The Bass Pro Tour started this morning with the new rules concerning FFS.  The anglers can use FFS in one of the three periods.  It looks like most are using it in the first period and the leaders are all in the same area doing the same thing fishing for fish suspending in standing timber shaking a minnow.  Mark Davis jumped out to an early lead throwing crank baits without FFS but hasn't caught one for over 30 minutes and has dropped to third.  This should be interesting.

5 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:

  This should be interesting.

This sucks, they should be allowed to all shake a minnow in a 100 acre location.....I mean who doesn't like watching paint peel 😁

 

This is the first year I'm watching the MLF, and have it on in the background right now.    I doubt they lost any viewers from last year, meanwhile I'm sure there's many more people like me who decided to tune in for the first time because of the limited FFS usage.   

I do watch MDJ and DC on YouTube, that’s the extent of my BPT consumption . They are hilarious 

This is about to get really interesting.......the best scopers on the BPT just happened to be in 1st, 2nd, 3rd.

 

Here shortly we'll get two periods where those guys don't get to use it, what are the odds others are able to overtake them?   

10 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

what are the odds others are able to overtake them?   

 

Probably not very good.

 

But not impossible.

19 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

This is about to get really interesting.......the best scopers on the BPT just happened to be in 1st, 2nd, 3rd.

 

Here shortly we'll get two periods where those guys don't get to use it, what are the odds others are able to overtake them?   

Who are those 3 you mentioned ? 

Wheeler, Connell, and Gill.

 

Gill is arguably the best scoper on the BPT.      

 

ETA: Only savant scoper not at the top is Alton Jones Jr 

Gotcha. What people forget about wheeler is he dominated before livescope and DC was pretty good before it also 

9 of the top 10 used FFS in the first period.   4 of the bottom 10 used it.  Mark Davis caught 36 pounds in less than an hour on a crankbait on sea walls.  Then nothing since he's in 5th.  

 

25 anglers have not chosen to use it in the first 2 periods.

Oh no doubt, with or without a scope, both of those guys would be in the top 5 greatest Bass pros alive.

 

Drew Gill on the other hand is the guy this new change should effect the most.   He crushed last year during his rookie year on BPT, so it'll be obvious how much of an effect this has by the end of the year using just his case.  

Now that the minutes with and without FFS are equal for all I am very interested to see the final breakdown of fish caught in the ffs period vs the other two. Based on period 1 it’s gonna to be a gigantic margin.

Factor morning bite in to the equation, it’s always the best 

It's winter in Texas so FFS will play a huge factor.  Takahiro has caught his fish on a bladed jig.  He used FFS in the first period but he has not stopped catching them in the 2nd.  He's up to 4th and is looking good right now.

... and Drew Gill takes the lead without his cheater box.

Amazing how much more enjoyable Bass fishing is to watch with diversity of techniques and locations.

 

Gonna be really hard to watch the Elite Series after seeing this format and then getting to watch pure Bass fishing with the NPFL.   

 

Sure hope BASS changes next year.   

This is Almost fun to watch again ~ Almost.

😎

A-Jay

Nick Lebrun is offshore, looking at his screen before every cast and moving up the score tracker.  It's fun to watch now that you know he's not using FFS.  😆

what channel/network/streaming service?

1 minute ago, Rockhopper said:

what channel/network/streaming service?

https://majorleaguefishing.com/events/2025-bass-pro-tour-stage-one-lake-conroe/live/

Just watched some of it, which is something i have barely ever done.

The commentators were talking about how Lebrun picked up 50 more pounds of bass after turning it off.

Seeing them have to use their intuition, best guess on where to cast and target, while casting farther than 5' from the boat, using something other than a FFS minnow. Relying on skill, talent, and luck actually makes me want to watch this series.

 

Is this what is was like in the old days?

12 minutes ago, MediumMouthBass said:

Seeing them have to use their intuition, best guess on where to cast and target, while casting farther than 5' from the boat, using something other than a FFS minnow. Relying on skill, talent, and luck actually makes me want to watch this series.

Is this what is was like in the old days?

 

This is what it's like on my rig EVERYDAY !

😎

A-Jay

30 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

 

This is what it's like on my rig EVERYDAY !

😎

A-Jay

 

Yep, me as well @A-Jay...every day.

 

I cannot tell you the last time I watched fishing on television...maybe 20 years ago?

 

Did not even know this was a thing still. Stopped watching the outdoor channel years ago...too many commercials for 16-18 minutes of actual hunting and fishing on screen.

14 minutes ago, DaubsNU1 said:

 

Yep, me as well @A-Jay...every day.

 

I cannot tell you the last time I watched fishing on television...maybe 20 years ago?

 

Did not even know this was a thing still. Stopped watching the outdoor channel years ago...too many commercials for 16-18 minutes of actual hunting and fishing on screen.

I have to admit that I really do like making and especially watching

my own "Fishing Shows"

https://www.youtube.com/@AjLynn45thParallelFishing

A-Jay

 

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

I have to admit that I really do like making and especially watching

my own "Fishing Shows"

https://www.youtube.com/@AjLynn45thParallelFishing

A-Jay

 

 

@A-Jay your videos are far more informative and entertaining than anything I have seen on TV.