Has FFS changed the way you fish?

[AlabamaSpothunter]

2 hours ago, txchaser said:

As in he brought a portable FFS setup for the back deck? 

Go to the 10:30 mark in this video....."Dude's got his own portable livescope" 

 

On another note, that's easily one of the most impressive Derby wins I've ever seen or heard of.   

[Bazoo]

I don't fish in boats that have sonar. Now... if I did, sure I'd use it, but I would use it to better learn how fish relate to structure, and to my presence.

 

My goal is to be a top tier fisherman, not to be able to use FFS to catch fish.

 

It's just like learning to shoot freehand vs shooting from a bench. Anyone can learn the latter, but only the best shooters can do the former.

[quanjig]

This is a great question. I’ve had FFS for almost 3 years and I think it’s frustrated me more than anything. First year I spent way too much time trying and thinking I could effectively target the fish I want, I use it more now to find the right scenarios I want, and just go about fishing for the fish that are present. Evidently I suck at targeting and seeing my lure!

[Koz]

42 minutes ago, quanjig said:

This is a great question. I’ve had FFS for almost 3 years and I think it’s frustrated me more than anything. First year I spent way too much time trying and thinking I could effectively target the fish I want, I use it more now to find the right scenarios I want, and just go about fishing for the fish that are present. Evidently I suck at targeting and seeing my lure!

It took me months of using it and tweaking my settings to get things just right. It became frustrating to say the least.

 

But the last three weeks have been amazing when I have used it. Seeing my bait and watching the fish chase it and eat it has been a rush.

 

I don’t use it fishing the banks, but I do rely on it in open water whether it’s finding predators or baitfish.

 

If you have a Garmin I’ll be happy to share my settings.

[gobig]

On 7/20/2024 at 4:58 AM, Ski said:

Yes it has changed the way I fish.

I no longer own a boat and have since joined a local bass fishing club with 50 active members most being boaters. We fish @ least 1 tourney a month. This past year several boaters in this club have purchased FFS and I find I spend most of my time riding around as the boater keeps the trolling motor moving and staring @ his screen. When he finds something of interest he begins to fish, as I am 15 feet or more behind and can not cast to that target without casting to the front. I do not know what to say if anything. 

Example: While fishing our last tourney a school of fish came up busting  baitfish.

The boater naturally turned the boat towards them and began firing a lipless crank and proceeded to catch one after another while I had to watch because I did not want to throw over him or "past the console" He had a nice limit and I had 1 fish.

Rant is over, but still frustrating as I pay the entry fee.

 

If you’re in direct competition with the boater as a coangler that is a dumb format. Unless you have control of the boat half the day. With or without ff you will more often than not get your a#$ handed to you on the back fishing against someone of a similar skill set. Has nothing to with ff and everything to do with format.

[gobig]

On 8/15/2024 at 6:01 PM, txchaser said:

As in he brought a portable FFS setup for the back deck? 

All you need is an ice fishing set up. You can run off of 18v cordless tool batteries.

[Koz]

19 minutes ago, gobig said:

If you’re in direct competition with the boater as a coangler that is a dumb format. Unless you have control of the boat half the day. With or without ff you will more often than not get your a#$ handed to you on the back fishing against someone of a similar skill set. Has nothing to with ff and everything to do with format.

You’re not in direct competition. Anglers compete against anglers and co-anglers compete against co-anglers.

 

I’ve had some good tournaments as a co-angler when the boater gives me a chance to fish.

[Koz]

I’ve been emailing back and forth with one of the Toyota Series tournament directors regarding FFS in co angler competitions.

 

Long story short, MLF emails past participants regarding upcoming tournaments. I emailed back stating I won’t enter unless they clarify the rule they have in place regarding hindering co anglers.

 

While the TD did not provide much detail, he did say they were working on it. My guess is that there will be updated rules next year.

 

It’s too bad they haven’t figured it out this year because I wanted to fish the Oconee tournament since my hotel is on that lake. I also wanted to fish Santee Cooper. But neither are worth the entry fee on the chance O draw a boater that spends the day weaving all of the place at speed.

[TnRiver46]

It’s not exactly a new problem, boaters used to just weave like that at speed with their boat 18” from dry land and screw co anglers. Happened to me in the only big tourney I ever fished, didn’t go back haha. At least if they are weaving at speed out in the middle you have somewhere to cast