Your so right Randy! I fished the women’s circuit in the 90s and when we fished our classics, we all were given a Ranger boat to use. These boats were exactly alike to make the competition fair.

Seems like every new lake I visit there’s a local that says fishing use to be better here. I’ve heard it more than once. I always get disappointed. I’ve never competed in a tournament but I’ve been fishing for a long time now. One of the best feelings in the world is when you’re on the water at 6:00 a.m. wind is calm, weather is great, everything is peaceful. Then all in a sudden a big ass bass just slams your top water. The feeling of a fish grabbing your lure is why I fish. It’s that feeling that we all love. The not knowing is the best part about it! With FFS that feeling is gone! What kind of fun is that?!

You are right. The state of Florida has destroyed more habitat for fish than anyone can imagine.

A part of me wishes Tournament Bass fishing would go away. In reality it can’t because it’s where alot of our gear and tackle R&D comes from. Everyone nowadays has just got to catch that double digit Bass that it overrides their common sense. Bass anglers think it’s hard to get sponsorship money now…….wait for 5 years and see how hard it’s going to be.

What's really crazy is there a lot more Tigres and Master Craft hanging in boat houses than bass boats on the lake where I live. Those cost three to five times more than the 100K bass boats. Those damned things need to be outlawed.

i fished in 5 tournaments in a flatbottom jon boat 20 years a go on grand lake and table rock, you have to be really rich to fish any tournaments know, it really pushes out anyone that just likes to fish

Sooooo true! Quit bass fishing during the spawn, and stop the livescoping. If I depended on fish as part of me and my family's food for everyday survival, you bet I'm snagging, netting, livescoping, you name it. But for sport? No way.

Why isn’t stocking bass part of the solution? Seems to work just fine in Texas….

Its not only fishing that gets hurt by technology. Hunting is goin thru the same thing.

Ask any bass fisherman over the age of 50 here in Florida how much the fishing habitat has declined and you will see the future is here-right now. The state of Florida has discovered that sunshine sells for a higher profit than nature, thus land, rivers, and lakes are being decimated in order to build more homes and shopping centers. Both coasts are extremely over-developed, now the developers have their sights on inland property. Add to this the amount of fertilizers and other pollutants such as phosphorus pouring into our waterways and you have a recipe for an ecological disaster.

Politicians that may be helpful for the environment generally tend to hold positions on other issues that people of faith and other decent people simply can't overlook, and usually those issues rank higher on the scale of importance. For example, if the planet goes up in smoke in a nuclear war, who care of there are crappie in the local lake, etc

Great point Randy. It's scary but it's all true. Thanks for the info always great . Because I'm always learning

Randy -- I could not agree more with all your points in this video. You are absolutely correct.

Pigs get fat...Hogs get slaughtered....Nuff said!!

BASS is the one of the main reasons why anglers practice catch and release. Bass fishing has a significant impact on state revenue and many states recognize the importance of protecting their waters for recreational fishing. My point is there’s a lot of good that has come from tournament fishing… it’s not all bad. Should electronics be limited, yes probably. Are new boats expensive, yes but so is everything these days. I’m still not sure what ‘deal’ is going to ruin fishing for everyone.

100% correct Randy. Well said!

Hank Parker is supporting the same idea. You guys need to get together.

Technology has replaced bass fishing.we use to use technology as a complement to fishing ability and skill. Now we are going out with technology being the main technique and fishing is the compliment

Again, you are spot on! I don't have grandkids, but those that do will see fishing as we know it become non-existent. Soon, I feel length and creel limits will be drastically reduced due to the decimation of our lakes and rivers. Don

Love the truck talk Randy.. I’ve seen another ex-navy seal use this, I like it and I think it’s a great move! I see that car seat! You got little ones?? 😂😂

Thanks

Love your take.

States banned drone hunting before it even became a thing. FFS is different why?

You are a leader. Super intelligent. Keep this up Randy!

A lowrance paper graph was owned by guides only

I agree with you, Randy

All very well said.

Thanks Randy for being a strong voice

Well said!

