BassMaster Elite Angler: Hank Cherry's Uncensored Opinion on Forward Facing Sonar!

[@kylerichardt3551]

100% agree with your entire assessment. When practically all nomadic fish have no where left to hide, that is a huge red flag to the fisheries themselves and the fairness/integrity of competitive angling. Restrictions absolutely need to be set in place on the technology. One 10-12" dedicated screen and transducer to Live/FFS and thats it. Then you'll see some of the superstar scopers just be good and a lot of scoping players will just be average - the way it should be. The true reason the leagues are being held up with doing the right thing is because of the golden handcuffs of the technology manufacturers. I hope that when BASS and MLF finally do act on the matter they get the backlash they deserve for not growing a pair and handling it sooner

[@randyemerson8729]

1 day of practice only with the scope.....2 days=0 and none during the tournament.

[@muthafukajones1513]

And you are spewing false information that has already been widely debunked. Stop parroting Randy.

[@kylerichardt3551]

@@muthafukajones1513 nope. Everything I stated is the cold hard truth. The tech will continue to advance. Eventually the leagues will be forced to enact limits. There has to be a point where it becomes to much. We are already close to that point as of right now IMHO

[@muthafukajones1513]

@@kylerichardt3551 Yup, fish aren’t hiding or resting. Thats been proven by science. The idea that the fish needs some safe space is false. Limits? What good is a limit? Limit the transducers? Screens? What’s that going to do? Make you feel better? All the extra transducers do are prevent the need to switch screens. Limiting is just virtue signaling talk. You hear others say it so you feel like you’re being middle of the road and reasonable without actually thinking what it means.

[@randyemerson8729]

I must spewing anything I must be stirring up a nest cause I’m starting to hear it. Randy number one and Randy number two watch out.

[@nickterpselas1651]

Honestly, you hit the nail on the head and gave the best analogy and best response to the whole forward facing deal and the industry at this time.

[@macdaddyblues1]

I thought he totally sat on the fence and gave just a few tidbits of the real problem. I mean it's understandable from his perspective, he's tied to the industry and a spokesman for it!

[@haroldsfishingadventures754]

​@@macdaddyblues1and gets tech FOR FREE

[@ChrisWooten-hy2sn]

In the high school angling tournaments. You have boat captains setting the youth anglers up on fish with forward FFS and telling them exactly where to cast in front of the boat and I believe they are missing very important learning skills for fishing. I wish it was banned from tournament competition, Still use in practice to locate structure and fish but come game time it has to come down. Just my opinion.

[@JesusFreakLive]

Good word ! Very valid

[@phillamoore157]

Don't sell yourself short, what you just said is a fact by any self-respecting, rational person (angler or otherwise). It's not fishing....and it definitely isn't a skills based competition. I just made the same point in my rant.. The real damage are the number of tournaments, and the marketing. For every one pro using this, there are 500 amateur, and kids who have, or WILL get it, because of the pro's. What Scott Martin did on Okeechobee was one of the most disgusting things I've ever seen in so-called "professional bass fishing". That grooming you mentioned is already WELL in motion. Universities are doing the same thing with Politics. These greedy, toxic, corrupt, subhuman, pigs who care about absolutely NOTHING other than power and money, are targeting people who aren't equipped to think for themselves, and barely have a grasp of right vs wrong. Unfortunately, today that can also be a 35yr old adult (which shows how long this indoctrination has been going on). This needs to be banned from tournament fishing altogether, and the tech that's out there needs to be very limited on the units weekend anglers get. The only people who should have this tech are scientists, researchers working for conservation.

[@Boethius411]

I was all into it as someone who considered myself an open water guy… then exactly what you described I did. I took my 9yo just to teach him to use a baitcaster. Of course there was a derby about to start when we got there and he just had to talk me into entering it. I didn’t even make a cast except to show him how to use the reel and the little guy won it… me just picking out backlashes, scanning and telling him where to cast. He barely could cast and out fished some local sticks. After that… I agreed not to use it in club events because other guys didn’t have it. Then I started noticing how much it was changing the way I fished. Things I did ledge fishing to try not to pull the school off the structure, suddenly I was getting excited to watch them come off, because I could scan and target the individual fish in that abyss out there. Even when they were not offshore, I would scan docks and skip them. The one that really got me was a big fish I actually saw underneath a mat of alligator grass and caught. I’m convinced now that as the separation keeps getting better and better, kids will be picking fish out of cover and using it for techniques guys can’t yet imagine using it for now. I thought it would eventually hit crappies hard from the start, and I was worried that the live shad drifters here would use it and really hurt my true love, big smallmouth. But when I here stuff like the next step will be integrating AI into units, it is definitely time to consider setting some limits. The machine will be able to tell the difference between the return of a fish and the cover better than a guy looking at the screen by far. It’s going to be where you don’t even need to learn how to read the image on the screen yourself. The machine will do it all for you. I’m not kidding when I say I can imagine screens not even being necessary, just an ear piece telling you the direction and distance to the next bass or something.

