The A-rig isn't a good example because some states have different rules about them.  Here in MN only one of them can have a hook and the others have to be fakes.  Its really not even worth using when only one can have a hook.  I don't even own one.

I'm just debating the merits of having FFS legal in top level derbys vs. banning A-Rigs.

 

FFS is lightyears more effective at catching fish and creating an "unfair" advantage than an A-Rig, yet it's banned.   

 

 

On 10/25/2023 at 8:10 PM, TnRiver46 said:

@Cdn Angler, they’ve been out for bout 5 years already, especially ice fishing 

 

Yep, and I've seen people have a lot more success through the ice. But I'd still say only maybe 10% of people ice fishing own one. As the prices comes down and people upgrade and sell used units eventually that number will get closer to 80%. 

19 hours ago, Bass Junke said:

I have not seen this brought up yet but IMO the learning curve to learn to fish is much steeper than learning how to read a screen. It is only a matter of time until more and more anglers develop FFs skills that rival Josh Jones. Eventually most events will be won by the guy who interprets what he or she is seeing on the screen the best. It will eventually be a level playing field, once everyone catches up. Will the winner be the best angler? Is this what we want the future of bass tournaments to be? 

 

Boring? Maybe but catch rates could be higher, quality of fish greater.  

 

For those who are good with technology I think the learning curve will be less to become good at fishing with FFS compared to learning fishing "old school." At some point a large number of fishermen will be at Josh Jones' level and many will be better than him. You'd think, given that everyone will be fishing the same way, that the results will eventually be extremely even in terms of tournament results too, with fewer guys repeatedly dominating. Catch rates and quality of fish should go up, but diminish over time due to increased pressure on fish IMO.  If you are a kid that grows up 100% on FFS it'd be interesting to see how well you'd adapt to fishing without it. It'd be supremely annoying, at minimum, like us using a cane pole. 

 

I don't buy that FFS is only seeing fish targeted that never got caught before. It isn't like a suspended fish lives its entire life as a suspended fish. They move between suspended, bottom and shallow at different times of year, so might be caught at any time. It does mean there isn't anywhere a fish could temporarily be located without being at risk of getting caught. And that people will become more efficient at catching both big bass and more bass. 

 

The thing is with forecasting all of these changes, that it doesn't feel like anyone is actually systematically keeping track of anything. If things change gradually over the next 10 years I'm not sure there will be a lot of empirical data and we'll all be on here arguing back and forth. 

 

 

28 minutes ago, Cdn Angler said:

 

Yep, and I've seen people have a lot more success through the ice. But I'd still say only maybe 10% of people ice fishing own one. As the prices comes down and people upgrade and sell used units eventually that number will get closer to 80%. 

 

I agree, the majority are not using it yet.  But its certainly gaining popularity.

 

The only saving grace in the ice fishing realm is poor ice conditions.  A lack of a hard freeze to make a good base layer of ice before the snow flies isn't what they want.  Maybe I will catch some flack for this, but I hope we get decent snow before a good freeze.  It creates poor ice conditions all season and keeps a lot of casual anglers off the ice.  Slush and deep snow prevents trucks and ice castles from getting where they want to.  That's exactly what occurred here last winter.

59 minutes ago, Cdn Angler said:

…. over the next 10 years……we'll all be on here arguing back and forth. 

The one statement on this thread that I’m 100% sure is true. 😆

I think it’s great! Can’t wait for heat seeking lures personally. More tech please 😜 

On 10/26/2023 at 3:19 PM, AlabamaSpothunter said:

I'm just debating the merits of having FFS legal in top level derbys vs. banning A-Rigs.

 

FFS is lightyears more effective at catching fish and creating an "unfair" advantage than an A-Rig, yet it's banned.   

 

 

I mean, this is a strong argument in my mind.  Same with trolling.  Trolling is seen as taking the sport out of fishing.  It's so despised, that even amateur anglers who don't tournament fish often look down on it.  At least in the LMB and SMB world.  

 

In any case, you can't deny that less effective means of catching fish than FFS have been banned for being too effective.  

Though, I doubt we'll see a ban on FFS unless it gets enough grass roots steam behind it that most people view it as a form of cheating.  Either that or it becomes so effective that it does some serious damage to the bass populations of a lot of famous lakes and rivers.  A lure company makes a maybe a dollar or so off selling a single A-rig.  Meanwhile probably $100 or more are made off each FFS unit sold.  And we all know that money talks.  

1 hour ago, Bankc said:

In any case, you can't deny that less effective means of catching fish than FFS have been banned for being too effective. 

There's no doubt that some of the rules don't make sense.  This is one that always comes to my mind.

 

No “live bait,” “dead bait,” or “prepared bait” will be permitted during official practice and competition, with the exception of pork strips or rinds.

 

No dead baits or prepared baits except for the ones that everyone has always used?

 

The Umbrella rig makes some sense to me.  You've never been allowed to fish more than one lure at a time.  For example you can't use a jig as the weight on a Carolina rig.  The part that says you can't fish multiple lures even if they don't have hooks is interesting.  I think the common spinner bait violates that rule.  It could be called a two wire Umbrella rig with a hooked bait and a teaser bait. 

My take on it is it's not how I like to fish, but if I ever try to get into competitive tournament fishing, I am going to want to learn how to use it as well as every tool at my disposal to get every advantage that I can.

 

That said, the idea of an occasional no livescope tournaments is definitely appealing for those like me who don't have it or like to use it, but I'm not one of those people who will say ban it either.

When Bill Murphy passed away he spending a lot of time exploring what he called the next frontier; open water suspended big bass. Bill used a trolling presentation to Target   Radio tagged big bass. 

FFS has opened this frontier that was an unknown sanctuary for big bass.

I 1st opened a post a few years ago after fishing with a partner that had Live Scope and stated this is a game changer, no reason to change my mind. 

My concern is targeting big bass and over harvesting a small % population of rare fish.

You can’t put this genie back in the bottle.

Tom

Doesn’t effect my life one bit one way or another. I don’t  do tournaments and don’t have the money for it. I do want a nice fishfinder for the bow one day but not going to give an arm and a leg for it. Now if someone wants to give one, I’ll take it lol

Bassmaster ratings went up 11% last year……. 
 

They must have forgotten to send randy B this info