Sounds like Randy is a Democrat lol. I do agree that there has to be a middle ground between profits and capitalism vs conserving our environment. I myself am not a tree hugger but I am definitely a conservationist. Love the channel and I’m behind you 100% on FFS.

Good points ! I do have a few questions and comments ,first if livescope makes the tournaments so one sided and if less folks have them than do ,then why don't they just refuses to compete ? After having to cancel a couple of the tournaments maybe things will change . Second ,I love to fish , hunt /camp and I totally agree that the environment is very important but ,even more so is the health and welfare of this Nation and unless we get someone ( I already know who ) into office that can not only take care of the environment but ,get this Nation back on track fishing ,hunting and livescopes will be the last things we will have to worry about .

I live on Kentucky Lake. Just this last year our bass and crappie has started a come back. From 2014 to 2022, crappie fishing was so bad along with bass fishing. Last year (2023) larger bass tournaments resumed here on Kentucky Lake. Crappie fishermen, and family fishing for crappie has just this year starting showing up again. I am in agreement with you on the new, and the yet more precise FFS that’s in the works. I don’t see a promising future for our crappie or bass with this technology.

He is very right about no where for the fish to hide and it's absolutely terrible people fillet any size fish like huge crappie. The DNR needs to set slot limits on crappie, I released the slabs I caught on Grand over the last couple weeks.

hello randy.i'm a boater and have fished most my 75 years. How long to you think it will be before they stop internal combustion engines from pumpimg all those fumes into our water. Now i'm just asking a conservation question.i think they are going to have us in kayaks and not being able to travel over fifty miles from home in our cars and trucks.not in my life but i'm thinking about my four old greatgrandson?

I am going to make a lot of you cats mad but facts are facts. I agree with you on FFS. A section of the St. Lawrence river I have fished for over 50 years has crashed for smallmouths and it has been since bass tournaments started showing up. Boats come from 10- 20+ miles away and pound the hell out of the area then they take the bass for weigh in. I have seen this progressing even faster since so many of the boat have FFS. Of course now that this section has been decimated they blow on past at 60 mph. The only change to the environment has been the proliferation of the Round Goby which helped increase the size and numbers of the bass until more and more tourneys showed up.

In this country we seem to think if we build something attractive physically it's environmentally friendly. We seem to hate the old cabins, but love the McMansions around lakes. Both parties suck but on different things. Longterm clean and non polluted is good. It's not always higher cost to get that, sometimes it's just saying NO to some sort of development. I am from MN an our state has about 14k lakes. Our state is a mix of farmland and trees. I grew up in farm land and understand farmers need to make a living but also realize we can't let farmers have their way 100% if you want clean water. There is a happy medium and I applaud the politicians on either side of the aisle that can see that and push toward that. You are 100% right bass is now elitist. I long for the 1970's, 1980's . After 2000 it got crazy. Yesteryears 100hp is todays 275hp. We need something like an IROC thing for bass tournament that levels the playing field. I love the sport, but have stopped watching. I mostly listen to you these days. These days the only guys that seem to make it are: 1. Independently wealthy. 2. Those that have a social media presence that lifts them up. The poor abrasive SOB that just flat out knows how to fish is left behind.

You’re are so right ! Thanks Randy !

I fish a smaller lake in west central Florida several days a week and every day M-F there are 2 airboats out spraying poison. Some of my favorite areas are filled with brown Lilly pads, reeds, eel grass is almost gone. It has to stop!

If you watched the lake Murray event, someone will incorporate a drone on top of cheatnars. You can see beds and get a total view on top of the underwater view 🤦

Only other thing it could be is pretty much what Randy said and it’s like they just can’t get enough or something. Everybody is in a big damn hurry for some reason. It’s like some mass addiction to catch as many bass as you can and as fast as you can at all costs! It’s crazy man!

I love bass fishing I don't even own a boat, but what is going to cost me to even get into a tournament, it just take my dream away, so sad.😢

There is data on crappie fishing. Lakes are raising slots due to harvest data due to advanced sonars. Now the average bank type fisherman cannot catch a few fish for a meal. That’s the impact.