[@Moye1984]

About 4

[@controlavirus9839]

@@Boethius411 AMEN! what you said is my views EXACTLY! And it’s just sad how when I listen or try talking to locals around here they think NOTHING about the fish or how young fishermen’s ability to use instinct to locate fish and actually fish to find fish. I have so far refused to spend that amount on basically computers in my boat. I have a 7” garmen striker up front and On the wheel I got a 9” eco map that was on boat when purchased.

[@johnsamsky6253]

Good on you Hank. A really honest opinion from one of the best in the business.

[@bobbyrobbins9816]

You are correct on one thing. Livescope is spotlighting

[@SmoooothSML]

Thanks for being honest and sharing your views! I’m very much aligned with your thoughts.

[@robertlauzon3172]

Years ago there were untapped suspended roaming fish.Tournament fishing pressure on the largest fish was to a degree offset by the fact that a segment of the population were safe.Now there is no safe zone.Scary.

[@danielw2120]

I do think it's more serious than most people let on in several ways. Starting with the fact that it is going to dominate tournaments from Florida to Canada and if there's one tournament that's an exception it'll be a special time. I agree with what you said about making average anglers players that otherwise wouldn't be but unfortunately it's allowing anglers with no foundation to compete with touring veterans. What happened on Okeechobee last wkend is gonna blow the lid off bed fishing events everywhere. In my opinion anything short of allowing it to only be used during practice will be the most harmful thing ever to happen to tournament fishing. Young anglers coming up won't be happy with less than 6 screens, Power pole brakes and multiple transducers. We are literally witnessing competitive bass fishing price itself into its demise. In 98 you could buy a 21' Triton for 20k and compete anywhere.. Now to truly be competitive with a new rig it's $125k all day IF your lucky. It is truly sad especially for those of us that grew up fishing in the 90s and 00s. People wanna use the argument that old timers can't adapt but it absolutely isn't about that. When you can watch a bass react in real time to every presentation, then problems are gonna arise as a result of that. I see it all the time tournament size bass are getting the sides knocked off of them daily because of FFS and its efficiency. Good video and I'm glad to see someone like you start to touch on the topic..

[@muthafukajones1513]

Oh no! Better clutch your pearls grandma.

[@haroldsfishingadventures754]

​@@muthafukajones1513shutup bot

[@joshtheflatearthjedi222]

Yes, it's such a weak argument that they can't adapt. It's that they refuse to adapt because it not real fishing. It's a disgrace.

[@nickdigrino4423]

If you cut thru Hank's talk, it is clear that the fishing tech companies are redefining bass fishing and having a negative impact on the health of our public lakes. Keep in mind that the mission of the private sector is not "public good", it is $$$$.

[@scottbarker5820]

Only time will tell. But you can be assured that this is being watched big time by far more than just fisherman and manufactures. Here's a little history refresher though. The lowrance "little green box" fish flasher (fish lo-k-tor) unit had all the negativity and boo hooing that is being expressed now with forward facing sonar in which the little green box was to be banned by states nearly 60 years ago, which it was said to clearly decimate the fish populations... Well, we all know that the "decimation" never occurred, (and more than a million were produced which was a ton back then). That's why I say only time will tell, and add that opinions are useless without factual statistics.

[@inaslump]

That's your OPINION that's NOT based on the facts...

[@jamesrose7657]

@@scottbarker5820well said. There have been a lot of studies so far and no evidence this is negative to the bass fisheries.

[@kevinprattfishing809]

Absolutely the simplest explanation I’ve heard yet and have no arguments at all. Tight lines and slipping drag!! See ya soon on Norman

[@wisconsinhiker9735]

HANK IS ONE OF THE BEST AND VERY HUMBLE PERSON, ONE OF THE EASIEST GUYS TO TALK TO WHEN YOU MEET HIM

[@richardpace5809]

Love you're take on this Hank. Same generation as you that group up playing the atari, sega genesis, etc but also group up fishing traditionally. I love technology when I understand it and can apply it daily but definitely feel like things are getting out of hand.

