The DISTURBING Event That Happened This Week At The Bassmaster Open On Lake Eufaula…

[@jeffpennekamp]

That is why I stopped watching Bass tournaments on TV . It is a shame what has happened to the sport.

[@daveysketter9186]

I agree!

[@DavidFernandez-en2gl]

You really are dropping the hammer down on live scope. I love it. Keep it up. Bring back the tradition of fishing ✌️

[@markfreiner3282]

I think when you take skill out of something it becomes worthless. I stopped watching all BASS/MLF. If I want to see someone stare at a screen I can drive around town and watch people drive.

[@wineghost317]

Ha! Yes.

[@astrophysicistguy]

Your comment indicates that you do not have a very good understanding for how FFS actually works or how difficult it is to master. Ask Matt Stephans about it . He is trying to master it because he knows he needs to to be competitive but continues tp struggle. Different does not equate to wrong no matter what randy says ...

[@johnemrey9877]

Being able to learn and use your electronics to find and catch bass IS a skill. Just because you can't do it or afford it doesn't make you the judge. Congrats to the anglers who have worked hard to hone their fish catching SKILLS and be successful.

[@cichlid43]

Sounds like you should strap a livescope on your bow and go win that 100k!

[@timburton9514]

Exactly. I laughed at the other folks who commented on your comment! Blah blah blah! About how spotlighting IS a skill!! 😂😂😂

[@carynp26]

Its not only forward facing sonar that needs to be banned! Bass tournaments in general need to be limited on all of the lakes across this country. There are way too many tournaments on these lakes, way too much pressure!

[@Steve-d8s]

@@carynp26 you think it's bad know?how bout the 90s

[@TheREVIEWGUY1-ip1wm]

Facts there tournrnaments every week

[@troublemanbilly]

Speaking as a local fisherman most of us pull our boats out of the water when there’s a tournament!!! They show up and think it’s their lake and no rules apply and are soooooooo damn rude to any other fishermen

[@ciwwebmaster]

It sounds like it may be time to gather up all the old pros and start your own tournament. A FFS free league of real fisherman. I agree with you 100%, all tech is not necessarily good tech. It is simple, FFS takes the "sport " out of fishing.

[@RickBaker0529]

I emailed BASS about starting a Legends Tour with no FFS on competition days. Heard nothing from them.

[@andrewbrowning-gm7nd]

Dude that one snagged an 8lber with a spoon while looking at it on Livescope. Fish should not count!

[@aaronhiggs]

A lot of foul hooked fish getting counted lately.

[@DatGuy960]

The 8lb bass caught was hooked in the mouth. The spoon snagged fish was a 4 lb fish. BUT...that fish was snagged in the back with a spoon and it was all done using ffs. That fish should've been released because it was snagged using a technique that is just like sight fishing a bedded bass.

[@TGossOutdoors]

​@DatGuy960 dude even with live scope you can't really snag them lol spoons are just prone to snagging fish in general.

[@scottbassman123]

The 8lb fish was not snagged, Goober! There was a 4lber snagged that people are talking about..This is exactly how shit gets spread, u have no clue of what your talking about !!

[@scottbassman123]

​@TGossOutdoors Yes u can

[@riverrat988]

Good old days are gone

[@jasonsmith2439]

😢

[@scottbassman123]

W that attitude, yes

[@funkymojo111]

U wouldn't believe how many seniors approach me and talk about what fishing WAS LIKE. A lot of the failure of fisheries in California is the cost vs benefit analysis that ultimately results in recreational fishing losing. I've talked to our city staff and they respond with their job is water management, NOT fisheries management, that responsibility falls on the state. And here in California we all know how the state is being managed. Yes, plan on moving out of Ca.in the future! California sucks!

[@Spectre302011]

I was at Norfork Lake a couple months ago. Dude asked me what I was using. I showed him my Alabama rig and he said, “That’s kind of cheating, isn’t it?” I looked over at his boat and the dude had a live scope attached to the front…smh.

[@patriztau3499]

I'll take things that didn't happen for $50

[@Spectre302011]

@@patriztau3499you’d be out $50 bud. It was older gentleman. Back in the day the A-rigs were always banned and looked down on. I’m assuming because of all the hooks idk. I just thought it was funny that a dude in his 60s or so would hold that old school value on A-rigs but not feel the same way about FFS. 🤷

[@Steve-d8s]

Randy back in the PAPERGRAPH DAYS BACK IN THE EARLY SEVENTIES YOU COULD SEE YOUR FISH ON THE GRAPH suck your bait?

