paying to watch a guy watch his screen all day from the back seat

I fished with a friend that has ffs, it was my first time using it and I'm not a fan. It felt wrong and completely took away the fun factor. Just my 2 cents.

Randy you're 100% correct on this issue. FFS is also negatively impacting the tackle industry so sponsored pros are getting it from both ends.

Everyone putting out all the information that took years to learn. The internet sucks

Interesting, Skeet Reese just Won today! Isn’t he in your thumbnail for this video?

The Big name PROs are finally opening their eyes , you are gaining ground , keep it up , and you are 100 percent correct

Until the tour goes broke they will continue to allow equipment that should only be used for commerical fishing.

We need a tour without FFS. Yesterday Skeet Reese was throwing a square bill all over the place and beat the scopers. It was great watching some old school fishing. He might have looked at a few times but not staring at it for hours. I miss the old days when each guy had a specialty. Nixon with a worm. Jimmy and his roll cast spinnerbait technique. Fritz cranking. Guido with his finesse game. Brauer and Hackney with a jig. Usually the weather decided which style would benefit-not an AI box. I don't see it getting banned anytime soon. I just don't watch when its the primary method. Give me a crankbait and some rocky shoreline and I'm good to go! ✌

We caught 25 in a jon boat two baitcaster a chatterbait a jerk bait, deep water. We had an anchor an oar and two life jackets. You mean to tell me these pros are using computers to catch bass and I’m supposed to be impressed

Keep it up man. True fishermen will come back one day.

I thought it was cheating when I first saw it and that will never change.

The last Bassmaster Elite tournament I watch, I only recognized 3 people.

Forget banning FFS, the best thing that could happen to our fisheries and aquatic ecosystems would be banning tournaments and "professional" fishing in general. Randy always talks about his concern for the environment and the decline of fisheries, but he is a totally hypocritical in that he supports and participates the single most destructive influence...tournaments.

I know that manufacturers throw a lot of money at the tournaments, but I think a lot of it also might be that electronics advances in bass fishing have been "normalized" over the years. From crude depth gauges and thermometers, to flasher and paper graphing tech, to big screen 2D and side scan, to now FFS. It has to stop. No other pro sport allows this kind of game-changing tech in competition.

Thanks Randy. Watched James River tournament on MLF live. Scopers have a tough time in certain bodies of water (thank god). It was refreshing to see Skeet win the tournament via casting a shallow diver around shallow docks. I watch both circuits Elites and MLF. It is absolutely disgusting to see what the sport has become. As for sponsor dollars, it revolves around the electronic companies (hummingbird, garmin, and lowrance). An outright ban of FSS is necessary. This has to come from the State Wildlife Agencies. I hope I live long enough to see this happens. Currently I have seen our crappie population get trashed. I live on Bull Shoals. Actually saw a trout guide near my house use FSS on the White river for trout. I am glad that I got out of competitive bass fishing years ago. It is no longer a sport. It is a video game. Keep up the good work Randy.

Time to start a senior tournament like golf. Over 50 years old with no FFS and only downscan allowed. I guarantee I would watch that on Saturdays. It could take place on Friday and Saturday. 2 days only.

Great explanation of this situation Randy ….💥🤙👊

Jacob wheeler avg finish pre Garmin live scope? 34th place with 2 professional wins. Jacob Wheeler avg finish since Garmin Livescope? 14th place with 10 professional wins. Jacob wheeler is 60% better with live scope than without.

❤❤Randy, the crazy thing is the fact that several of my buddies went out and got forward facing sonar after hearing you say how much easier it is to catch fish. While you may be helping to stop the use of FFS in tournaments, you are convincing the weekend angler to rush out and buy the units so they can catch more bass.

Jordan lee is not on his way out 😂. Hes a household name with back to back classics BEFORE FFS. And is crushing it this yr.