[@richardj6593]

❤❤Sir, you boiled FFS to the essence of what the debate is among fisherman is all about. Your comments were simple yet brilliant. You cleared the dust and simplified it for all of us. You are level headed and intelligent. I hope to see you at the top of the sport!

[@mikeleistner1071]

💯 spot on, Hank! Glad to hear your thoughts on this and all the different angles to it. Strict Limitations are definitely the way to go. Hopefully more guys come out and speak their mind as well.

[@bradleyrussell1973]

Best discussion I've heard yet on social media about FFS.

[@salpinto4474]

That was the best video on this subject I have seen yet. 100% agree with having just one live transducer on the trolling motor. These are supposed to be professionals, the best in the sport! Now you see 4-6 transducer and the graphs to go with them.

[@mikeharris130]

Very well said, finally a voice of reason.

[@raymaylone8563]

Great job Hank nailed it 100%! As far as I’m concerned in my bass fishing, I could care less about forward facing sonar. I have caught well enough fish, and have the confidence in my ability. I could care less if I see them on my units or just beaten, the banks or dragon, Carolina rigs along offshore points. This battle is getting ridiculous. Love the channel keep the great info.

[@rickyveron3378]

When nobody is watching bass tournaments anymore,the prize money will dry up,that is where it is headed.Been fishing for 65 years and recently quit watching tournament fishing .It is like watching someone watch tv

[@surgprep1]

Exactly

[@ErnieAdamson]

Yepper. Can’t agree more. If I were a pro (I will never be) I would want to save my livelihood.

[@dwag303]

Like he said it’s evolution, QBs have the opportunity to see every look at the defense they are facing by imaging

[@waterdog3978]

I’d say with hundreds of people lining up to pay $5,000 entry fees, it ain’t going anywhere.

[@BigGuy86ed]

Viewership is up, though so how is your point playing?

[@TheLymanDiamond]

“Spot lighting bass”. Nuff said.

[@jamesmurphy1040]

Thanks Hank....your right on!!

[@telegaster1946]

Limitations would be a move in the right direction, getting rid of it in tournaments would be even better. Thanks Hank

[@christopherflowers738]

I just realize that this Hank Cherry is the Hank Cherry I played college baseball with at PSU. Crazy!!! Still sporting the hat backwards I see. Got a lot better at fishing too. Now, I'm going to go lookup some more videos. Good things happen to good people

[@jaywagner13]

Really? He played baseball at Pennsylvania state university?

[@shawnriebe4547]

Great commentary! Great open, honest answers. Nice examples with other sports.

[@timroyall6513]

I agree with you Hank. The tournament groups will eventually have to place a limit on FFS. We are now seeing guys putting two and three transducers on their boats. It has to stop somewhere.

[@chanceehuiet]

Try 5. 3 on TM and 2 on jackplate

[@father1st894]

​@@chanceehuiet exactly.. its absolutely insane

[@jwebb4659]

This is honestly the first guy I heard talk about the weekend angler. I appreciate it. I only get a couple hours here and there. I need every opportunity I can get.

[@jimmurphy834]

Spent over 50 years learning fish behavior, observing conditions, seasonal techniques, topography, presentation, matching forage, etc. Throw it all out the window. Nowhere for these breeders to hide now plus they all get hauled miles away to be weighed in most tournaments devastating the spawn during spring. Follow Lake Forks lead and weigh them then release on the spot. This is the way... As far as FFS, give the fish some time, they will lockjaw after sensing enough pings through their lateral lines. It's already happening in my neck of the woods and our reservoirs are steep and deep. You can't even get over them now, they just scatter. I locate them, turn my electronics off and catch them. There used to be a saying that there is no substitute for time on the water. Those days are fading fast. I can tell the fish are wising up to the FFS already around here.

[@daveysketter9186]

Hank, I respect your view! I have one question how does tv ratings pay out to B.A.S.S. because I for one shut TV off when all they show is a guys back looking down all day! does TV channels pay B.A.S.S. TO put it on tv! so does that effect your pocket in the long run when channels like the Outdoor channel stop paying to show somethings that the ratings drop!

