Interesting change.

 

May only use FFS in 5 out of 9 events. The 5 are chosen at random.

 

FFS is FORBIDDEN from use during any practice at every event.

6 minutes ago, Maverick2017 said:

Interesting change.

 

May only use FFS in 5 out of 9 events. The 5 are chosen at random.

 

FFS is FORBIDDEN from use during any practice at every event.

 

Any guesses as to who can't catch bass without FFS?

3 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

Any guesses as to who can't catch bass without FFS?

I’ve got a few ideas 😂

This could get interesting. I want to know how “random” the selection of events will be though - somehow I’m expecting it to be a little weighted.

https://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_123/bass-ffs-rules-9225.html

How are they planning to enforce that?? 

 

 

B.A.S.S. needs to make a clear rule decision, the 2026 FFS rule is like being a little bit pregnant!

Tom

I know everyone has different opinions, but watching a bass tournament where guys are just looking down at their screens and throwing a 3" minnow is impossible to watch.

 

I want to see a Rick Clunn throwing a spinnerbait into flooded timber or a KVD working a jerkbait (not staring at a screen). Aaron Martens was always my favorite.

 

I don't know, just me.

27 minutes ago, ElGuapo928 said:

This could get interesting. I want to know how “random” the selection of events will be though - somehow I’m expecting it to be a little weighted.

Per the articles, it looks like they will use a coin flip.  Exactly how isn’t described.  I suspect they will line up the 8 lakes (hopefully not in chronological order) and they flip a coin yes or no and move to the next lake until they have 4 of either option.  Then the St Lawrence gets its own flip.

 

I suspect that they will line them up in chronological order, but they should randomize it. 

11 minutes ago, WRB-2.0 said:

B.A.S.S. needs to make a clear rule decision, the 2026 FFS rule is like being a little bit pregnant!

Tom

 

They are probably trying to find a happy medium.

 

Trying to make sponsors as well as fans happy.

26 minutes ago, Gera said:

How are they planning to enforce that?? 

 

 

Electronics will be locked out on the vessel. Similar to the way MLF is doing. 

18 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

Per the articles, it looks like they will use a coin flip.  Exactly how isn’t described.  I suspect they will line up the 8 lakes (hopefully not in chronological order) and they flip a coin yes or no and move to the next lake until they have 4 of either option.  Then the St Lawrence gets its own flip.

 

I suspect that they will line them up in chronological order, but they should randomize it. 

They’re asking fans to vote on it. Not sure why if they’re going to coin toss it anyway..maybe just data mining idk. 

“B.A.S.S. will reveal which tournaments will allow FFS during a live show on Sept. 4 at 10 a.m. CT on Bassmaster.com. Hosts Tommy Sanders, Mark Zona and Davy Hite will learn the results in real time alongside fans. Events will be paired according to the schedule, with a coin flip deciding which one allows live sonar and which will not. The St. Lawrence River, the final stop of the season, will receive its own coin flip, meaning as many as five events could end up being non-FFS tournaments.”

 

I’m assuming the first two will be paired then the next two etc.  One from each pair will be old school.

 

I think it’s a good move. Limiting — but not eliminating — FFS worked well for MLF this year.  It should work well for BASS also.  

Seems like a pretty good way to handle it.  

 

Nit-picking a little bit here, but since the the Classic will allow FSS regardless, I might have skipped the special St Lawrence flip and left it at 4 out 9 elite events allowing FFS....Because when you add in the Classic it brings it up 5 and 5 on the season.  

Seems fair.  Best of both worlds i guess

If B.A.S.S. is concerned with the tradition, instead of a coin, perhaps they should consider boat flipping a bass.  If it bounces off the wind screen it's an FFS derby,

and if it misses, it is not.

Now that's entertainment. 

Or they could do the old Rock, Paper, Scissors method.

🤣

A-Jay

42 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Now that's entertainment. 

🤣

A-Jay

2 hours ago, A-Jay said:

If B.A.S.S. is concerned with the tradition, instead of a coin, perhaps they should consider boat flipping a bass.  If it bounces off the wind screen it's an FFS derby,

and if it misses, it is not.

Now that's entertainment. 

Or they could do the old Rock, Paper, Scissors method.

🤣

A-Jay

I just find it entertaining that those against ffs watch just to complain about how bad it is to watch......yet they watch it🤣

18 minutes ago, gulfcaptain said:

I just find it entertaining that those against ffs watch just to complain about how bad it is to watch......yet they watch it🤣

At this point I'm not for or against FFS.

I just don't enjoy watching when they are using it.

Now the Bass Pinball is a totally different deal.

🤪

A-Jay

3 hours ago, Gera said:

How are they planning to enforce that?? 

 

 

I believe that the FFS transducer have to be removed. I guess transducer is the correct word.

 

I’m no FFS fan, but I’m good with the ruling. That’s a fair way to do it. I was a little surprised by them not being allowed to use it in practice. Somewhere in the distance I can hear Blauket recording his new anti FFS/ anti B.A.S.S. video.

5 hours ago, Tennessee Boy said:

“B.A.S.S. will reveal which tournaments will allow FFS during a live show on Sept. 4 at 10 a.m. CT on Bassmaster.com. Hosts Tommy Sanders, Mark Zona and Davy Hite will learn the results in real time alongside fans. Events will be paired according to the schedule, with a coin flip deciding which one allows live sonar and which will not. The St. Lawrence River, the final stop of the season, will receive its own coin flip, meaning as many as five events could end up being non-FFS tournaments.”

 

I’m assuming the first two will be paired then the next two etc.  One from each pair will be old school.

 

I think it’s a good move. Limiting — but not eliminating — FFS worked well for MLF this year.  It should work well for BASS also.  

 

That’s a good catch.  I missed the paired part when I read it.  I would guess the same as you 1/2, 3/4, 5/6, 7/8.  If that’s the case, then the pairs would be Guntersville/Lake martin, Tenn-Tombigbee/Arkansas river, Lake Murray/Santee Cooper, Pasquotank/Champlain.

 

The last 2 pairs could really change depending on the flip.  Santee Cooper in May isn’t a FFS hotspot, but Lake Murray would benefit from it.  Similar logic for Pasquotank and Champlain.  

Kyoyo Fujita has left the building.

 

7 minutes ago, gim said:

Kyoyo Fujita has left the building.

 

Wonder who got through the door first...him or Milliken?

I'm a game designer for a living, so I'm always curious about format changes. This seems like a good way to playtest what a fully FFS free tournament series looks like without causing an outright revolt amongst sponsors and anglers. It's also just an exciting wild card wrinkle all on its own. 

 

I don't normally watch pro fishing, but I'll be keeping tabs on how this goes. 

FFS might as well be politics or religion, it’s unreal how much people care about it 

4 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

FFS might as well be politics or religion, it’s unreal how much people care about it 

There are reports that a number of states have made the decision to look at the effect FFS has on harvesting and recruitment in their state controlled waters.  And Minnesota seems to have already formed a working group to investigate the issue.  Depending on what they determine the future is for FFS on their waters, it could, in fact, become very political.