3 minutes ago, schplurg said:

 

Are the competitors using them? If so that must be a nightmare. I'd be against it.

Nope, their cameramen (YouTube) and the media 

 

granted, I don’t know the rules. I just like going to watch 

Well we are talking about using electronics and other gadgetry while fishing so I don't see a problem there.

4 minutes ago, schplurg said:

Well we are talking about using electronics and other gadgetry while fishing so I don't see a problem there.

Me neither, unless one of them hits me in the noggin hhahaha

3 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Me neither, unless one of them hits me in the noggin hhahaha

 

Okay I do hate drones for the most part haha and if I saw one while fishing I'd be tempted to ... oh I dunno :-) Do something I shouldn't !? 

 

Now let me finish typing my post in the garbage thread!  

13 hours ago, schplurg said:

 

Can you use a drone to find your prey in a hunting tournament, or while hunting at all? In many places that would be illegal. Can I use one in a fishing tournament in lakes where they are otherwise legal? If not, why?

 

There is a point where technology takes away from the sport, according to rules makers. My knee-jerk reaction is to ban FFS, but there is an argument that all sonar should then be banned (or none). I don't have firm stances as I don't tournament fish. Lines must be drawn at some point.

 

My stance on pleasure fishing is that the hunt is half the challenge. That's the "fishing" part, the rest is catching  

 

Polarized lenses....hey someone could make an argument I suppose if they wanted to. Has anyone?

I don't hunt, so I can't respond to those questions.  However, I am curious if there really are "hunting tournaments" akin to bass tournaments?  Regardless, you're comparing apples to oranges.

 

To be clear, I don't fish tournaments, nor, do I have FFS.  I'm just not seeing any difference in angling between those who use it and those who don't.  Again, those who use it aren't doing anything different than a sight angler, with the exception of they are using FFS to see the cover/fish at depths greater than what can be seen with the naked eye.  And, to bring this conversation in-line with the OP's post, it is my understanding that Dottie (who some claim would be considered the world record bass if it had been submitted) was caught/snagged while sight fishing.  If I recall the story correctly, the angler was using a white jig because he could see it better in the water and when he saw the fish go down on the jig, he set the hook but, perhaps unfortunately, Dottie was hooked outside the mouth.  In all honesty, what is the difference between using things like polarized sunglasses and lure colors to help anglers see fish/cover/lures better in the water and using FFS to help anglers see fish/cover/lures better in the water?  I understand the associated costs are different, which is probably why I will never have FFS.  There's a common misconception that just because a product costs more, it automatically entails the consumer to greater benefits.  But, fundamentally speaking, using polarized sunglasses and lure colors to "see" better in the water and using FFS to "see" better in the water are the same side of the coin...it's just that FFS allows anglers to "see" in deeper/murkier water.  

Just to highlight that there are some game and fish laws excluding electronics, I worked the grand opening of a Cabela’s in Oregon and one of the products I represented was a high dollar Burris laser rifle scope.  It is a $3,000+ piece of equipment that laser rangefinds your target and after you enter all pertinent information into the scope like grain of bullet, etc.  it will account and adjust windage and terrain and put the crosshairs dead on the target animal for very long shots.  This scope is used for mountain targets like elk, antelope and goats where super long shots are necessary.  Once I got there, I found out the Oregon outlaws laser rangefinders which effectively outlawed the scope. 

So I've been following this Josh Jones on social media, it's crazy the fish he's pulling using FFS.

 

He just guided somebody onto a 8.53lb Smallie ?

 

I'm thinking this guy and his ability to be at the cutting edge of using cutting edge tech might have a shot.    

15 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

So I've been following this Josh Jones on social media, it's crazy the fish he's pulling using FFS.

 

He just guided somebody onto a 8.53lb Smallie ?

 

I'm thinking this guy and his ability to be at the cutting edge of using cutting edge tech might have a shot.    

 

He's catching 7 & 8lb smallies like they are 2-3 pounders. Amazing streak he has going. 

1 minute ago, Dwight Hottle said:

 

He's catching 7 & 8lb smallies like they are 2-3 pounders. Amazing streak he has going. 

Ivie? 

I hope the next world record is caught and the fisherman has multiple livescope and 10 15" screens and everything else available to them.  I also hope it is at a highly pressured lake so people can't say it was away from crowds etc....oh and I want it caught on livebait too

 

I look forward to that banter  

48 minutes ago, flyfisher said:

I hope the next world record is caught and the fisherman has multiple livescope and 10 15" screens and everything else available to them.  I also hope it is at a highly pressured lake so people can't say it was away from crowds etc....oh and I want it caught on livebait too

 

I look forward to that banter  

With a J hook instead of circle hook haha

I'm all for electronics. The more electronics one uses to catch bass, the more likely they'll never fish the off-the-beaten-path lakes that I like to fish. I hope air-conditioned bass boats with Doppler radar, automatic fish cleaners, and Cappuccino makers are next. 

16 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

I'm all for electronics. The more electronics one uses to catch bass, the more likely they'll never fish the off-the-beaten-path lakes that I like to fish. I hope air-conditioned bass boats with Doppler radar, automatic fish cleaners, and Cappuccino makers are next. 

