There's no way Drew Gill would be a professional angler without FFS.   Goes hours without FFS and a scoreable.    Turns on FFS in period 2 and on his first cast catches a scoreable.  

 

That's the problem many people including myself have with the technology.   I've felt for a while Gill is the perfect example of what FFS has done to the sport.  

3 hours ago, Craig P said:

 

 

Interesting stats.  I didn't even know those stats were available.  Gill needs to work on his non-FFS game, he could be the next Wheeler.

Including today, Gill has caught 50 score able bass, 44 with FFS.

I bet RB is so mad at him right now, how dare he catch those bass 

A friend of mine roomed with Lawrence last year on the MLF Invitationals and said he was one of the best anglers he's ever been around, and he's fished against most of the big names.    Also said he's legit a great dude to be around.   

 

I'd like to see him win this one, he's had the most impressive performances throughout it.   Every single day he's had huge periods with and without the scope.  

 

 

Man this is down to the wire. Half a scorable fish separates Wheeler and Lawrence. Wheeler was down by 16 at one point. You can never count him out. Hes impressive. 

This is close 

Wow! Wheeler with the lead!

It's interesting that Wheeler was on smallmouth while most were on largemouth. Ott Defoe was on the smallmouth as well the first 2 rounds.

That was insane. 

OMG!  What a finish.  That was insane!

Wait what just happened at the bell? Lawrence jumped on top???

Was typing I feel bad for Lawrence then reloaded score tracker one last time 

Lawrence with a 3+ on the last cast with a buzzbait! He boated it with about 17 seconds left.

That was Crazy

1 minute ago, Jar11591 said:

Lawrence with a 3+ on the last cast with a buzzbait! He boated it with about 17 seconds left.

Actually a 5-9 on a bladed jig according to the mlf website. Crazy finish logged at 3:45

I prefer 5 best to every fish counts, but I must admit if it is a tight race this format keeps the excitement going.

What an ending! 

@Chris Cavanaugh he must have put the buzzbait down the previous cast, because he had just mentioned how he was using a buzzbait again and the booth guys commented on it as well. Man that was wild.

Good old Buzzbait sales are sky rocketing 

Wheeler and Lawrence are both great guys that deserved to win.  Personally,  I was cheering for another victory for Tennessee river smallmouth but the largemouth pulled it out at the last minute.  

 

The MLF rules are a little weird but there is no denying that they produce an exciting product.  I've said fishing will never be a spectator sport but it was today.

Well all I got for that event is one word........EPIC!!!!

 

Absolutely incredible how that event shaped up, the MLF format really is the one that produces the most excitement for the fans. 

 

Imagine catching a 5lber on a buzzbait to beat Jacob Wheeler for $150k with 7 seconds left.......I mean that's about as epic as it will ever get.   What a treat to witness.  

On 5/3/2025 at 2:46 PM, A-Jay said:

I just really like randomly yelling

 Chickamauga and Nickajack !

For no apparent reason.

A-Jay

That’s actually French for “crowded as hell”

2 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Well all I got for that event is one word........EPIC!!!!

 

Absolutely incredible how that event shaped up, the MLF format really is the one that produces the most excitement for the fans. 

 

Imagine catching a 5lber on a buzzbait to beat Jacob Wheeler for $150k with 7 seconds left.......I mean that's about as epic as it will ever get.   What a treat to witness.  

Un-Real !

I missed the last of the live show but,

MLF just put out the last 7 minutes of this one.

Hard to imagine a wilder ending.

I couldn't even make that deal up.

Pretty Intense . . . 

A-Jay

Absolutely A-Jay, I've watched that last 7 minute clip a couple of times already.

 

Arguably the most wild thing about it is that Wheeler had the potential winning fish already hooked up and about 10 seconds from being boated when the clock ran out.

Like Welcher's dominant win, I don't think we'll see another finish like this one for a really long time.   Just too many perfect things that happened.

 

I mean come on......5lb buzzbait fish with 7 seconds on the clock to win $150k, still can't believe it! 😎

6 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

I bet RB is so mad at him right now, how dare he catch those bass 

The ironic part of Randy's crusade against FFS is that if it were banned, he's have nothing to talk about. His Youtube channel would die. 😄

 

But wow, what an ending today!! Unreal. 

That 7 minute clip is great, d**n MLF got a winner right there. Congratulations to the local boy Lawrence. 

2 hours ago, NorthernBasser said:

The ironic part of Randy's crusade against FFS is that if it were banned, he's have nothing to talk about. His Youtube channel would die. 😄

 

But wow, what an ending today!! Unreal. 

I remember him saying that a year or more back, people watch hot takes and youtube pays for that. I agree that FFS shouldn't be in tournaments, but it isn't the end of the world. My thoughts are simple; the supporters say it teaches fish behavior like nothing else. Well practice with it, learn and replicate it in the tournament. It shouldn't be an open book test, prove you actually learned from it.