[@joepotaczek]

But your fine staring at the back flipping all day? Before we never had live coverage we had one hour show with all action all the time the fact is watching fishing to most people is boring with or without ffs

[@muthafukajones1513]

@@joepotaczekThese people all just parrot what Randy says and don’t put any thought into it. These are the same people who got convinced the Jews were bad in ww2. Easily led and manipulated

[@cjnugent4102]

Much respect for your opinion, very well said! Your style of fishing is and “my opinion” always will be the toughest but most respected way to win a tournament! 👍🏻🎣🇺🇸

[@Dopey_Fudd]

I think the problem is for us weekend warriors that don't use it is this... The larger fish get targeted, then educated. This make it even more difficult for us to catch that one of a lifetime. You are correct in addition of it takes less skill to use it. I have a basic unit, and only use it for mapping the bottoms, and to monitor speeds when trolling. I don't use it to find the fish-reading maps, weather, water Temps, and finding the structure finds the fish. Forward facing will hurt everyone. It will cause lakes to be over fished and diminish quality of the fish.

[@raidersc9066]

Thank you for saying this! Something needs to be done . Not take it away but restrict it

[@AndrewGreenyakhead83]

Very logical and reasonable opinion. Enjoyed the video!

[@jasonpadgett9615]

Preach hammer! Let’s see em skip a jig into a one inch opening to get it 10 feet under a dock! FFS is basically fishing the tank in bass pro shops

[@jerrellbrewer9077]

Hank I remember meeting u after day 1 at the classic in Tulsa an you have always been a class act! This is definitely a fabulous message and very accurate! Essentially get on board with advancement and learn our craft! Utilize the tools available and beat your competitors! Keep it up

[@texaspistolero7095]

As a Co Angler FFS is like a guy spotlighting deer up front and you're in dark in back...lol!

[@fishingva9946]

To me it feels more like bow hunting deer with a drone. Still takes skill but the ethics is questionable at best.

[@donprater2754]

Well said Hank!😊

[@goodrums]

This is one of the many reasons you are a LEGEND!! Great information and advice, brother

[@schenkerrothmoore]

Thanks Hank much appreciated!

[@millennialgeezer]

That hoodie is absolute 🔥!

[@FleetwoodApp]

Well said, Hank. Absolutely agree.

[@keithgarley1832]

Finally a common sense thought on forward facing sonar. Calm down everyone. Thanks Hank

[@davemonaco103]

Nice talk!! Best said so far!!

[@jrl3021]

Good Job. Your honesty is hilarious

[@JesusFreakLive]

I agree with limits on FFS type equipment ! Thanks for the triggering perspective.

[@joshjohnson3352]

No pro other than Randy gives a straight up answer to this topic. Everyone beats around the bush. He didn't answer the question he just beat around the bush like everyone else

[@slayerstacker2074]

I like the opinion of having just one on your boat. Are they aloud to use as many as they want ?

[@richardj6593]

A win win for bass conservation is to allow FFS but make bass fishing catch and release only or a limit of 1 or 2 a day. People will catch more fish and bass will thrive.

[@daveb.8243]

Nice guy ! A real pro . Thanks for the information.

[@JoeSmith-oj2vv]

Spot on Hank. Everything goes to far time to reel it in. One screen up front one at drivers station. One brand as well. It will force more development in the future as they try to get anglers to switch brands. Fishing and hunting is all marketing period! Look at baseball, American kids with 5 k kids gloves, 2 kids bats and the Dominic republican kids make the majors having shared bats and glove!

[@dreambigfish354]

Absolutely great take Hank. Your opinion made me a bigger fan. Reason is hard to find and man you hit it on the head. 🙏🤙

[@jamescoale2833]

I like your perspective. Especially about the limitations for professional sports. I think live scope is a great tool! However, I am very certain that it will be banned by state departments because it’s too good of a tool. And I also agree that it should be limited in tournaments to the point where during tournament competition it should not be able to be used. Outside of that use it have fun with it fish with it structure cover find those areas that are holding fish but when tournament days roll around to come off the boat. It’s exactly like you said, it’s just like spotlighting deer. Only this time it’s fish. It raises a real issue with me on fair catch. Thanks for breaching the subject. I enjoyed your career from its beginning at the national level.

[@jeremybrinlee1965]

Dynamite or electric shock and a net are also great tools to catch fish

[@kylerobinson7061]

Great presentation Hank!!