I am the walking talking automatic fish cleaner 

I just wanna know that a world record size bass exists. 

2 minutes ago, Jar11591 said:

I just wanna know that a world record size bass exists. 

That’s why I don’t think It’ll be broken! 

1 hour ago, Dwight Hottle said:

 

He's catching 7 & 8lb smallies like they are 2-3 pounders. Amazing streak he has going. 

Wonder what he charged for the 8.53lb one.....how much is a once in a lifetime fish worth?   

 

I imagine this guy isn't hurting for money, but he still sleeps out of his car lol.  

3 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Wonder what he charged for the 8.53lb one.....how much is a once in a lifetime fish worth?   

 

I imagine this guy isn't hurting for money, but he still sleeps out of his car lol.  

Most guides sleep on a couch or in a car, it’s not as lucrative as people think. Believe me I’ve tried 

The only thing useful for me out in the Everglades is water temperature, GPS, and instinct. Livescope and the likes wouldn't have a chance. That's because it's mere inches shallow and loaded with vegetation the likes of which livescope has never seen lol. I wouldn't rule out records from there, either. I've caught them up to 11 pounds off the bank! Just playing around. Yep. There's more wide open space out in the Everglades that has never seen a rod and reel, let alone a fisherman. Practically every nook and cranny is unexplored and unfished yet full of abundant life. Full of bait. Full of food. Just loaded! Big bass may have the greatest chance in environments like that. Maybe so. Maybe a big, fat record fish lurking, just waiting to be caught! 

2 minutes ago, Zcoker said:

The only thing useful for me out in the Everglades is water temperature, GPS, and instinct. Livescope and the likes wouldn't have a chance. That's because it's mere inches shallow and loaded with vegetation the likes of which livescope has never seen lol. I wouldn't rule out records from there, either. I've caught them up to 11 pounds off the bank! Just playing around. Yep. There's more wide open space out in the Everglades that has never seen a rod and reel, let alone a fisherman. Practically every nook and cranny is unexplored and unfished yet full of abundant life. Full of bait. Full of food. Just loaded! Big bass may have the greatest chance in environments like that. Maybe so. Maybe a big, fat record fish lurking, just waiting to be caught! 

Yeah this is exactly why I think the WR Smallmouth is at jeopardy way more than the LRG WR in regard to FFS.    If they had it during the peak days of Southern CA monster fishing, I bet it would have worked fantastically there though.  

 

I watched over the summer MLF dudes just kill up north basically spot locking on offshore isolated cover and put 20lb bags in the boat in one or two locations.    Clearly FFS was playing a huge role in that equation.    

8 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Wonder what he charged for the 8.53lb one.....how much is a once in a lifetime fish worth?   

 

I imagine this guy isn't hurting for money, but he still sleeps out of his car lol.  

His normal rate is $1,000 per day. 

 

I don't believe he is on Ivie catching these, but I don't know. He's throwing swim jigs and a proto 6th Sense hair jig on 10lb fluoro to do this. I wouldn't dare use a swim jig on 10lb line, but that's just me.

1 minute ago, Drew03cmc said:

His normal rate is $1,000 per day. 

 

I don't believe he is on Ivie catching these, but I don't know. He's throwing swim jigs and a proto 6th Sense hair jig on 10lb fluoro to do this. I wouldn't dare use a swim jig on 10lb line, but that's just me.

Yeah he just posted another huge Smallmouth with the caption "fishing has been insane this last week", and everyone in the comments were guessing where he was.    He's in colder weather gear, he's up north somewhere for sure.

On 10/3/2022 at 6:51 PM, AlabamaSpothunter said:

So I've been following this Josh Jones on social media, it's crazy the fish he's pulling using FFS.

 

He just guided somebody onto a 8.53lb Smallie ?

 

I'm thinking this guy and his ability to be at the cutting edge of using cutting edge tech might have a shot.    

Let me know when he catches a 18+ lb Texas record LMB!

Tom

11 minutes ago, WRB said:

Let me know when he catches a 18+ lb Texas record LMB!

Tom

I get it, many here don't believe the next WR Bass is even alive.   I'm not in that camp however, it's just a matter of time until the record gets broken.  It's likely already been broken but people released the fish instead of going through a process that would have killed it.  

 

You've forgotten more than I've learned about big Bass, but the reality is that record class Bass are very mysterious.

 

I imagine if this guy wasn't so famous and his time in such demand, he'd stay in Texas and give the state record a go.    I mean he pulls multiple DD fish in a day when he fishes there.

 

Like your generation and Castaic, Josh Jones and FFS is what fuels the dreams of both boy and man alike in today's Bass universe.    I mean really who cares if it's possible or not, it's the idea that it's possible that is so fun and exciting to think about  

27 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

 It's likely already been broken but people released the fish instead of going through a process that would have killed it.  

 

No, I don't think so.  This record is so revered that no one could overlook its importance.

Just now, roadwarrior said:

 

No, I don't think so.  This record is so revered that no one could overlook its importance.

You may be correct, I'll see if I can find the articles I read about it in.