Randy, looking forward to hearing what boat you will be buying in the near future! I have intentionally always stayed away from the bigger boats and motors during my 50 years of fishing. 18-19 ft boats with 150 hp have never been too small for me while fishing toledo, Rayburn, Fork, etc. Basic electronics and common sense have always worked.

With all due respect Randy... Then I'm thinking, I'm a bass fisherman and I've caught three 10's multiple nines and the like but isn't a bed fisherman in tournament fishing the same thing? I'm not trying to be an asshole or hating but if, wait I don't have ffs so I don't know and none of the big ones I've caught have been on bed's so it would be a good conversation to ban both types of tournament fishing, right??? Keep giving us the great content!

I am an old tackle dealer...older than you. One retired pro told me he knows people who know. The rules for Bassmaster and MLF are being rewritten for 2025 to exclude FFS from tournaments and allow in practice...trying to straddle the fence. Plus the other things you mentioned the other day about total inches of screens going to 60 inches etc.

While I am with you on FFS being limited or banned on the elite series. I’ve gotta say, you need to take a step back on some of these wild comments like saying anglers in their early 20’s would be at the bottom of every tournament without ffs…. Jordan Lee proved you wrong there along with several others. I agree that a lot of these young anglers may not be in the position they are now. But there are some young hammers that belong there without ffs. What we have happening now is a young class of anglers that have been competing in high level high school tournaments at a younger age than the household names had the opportunity to. It’s just the nature of getting more kids involved at an earlier age. While FFS has a lot to do with it, there are some young anglers with a ton of fish IQ based on the hard work put in at such a young age in these tournaments.

Here’s the thing, completely taking out FFS from the picture, this turnover is as bound to happen at some point. It happens in every sport, hell every actual job too. If you have ever had a job and trained your replacement there are plenty of signs, most people ignore a lot of them until it’s almost time for them to be laid off

You are telling the truth. It not just bass it all fishing industry from crappies to walleye. It a shame.

FFS in professional Bass angling is the equivalence of Bubba Wallace to NASCAR! I just turned on a live BASS event and they were talking about how they solely focus on their Lowrance screen and never look up! The screen shot of the four kids were all staring down at the huge ass lowarace and not a clue what's around them. This sport is shit now!! I've watched my last event as of today

I love how you put Skeet on the thumbnail and he won the tournament the same day!! Congrats skeet! 😂

REALLY ENJOYED WATCHING JAMES RIVER ON MLF THIS WEEK - SPOTLIGHTING WAS MINIMAL THERE

Biggest difference today with bass fishermen... the new age anglers...money is 1st, then catching....true bass fishermen, the sport itself is a passion that comes 1st & making money is 2nd....There's no passion in the sport today from the Scopers & it's all about catching

In general I totally agree! FFS is a tool that is video game fishing. I'm not an avid fishermen but I remember the days people like Roland Martin, Bill Dance and those guys were people to respect because they knew how to fish. Deer hunting with all of the trail cams pre hunting areas for you have increased the abilities for a hunters success too. Time changes everything but not always for the better!

Jordan Lee came straight out of college and kicked butt. He he didn't use FFS to start his career. Just because someone understands the use of FFS doesn't mean they can't fish without it. I'm not for or against it to me it's just another tool . But assuming someone can't fish without it is a grave error on your part with all the information that's at your fingertips.

I think FFS is great! Yeah, I fished for the last 30 years without it, but now it's available and it's a fun tool to have in the arsenal. Would everyone here who's crying about FFS be willing to give up their side scan? Why not? Side scan was an absolute game changer. All those "secret" spots guys had from hours and hours of 2D scanning were now available to everyone side scanning 200ft swaths of lake. No one is crying about that. Sounds like these "hammers" need to adapt. That's what weekemd club tournament guys life myself have to do. FFS was a new technology to me at one point, but now I'm getting to be effective with it and I'm just a weekend angler. Why can't these pros learn to use? Their job is learning how to catch fish. I'm sorry the techniques they learned 20 years ago aren't cutting anymore. Just like most of the rest of us, they have to continuously learn to stay relevant in it jobs.