I agree with you

You are absolutely right. Everyone had better wake up or it will be too late .

Amen, Randy. Previous generations were smart enough to put the kibosh on unsporting technology (like punt guns for waterfowl!), but we can't seem to figure out that leaving fish no place to hide is a big problem.

There are plenty of club level events to fish that are much cheaper. Not everybody needs to fish the highest levels. They’d just he donating anyways. I have a blast fishing the cheaper stuff in the area.

All the way down to the high school fishing level, it's only the have kids fishing in most high schools

Randy, I encourage you to listen to Jerry Seinfeld’s graduation address given at Duke University. In it you will find points about working towards success that might resonate with you. My thoughts.

Amen! I sure miss Harry n Charlie.

Hi Randy. I’ve been kind of hard on you a few times and I want to apologize to you for it. I’ve watched a lot of your videos the last 4 months and you’re really a nice dude.. definitely a Man with great morals and ethics. I was wrong and I apologize to you. I’ll be using your TW code going forward. We are the same age and I remember the 70’s and 80’s fisheries very well.. again, I’m sorry.

Randy , you need to watch the bilge ! Bill Lowen finally put it out there

Randy, why not try an on the water with a hellbender and other vintage lures and see what happens

What is auto drive was put on boats, no rule against it as long as you jacket and kill switch. What about charge or spring driven casting reels. What about electronic lures. Why limit these but not others. What about hole sitting by angler in tournament as you can get info and help from another competitor. What about two guys helping one to get a check then splitting cash. All legal! May need to fight fire with fire.

The Santa Fe River in the High Springs area is Gross 🤮 I don't know what is going on with the river but the water is looking pretty bad. Lots of springs around there, but the water smells bad 🤬

Randy,why not do an on the water with a hellbender and other vintage lures and see what happens

The amount of money in development, and industrial growth is a serious hazard to our fish, water, and wildlife in the 21st Century. We all see it and feel it on our waterways every day... it is going down hill. Regulations to protect habitat and water quality are just folding up in the face of this financial power and the politicians (both parties) that this power rents out to assure that no regulatory obstacles are in the way. Environmental protection should become a priority for every citizen and every leader - and certainly every sport fisherman out there... it is the future for our health, well-being, and for the next-gen of anglers coming up. Please continue to dedicate time, and energy, and your megaphone to this Issue Randy... Thank you for your work.

You're not wrong. There's a lot of people that don't want to hear it and don't give a shit about two years from now because we live in a world that's about instant gratification. The no place to hide bit it right on the money. Some places are seeing a bump in their crappies, but it's going to crash from overharvest. If you pay attention, you can already see it happening. But there's a lot of folks that won't or won't acknowledge it.

All lakes need to be managed like texas parks and wildlife. With slot limits for to combat ffs. You still have to find the fish and catch them. Remember everything adopts, i see bigger deer in my neighbors lawn, than at the deer lease. Prices will come down, everyone is tapped, even the well off. They are already selling rebates.

Geez.

Don’t let people pressure you off this rap, Randy. These are things that NEED to be discussed and addressed, political affiliations be damned. The truth is all that ever matters with any issue like this. Follow the truth, even if you end up with unlikely bedfellows. You might find out you had more in common with them than you thought once you put all the grotesque, modern political masquerading aside.

You were jumping up and down about Hank Parker’s livescope stance and he has since backed off a bit. He knows change will only come a bit at a time. Your buddy Rick Clunn says he is ok with livescope and wants to win a tourney on it!

Man, shoot some nice videos on the water please!

Start the « Blaukat techless Tournament », sure lot’s will follow

Environmental issues are definitely a threat to the future of the sport. The financial issues associated with tournament fishing is actually a net positive since it may cause tournament fishing to collapse which would be a huge gain for fishing, and I don't think there are "hundreds of thousands of tournament fisherman". The LAST thing bass fishing needs is to remove the financial side of the sport so that instead of just a 1,000 boat event on the lake every week we'll have 5,000 boat events every week. Technological advancement in NO way is the biggest threat to the sport. Technology doesn't kill bass, environmental issues and tournaments do. This has been documented in numerous peer reviewed scientific studies which provide objective fact based conclusions - not just simple opinions which by their very nature biased and prejudiced. You want to save bass fishing? Strong environmental regulations with actual enforcement and eliminate tournament fishing -done.