[@TheREVIEWGUY1-ip1wm]

Big money

[@greggnunnelee7650]

Van Dame saw the writing on the wall & called it quits before the bottom fell out. Between this & $100k boats can’t even participate no longer.

[@TheREVIEWGUY1-ip1wm]

Kvd had a 150 k boat

[@scottkeiser3310]

Randy, I totally agree with your thoughts on Forward facing sonar. I also think that the poor fishing over the last several years is also because there are 2 to 3 times the number of people fishing our lakes. I can’t go to a local lake without competing with at least 50 to 60 trailers in the parking lot. I go to my favorite cove and there are 3 or 4 boats there already. The bass have seen 15 to 20 lures that day before mine hit the water.

[@Ozarktreeworks]

💯 agree, it’s no different from hunting with a drone with a thermal scope, Takes the sport out of it. It’s no longer fishing, it’s catching.

[@saltrock9642]

Add high fence hunting to the list. How can anyone be proud of shooting an animal inside a fence?

[@SpookyRedz]

BASS I thought was worried about conservation , when Ray Scott ran it , it’s sad what BASS is doing today , if they don’t stop it they won’t have any bass to catch on their shows

[@SpookyRedz]

@BodyWeightStrong wait till every public angler has FFS , game over

[@haroldbirckhead9997]

So live scope legal, live bait not? And the difference?

[@dannyd-rockmahaffey3087]

Whats the difference between catching them on a dock or out deep w sonar?

[@hirambrashier1449]

Randy, you are spot on. Unfortunately it’s probably here to stay. To much money involved for to many people.

[@gksmith2002]

I remember watching a tournament in California. Long time ago. State law (at least then) that if you don't hook the fish in the mouth you can't keep it. I don't expect states to "outlaw electronics" but Bass Master has to take a stand and go back to skill instead of electronics.

[@TGossOutdoors]

There is most deinfitley skill involved with electronics buddy. Prior to livescope no one really cared.

[@scottbassman123]

Noone saying outlaw electronics goober!

[@van3158]

I used to get up at 4 am every day. Took the first couple years of retirement to learn to sleep until 7.

[@rickfernald3452]

The way to approach this issue, is at the State Fisheries dept level.,We all need to demand a public forum to discuss removing this from use. It is no different than other techniques banned for hunting , like use of drones, shining after dark, etc, it needs to end, This is a call to action, contact your state Dept of inland fisheries, NOW!

[@brianwills4398]

Agreed 💯

[@Nickolas7979]

I have sent emails to Florida fish and wildlife to bring this to a stop before it decimates our bass fisheries here in Florida. Waiting for something back I don't care if I have to send a email every week I will this has to stop.

[@macdaddyblues1]

Its already happening.... I heard Louisiana is considering a ban on the tech.

[@davidhidalgo5662]

Nothing like spending an entire life time becoming a superior fisherman at all the techniques to have some kid playing a video game come in and take over. These new guys are great at spotlight because it is a video game and they grew up playing video games that is all they do.

[@user-gn1dg8fs6e]

If you watched the angler that caught the 8-12 bass on Eufala, he was looking at his livescope unit, and his line was 45 degrees to the left of him. He saw the fish eat his lure. I totally agree with Randy and the other veteran anglers about this. The professional anglers that have put the time in honing their skills and craft don't deserve to lose due to a technology advancement. There has to be a line drawn in this sport, and FFS needs to be banned during any sanctioned competition .😊

[@Tom_Tahmas]

It should be banned permanently for all fishing. The minimum that should happen is reducing limits especially on crappie.