Sonarmasters and Major League Sonar have lost me. Even as a viewer on tv it’s become so boring. Guys watching a screen fishing as where before they were focused on the spot, cover around them they were fishing. It might be a good time for another league to form that really challenges these anglers.

If there is no skill involved, why aren’t the “hammers” able to keep up? If it is that simple, and their livelihood and career is dependent upon learning it, why aren’t they still dominating? KVD was young when he came on scene…J. Lee, Wheeler, Connell….they all won before FFS so what is the excuse for them? New names always come on scene, it’s part of the sport. Some stick around by evolving and learning and others don’t. No one cares, or is losing sleep over the fact you’re embarrassed for them or whether or not the way they catch fish has no honor to you simply because they’re not beating the bank….I feel sure their sponsors appreciate it, which at the end of the day, is the name of the game.

I left a negative but not out of line comment on the bass master RU-vid video yesterday morning regarding how the camera was filming people from behind staring at screens. I think they deleted it

Well, bass and MLF have chose their path. The sad part is they will have just enough support to make it work for them as a spectator of the sport and avid bass fisherman I can only hope someone can start and other series that doesn't include F FS and quickly becomes popular and is live streamed and televised so I can have something to look forward to watching again

I think as long as the electronic companies support the tournaments with big bucks it's not going away. It's always about the money.

Stop your mental Mondays !

Randy, you also forget back in the 80s when you were learning to become a good fisherman and even the 70s the only way to learn was a magazine or a TV show nowadays you and almost every pro and every top fisherman puts their content about all those things that you say …….you have to take time to learn, they put all that content out on RU-vid so everything to do it Fishing is a fast track now.

Let's take the livescope off their boat for one event to see how good they really are

If its not a skill why isnt everyone excelling at it

Thanks for covering this Randy. Exactly my sentiment for the last year or so. In 5 years you wont have any "Pros" over 30 more like mid 20's. Its a absolute travesty that the tournament organization have allowed this. THis is what is happening on the St Lawrence and Lake Ontario....regional and national pros....local guys and guides doing it. Scan for hours and fish for less....WHAT A FXXXX joke!

As a recreational angler from Minnesota I am very concerned about the impact forward facing sonar will have on our already pressured lakes. On three recent outings on Mille lacs I was dismayed to see recreational anglers using Livescope ffs. As the use of this technology becomes more common it will have an impact on the resource. I believe that because of this technology we will see smaller and fewer fish. We are also going to see reduced bag limits and tighter slot limits for walleyes. Crappies in this colder area of the country are slow growing. The better crappie lakes in my state are soon going to be filled nothing but runts.

I'd bet everything I have that all 9 rookies beat you in a 4-day tournament 9/10 times without "spotlighting".

BassMaster sent me renewal the other day on Email.I told them cancel.I won't ever order again after many years.

I'll say it again Randy; you fellas should start your own Series! 🎣😃🏆 The heads at Bass Master aren't making the decisions Randy. I guarantee they are being told what to do. It has very little to do with electronic sales. If you men are genuinely angry, then DO SOMETHING. The skills alone you all bring to the table is phenomenal enough to set it apart. 👍

I agree 100% with you Randy on this. I had a conversation with someone the other day about technology that is all around us. As the technology increases the human skill set decreases. This applies to all aspects of our life.As an avid fisherman and someone who has followed BASS for over 40 years it is sad to see this happening , it's tough to see all the veterans who over years of hardwork becoming some of the greatest fisherman in the world are now standing bye and watching someone is just better with technology take there careers away. Its just sad.

"I'm not disrespecting any of the guys in the top 10" yet goes on to say they have no fishing skills at all and anyone can get out and do what they do on the water.

