gulfcaptain

You got me it's 6. I'm for ffs, don't care if some don't like it. It ain't leaving. If someone caught a world record of any kind using it as long as it was done legally awesome for them. Fair playing field, I'm not into fair playing fields. When I fish tournaments I fish to win. Not get a participation ribbon. And I don't care who I'm fishing against, it comes down to ME. I have to do my part and catch fish. Ffs doesn't catch fish, the person using it does. But been a good discussion and my vote is a yes, I love it as a tool and for the info it gives me in real time. Now excuse me I need to figure out where I'm gonna put the other 4 black boxes and units.....lol

Well I'm thankful I had other options with my captain's license. Haven't been able to go back to the offshore and oil industry in the Gulf of Mexico, but found a home back in S. Cals long range sportfishing fleet. Good when your boss is a bass fisherman so I'm able to plan my time off for tournaments.

You realize they would have to have a dozen black box and transducers. I remember this story and so finding a fish and pestering it to bite.....isn't that what people do bed fishing? Also believe that tournament was tough and they happened to have a ffs unit which they fished with the whole season and did really well in this ONE event and everyone decided they needed it banned because they got their butts whipped. What was illegal? What did they do that was against the law? I think you're over exaggerated in "they had a dozen units". And you realize the honest active distance is about 80ft of coverage, not to mention the power draw and space needed to mount a dozen let alone 8 black boxes, data hubs, and batteies to run it all. And about the other questions no I'm not. But there isn't anything screens or ffs does that is "illegal." If an organization wants to ban it then I wouldn't fish with that group. You're going extreme in your examples. Yeah I've seen some now have 2 units, one to a trolling motor and one on a pole for use on spotlock fishing. Is it illegal, no it's smart. So what if they want to put 3 16" screens on the deck and clutter it. Does it give them any advantage in fishing within the rules. Absolutely not. It gives them information on the area they are in. It's not fishing with minnows, not out before competition hours, not illegally harvesting, or fishing off-limits. It's information. They are limited on what they can have. And most its 5 units. 2 in the console and 3 upfront. Bigger screens take more room so there's your limit. 3 12" screens is about the most on a bow you could fit. Most use 10" screens. I use 2 9"s but not opposed to another if I'm able to get a 360, then most run 2 12" or 16" in the console. Seen more of the 2 12" then the 16"s. But there doesn't need to be a screen max. If they want to hinder themselves with that much clutter upfront that's their choice. It's not gonna make them a better fisherman. Still comes down to you having to catch that fish on an artificial. And your 40" rule, 5 -7" units and a 5". Still have 8 on the boat. What would it fix in your rule... I could still have that many under your screen size rule. I should have been on the debate team in school....lol

I can't hate on you for wanting to experiment with it and see.

I don't understand. What difference does it make? I have 4 units, 2 9s up front (gps map and ffs) and a 10 and 12 on the console. Kept my 12 Lowrance because I like having the old traditional 2d sonar that Garmin doesn't. But then Garmins mapping software is better and although I run mapping on both they both show something different. Would love to have a 360 on the bow too. Why because it gives me information. Is it needed for shallow shore fishing, no. But when you have lakes in S. Cal. that have depths of 200ft and you're considered fishing shallow at 20ft which puts you 50ft off the bank the more info I have to locate a tree, rock pile, brush, or ledge that isn't marked and get a real-time view of it gives me information on how to approach it and set up. Why are people against this? Should I be against some having 100k bass boats because I can't? Oh or $500 G Lomis rods because they are too expensive for me.....of course not sounds crazy when it's put that way yet some want to justify their issue with some having multiple screens and ffs because it's too expensive or unfair to them. Is it fair my boat only goes 64mph but that new Basscat can do 85mph. So he shouldn't be able to go that fast because if I fish a tournament against him he'll beat me to my area possibly. The how many units is a mute point. They want to have 5 units so be it. I can tell you if they do each one is showing them a different piece of information that they are looking for which lets them make better decisions and become more productive. My question is isn't that what we all want to be better at? Or you just happy being mediocre? I think most strive to be better and learn more.

Yep they changed it. I liked it in the format of cup no practice ones, wasn't a fan when they can practice. I like that they changed it back although I believe the cup series will still be every fish.

Good thing those lakes are filling up. Diamond Valley, -80ft....and dropping. Guess they are waiting to turn the water on.

Id go st-41s then or look into the zowire hooks. Heard positive things about them watching Todd Castledine.

Wow, I have the room thank goodness. So I run 2 group 27 cranking in parallel. Big motor, all accessories (2 9"s, 10, 12, livescope, and data hub). That $200 in batteries from Walmart is a lot easier the $1000 lithium. Also split the accessories and electronics to 2 switches too. All day fishing my voltage might hit 11.9v. Then 3 group 27s for my trolling motor. Yes it does. Had to increase wire size to Fuse panel from 12g to 8g and increased all wiring size for most graphs to 12g from 14. Keeps a constant voltage without loss as the bigger wire gives better power without loosing voltage in longer runs or heating up.

Still don't know where you're putting it. I put all my echomaps on a solid mount as so I don't have to do anything but disconnect the face plate of the unit.

So If you horse fish on big baits your st-36 owners are crap. Move to a st-56. Think that the 3x strong hooks. I use lighter hooks but then I also match my gear and drag as to not overpower and bend them out. And as Tom said, most high dollar swimbaits have quality hooks already and are sharp (buddy dropped a 250 out of the package and when almost to the bone in his thumb with just the bait sliding out). So think about your style...if you are heavy handed like Matt Allen upgrade to the 3x st-56.