[@jonnycieslak]

So the guys that dominated years ago didn’t master 2D and side imaging?? Come on. Most guys criticizing FFS never used it because they would realize it’s not easy and is a skill! Go ahead with the comments that it’s not a skill. If you want to kill this sport then take it away because the only reason young anglers are interested is because of the technology its what they grew up with.. you have to adapt with the time or get passed by 🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️

[@user-gn1dg8fs6e]

I don't have anything against you, but if you can see fish in "real" time and see your bait in front of them, that's cheating. There is no exception, whether you like it or not. I have no problem with anyone using it, just not in tournaments for monetary gain! If you think it's okay, go fish a tournament without it and let me know how you do. Feel free to let me know when you do that and let me know how you perform. 😊

[@jonnycieslak]

@@user-gn1dg8fs6e I am glad we can have an adult conversation about it, I am 44 years old so I have fished my whole life without it however I also adapt to the times and last time I checked it’s only cheating if it’s against the rules is bed fishing cheating because you can also see those in real time and that’s been happening since tournament fishing started. At the end of the day we’re all outdooorsmen and are going to have different opinions on a lot of things hope you enjoy the rest of your day I don’t want this to be an argument this is just my opinion you have the right to your opinion.

[@Basscater81]

@@jonnycieslak I think the correct argument against it is that you can manipulate your bait in real time to get that fish to react which is apples to oranges vs traditional sonar. You can’t argue that it’s not a skill because it’s developed just like any other and the younger guys that started younger will have an advantage. Also I wouldn’t call it cheating in the true sense because it’s not against the rules.

[@ferrodog5000]

If FFS is considered a cheat box, what is the 250 outboard on the back considered?

[@nicholasroberts5826]

I have 1 year into this hobby. I spent the winter binging on the last 2 years of Randy's tips. I haven't had a skunk day since the pre-spawn, and I fish multiple times a week and go to the lake every weekend. I expect to get skunked at some point during the dog days, but Randy's seminars already have me catching like a veteran. Never used livescope. Kayak and bank fishing only. That's what shortened my learning curve...KZbin tips.

[@christheplumbmaster]

Randy, I've been watching your channel for a few years now. Thanks for all the knowledge on fishing. Why don't you start your own tournament series? If you build it, they will come...

[@markgrigsby6382]

I have ffs and hardly use it because I end up fishing the way I've fished for the last 40 yrs. And I just don't like staring down at it so I wasted my $ I'm thinking. I would rather enjoy the nature around the lake while I fish. 🤔

[@frankgilroy3189]

Randall, you need to understand that once you brought in 6, 7 and 8 th graders , juniors and then High School leading to college…..the days of getting out of High School becoming a carpenter, struggling for five years to make End meet and then finally making it into the professional levels of bass fishing after living in your car and struggling and not having any money to do anything, then making it, like a Cinderella story and being able to tell everybody for the rest of your life, you slept in your car and ate Doritos and finally made it as a professional bass fisherman, those days are over. Parents are buying kids bass boats in high school, parents are buying kids, Bass, Boats, and Trucks to send their kids to college. Live scope or not there is nothing you can do to stop that. It’s the way the sport is progressing.

[@SslHowie]

Roland Martin won this event in 1972 with 62-13 lbs. Pretty much no electronics, fast boat, best gear ever, and conservation we have today. I tried to find more recent records to compare differences, hard to find them on this lake.

[@randyblaukatintuitive]

I believe that was lake you Eufaula Alabama not Oklahoma

[@SslHowie]

@@randyblaukatintuitive I looked again says OK.

[@cchrisfish773]

They had one on Eufaula OK in 1972. If I remember, Houston was 2nd. My Dad was 17th. They fished an area that is no longer accessible by boat due to silt from the river. That was a 10 fish limit also. The old lake was only 3-4 years old then. It's a far different lake now. About the only shoreline cover now is docks unless it's 3 ft high.

[@randyblaukatintuitive]

@@cchrisfish773 I see I was not aware of that

[@bigboy6011]

All the fishi g pressure from all tournaments is the biggest problem

[@edvanderziel]

very true

[@ericnoyes6418]

Hey randy, since you followed the tournament so closely, what did the anglers that finished 2nd, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th throw?

[@AdventureIndiana]

I agree with you. I don’t have any electronics and I still can get fish in the boat. If I don’t catch them, we’ll, I just say “that’s why they call it fishing and not catching”.

[@ShannonBrown-ki4zv]

Hey Randy I’m a new subscriber to your channel I like your content. I’ve never been much of a Bass fisherman I’m more of a crappie and catfish guy but I remember watching Bass back when Ray Scott was still around it I’m sure he would agree with you. Keep up the good work.