2 anglers to look at which totally proves you point on Smith. Gerald Swindle and Joe Lee. Raised on the lake, won on the lake and now not even close to being in top. I had this very same conversation with my wife after the tournament was over.

MLF is mess, but one thing they seem to have done right this year is schedule tournaments on bodies of water that aren’t as conducive to live scoping. I watched both tournaments this weekend and the MLF tournament was much more enjoyable to watch. Not only because they were actually fishing, but also because I had never even heard of 90% of the guys in the Elite series. I have to admit that I thought you were the old man yelling at clouds at first, but I’ve come around to agree with you on this one Randy.

Money has to be at the center of it.

I’m finally hearing you Randy. I followed two local tournaments in back to back weeks on two small lakes. Practicing for a night tourney, there wasn’t even a squeaker left. I finally gave up and went home. I asked others and they had the same luck. FFS is devastating small lakes. Im about ready to start tournament bream fishing (not really). Who do we have to complain to about this?

MLF James River just finished this afternoon. Very little FFS used. Skeet Reese won. Virtually no one in top 20 was scoping, and when they were, they were looking for structure (submerged logs or stumps) not bass. I'm not smart enough, but there has to be some way to pick sites and times of the year where spot lighting is not a huge advantage. Maybe more shallow water sites. Someone should be able to figure it out.

Randy, I am surprised you have not picked up on the biggest problem with FFS. The fish getting targeted normally don't get caught as they're not always on a piece of obvious structure. These suspended fish often have never seen a lure and aren't "lure-shy". Just like Crappie the bass population is at risk. I talked to a crappie guide who admitted to staying on a spot until he's cleaned it out! He was Bragging about it! Bass populations will suffer without these loners out there only coming shallow to spawn. Your thoughts?

Keep teaching Randy

The answer is easy. Just like Formula 1 racing. They get a specific allotment of ‘boost’ to use at their discretion. Use it sparingly in bits or all at once. Give anglers 1 hour of FFS per day. Use one minute at a time or 5 mins or all at once. Have each angler’s usage on screen for us to see. Exciting strategic and fair. Even the manufacturers win.

Spotlighting is UNDOUBTEDLY a shortcut to success! PERIOD!

It is crazy that these rookies are damn near in the top 10 every tournament it’s definitely live scoping I’m not saying I’m against live scope but I would like to see how good these rookies are by not using live scope.

Randy, I listen quite a bit and I agree with you. I do have a question that I hope you will answer. You seem to be leading the charge on this. You also seem to have a solid grasp on how it all works, you know the right ppl and have connections with companies willing to sponsor: What’s stopping you from getting together with all these guys and starting your own tournament series that doesn’t allow FFS? BASS & MLF aren’t ever gonna turn down the $ so just go show them that they made a mistake. If all what you say is true you should have no issue getting 40% of the current pros and every lure and bait maker company that’s losing do to FFS as sponsors. So what’s stopping you?

Glad BPT included “non scope friendly” venues on their schedule this year…..Congrats to Skeet on the James River today 😊

Keep teaching Randy unfortunately the people who need to learn this lesson aren't listening

Who is your buddy your talking about?

God bless you for not letting this topic go. Unfortunately this is the new generation of bass fishing and it is only going to be for the upper class or kids with trust funds that can afford it. Whenever I comment on ffs I always get the same comments but my most hated comment is the "your just another good ole boy" who can't compete anymore. Yes, that is 100% correct, I am a "good ole boy" and a lot of these "elite" anglers wouldn't be where they are without us "good ole boys". You don't think Ray Scott wasn't a good ole boy???? It sickens me Randy but technology is taking ever facet of life as we know it, including fishing, but I will stand my ground and never give up my ethics and values for some piece of technology.

Who is this buddy you keep referring to

I still catch bass the way my Dad taught me over 50 years ago. I use 1 unit to check water temp. I have learned bass are creatures of habit, just like any other predator. I agree with Mr. Randy. Too many electronics in todays society period.

