FFS Opinions

D.W. Verts · June 23, 2024, 08:47:15 PM

Not to start any confrontations here, I'm just interested in your thoughts on a personal level. Thanks.

Dale

Hobious · June 24, 2024, 09:55:34 AM

I fish 100% from a kayak. I see my fellow kayakers are now sporting the tech.

I can't keep my kayak in the same place on the best days. I can't see how I can aim a sonar at any given spot.

nobody on a kayak is killing it from what I can tell. the last two guys armed to the gills, came to me for advice. my setup is archaic. stone aged compared to them. i make myself proud as hell, on somedays as a kayak fisherman. I wouldn't want to tarnish that for myself.
now if a buddy I fished with wanted to get it. I would have zero shame in asking, "now where should I cast?"

Mike Cork · June 24, 2024, 03:50:00 PM

I don't like it. It no longer requires skill. I do understand you still have to make the fish bite but when you know you have put a bait in their face and they didn't react you can move on to find one that does.

I do know that even in our shallow lakes, if you are not staring at that screen all day, you're not in competition. The vegetation finally showed up so us grass fisherman have a chance again but the scope'rs still bagging big limits..

D.W. Verts · June 26, 2024, 08:52:31 AM

Is this really all I'm going to get? C'mon folks, I'll even let you vote for free...

Dale

Donald Garner · June 26, 2024, 10:21:59 AM

I don't fish tournaments anymore so there's no need for me to get one and use it. I'm very much Old School here. I like the challenge of seeing how close I can get the bait to the target

I like running down the bank line or fishing isolated structure and figuring out which side of the branch or log the fish is lying on

May as well put all that "Reading of How Too" from all those Great Fisherman: Nixon, Hibdon, Dance, Martin and Houston just to name a few to use

For the most part fishing Old School hasn't hurt me any.

I'm looking forward to returning to the water here just as soon as the lakes open back up.

J.W. · June 26, 2024, 01:14:40 PM

Dale, I see it as a necessary evil. I use it, but I don't enjoy it. Personally, I do think there is a skill to using it effectively. They don't jump in the boat with you when you turn it on, and I honestly am not great at it. I often get beat by the ones that are. But as long as it's legal, I refuse to cry about it, I just have to get better at it. But it's not my kind of fishing.

D.W. Verts · June 26, 2024, 09:34:52 PM

Thanks J.W. That's good input. And Donald, Old School is Old S'COOOOL...

Dale

Hobious · June 28, 2024, 08:09:12 PM

Quote from: J.W. on June 26, 2024, 01:14:40 PMI refuse to cry about it,

I think my dad gave my young self this exact advice.

coldfront · June 30, 2024, 06:42:12 PM

chose 'i like FFS'.

i don't compete. don't plan to compete. actually don't OWN FFS. when I put electronics on my boat, I chose 360° imaging (HB) as I wanted to be able to identify underwater targets with as much clarity and removed guesswork as possible.

great for fishing weedlines, finding underwater points, cuts in said weedlines. awesome for painting deep timber, laydowns and direction ...

made my choice 3 years ago. would make same choice today. with limited funds, this gives me MOST information..

now, do I applaud those states who are legislating against it? yes I do. mostly as I think folks don't understand just how hard anglers can fish species like crappie, paddlefish, muskie... love what the mississippi folks are doing to HOPEFULLY help retain some incredibly special fisheries.

D.W. Verts · July 02, 2024, 08:30:32 AM

Well, my take-away is how few folks even had an opinion. Even if it was "no opinion".

D.W. Verts
Founder/President/CEO, United Federation of Traditional Bass Fisherman

big g · July 02, 2024, 10:20:10 AM

You can't turn back technology, I just choose to not use it: the last thing I want while out in nature is to stare at a screen all day. There are already so many clues you can get from just observing the environment!

coldfront · July 02, 2024, 11:02:31 AM

Quote from: big g on July 02, 2024, 10:20:10 AMYou can't turn back technology, I just choose to not use it: the last thing I want while out in nature is to stare at a screen all day. There are already so many clues you can get from just observing the environment!

think where this diverges is at least between the two groups of:
a. folks who fish for fun
b. folks who fish for $$$ or FILETS...

I HATE sight fishing. personally. but know plenty of folks who LOVE it... boring. boring. boring.

Donald Garner · July 02, 2024, 11:18:28 AM

Quote from: coldfront on July 02, 2024, 11:02:31 AM
Quote from: big g on July 02, 2024, 10:20:10 AMYou can't turn back technology, I just choose to not use it: the last thing I want while out in nature is to stare at a screen all day. There are already so many clues you can get from just observing the environment!
think where this diverges is at least between the two groups of:
a. folks who fish for fun
b. folks who fish for $$$ or FILETS...

I HATE sight fishing. personally. but know plenty of folks who LOVE it... boring. boring. boring.

I'm not a big fan of sight fishing either. I've tried it few times and your right IMO it's boring and very time consuming.