[@scottnei1377]

What is spot lighting?

[@BluntTruth7]

Randy, Hear, Hear. You are spot on with this. I don't watch MLF or BASS anymore because of the Scopers, who do nothing now but look at their monitors the whole time they are fishing. As long as the sponsors have a say in the management of both leagues, there will be no stopping this. The only way to prevent future use of FFS in tournaments is for all the Pros to pull together and speak out against this technology being used in tournaments. The reality is that they may stop FFS use in the Pro Leagues, but all the mom & pop leagues and all the recreational bass fishermen will continue using them because, as you say, it's quick gratification and being lazy without working hard to hunt and actually use various presentations to catch bass. Pretty soon, bait casters will be obsolete, and you'll need one fairy rod on your boat along with FFS to catch bass. The trend is already happening. You've seen an increase in spin casters and a decrease in bait caster sales.

[@michaeldawson9756]

Sorry for stupid question ...is the term snagging a fish the same as foul hooking a fish ?

[@jaym8257]

Yes

[@michaeldawson9756]

@@jaym8257 thanks there, still learning some terms used in USA.

[@ronfussell8244]

Well Randy, I tried to watch it long enough to see how their using the scope,it's the first time I've seen it used to the side going down a dock flipping between boats,look down flip,look down flip,every boat,on a split screen, four butt's and twelve screens,after an hour I was totally done,you can't make watching paint dry a valid sport.

[@brianwills4398]

You are the tip of the sword on this topic. Keep on it. I cant believe more OG pros aren't speaking up about this.

[@bayoustateoutdoors9650]

When one can put a bait right on a fish’s nose, that’s not a depth finder, that’s a video camera!!!

[@thermanparker]

i can send my lure down and watch fish swim to it and eat it on a 7 inch hummingbird with no ffs people need to quit getting their feeling hurt because they cannot afford the technology yet.

[@Basscater81]

@@thermanparker much less efficiently and not in real time

[@thermanparker]

@@Basscater81 i mean depends on your idea of efficient limit out on any fish sounds efficient to me! Tight lines brother!

[@thermanparker]

@@Basscater81 also there is a sec delay but master it and your just as efficient as ffs quit worrying about your fellow man and go fish.

[@Basscater81]

@@thermanparker then why isn’t everyone doing this?

[@scottreece2421]

You want to see disturbing, watch the Chris Zaldain video, where he pulls up on the guy at Lake Murray. Changed my mind about him. I wont be watching his pod casts anymore.

[@chaddrumm6809]

Totally agree. What surprised the hell out of me is Chris had a second vid on the incident still doubling down like he was in the right. I bashed the hell outa Chris in the comments! He was 100% in the wrong. I undoubtedly unsubscribed after watching his pathetic actions with his encounter!

[@TeamTriton86]

Agree! Zaldain definitely displayed a elitist attitude and is in the wrong. The locals were already fishing the point and Chris rolled up on them. I would be pissed as well. Most fisherman could care less if he was fishing a BASS Elite tournament. Zaldain has not had a top 10 finish the last 2 years and is probably feeling the pressure. Chris's wife Trait recently accused Trey McKinney of cheating on Lake Wheeler and blasted him on Twitter. Not sure if emotions are getting heated in their expensive RV or if the family money handouts is drying up. Regardless, both of these acts are very unprofessional and should be scrutinized by BASS.

[@johnthemachine]

Dude, so sorry that’s what it took for y’all to realize what a clown that guy is. Hearing him talk for 5 minutes on that god awful podcast convinced me years ago.

[@outdoorswithjt6652]

Yeah I unsubscibed as soon as I seen it. He's an entitled prik

[@anthonyhunt6183]

​@@TeamTriton86iin

[@meethed]

As a seasoned walleye fisherman, I see the impact to that species... Too many times, I'm out there, watching people chasing them down staring at the screens. This year, has by far, been the worst year for walleye fishing that I've had in a long time.

[@RichardAntonucci-f3c]

Spot lighting??? Is that Live scope? I cant belive the crying going on over this.

