I remember hearing that B.A.S.S. was going to poll all of the Elite Series angler’s concerning the 2026 FFS rules. Did they ever come to a decision? If they did I must have missed it.

I didn't know this. I'm interested to know what they'll do.

To the best of my knowledge there hasn’t been anything official released yet - just the usual rumors and innuendo.

 

I’m relatively certain that once something official drops, YouTube will be in flames.

That's what the say. I think they were supposed to use The Bass Advisory Board that was created last year to do so. 

 

Slick posted a reel yesterday that there are rumors going around that BASS accepted a little over a million dollars from Garmin before this season so not make any changes to the FFS rules for 3 years. I don't particularly care for the guy, but he seems to be right more than he's wrong. 

13 minutes ago, JHoss said:

rumors going around that BASS accepted a little over a million dollars from Garmin before this season so not make any changes to the FFS rules for 3 years. 

 

All of the companies invested I'm sure are handing over bags of cash.

 

9/10 fans don't want it.

 

But they don't make much money from the fans.

 

Money is controlling everything, much like everything else in life.

I’m beyond over this “debate” 😂 

If they start a senior tour won’t have to worry about it . That would be great 

2 minutes ago, bowhunter63 said:

If they start a senior tour won’t have to worry about it . That would be great 

 

NPFL seeing this post...

 

Are any of you in a bass club that limits FFS use?

6 minutes ago, JHoss said:

 

NPFL seeing this post...

 

FFS is as exciting to watch as a 6 th grade spelling bee or the national car wash finals . But it would be good to have both 

4 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

I’m beyond over this “debate” 😂 

That poor dead horse has got to be ground meat by now

Horse schnitzel 

21 minutes ago, bowhunter63 said:

FFS is as exciting to watch as a 6 th grade spelling bee or the national car wash finals . But it would be good to have both 

My point is that NPFL already bans FFS and is basically the senior tour you're looking for. 

8 hours ago, JHoss said:

That's what the say. I think they were supposed to use The Bass Advisory Board that was created last year to do so. 

 

Slick posted a reel yesterday that there are rumors going around that BASS accepted a little over a million dollars from Garmin before this season so not make any changes to the FFS rules for 3 years. I don't particularly care for the guy, but he seems to be right more than he's wrong. 

From what I’ve seen, “Slick” is wrong about as much or more than he’s right. I gave up on him.

4 hours ago, Tennessee Boy said:

Are any of you in a bass club that limits FFS use?

I know a couple of anglers that are in the PMT (pro muskie tour) and they banned it 3 years ago.

 

It can be used pre fishing and in practice but the transducers have to be removed during the events.

 

At first I thought maybe this was a knee jerk reaction, but participation has not fallen off since implementation.

 

This might be the middle ground that’s needed.

I like NPFL as a “Seniors Tour” but without some radical changes across the board, I think tournament fishing will continue to decay. 
 

 

There's nothing about the NPFL that is a "senior tour"...Go look at the roster, if anything it's average age could be younger than some of the other tours...It's at least similar.  Saying it's can be reserved as the senior tour solely because of their stance on FFS is kind of insulting to the anglers that fish it.  They seem to be doing a lot of things right and the anglers seem to have a very positive outlook on it.  They've already attracted a lot of big name anglers, mostly from BASS, including one of the most well known FFS fisherman (Walters).   

 

Anyone that claims it's only "old timers" that want FFS to be addressed on some way is either uninformed or intentionally trying to stir the pot.  

I wasn’t using “Seniors Tour” as an insult - I personally think it’s a higher level of competition. 
 

I honestly hope NPFL is able to grow and eventually sanction all tiers of the sport, from weekend warriors up to the big leagues. 

I don’t know but the next dude that takes a swing at us seniors is gonna get it..🤣😂🤣

5 hours ago, Logan S said:

There's nothing about the NPFL that is a "senior tour"...Go look at the roster, if anything it's average age could be younger than some of the other tours...It's at least similar.  Saying it's can be reserved as the senior tour solely because of their stance on FFS is kind of insulting to the anglers that fish it.  They seem to be doing a lot of things right and the anglers seem to have a very positive outlook on it.  They've already attracted a lot of big name anglers, mostly from BASS, including one of the most well known FFS fisherman (Walters).   

 

Anyone that claims it's only "old timers" that want FFS to be addressed on some way is either uninformed or intentionally trying to stir the pot.  

My statement was purely in reference to a comment about BASS needing a senior tour without FFS. NPFL provides a FFS-free tour and many of the older Elite guys fish it (and have more success than they do on the Elites). 

 

I love what NPFL is doing and I love that we have three leagues doing different things.

 

I will point out that the average age of winners on the NPFL this year is 37.65 while the average age of winners on the Elites this year is 32.0. While not a major difference, one definitely seems to favor older anglers than the other. 

2 hours ago, JHoss said:

 

I will point out that the average age of winners on the NPFL this year is 37.65 while the average age of winners on the Elites this year is 32.0. While not a major difference, one definitely seems to favor older anglers than the other. 

Additional information would be necessary to reach that conclusion. Without it, one could just as easily say NFPL seems to favor the more experienced angler.

6 minutes ago, OldManLure said:

Without it, one could just as easily say NFPL seems to favor the more experienced angler.

I wouldn't mind that - have the guys who actually work to catch fish in the tour rather than the ones who can quickly read a screen.

I hope BASS doesn't change a thing. They had 9 Elite Events. In 5 of them the technique that won was more old school than not. 

 

 

On 8/27/2025 at 11:09 AM, HawkeyeSmallie said:

 

All of the companies invested I'm sure are handing over bags of cash.

 

9/10 fans don't want it.

 

But they don't make much money from the fans.

 

Money is controlling everything, much like everything else in life.

 

9/10 is fantasy numbers. The reason why MLF didn't ban it was because they were smart enough to see that the fanbase is very tribal and there are plenty of people that don't mind it and like it. This is all according to Joe Balog on another site.com in one of his columns.

 

The antis just complain and moan about it incessantly giving everyone a false idea.

 

13 hours ago, Logan S said:

There's nothing about the NPFL that is a "senior tour"...Go look at the roster, if anything it's average age could be younger than some of the other tours...It's at least similar.  Saying it's can be reserved as the senior tour solely because of their stance on FFS is kind of insulting to the anglers that fish it.  They seem to be doing a lot of things right and the anglers seem to have a very positive outlook on it.  They've already attracted a lot of big name anglers, mostly from BASS, including one of the most well known FFS fisherman (Walters).   

 

Anyone that claims it's only "old timers" that want FFS to be addressed on some way is either uninformed or intentionally trying to stir the pot.  

 

Then call it the friends and family tour because those are the only people who are at the weigh-ins. 

On 8/27/2025 at 3:02 PM, Tennessee Boy said:

Are any of you in a bass club that limits FFS use?

I fished some weeknight jackpot kayak tournaments that don’t allow them. The same guys that win those, win the tournaments that allow FFS for the most part.

 

Zona reported during the Lake St. Clair tournament that there was a known decline on the lake DUE to pings from FFS. Zona stated this while on air, live. 
 

He doesn’t work for BASS now either. 
 

The evidence might be anecdotal but oftentimes that’s all one needs. 
 

I wondered if this would become a problem.