Tennessee Boy

I wish we had a better common understanding of terms. I don't claim to be the authority on the subject but in my mind there is a difference between scoping and FFS. My definition of scoping is casting at a fish you see on the screen. FFS is a type of sonar. FFS does not dictate what lures I use anymore than Side scan or 2D sonar. I use FFS a lot and most of the time I'm not scoping. When I am scoping, the bait depends on the specific situation. I don't have any baits that I only use for scoping.

Are you trying to open a screen shot or a sonar recording?

For years there have been products on the market that claim to contain real stuff. Real Craw comes to mind. I’ve always wondered, if it truly is real shouldn’t it be banned in tournaments?

I only fish for the big ones. Some days 6 inches is a big one.😁

From their website: FINS 40G is the most unique braid on the market and a true game changer! Don't let the mono-like feel fool you this is a braided line with the highest strength-to-diameter ratio available. Our FINS exclusive 40G over-braiding process weaves 8 high-tenacity fiber bundles around a core bundle of fibers creating a super-round composite line structure that can fool the hand and eye. 9-end composite construction Smooth, mono feel without any coatings/wax Will never become flat or fluffy Highest strength to diameter ratio in the braid market

People use it differently. Now bass that are suspended over deep water might get wise to minnows shaking in front of them. That’s just one way to use the technology. Anglers will have to adjust if the fish get wise. Ott and Edwin have never demonstrated much skill in using FFS so take what they say for what it’s worth.

Fins 40G is an 8 end line woven around a core. It does not have a coating. It is tightly woven and has a consistent round shape. It’s a little stiffer than their Spin5 which is available in #10 and is more like traditional braid.

BBS Tech is the last US owned manufacturer of braided line. There are other manufactures but they are not US owned. BBS Tech makes a lot of the lines we use that are sold under different brands. They started in 1994 making Spiderwire. Fins is their house brand and offers a variety of very different braided lines. I use 40G (9 end) and Spin5 (5 end).

Bass fishing is full of misinformation and superstition. I’m a skeptic by nature, so I look for hard evidence—and in the absence of that, at least some kind of objective testing—to help guide my thinking until better data becomes available. Over the years, I’ve searched extensively for solid, scientific evidence on the effectiveness of scent in bass fishing. So far, I haven’t found much. I generally disregard studies by companies trying to sell scent products. I’m also cautious about taking advice from professional anglers who promote the products of companies whose logos are on their jerseys. So what am I left with when it comes to scent and largemouth bass? Mostly anecdotal or informal testing posted on forums and websites. Some anglers claim scent helps. Others say it makes no difference. There is at least one peer-reviewed scientific study I found that’s relevant. It looked at whether adding scent to commercial fish food would cause juvenile largemouth bass to eat more and grow faster. The researchers started with a “biting-ball” test to see if bass were more interested in scent-treated food. They tested multiple scent concentrations and found that attraction increased up to a certain point—but adding more scent beyond that actually reduced the bass’s interest. My takeaway from this? It’s possible that scent can make a lure more attractive if it’s used at the right concentration. But it also challenges the common belief that “scent can’t hurt.” According to this study, using too much scent might actually reduce your chances of getting a bite. I also agree with @Pat Brown's point that over time, bass might even learn to associate certain popular scents (like PowerBait) with danger, potentially avoiding them altogether. So where do I stand now? I’ve used scents in the past. I don’t currently use them, but I’m open to new information. If I see convincing, unbiased evidence in the future, I’d be willing to reconsider.

I'm pretty sure it's not made in the US. They proudly display the flag with the words "US Company" which usually means a US middleman. I buy made in the US braid straight from the manufacturer. I've never felt the need to pay a marketing company to tell me how great the braid is they buy from the same manufacturers that makes the braid for every other brand. https://www.finsfishing.com

Here are the updated numbers after MLF BPT Stage 6. The FFS period advantage continued to drop to 34%, just a little over 3 pounds per period or 1.28 pounds per hour. This tournament was not kind to the Scopers. The catch rate was actually 5% lower during the FFS periods. One more tournament to go in the Great Experiment. The final tournament on Saginaw Bay should be a scope fest. Stage 6 Total Weight: 6272.9 lbs Average Weight per Angler Period With FFS: 12.52 lbs Average Weight per Angler Period Without FFS: 13.13 lbs Average FFS Weight Advantage Per Period: -0.61 lbs Percentage Increase in Catch Rate with FFS: -5% Season Total Total Weight: 33886.4 lbs Average Weight per Angler Period With FFS: 12.64 lbs Average Weight per Angler Period Without FFS: 9.43 lbs Average FFS Weight Advantage Per Period: 3.21 lbs Percentage Increase in Catch Rate with FFS: 34%

I haven't fished the lower end of Cheatham in 30 years. I thought you were talking about the upper end of Cheatham below Old Hickory.

I haven't yet but I look for you every time I'm on Cheatham. 😊

Good article on the subject. https://www.takemefishing.org/blog/january-2023/winter-fishing-in-texas-is-a-time-for-big-bass/#:~:text=Proof of the chance of,recorded in their Legacy division

It was very interesting. I was traveling the whole time so I didn't see any of it. I've looked at the results online and was surprised to see that everyone was fishing shallow. It was the anti FFS tournament. On day one even Drew Gill turned off his FFS. I'll post the stats on FFS usage later but I've looked at them and fewer fish were caught during FFS periods than non FFS period. I wasn't expecting that but I know nothing about the Potomac. I'm an Ott DeFoe fan so I was very glad to see him win. It's been a while for him.

Most of the big fish I've caught have not been in the winter. My PB was caught in June. The reason is I've spent much more time fishing in warmer months and the number of fish I catch in an outing is higher in those months. What I find in the winter is the average size of the fish is much higher. Sometimes in the summer I wonder where all the big fish have gone. I've gone fishing in the dead of winter and wondered what happened to the fish under 3 pounds.

How long did it take me to consistently break 100? I gave up trying after about 10 years. 😆

I'm always trying to dial it in. I never know what's working best. I can eliminate what not working. If I'm skunking then I've been able to find plenty of approaches that are not working. What is working depends on my expectations which I try not to limit. Am I catching some fish? Am I catching good fish? Would I win the Bass Master Classic if I was fishing in it today? If I'm catching a few fish then I have an approach that's working and I try to spend a few cast each hour to see if I can tweak it. Tweaking does not always mean changing lures. It might mean changing the rate of retrieve, fishing a little deeper, the variations are endless. To me that's the challenge of fishing.

All I know is a much higher percentage of fish that follow your lure (as seen on FFS) hit your lure. They are ether dumber or less suspicious due to lower pressure.

Chatillion & Sons IN series for over 50 years. Certifiable accuracy Indestructible No batteries required

You can get two clamps for $10 on amazon. It's so much faster and easier with a clamp.

Electronics give you information about what's under the water. If an angler is curious about what's down there and knows how to use the information then it completely changes the game. If the angler is not interested in what's down there and prefers "the mystery of fishing" then having electronics is like a golden retriever with a Netflix subscription.

Yep and it wouldn't be possible without GPS. There have been many debates on here about the impact of technology on fishing. I maintain that nothing has changed the way we fish more than GPS.

That looks like some good bait right there.

Technique, line and how the reel is set up has more to do with casting distance than the cost of equipment. Also, how far is far enough? If you could cast 200 yards, wouldn't you be tempted to cast extra hard (risking injury) to get to that spot at 205 yards?