[@stevencrane9949]

Sir Randall you are much respected and appreciated

[@anceratliff2230]

Iam all for banning FFS but they also need to ban keeping fish in live wells as well if we are trying to save fishery!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Tom_Tahmas]

Livewells aren't the problem. Its the fish care that kills them. Not fizzing fish, keeping them in hot water, dropping them in the boat and stuff like that. But i do agree if doing away with Livewells would help solve the problem then im all for it.

[@yooperrd651]

@@DennisMorgan-ls8sc i would agree on that statement, nobody that bitches about FFS had a problem with spot lock so you could make the same cast to a school of fish. maybe all those anglers should be called LAZY also!

[@phillamoore157]

Very well said…

[@AshStomper72]

Agreed, they carry an official on the boat, have that person weigh and snap a picture and leave the fish where you found him/her. Absolutely zero reason to haul live fish around other than a photo op at the end. On Lake O in Florida, after every tournament dead bass everywhere. Stupid.

[@williamwoolf.8660]

@@AshStomper72yes, especially in the heat. And now there is a tournament 5 times a week on every lake in the country.

[@MJ_Bass]

It’s gotta be hard going through life being disturbed so easily 😂

[@Showmethefish]

Change of times.......went out this morning.... didn't even turn on a unit... caught 8 keepers....had a great day

[@thebeaverretriever3732]

Great post, every other boat on the lake using ffs didn’t affect your day one bit.

[@lastboomer.]

I noticed a comment on an earlier video by a fisheries biologist that claimed something to the effect that maybe YOU don't need a study to know the fisheries are declining, but THEY do. Well, that may be true normally, but it is my belief that FFS is an anomaly that needs to be handled differently. I actually abhor government intervention in our lives normally, but we do of course need laws and regulations, and this is one time where the agencies in charge need to admit that their normal pace of study is inadequate to deal with the effect of FFS. We cannot wait for 10 years of study to deal with this, but I have no faith that they will change their ways. They will insist they there is no other way and we should shut up and let them do their endless research. By then the only people catching any fish will be those equipped with FFS, which most people cannot afford. There may even be the same volume of harvest, but I hope they realize all the fish are caught by 15 guys with $10,000 worth of sonar.

[@Tom_Tahmas]

They only do whats best for the corporations and themselves. Govt always puts whats best for the people or nature last.

[@tommykuykendall6708]

Agree 100% I’ve been an avid Bass fisherman for years and have watched Bassmasters and MLF for years and when ffs came out I told anyone that would listen it’s gonna ruin the sport!! I’m talking when Rick Clunn for instance was a rookie!!Thats how long I’ve been following the sport!! Keep the videos coming Randy🙏🏼

[@gavinmceachern1808]

100 % agree. As a novice, new to kayak fishing, I’ve entered two local tournaments, but I’m intimidated by many of the anglers who have the latest technology, specifically live scope. I can’t compete with that and figure, why throw my money away on a tournament fee when I have no chance of competing with the “big boys?” I’d be interested in participating in a tourney with a level playing field and no electronics allowed.

[@fisherguy719]

I'm a walleye guy from wi. My last tourney i saw so many 20 pound weights it was crazy. Thing is a lot of us never heard of these guys. I talked to one. He had a crick in his neck from looking down!!. Livescope just aint right.

[@zimks]

😂 if you can’t catch a 20 pound walleye bag in WI without livescope you just suck

[@fisherguy719]

@@zimks that was day 1. We've finished as high as 14th in that 350 boat event. Been fishing it since 86. No sour grapes here. It's just these guys i've never heard of and big time electronnics. I'll be 77 soon and don't wanna quit until i'm 80. Been fishing this lake since i was 12 with my dad. Maybe younger. Just not going to spend that kind of money.

[@zimks]

@@fisherguy719 so if you heard of there name back in 86, those are the only guys that should do well for the rest of history right, god forbid new people come into the sport do good right? lol y’all crack me up, everybody at some point in history was a nobody

[@fisherguy719]

@@zimks well, i know and knew plenty of young guys. Darn good sticks too!! Even taught them a thing or two. It's just the live scoping stuff i don't like. Too many short cuts for me. Like i said, no sour grapes here, i'm no the jealous type. I'll still be out there. Still have a few tricks up my sleeve. Tight lines to ya.