Bigbass201 · July 04, 2024, 08:37:46 PM

I have it on my boat. It's not a big unit, but it rarely gets used. I do like the side imaging and 360 better. I do use those more. I'll try to post a video of why I enjoy them. It may not apply to all, but those that fish bigger lakes it can be a lot of fun. Brings a little adventure into the sport of fishing for me finding new structure and spots to fish. Finding fish in the middle of nowhere isn't a whole lot of fun for the way I fish.

caddyjoe77 · July 04, 2024, 10:28:39 PM

i use it, not very well but i use it. I have both forward and perspective. The big question: why? because I dont have time to spend hours as i travbel for work so I want to maximize my time.

I do not, and dont like tournaments. All my fish are catch and release

does it bother me that myself or others use it? only from a tournament standpoint. Not sure people take care of their fish as well as they should but this is a whole other discussion

caddyjoe77 · July 17, 2024, 08:29:20 AM

i know there are a bunch of people who can stand watching FFS on Elites or MLF...etc, and I get it. Truly i do. It can be boring. Are you bored even when they are showing the actual screen?

or is it boring, because you have another issue with it therefore it is boring. Serious question.

D.W. Verts · July 17, 2024, 09:06:58 AM

If that's directed at me Joe, then I have little input. I've never watched a FFS screen in use, not on purpose, and even then it was a glance before I grabbed my remote. I just REFUSE to watch it, period. Boring doesn't matter- I've spent countless hours in my life not catching bass, and that could be considered by most anyone as being very boring...

I reckon that makes me radical, but to the point- I believe that FFS is/will be hugely damaging to fisheries period. We are seeing it here in MO without any doubt at all. Folks are simply catching and keeping more fish, of ALL species, than ever before.

On the other hand, as a lifelong bass fisherman, and someone who at one time could be considered a "professional" (I derived the bulk of my income from tournament fishing and guiding for years) I consider this new technology and
"Gameboy" bass fishing to be a travesty, a real slam in the face of traditional bass fishing, where it is a game of wits and good (or bad!) decisions based on years and years of suffering through all kinds of conditions, all to learn everything I could about those smelly green and brown fish. To throw all of that out the window, to just trust to what can be seen on a computer screen, to downplay or even cancel out all of the knowledge gained in those many years of wind, waves, rain and sun, and the countless hours and unbelievable amount of money spent, the miles and miles of travel to new lakes and rivers, and the crazy amount of time spent in study, all of that destroyed just because all you have to do is find the bass on a video game screen, and ONCE MASTERED, just present a bait over and over until the bass is goaded into biting, or if not going to the NEXT bass and doing the same, thing is just unbelievable and incomprehensible.

And, for me at least, crazy irresponsible.

But that is MY opinion. Luckily I can still have one. I'm too old to change. And I've had this opinion for over five years. I actually bought the transducer for Livescope, but never installed it on my boat because I realized fairly quickly that it wasn't for me. Like the plethora of trail cameras used for deer hunting it doesn't match my idea of "fair chase".

And I don't judge the guys that use it. Some of them are forced to. The local guides here have to have it, so I'll probably never guide fishermen again. The modern way of the world is to follow the easier path. The "work smarter not harder" way taken over our way of thinking in everything in life. Well, in my opinion, there's nothing wrong with a little hard work' It builds character. Hard work teaches us. We learn from putting extra effort in to any project.

Unfortunately I'm the dinosaur in the room, and I fear that I'll become extinct soon enough. But I'll go down that road secure in the knowledge that I did it the right way, the LEARNED way, and the HARD way. And every success I have will surely outshine all the failures.

Did I answer the question Joe? I kinda forgot what it was...

Dale

Eric-Maine · July 17, 2024, 10:15:06 AM

I was listening to Rick Clunn interviewed a while back. He is determined to win a blue trophy totally via FFS. He is all about learning.

No doubt that he will.

Don't let the old man in.

Sent from my SM-G781U using Tapatalk

FlatsNBay · July 17, 2024, 03:38:14 PM

I have a mixed opinion about it. As a writer, I've had the opportunity to be in the boat with pros and watch fish chase and hit our arsenal of new forward facing sonar baits and it was an adrenaline rush and very fun.

On the other hand, I'm with Dale on this one, I don't think that it was fair chase so to speak.

I recently had an offer for a free brand new hot off the press forward facing sonar setup for my kayak and I declined. It's just not for me.

I do think that it has changed the game of professional bass fishing and has taken away some of the blood and sweat skills earned through years of experience.

Hobious · July 18, 2024, 10:37:46 AM

I do think the Hummingbird 360 looks very cool

caddyjoe77 · July 18, 2024, 04:39:54 PM

Quote from: D.W. Verts on July 17, 2024, 09:06:58 AMIf that's directed at me Joe, then I have little input. I've never watched a FFS screen in use, not on purpose, and even then it was a glance before I grabbed my remote. I just REFUSE to watch it, period. Boring doesn't matter- I've spent countless hours in my life not catching bass, and that could be considered by most anyone as being very boring...

