FFS aka Spotlight fishing. I'm older than dirt and a 2 time Bassmaster Classic qualifier and I agree with people that believe using ffs in tournaments is not fair chase. Let the flames begin!
Folks can say what they want about the ethics or “sporting” aspect of it, but it definitely makes for worse tv watching…..just dudes sitting out in open water staring down at their feet instead of casting around grass, pads, visible structure, etc.
LUCK:::; When presistence, dedication, perspiration and preparation meet up with opportunity!!! - - - - - - - -A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take everything you have. Thomas Jeferson - - - - - - - -
I enjoyed watching them catch the big bass, I don't like them just dropping a jig down on them but I did like the crankbait bite. One question, Why can't a lake like this be made anywhere in a warm climate?
I enjoyed watching them catch the big bass, I don't like them just dropping a jig down on them but I did like the crankbait bite. One question, Why can't a lake like this be made anywhere in a warm climate?
It can but the state and the state's conservation department have to know what they are doing and be fully behind it. Fork is Fork because of the genetics of the fish that live there, as well as numerous other lakes like O.H. Ivie, that are actively managed for genetic quality and age, not necessarily quantity. Kind of like the deer hunting. You want big racked deer, you gotta exercise restraint and let them get old. Fish are the same. Too many coolers full of 3-7+ pound bass getting dipped in hot grease, just like too many 1-2 yr old bucks getting their racks sawed off and ground into sausage for it to happen here in Alabama. On a scale of 1-10, if Texas Parks and Wildlife is an 8 or 9 on how they manage and try to improve the resources they are entrusted to manage within the state, Chuckie Cheese and the CAB are a -20 here in Alabama.
Thanks for the reply abolt, thats kinda what I thought, I just thought some other states would try and duplicate their success!
Mississippi and Louisiana are starting similar programs and following Texas's lead. Louisiana is well into it already, and seeing great results with several of their top lakes. Florida started their Trophy Catch program to encourage anglers to release all bass over 8lbs so that the trophy genetics remain and those older age class fish continue to spawn and grow. Meanwhile, Alabama is draining and closing their state run lakes at a record pace.
Ban FFS, Greatly overhaul size Limits, and force tournaments to catch and release. Heck -Could ban tournaments all together for all I care and I use to fish them a bunch. I would be for HP restrictions as well. A man is lucky to get a day off during the week just to go have a somewhat peaceful day of fishing now without fear of getting run over. I quit watching that crap on TV long ago.
Its not the will to win but the will to prepare to win!
I had a lake lot on Fork for many years in the late 1980 and early 1990. Caught some big fish. 13.3 was my big one. It’s a very dangerous lake. All of it is or was standing timber. Have not been on it in 25 years. I knew a lot of the guides and they would share secrets with me over a cold beer. Tell me their hotspots. Rule of thumb. Don’t approach a guide boat if they have clients onboard. Bass fishing is great. But crappie is just as good.
"We have an opponent in this state that we work every day, 365 days a year, to dominate."
We were not far from boat ramp or bait shop at fork - tree tops everywhere - we mopped up right there. Arky and TX had bigger fish than bama. Think 23# was the record on fork - they had a replica of it in the bait shop
Hunt the wind - leave it better than you found it - love your neighbor as you love your self We need prayer for our country now more than ever
I enjoy using FFS and don’t mind watching others use it but would like to see the screen they are watching. That would make for a learning experience at least.
Thanks for the reply abolt, thats kinda what I thought, I just thought some other states would try and duplicate their success!
Mississippi and Louisiana are starting similar programs and following Texas's lead. Louisiana is well into it already, and seeing great results with several of their top lakes. Florida started their Trophy Catch program to encourage anglers to release all bass over 8lbs so that the trophy genetics remain and those older age class fish continue to spawn and grow. Meanwhile, Alabama is draining and closing their state run lakes at a record pace.
What is MS and LA going to do? I've read some about the TX program, but don't really know much about it. Isn't the ultimate goal of the Share a Lunker program to spread FL genetics as much as possible? I wonder if there are unintended consequences to doing that? There seems to be a lot of opposition among fisheries biologists these days to moving bass around now. AuTrout, are you reading this? They have moved FL bass to so many places that it may not matter anymore.
If they aren't able to do something genetically, I'm skeptical of anyone ever making our AL lakes compare to TX. I watched some of that tournament and one of the guys had a limit the last day of 7 and 8 pounders with a 6-10 dink as the smallest. When the BASS Open came to Lake Martin last fall, the biggest bass caught was a 4-10. I don't think any restrictions they can come up with will ever make those lakes comparable.
All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.
I'm older than dirt and a 2 time Bassmaster Classic qualifier and I agree with people that believe using ffs in tournaments is not fair chase. Let the flames begin! 