[@chrischoate2211]

Well said, all your points are right on. The cigarette analogy and reducing the number of transducers or FFS units is right on. I've been making tackle and designing fishing tackle over 40 years and every point you make in this video are true. The tackle business has always been successful and driven by new exciting inovatioin and discovery of new techniques. That's all gone if all you need is a couple of plastics and FFS. Your points are valid, keep up the good fight brother.

[@randyblaukatintuitive]

Thx man!

[@RandyHurst-i8l]

All about money!! But you're right on it need too be a change.

[@RCSTILE]

This shows how little the modern pros know about fishing.

[@horbie5039]

Livescope is actually showing us how little the old pros actually knew about fish behavior. Thats why it’s so threatening to them.

[@wizardcat2828]

The only way to get rid of FFS will be to start a separate circuit that does not use FFS. Bassmasters won’t change but you might be able to create a better alternative.

[@johndoran7331]

Do you think the historical anglers you mention / mentioned would place well in a tourney without FFS? I do not. In fact, I think they would get crushed.

[@gohoosgo75]

Very true. I fished a tournament this morning and got beat by a 14yo and 16 to kids. No disrespect but all they talked about was using live scope all day and how they saw everyone they caught. Take that away and all they're catching is bluegills.

[@zimks]

Can’t imagine whining on the internet about losing to kids at a tournament

[@gohoosgo75]

@@zimks it's not whining it's making a point. Without the cheater box they wouldn't know what to do. I fish with my teenage son and we do it old school we fish where we think fish are I'm not where we can see them on a screen in Open water. You take away livescope these bassmaster and elite tournaments numbers would reduce by 60%

[@zimks]

@@gohoosgo75 it’s definitely whining lol just like Randy you know nothing about any of these guys, you just like to rim Randys hole…

[@cheetoz6902]

I'm on board ,your behind schedule . I quit using hooks 3 years ago and have landed more bass than ever before ,won club championship and every tourney I entered

[@TonyMadrigal-yn3hd]

Randy - so to be clear, are you saying that fish mortality has increased du to more fish being caught with FFS and a single hooked jig and minnow vs traditional methods like treble hooked baits and wacky hooked senkos?

[@nickbadry4122]

Okie here born and raised.. I grew up fishing eufaula in and around blocker oklahoma at grandma's property as well.. learning patterns, what to use and when is what bass fishing needs to be! The forward facing sonar needs to be banned! Or it needs to be used in select tournaments! I'm going to prague lake to fish in the morning in my kayak. I don't use any fish finders although I wouldn't mind one for the depth..I enjoy the challenge of tracking the fish.. Anyways subscribed to your channel enjoy your tips and old school fishing demeanor..

[@jasonsmith2439]

Technology and money is all that seems to matter these days 😢we are having to many tournaments here on Gaston lake NC/VA and it’s killing the fishing. I’m only 44 and I can see a big change in bass fishing and it’s not a change for the good either 😢

[@TracyWMitchell]

Many of these college anglers will admit that without the scope they have no idea how to catch a bass. Ridiculous!

[@martys4814]

Sad. I’m so glad I grew up when it took you to learn the skills to catch bass. Sad these young guns don’t know how to catch them

[@MidnightClutch25]

There should be absolutely no sonar or fish finders at all. Just a topographical map of the lake

[@lorithane2006]

You’re spot on !!

[@Bowhunter66]

People should take notice as some states are making trail cameras illegal as far as hunting goes. So be patient as it's coming. Just taking longer than we would like. Your comment on fishermen getting lazy looking for shortcuts. Well, isn't that our society in general, nobody wants to work for anything anymore. Everyone wants it on a silver platter!!! It's definitely frustrating!!!!

[@samplays4421]

I've fished for over 5 decades. This technology is ridiculous. I have a friend whom I've been teaching how to bass fish. He has recently been putting the pieces of knowledge together and doing better at catching. We were fishing a lake last week and saw a very young man with FFS. He hit the areas we had already fished. We anchored and watched him for a short time. His eyes never left his screen. He caught those fish. I explained to my friend how the ffs works etc... he now understands just how easy ffs makes catching fish. He was in the fence of wanting one for his boat, but now realizes just how bad it is for the sustainability of our fisheries. I rarely miss catching fish when I'm out. I use my knowledge gained over the years. If I don't catch anything, I'm happy for the fish. They out did me. Your topic and facts discussed in this video solidify what we know about FFS. Turning our headway and trying to deny it, doesn' help.