[@chadstarrett1239]

Agree wholeheartedly! Its here. It’s a tool. BUT, there needs to be restrictions. Great assessment buddy.

[@A-aronTrekn]

Well said. Thanks for saying it Hank. Tight lines!

[@adambrodahl9849]

Thank you so much for giving a honest opinion. I feel so many are tongue tied in fear of loosing sponsorship. . College baseball has aluminium bats. They make the pros use a wood bat because it's harder in they are pro's . Also what about all the records.. And where does it stop? Much longer They will all be on a boat with a VR headset in a mechanical arm up front. In the kids fishing pro tournaments from thier couch..

[@mikespeiran1230]

Here's a question that puzzles me - why did the A-rig get banned but FFS is fine?

[@nedyarb2000]

I’m the weekend guy who doesn’t tournament fish or eat fish. I absolutely love my Livescope. It’s straight up fun.

[@ronknight7863]

Awesome video. Keeping it real. Keep up the great videos hank.

[@Jake-ky9ed]

“To us old hammers it’s different” that’s a great statement and true, being a bit older it’s wild to how it’s all changed other than that I don’t have a dog in the fight. My only thought is in a world staring at a screen most of the time fishing is my escape from the “screen”! I don’t want the screen invading my fishing too. Cheers man, follow some of this debate cause it’s interesting but that was about a straight forward honest thought I’ve seen.

[@37Outdoors]

Yep! Pretty much hit it, man. Only thing I will say differently… the BFL type level used to be the circuit for the common man. Yeah, side imaging was a good plus for the guys that could afford it when it came out. But livescope is 20x the advantage that SI was. So now the BFL level has a lot more to do with an anglers resources and less to do with his knowledge and ability on the water. One thing tho… that’s all the more shallow bites left for me! 😁

[@DonJoyce-z3q]

Best position on this topic I’ve heard yet and is where I think most of us stand!

[@chuckpoovey538]

Right on Hank! The fish need a refuge to conserve the species! Fishing skill is a broad brush - not just a sonar spotlight! Well said!

[@jackstein5486]

Good explanation! I am a big fan of yours!

[@blakeraider5312]

Well said Champ! It feels like the chapter on 2024 has already been written with ffs guys taking the top 10. Good luck at the Classic !

[@tonyb-50]

If it won at Toledo Bend and okochobee, it’s gonna win everywhere but the bed fishing

[@greghoward3099]

Well said agree with him lake fork has been unbelievable it was amazing to see all the 30lb bags but it show fork has some great fishing

[@squarebill]

Thx for your honest professional opinion !!

[@mikeyang3926]

Being good with FFS and being a good fisherman are 2 completely different things

[@larryd1296]

It should be outlawed in tournaments.

[@fishinutah3394]

I watched your whole video and respect your opinions, but I am totally against FFS for sporting purposes. Awesome for science. True sportsmen/women have always advocated for fair chase. Spotlighting deer isn't fair chase. High fence hunting isn't fair chase. You said it, there's nowhere fish can hide anymore with FFS. We can find them in cover or open water, we can see their direction of travel to follow them, we can watch how they react to lure presentations. How is that fair chase? This tech is dumbing down new anglers who would be completely lost without it. It's likely here to stay, but it doesn't make it right. MHO.

[@batchhitt293]

I agree completely! There needs to be limitations just like you said. There’s a guy named tyler Williams who is joining the elite series next year with 4 graphs at the console. Instead of side scan he has two garmin units shooting out 140 feet off each side of the boat. To me that’s way overkill. The other weekend I watched a guy pull into the gut of a creek and he put his trolling motor down grabbed a sandwich and his trolling motor remote and just panned around the creek while looking at his graph at his console and sitting down and eating a sandwich. I love FFS and it has beat my butt but it’s also added to my knowledge of what bass do but it has made a lot of anglers lazy.

[@DetroitFishigan]

That right here is what we all call keeping it 💯 🤝

[@iowaal7671]

I would like to see a mix of tournaments with and without. The best anglers should be able to do both effectively. It would also be more interesting to watch and talk about.