Just look how much crank baits and other lures have went up a lot of people cant afford to pay $19.00 fora crank bait.

What about the fish that’s beat around in live well jerked off bed you have to include that to it’s here to stay either join them or quit

Hey Hank Parker came out of the FFS closet!

I think electronics on a boat should be limited. Like one live scope per boat or such. I wouldn’t blame the anglers to use or good at it. They making best of the rules given. I’m not sure blaming them is helping. I’m sure some of them don’t like situation either.

Randy, I understand your arguments. I agree with a lot of it. I agree with FFS being excluded from tournaments. But you're leaving out inflation. How much was a 20oz bottle of soda in 95? How much was a gallon of gasoline in 1989? You talk about $300 sonar in the early nineties... How much was that if you consider inflation? I'm not against what your arguments are. But please consider this as well. That oz of gold is still worth an oz of gold, not matter how many pieces of paper they will give you for it. Just my 2 cents.

What kinda blows my mind too is that even the guys who are using FFS love the feeling of catching bass. Besides maybe the young kids who are growing up on FFS, the guys using it started fishing because of that same feeling. The feeling of the hit and not knowing it’s coming. Why would you even want FFS? Because the feeling that you love is gone now.

I think the problem with tournament fishing is the big weigh in and fishing during the spawn. Nontournement fishermen are going to start noticeing how many fish are dieing. Also wh we n you get to the lake and the line at the ramp is a mile long. Many tournament anglers are assholes. They think they own a lake when they pay an entry fee.

As technology advances, bass/crappie limits need to be lowered……Most of Louisiana is 50/day per person (crappie) 🤦🏻

Sir Randall they need to start stocking more Gorilla Bass yes I said Gorilla Bass ,just wondering if they have ran a study of any kind on the stocking of the Gorilla bass that were released as fingerlings in Grand Lake they did a few years ago, is there anyway you can find out if there has been any genetic test that have been made and any records of size on how they are doing the game commison should be all over this with some kind of follow up studies

Only the bass anglers and all anglers can.save preserve and protect our precious beloved environent and lakes.

Large reservoirs, Toledo bend etc…, we used to fish with a 12 foot Jon boat with a 6hp engine. Now the lake is completely open as timber has fallen and a lot of people die trying to navigate the open water. Environmentalist would want us to wade fish only and catch fish with bare hands, they are the ones who want to eliminate gasoline for your car , outboard engine and sugar in your coffee. The realities off of the world escape them. I bet they dont pick up trash around the launch or in the water and or point out dangerous lake conditions to the Wildlife divisions.

So it is a tool Randy!

Conservationists will be playing catch up for 20 years just like the Tarpon and Redfish situation on the Texas Gulf Coast the Redfish are coming back but the Tarpon probably never will.

100s of so called Pros and multiple trails and diffrent species , walleye pros , redfish pros, stripers tourneys Mfgs have to sponsor, thus raising prices for all of us. This comming from a guy who is sponsored by a company selling 20.00 + lures and has 100s of them behind him.CMON MAN!!!

FFS wont make you a better fisherman, just makes it easier to catch fish. TNT and Drones work too.

In 20 years they'll have glasses you wear that allows you to see in the water...

Hank Parker on Mega Live, "I personally love it, I enjoy it". Also, he mentioned we need to respect one another and not turn on one another even if we have different opinions. This name calling of 'Cheaters', and 'Spotlighters' by you, Randy, directed at Hank Parker and others who use it, does not do you any good. Hank makes a lot of good points.