[@notomatoesbbq]

Live scoping is essentially just bed fishing year round.

[@lanceh.5671]

I agree with you completely. All i can say is perhaps if the tournament anglers would adopt the same approach as the kayak anglers, count inches instead of pounds and release the fish imediately. However, what is really scary is when enough of the paint bucket brigade gets wind of the technology which is what is being recognized with the crappie in Mississippi.

[@stevenvalenti3722]

I fully agree with you with everything you have said. Too much technology has been allowed to be in these tournaments. It's really not fishing anymore. It's like playing a video game now.😞

[@teresafarrell6457]

"... student of fish". I like that; well said. Randy, why don't you, mentioned friend and other pros start your own series and ban the cheat boxes? 🤷 Totally agree with the "lazy" point. 👍

[@johnstrand2247]

I am seeing snaggers now with forward facing sonar. They stay in one spot sometimes for hours, three feet from shore, yanking the lure over their head again and again until they finally snag a bass laying on it's spawning bed. I don't fish tournaments but find it hard to believe if this practice is legal.

[@danthompson4879]

Hey Randy, when you were fishing Redman, do you remember a fisherman named Bill Probasco?

[@JTLM_48442]

No, nobody does man

[@DFish-v2n]

I’m old school I started in the late sixties artificially fishing for black bass I have some of the newer electronics but I don’t rely on them! I enjoy fishing I live waterfront lake Conroe and I see these folks with all the technology and I just shake my head and I only fish one tourney a year now !!!!

[@jasonwilliams8875]

100% agree with you. I stopped fishing local tournaments cause I throwing my money away I don’t have enough money to buy a 100k boat 50k units on it. I’m old school a jig and spinner bait and big worm.

[@scottvaughn9565]

How about practice with it all you want. But bassmaster and mlf have tournament boats ready for the anglers with GPS and 2d?

[@billdouglas6561]

Here in california the tree huggers just now basically got sturgen fishing outlawed !!! Things need to be done !!

[@JoshFlowers1995]

I fished my first local mom and pop jon boat tournament on a hp restricted reservoir in north alabama that is catch and release only. Live scopers won the tournament. 3k worth of electronics on a old jon boat .....

[@jeffdempsey6478]

❤..weak..umbilical. 😊 I'm older. Fish less than years ago. Fervently followed BASS 15 -20 yrs ago..you make sense to me.

[@boshman8331]

I agree it's totally insane!

[@jamescaspersamanthalintner4767]

I'm on the water 100 days a year in Kansas and I have watched the fishing get tougher and tougher and tougher since livescope came out.

[@larry851]

Preach it. I quit watching all the tournaments on tv.

[@MichaelKCClarke]

Randy, I agree completely with that forward facing sonar is ruining, I refuse to watch it on tv

[@keithbrown2487]

Keep it up Randy

[@wciii3591]

Respect. That is what I have said before. People get upset over FFS because those that use it, are disrespecting and taking advantage of OUR fish! They act as if they are the only ones who count. That is why it is so personal.

[@belleartiste13]

Have these fisherman started using stealth drones above and below the water along with ai targeting to win yet? That's coming unless people call for change.

[@Bankfishindude]

The learning curve is the real juice yall!!🎣

[@alsilva3578]

...I live on a small lake. I fish from a kayak. On that lake, there is one guy that has all the FFS / Live Scope equipment on his boat. He's out there maybe once a month but always in the same spot. When he's not there, I am. Thanks!

[@NicholasLoan]

I'm guessing the pro you're referring to was gman Gerald Swindle or the hack attack Greg Hackney

[@GrampsterRap]

Maybe someone should start a spotlight only circuit

[@luster5497]

It’s NOT CHEATING when everyone is allowed to use it. If you’re already a professional, it’ll only make you better. It’s so salty, to say they’re cheating…you actually have the advantage

[@mriphone1000]

It's having a negative impact on the fishing population. FFS is worse than cheating as a whole imo. Bag limits are going to be dropping all over the place.

[@CATCHAHAWG]

I feel bad for the all the coanglers that are getting screwed in these events. It used to be a great learning experience for them but now it’s just a waste of time and money.

[@kerrycooperfishing2732]

100% agree Randy!