I reckon that makes me radical, but to the point- I believe that FFS is/will be hugely damaging to fisheries period. We are seeing it here in MO without any doubt at all. Folks are simply catching and keeping more fish, of ALL species, than ever before.

On the other hand, as a lifelong bass fisherman, and someone who at one time could be considered a "professional" (I derived the bulk of my income from tournament fishing and guiding for years) I consider this new technology and
"Gameboy" bass fishing to be a travesty, a real slam in the face of traditional bass fishing, where it is a game of wits and good (or bad!) decisions based on years and years of suffering through all kinds of conditions, all to learn everything I could about those smelly green and brown fish. To throw all of that out the window, to just trust to what can be seen on a computer screen, to downplay or even cancel out all of the knowledge gained in those many years of wind, waves, rain and sun, and the countless hours and unbelievable amount of money spent, the miles and miles of travel to new lakes and rivers, and the crazy amount of time spent in study, all of that destroyed just because all you have to do is find the bass on a video game screen, and ONCE MASTERED, just present a bait over and over until the bass is goaded into biting, or if not going to the NEXT bass and doing the same, thing is just unbelievable and incomprehensible.

And, for me at least, crazy irresponsible.

But that is MY opinion. Luckily I can still have one. I'm too old to change. And I've had this opinion for over five years. I actually bought the transducer for Livescope, but never installed it on my boat because I realized fairly quickly that it wasn't for me. Like the plethora of trail cameras used for deer hunting it doesn't match my idea of "fair chase".

And I don't judge the guys that use it. Some of them are forced to. The local guides here have to have it, so I'll probably never guide fishermen again. The modern way of the world is to follow the easier path. The "work smarter not harder" way taken over our way of thinking in everything in life. Well, in my opinion, there's nothing wrong with a little hard work' It builds character. Hard work teaches us. We learn from putting extra effort in to any project.

Unfortunately I'm the dinosaur in the room, and I fear that I'll become extinct soon enough. But I'll go down that road secure in the knowledge that I did it the right way, the LEARNED way, and the HARD way. And every success I have will surely outshine all the failures.

Did I answer the question Joe? I kinda forgot what it was...

Dale

you are not wrong -- i agree with a ton of what you are saying. And you are Damn skippy you can have your opinion.

question wasnt directed at you -- wanted more opinions.

while i can see that there are more fish being taken, which is a whole other issue we could start a thread on. What do you think on the tournaments (not all of course -- but ones like big bass bash for example -- how much of an effect do you think it has on fish population. i know a LOT of people take care of fish, but after seeing how many dead ones were in goose pond post that event I gotta wonder how much this is also affecting fish mortaility. taken via live scope or fish dead after riding in a livewell and not properly cared for -- same result.

D.W. Verts · July 19, 2024, 08:33:19 AM

The whole tournament-killing-bass thing is real. I dodged it and denied it for years, because all of MY bass were healthy when I released them. Of course now we know that delayed mortality is a real thing...

On the other hand you have the RIGHT to keep the daily or tournament limit. If the fish die after release it's not on you. Right???

The big bass events are probably better for mortality because the fish are released faster, plus these events are generally held in cooler water months.

I truly believed for years that we had enough bass that the resource would never be hurt. But I never imagined the amount of pressure the fisheries would one day receive. It's scary.

I'm sure the the amount of fish, in ALL species. going under the knife is huge with the advent of FFS. The delayed mortality caused by tournament fishing mostly pales in comparison, although it is an issue for sure. Tournament organizations from simple clubs to major derbies need to step up, especially when it comes to warm-weather events.

I've been blaming myself the last few seasons on my lesser successes in catching bass than in the past. I thought I'd lost my Mojo. But in speaking with many other anglers I'm deciding that overall the bass populations just are not what they used to be, and that is very, very sad.

Dale

coldfront · July 19, 2024, 09:27:46 AM

Quote from: D.W. Verts on July 19, 2024, 08:33:19 AMThe whole tournament-killing-bass thing is real. I dodged it and denied it for years, because all of MY bass were healthy when I released them. Of course now we know that delayed mortality is a real thing...

man, you are gonna get hate mail.

knowing there's a few videos out there quoting fisheries folks saying we need to keep/clean/eat more bass.

then add on the newer fisheries studies that Minnesota has 'pioneered' with regard to bluegill population size structure...

lots to think about OTHER than 'going fast' and 'rippin' lips... it's a heavily used resource. tremendously enjoyable. and we all have a part to play.

D.W. Verts · July 19, 2024, 01:42:04 PM

Hate mail. Well, THAT will be a first...

My schooling is in fisheries and wildlife biology, which means almost nothing. But, in MOST situations, small ponds and lakes badly need fish taken from the population on a yearly basis. We've all fished those ponds where you catch 20 bass under 12" long, and they look like Walleye.

Big reservoirs are (were?) different. Tons of water. Tons of food. And now TONS of anglers with the latest and most efficient tech. We'll see. BUT, we do need to do "our part". For sure.

Dale