[@chanceehuiet]

Scott just won the open bedfishing with livescope as a big part of it

[@jamesgangfishingcompany8598]

Awesome video Hank

[@jerirush6500]

As a Viewer and an intermediate bass angler hoping one day to enter the bass circuit tourns, I started bass fishing as most did without sonars so that’s where my opinion is coming from. I believe compromise will be the answer here, years of fishing without the aid of technology brings about set”s” of skills that are nullified with the use of forward facing sonar, the tech does what it’s supposed to and that’s to make it easier to find and put more fish in the boat. The problem is when it comes to tournaments which is supposed to filter out the best of anglers, FFS not only evens the playing field but it also take from those anglers that have spent years acquiring skills that one can only acquire from experience the well deserved title of being one of the best . Now anyone who’s financially capable of having the technology without putting in much time on the water can become an “Elite” therefor it really takes away from the main goal of the tournament which is filtering out the best of the best. I believe the best solution is throughout the circuit… the first couple tournaments (qualifiers) should allow FFS to narrow down the competition then as it gets to the top tournaments it should then start to back away from FFS and solely rely on intuition and experience “raw skills only” your senses to determine the Elite amongst the competitors. Not only would this make Bass Master Elite so prestigious but it would give a great importance and respect to the game in which will be the “talk of the town” more than it does now with the anglers and viewers but it would also encourage challengers to really practice engaging with their environment more from mapping where the forage are, where the herrings are hunting, where the wind and currents are hitting, and creating activities in the water (food chain), to feeling out bottom composition and so forth etc. These are important skill sets that become insignificant with FFS. So In summary forward facing sonar should be use to thin out the competition then as it moves to the “Super Bowl” BMElite/classics; FFS should be banned and require only traditional raw angling skills. Really filler out the best of us.

[@miltonalbright1606]

I agree I am seventy eight and you are right you got too learn how too do it more you use it the better you get and if you won’t to go for record bass small or large go to dale hollow and California for large and I thank you get them live scope for sure yep milt

[@Dylan-si1rn]

It’s refreshing to hear someone offer up a reasonable compromise as far a potential solution to the issue. I think one ffa transducer is very reasonable. I think lake fork is a prime example of rules that can be adopted. Slot limits. Catch and release w official judge in the boat. There can be compromise. The conservation of the resource should be the main concern in my opinion

[@clintonbruning]

Hank I like your style and overall demeanor, I think we’d get along, and you seem like you like baseball too. I like to compare the FFS to baseball in that, using FFS is like knowing what pitch is coming and where it’s going to be located, all you have to do is control your reaction. Fishing without it is like true baseball all the variables in play, you don’t know what pitch is coming or its location but you can make guesses based on a pitchers tendencies (or bass tendencies). I’ve only used FFS sonar a handful of times but it also seems like it makes fishing “offshore” much more efficient and more like bank beating because you can see your targets underwater. I really don’t like it but I just fish for fun. And that 💩 is expensive so I think I’ll just stick to my finesse gear. Good take man 🤘🏽

[@37Outdoors]

Pretty solid analogy to baseball. I’m with ya. And go Reds!

[@clintonbruning]

@@37Outdoors thanks man but go ROYALS :)

[@CaseyWWelch]

Great analogy, Go Rockies 😂😂😂😂 😢😢😢

[@ct9737]

Hi Hank,Craig from Oneida Lake,The first year the Elites fished on Cayuga the majority of the species caught were Largemourh and a few Smallmouth,However in the third and fourth time fishing there a majority of the species caught were Smallmouth and they caught big ones,The difference in those tournaments was FFS in the last years fished on Cayuga Lake

[@bwoneymaddic446]

I fish from a canoe. To reach one of my lakes, I drive down a dirt road and carry the canoe across a field and through the woods. It's so rocky where I launch that I step into the water to step into my canoe. I'm just grateful that such lakes still exist, where the bass aren't hammered by technology.

[@bassfischer4273]

Thanks Hank, appreciate your perspective. My 2c.. it's bad-bad-bad for both the sport **and** fisheries. What hardly anyone is talking about are the meat-eaters. Once they're all ffs'd-up (if they're not already) then it's only a matter of time before the biguns are all dinner. Like you said, there's no hiding from this technology. And the parallel you mentioned with spotlighting deer is 100% right. Imo, it's illegal in hunting, it should be illegal in competitive bass fishing.

[@cbfishing8016]

Great takes! Don’t disagree with any of that at all. Will be interesting to see how it shakes out though because I think there will be some regulating at the high level tournaments at some point.