[@smithmichaels]

Your right for any competition fishing. Others can employ this technique but pros should be banned from it for tourneys. Big bass are almost gone in lakes in the southeastern lakes and it will affect western and Florida as well. I saw a stringer of fish caught by Tom Mann that he showed me and they were all above 8lbs! 10 bas that big caught on Lil’ George off a old deep creek bank in the lake at 30-50 feet deep in the winter. Big bass were out there if you knew how to fish but no more… Sad news for these new fishermen who think a 2 pounder is a big bass.

[@timmarkowicz779]

Just ban tournaments already.

[@coyotesmile8972]

Nah. Just ban cash prizes. Nobody's going to cheat like this for a trophy.

[@timmarkowicz779]

@@coyotesmile8972 Don't bet on it.

[@Tea4Texas]

Agreed

[@MTWasks]

Totally agree. It makes the 'live' video unwatchable. May as well watch EASports channels because at least you get the live feed. Very hard to learn from anglers who are staring at a screen. Hopefully MLF and BASS figure out that they are losing their audience. Thankfully there are other KZbin creators out there showing us things we need to know that will help us catch fish without a $100,000 deckload of gear.

[@Axxis270]

I agree with your Live scope argument. Electronic companies put so much money into these tournament trails that I see no way it's going away without laws that ban it's use. as far as the traditions of bass fishing being hurt by it. When have traditions ever been a real factor in tournament fishing or ever stopped tournament anglers? Befpre electronics people had to know a lake inside and out. Then sonar came along and fish finder and then side fish finders and now live scope. I see it the next evolution of the many other electronics you have used before. each more powerful than the last.

[@jimlane1696]

I've said this same thing from the onset of FFS. Skill is no longer a desired part of bass fishing because you have to work for it. Short cuts are now the norm.

[@scottbarker5820]

Wow. Just because you don't like the color red doesn't mean you need to keep railing against it. This same rant has gotten Very Old. IF forward facing is detrimental to fishing, (?) the DNR will ban its use on their body's of water - period, and it might not be tomorrow, but it will happen if it needs too. And that's where I stand, as I'll use my FF unit until the DNR says I can't for their conservation reasons. You said they have reduced creel limits on one lake for crappie, but that's because people keep and eat the crappie, where the bass fisherman for the most release their catch, which is a clear and positive difference. The last time I can recall ever seeing anyone with a "stringer of bass" was only in photos back in the 1960s". You say that the young angler isn't learning anything using forward facing vs the old man's way of how he had to do it (like myself), by spending countless hours fishing where there are no fish till ya' finally figure it out, and that's only if they ever do. Well, FF is changing that for the better as they won't spend their only day to fish on the weekends, fishing the shore line or a point when the fish have moved for instance, which has sped their learning curve into hyper speed. You don't think they're going to learn where the fish are in the spring vs summer vs fall vs winter, or any other reason by using FF. I'll argue, they'll learn faster than ever !? It would be ridiculous to think not. And what's wrong with tournament weight in's being higher than in the past? And what's different in watching the back of someone's head fishing a long point or a flat in the middle of the lake then someone peering at their screen while Forward Facing !? Your entire argument seems to boil down to, or end with, "because they haven't put in the time". I'm also willing to bet that many people that comment on their hate of FF don't own, or can't afford FF, and have never used it, never realized how hard it actually is, and think it's as easy as a playstation. I mean no disrespect in your opinion, it's just different from mine.

[@Mulagin1]

Unfortunately, like too many things today, it may be about the almighty dollar. Follow the money and see how much money the equipment manufacturers pay MLF and Bassmaster and contribute to the purses. It is a real shame, real fisherman study the nuances, habits and weather to put together a stringer, while today's competitors just focus on a game console.

[@terrytriton2265]

Once people quit tuning in to watch and the numbers drop, then sponsors see that, only then will they do something ...keep it up Randy...

[@stevefisher2121]

Give em' hell Randy - this is something worth fighting for and you are our voice!!! Ban it period. It is nothing more than a virtual reality video game and it is 100% illegal. Being able to watch a blip on your screen react to your bait is cheating - what is so hard to understand about this???

[@danielslover8669]

The only thing I’ve ever used a “fish finder “ for was water temperature and water depth.