So every bait has its moment. Seen plenty throw ploppers, seen them throw big worms. You have 2 different ways of fishing covered on TV now. The every fish counts throwing all of what you said produces numbers and is proven. If you're fishing 5 and can sit on a ledge or brush pile throwing a big worm works great but it's a SLOW presentation. You're looking to catch a few bigger fish but in an every fish counts it doesn't work to well. I throw a big worm, catch 5 nice 3 to 4lb fish.....16-20lbs or maybe a kicker for 22-24lbs for the day while that guy just 2lb me to death with 20 fish for 40lbs. So it depends on what you're doing and how you're fishing. You want numbers or want quality? If you feel the baits you bought are a gimmick, well then when you fish that lure you have ZERO confidence in it to work and you've already given up on it.

Everything was stated and why. The info is there. And the size if the spool on the larger reels also gives you more casting distance as well if that's your concern. Then I would look for a reel with a slightly shallower spool other then some that are deep since they won't give you distance.

Where are you putting it? Here's one

You asked, I gave you my opinion. You can use it or you do you.

So I have it, use it, love it. Do I depend on it....NO!. It's probably the most misunderstood piece of equipment just because how a lot of people frame it. Like stated here in prior comments, still need to get fish to bite. But when you listen to Rick Clunn, he said "why would you oppose something that can teach you? What we thought we new we were 80% wrong". This coming from someone way more successful the Mr Randy who's a boob. He's lost his mind, needs to blame someone or something. The excuse it's only for the rich who can afford it, but yet he sports 12" screens, 100k brand new boat, 5k in power poles on the back and a 3k trolling motor with spotlock! So he picks and chooses what is good and bad in accessories. I can't afford 5k in power poles but spent 2k on my ffs (Blackbox and screen). Is it harder for me to fish shallow when I can't park my boat with 2 powerpoles fishing shallow in the wind...yes. Am I gonna throw a rant on Utube and demand they be banned......no. I can fish shallow or deep. FFS is a tool. It let's me see bottom in real time, cover, structure, and fish. But it gives me a visual picture in real time like looking at visible cover and let's me be more efficient and effective. Can make decisions on what I see which saves me time and let's me make better decisions and time management. Why are these bad? Why? I'd respect Randy's rants if he pulled off all the electronics, installed a flasher, went to a basic trolling motor and lost the power poles. But like someone said he's a troll, and definitely a boob. Its misunderstood and that's because of people like him and those who DON'T understand it and DON'T want to.

Yes!!! It works just fine. I use 2 9" units on the bow. Fished a 7" for almost 3yrs prior. The 9" is a perfect size. Only downfall you loose the ability to network units unless you get a data hub since they only have 1 data port opposed to the 10 and 12s have 2. You'll be fine.

So here is your issue. Yes smaller will work but you loose IPT(inches per turn) with smaller reels. Also you can step your braid to 15 and 20lb braid which is basically 4 and 6lb test size. You won't have to use much backing as I fill my 2500 and 3000 size reels (which are standard size reels) with some cheap 10lb mono then braid. A 300 yrd spool will fill if I do it right 3 reels easily. But the smaller reel you're not gonna have the line pick up needed to keep up with some fish coming at you. Learned the hard way with smallies. Thought like you and it cost me fish. Step your braid up to 15, go with a 2500 size reel and go get them. Small reels work for perch, crappie, trout. Gonna fish bass stay with the 2500 or 3000 size reels. The IPT on most are between 26" and 34" IPT opposed to something about 18" or so. Hope this helps.

So you're trying to compare 6" baits that have the "wedge" style tail. Problem you're going to run into is the 68 Hudd isn't a 6" tail. It's the tail off the 8" bait which is bigger hence the 68 special. It's oversized for the size of the swimbaits. You'd have to cut the tail and Mend-it off an 8" bait to a 6" bait to get similar results. Have 68's and honestly the 8" hudd gets bit better if you're fishing LM, if I were fishing spots/smallies, I'd fish the Savage Gear RTF trout since it has a stinger hook and built in slot for it.

Most use heavy braid I think because smaller braid becomes problematic for them. Cast 20 and 30# braid just fine. The light 4 carrier braid may be more problematic then the 8 carrier lines. But have had zero issue with them digging into my spool.

Never said I shop there. Just stated a business approach for them. Don't do Turners either. Shop small businesses that I support around the area and online dealers which some are members on this site.

Braid to either fc or mono on everything, spinning and casting except my punch and frog set up. Like the above you'll be fine.

Need to find what you want. If the first fits your needs great. But if it's just because of the few upgrades, nope. Find what you want. Make it your own. Bought a 99 Champion. It was the boat I wanted. Since 2016, new motor, trolling motor, carpet, charger, electronics (upgrading again), and some trailer repairs. All in all it's the boat I wanted, not what I settled for. Find what you want and make it yours.

So A-rig, damiki rig, dropshot, jerk bait, neko, and a underspin. That would be my starting point. There would be a spoon in there somewhere as well just not to start.

Id probably go 30# braid to 15fc. I throw the 168 on 30 or 40# and use 15 or 20fc. Clear water here in a lot of the S. Cal lakes. Also tie the Alberto, but when done I put a drop of superglue(then wipe excess off) on the connection. Stays small and keeps it from possibly coming loose from hundreds of times in and out of the guides