[@Farmersforever1993]

What alot of people forget is that young anglers who are truly passionate about bass fishing have access to 60 years of fishing knowledge and they can spend hours learning how to use the electronics better help them. The more knowledge you can obtain the more better you will be. The more you understand how fish live the better at finding them you will be. FFS will not show you 100% of the fish it will show you the what fish are out and moving or suspended. It will show ypu structure, and everything you need to finely locate fish. It can show you how fish react to ypur lure and if your a good student your able to make simple adjustments to your presentation and you will be able to catch more fish. FFS is a great tool for deep and offshore fishing, shallow fishing is still all about precise presentations. I truly see it both ways, if you only lean on FFS you will struggle, you have to have a good balance and knowledge of everything bass fishing to truly succeed. The bad eggs are the ones that Will truly ruin the sport.

[@guitarhiker4449]

Very good breakdown hank! I agree 100% when does the restrictions come into play? Its not fishin anymore its catchin! Bad look for the sport of bass fishin! Love the hobie sunglasses by the way. They are my goto! Fish on!🐟🎣

[@FireBone100]

Personally, I'm tired of the 100% negatives. Thanks Hank for a reasonable opinion on this subject. It's the only kind I'll consider anyway.

[@ryanclark1108]

Couldn’t agree more with only one aloud on a boat, every professional sport has limits. My buddy made a great analogy for guys that have 360 live scope rigs, they are essentially trolling till you find a fish

[@johnmiller5987]

What is wrong with trolling? It's still the best search method

[@jacaobsteckel9278]

Where's your merch link

[@kballhog]

Nice video! I enjoyed hearing your views!

[@lokololo321]

The technology is great and is a good thing we are learning more about bass than ever. Now should it be allowed in tournaments or not that’s another question. But if it’s made illegal in tournaments why should it be legal at all like you said it’s like spotlighting deer

[@Mountinbass]

I love u Hank!!! Awesome vid

[@maxcole3930]

Well said! I agree 100%!

[@Bleezy38]

How about just taking the live view aspect out of it during tournaments? They could still use graphs or maybe flashers and just take out the live view stuff during tournaments. It definitely is taking away entertainment value watching these guys with their head stuck on their electronics all day.

[@Exhausted-resource]

Just found out you have a channel, been a huge fan of you since “THE” classic at grand, watching your heartbreak losing that big bass on the jerk bait was tough, good luck with everything brotha!!!!!!!

[@kevinatwell9781]

I agree it's not like spotlighting, more like hunting with military grade night vision goggles.

[@surgprep1]

Music to my ears Hank and thank you for saying what needs to be said, despite all the whining from all those that need to rely on it to compete or even be relevant. I totally agree with you and Matty Wong, it's not fair to the fish, they can swim but they can't hide. I have neighbors that before they got FFS couldn't catch jack shit...now they crush'em every time they go out, the bad things is they are meat hunters and keep EVERYTHING they catch, I have never seen so many 8, 9 & yes 10lber largemouths, 4 to 6 pound spots and smallies being killed and stacked in their freezers...it's horrifying and sad at the same time, even though I told them killing a bass is 20 years bad luck, they don't care, and it's not just them, all their friends see them doing it, so they put ffs on their boats, like everyone else and now their " Pros" and doing the same thing, killing alot of bass and I"m sure alot of others are too, so cherish these days cause since ffs is taking over like a plague these days will be considered the good old days because with ffs our heathy lake fish populations are slowing being drained, only now, at much faster rate by scoping.

[@kurtgreen1040]

It’s going to destroy the fishing saw it happen to a lake that was relatively unknown then it was written about in a magazine two years later it was unrecognizable and the fish were gone still hasn’t come back and it’s been over 10 years

[@Garminrules]

Thanks Hank!

[@rex2837]

Good point about hurt feelings. If you’re going to make an overall decision whether it’s legal or not, hurt feelings and jealousy should have no part in that decision.

[@fishingwithhouse]

Thanks for sharing your view on this . I only fish from the bank . I suppose FFS is a good tool to use but not relied upon. If the FFS goes down some of these guys will be completely lost .

[@joelbuff3254]

Livescope is a learning tool as much as a fish finder. It doesn’t make them bite, but it does show where they are and how they react to your lure. All of the things i “learned” over 40 yrs of fishing are either proven or disproven, and quickly verified with this tool.

[@shelbybentley7856]

You actually stated that it's the same as spotlighting deer!!! It really is and as you stated it's giving everyone the ability to put a heck of lot more pressure on fish!! At least bank fishing will get better