I didn't even turn on the TV this weekend, to watch . I will not watch FFS , like people are saying , to watch paint dray . Keep up the fight Randy!!!

Randy, you need to get together with some of your well off fishing friends and do a RU-vid series where someone who has a boat decked out with FFS and multiple units takes an average fisherman who has never used it out and shows them the ropes and teaches them how to use it and then in a month or something have him captain the boat and go to a new lake and see if he can slay out. I’m inclined to agree with you about FFS but I’ve never used it and I don’t REALLY know for sure how hardcore the advantage is and how quick it can turn any Joe Shmo with enough money to buy a boat with FFS into an impressive 5 fish limit.

Randy, don't get me wrong I hate live scope, main reason is I cant afford a $6000.00 unit to go on my boat. I'm a federation and weekend angler who used to watch all of B.A.S.S. and MLF on tv. The show's have gotten so boring I would rather go out and cut grass or pressure wash my drive way. BUT, I'm a maintenance man by trade, for me to competitive in my trade I have to learn not only the mechanical, but also the electrical part of industrial maintenance. With that said the last few years there is a thing called latter logic, which is a computer base program ( kind of like FFS ) that I have had to learn. Until BASS and MLF all the way down to the Federation ranks decide to stop the FFS or at least put limits on it, to be competitive angles are going to have to use it or just be a entry fee donator. BIG MONEY SPONCERSHIP will win over what's best for the sport every time!!!

Totally agree.

I tuned into a Bassmasters Elite event this morning and within two minutes, the screen was filled with an anglers FFS screen. I'll pass on that thank you. I do miss watching the old school tournament competition. Can't be found on TV anymore. Sad. Pro sports today, not just fishing, is getting crazy. But it won't stop me from going out on the lake and having fun finding and catching fish just using my skills. Have fun out there.

I live on Smith Lake. I was so looking forward to seeing the pros come to my home lake. I wanted Cox, Kennedy, Hunter, Lee etc to win so bad but after watching 2 days that it wouldn't be possible. It's absolutely so dang boring watching them fishing FFS not throwing there jig minnow until they see a fish. Didn't learn anything from what I watched of the tournament. It's not bass fishing to me. Something has to be done! I got a Livescope but I use it to fish brush piles or other isolated targets for throwing a jerkbait over it. But I don't scope don't have the patience to do it. I don't tournament fish. I fish bc I absolutely love it! These guys that only scope that I thought I was fan of. I can't stand them anymore. I get the ones that have to compete but some of these guys only scope All the time I don't have to name them. I didn't watch this weekend plus didn't go to any weigh-ins. I went to Guntersville to actually fish! TIGHT LINES!

It was sad to watch these "professionals" ride around with their heads looking down at the multiple screens on the bow. Their lines wouldn't even get wet until they saw a fish. My wife said there needs to be a tournament where the only things that can be used are bobbers with crickets and worms. See how many fish are found and caught then.:)

I get that it's new but did you have that same pushback when depth finders, 360 or any of the other tech equipment came out? Have to grow and adapt. Should you not allow any of the improvements? Ban anything new? I think not.

Just when I start listening & trying to learn from you I hear about all this & just angers me. But will continue to be content fishing all weather I get a few in boat or not. Great therapy

I totally agree with you Randy. Keep up the good work. They have destroyed bass fishing in my opinion. Seems like Bass Master doesn’t care about the future of pro bass fishing tournament. This young generation just know how to watch the screen and to me that’s just not fishing. They just need to take a long look and see what it’s doing to all the lakes around the country.

These young kids would get royally whipped without ffs. Sadly, I don't see BASS or MLF getting rid of it due to money from the electronics companies. Even worse is what is probably coming in the years ahead. The military had GPSat least 5 yrs before the public got it. Can you imagine what they have now that will eventually become available to the public? Smh