The problem with relying on politicians is that it’s all become such a package deal. There is no reaching across the aisle if one group has a good idea. I’m a conservative, through and through but I can’t honestly say as a 37 year old who started hunting and fishing at a very young age that I haven’t seen the downfall of so many outdoor recreational sports over recent years. Once the world was everyone’s finger tips and they could find and see whatever they wanted with minimal effort and or sacrifice, it really nose dived. I’ve watched public archery land go to complete crap in a lot of places once people got lazy and used crossbows instead of a compound or traditional bow, they use onX to scout because they are too lazy to get out see the land for themselves and use e-bikes instead of walking that 2 miles to a honey hole spot. It’s all just little shortcuts that everyone takes without thinking big picture but when millions of people are all taking these little shortcuts, it’s not a little impact anymore. I severely dislike and don’t believe in most government regulations but that means that people at an individual level need to take responsibility and make better decisions and that seems to be lost on the vast of majority of people in 2024. We need to wise up, plain and simple.

I don’t even have to ask what side of the Politics Randy you’re talking about. We know what side cares about the Climate

When you talk about the cost of tournament fishing you just described life in America. Try raising a family on 20 bucks an hour.

You just said you don't want to know everything. Is it too much of a burden for you?😂😂😂

At around 15:30: We don't want to know everything. Right on point Randy. The mystery of fishing has long been very much a part of its appeal; the ability to entice a prey that you more often than not cannot see with the natural eye. FFS has taken that aspect away from the competition. Not good.

Putting bass in livewells is the worst thing that we do in this sport. It’s far worse than using electronics to catch them.

Tired of kayaking thru oil and gas slicks after bass tournaments ,and can't stay anchor for all the 3 ft wakes

Only thing I love (well not the only thing) more than that sudden hit from a big bass is watching my son get a sudden hit from a biggo bass!

We need to give theses fish room and respect them to. I have seen more dead fish in the especially now. We really need to give theses fish space from an factual factor. Think about fish in an aquarium. Now take note what's going on. Because we don't give theses fish a break they deserve. Do not pester the fish. Do it right guy's. We are grown up's not kid's if we teach our kid's this technology we should teach our kid's right conservational in and through management and respect for theses and do it right. Or lose forward facing sonar that's my thought's what should happen.

You are dead on. Money is the root of all. Cooperate profits are the only thing that matters. How much money is enough.

😁👍

There are people using livescope, FFS and 360 in my little community fishing derbies now. There are usually less than 10 boats in it every other week but they don't restrict the electronics. Furthermore, they are using 200 horsepower motors on a 600 acre lake. This lake used to have a HP limit of 125 but it was recently increased and now there are a small number of self important fisherman who think they should get to do what they want who fish out here. It is a waste of time to even try to compete so I just fish for fun on other days. Oh, and one of them just finished 99 in a tournament where you finished tied for 20th.

So the fishing pressure has driven the fish off the bank so the fisheries are going down. The guy catching the fish off the bank are going to destroy the fisheries. Sounds like to me the only true answer is to eliminate tournaments.

Look into “Moore’s Law”. It lays out technology’s evolutionary pace. It’s a fact.

I think tournaments are bad for fish I bet many die soon after they are released I bet if I looked at your boat and then looked at my 2008 pro170 with a 5" screen hummingbird helix 5 I would think you were the bad man I guess we all have to surrender to tech at some level fancy electronic may find fish better but u still have to hook them

Let me say this, if you're an outdoorsman and you're not an environmentalist, you're out of your mind.

You getting your equipment for free or at a discount only makes the general publics more expensive...

Other sports have restrictions. Pro golf limits number of clubs and size. Baseball allows only wooden bats. Don’t get me started on NASCAR.

Really generalizing that saying 1 party is irresponsible and the other party are the “adults in the room” Randy. Do you read a lot of these conservation bills that are suggested by the left? 100% of them have giant earmarks in them for their lobbyists, donors and special interests to make a TON of money. Around 10% of the money in these bills actually gets used for any conservation whatsoever. Most of them have devastating economic consequences on small businesses as well. Disappointing you went this route, it’s personal responsibility that will protect these things, not politicians