National Professional Fishing League

[bowhunter63]

The NPFL announced there prohibiting FFS . Winds of change maybe ?  At least they took a stand. Too each his own but I like it a lot better before FFS took over. More fishing less Video gaming 

[Team9nine]

…and the various bass message boards are lighting up with comments so fast as news spreads that you can’t read them all 😆 This will be the hot topic for the next week or two, perhaps longer if either of the other big leagues also renders a decision for 2025 as some say is coming within the week. 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

I love it, and I'm thinking next year I'm just going to follow the NPFL.

 

After the BASS SLR Elite derby, I was pondering if I still wanted to follow the sport.  This announcement has given me renewed optimism for the sport.  

 

BASS and MLF have a ton of problems and controversy and it's killing their brands.   They are losing integrity so fast.   

[Glenn]

More info: https://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_123/npfl-ffs-9224.html

 

[gim]

Being a co angler in a boat when the pro in front is scoping would be awful. It’s no wonder there’s less co anglers signing up for that format when FFS is being utilized.

[Mike L]

52 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Being a co angler in a boat when the pro in front is scoping would be awful. It’s no wonder there’s less co anglers signing up for that format when FFS is being utilized.

Exactly right!

 

It’s already started down here last year  for Bass Nations and BFL. 
Some don’t think it’s related, others do. 
But some of the co anglers that I know have dropped out solely because of it. 
 

Pro’s (boaters) for the most part couldn’t care less. Some, maybe most probably feel it’s a good thing. 
 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[Glenn]

Having spent this year with many pros, old and new, across MLF and B.A.S.S., I can tell you that 99% of them despise FFS.  I mean, 10 seconds into every conversation with them, and they're giving you an earful about how much they hate FFS and how it's changing the sport for the worse.  Note that they're all sponsored by the same companies making FFS, so they're not saying anything when a camera is rolling.

 

Even from the younger, new guys - especially the new guys - don't like FFS.  Many of them don't have a life - seriously, they don't. All they've done outside of school is fish and learn FFS.  

 

Now, that may sound like a dream to some of you, but when all you do in your "free time" is just one thing, everything else in your life suffers.  Nearly all of these younger anglers have never dated anyone - ever.  They don't have relationships. They don't have any friends outside of other competitors. Their social skills suffer. They live out of their trucks and are on the water every day.  They don't spend quality time with anyone. And they're burning out.

 

Many of them blame the electronic arms race and the need to master the latest screens in order to compete.  Many of them resent FFS as a result.  It's controlling them rather than the other way around.

 

And every pro I've talked to has voiced concerns about the future of the tackle industry and bass fishing as a whole.  When bass fishing is minimized to a spinning rod and a minnow bait, the industry suffers.  Lure and tackle companies disappear.  Tackle shops dry up.  Sponsors run out of money. And tournament organizations go away.  Heck, even Bassresource goes away.

 

The pros are very vocal about it, as are many companies and people in the fishing industry.  All of the sportswriters and media folks have grown weary of the topic.  They're constantly hearing about it from every angle - and 99% is negative.

 

I think the NPFL's decision is just the start of a massive backlash from the industry against FFS.  The crack in the dam has started, and it's about to bust wide open.

[gim]

Great post @Glenn.

[Tennessee Boy]

They are still allowing 360.   That’s very interesting.

[Catt]

1 hour ago, Glenn said:

When bass fishing is minimized to a spinning rod and a minnow bait, the industry suffers. 

 

On Rayburn & Toledo all the guides & top tournament anglers have all switched back to "normal" lures. The hot lures right now are deep diving crankbaits, Carolina Rigs, & a Dropshot. Instead of looking for suspended bass or bass following schools of shad, they're targeting bass on or related to the bottom. They're use FFS to fish all the structure we've always fished. 

[Koz]

5 hours ago, gimruis said:

Being a co angler in a boat when the pro in front is scoping would be awful. It’s no wonder there’s less co anglers signing up for that format when FFS is being utilized.

A few weeks ago MLF reached out to MLF Phoenix and Toyota Series anglers and co-anglers and asked us to take a brief survey regarding our opinion of FFS. I think that it may be banned or very limited in co-angler events next year.

 

As for the NPFL news, I'm sure a lot of this is to try and separate themselves from MLF and BASS in hopes of growing their own league.

[Koz]

There's no doubt that FFS has opened the eyes of a lot of anglers regarding the locations and habits of bass. Household names who made their living off of fishing tournaments or hosting TV shows suddenly get a few smackdowns from young anglers and their electronic toys. That may be humbling and even embarrassing for them at times.

 

But I have to think a lot of this begins to even out as pelagic fish start getting pressured. And yes, right now soft plastic minnow baits are the hot baits. That too, will pass. Personally, I use FFS and I use it mostly to find structure and baitfish. Then I'll throw a Senko, chatterbait, swimbait, crankbait, or whatever else I think I need to get them to strike. I think more of the pros will start doing that as well as the pelagic fish start adapting to minnow presentations or the constant pulse of FFS.

 

As for bait companies, yes, the companies that rely on hard baits may have to adapt and overcome. But I've got $12 hard baits in my tackle boxes that I've had for 5+ years. Companies make more money off me selling me $7 packages of soft baits every two weeks.

 

I also think companies will start developing hybrid baits. Take the Berkley CullShad for example. I think we'll see more smaller, minnow type baits like that with the built-in harness.

 

In the end, I think that BASS and/or MLF find a way to limit FFS and they begin future proofing FFS for tournaments with things like no AI, no species or size identification, etc. But I don't think they go for an outright ban - unless the big names jump ship for the NPFL.

[padon]

13 hours ago, Tennessee Boy said:

They are still allowing 360.   That’s very interesting.

its the live capability that causes the issues. not neccesarily the direction.

[Tennessee Boy]

46 minutes ago, padon said:

its the live capability that causes the issues. not neccesarily the direction.

Yeah that’s what scares people the most.

[geo g]

Not a fan of FFS, but you can't stop progress and new technology.  You may be able to slow it down, but once out of the bag the young bucks will use it and they are the future of the sport, whether you like it or not.  I remember when my parents wouldn't get power brakes on their new car because they were just too sensitive!  That ship sailed, big time!

[thediscochef]

On 9/2/2024 at 4:59 PM, Catt said:

 

On Rayburn & Toledo all the guides & top tournament anglers have all switched back to "normal" lures. The hot lures right now are deep diving crankbaits, Carolina Rigs, & a Dropshot. Instead of looking for suspended bass or bass following schools of shad, they're targeting bass on or related to the bottom. They're use FFS to fish all the structure we've always fished. 

that's more or less what JS did with us when we went last year. He put us on fish just fine, I just sucked that day. he's responsible for my newer habit of carrying a texas rig everywhere I go