It's a level playing field now I assume?

[VA Bass]

I know that the James river has seen a massive uptick in pressure and major tournaments the past 3 years and they were all basically during the spawn and right after. Weights have been drastically down this year.

[BigFishSteve]

The playing field has always been level. if it's on the market, anyone is free to get one. Simple.

[Bartman]

so would we all agree that at the Elite and BPT levels every angler is equal in equipment?

No, Jon Cox

[OkAce]

No, Jon Cox

Keith Poche

[tcesni]

If you can afford a fiberglass boat then you can afford FFS. That same unit also will do 2D sonar, down and side imaging plus have maps for navigation.

[ProVle]

Exactly! The same Chicken Little impression was done back when Carl Lowrance came out with his Little Green Box. A couple of states even tried to ban his Green Box claiming that all their lakes would be completely fished out in a short time.

I remember the same argument when paper graphs first came out. Some in my fishing club wanted to ban them when I showed up with one.

[Mark Perry]

Even on a local level a guy can get set us with a good FFS system for $1500-2000. I realize that amount is a good chunk of money. At least it is to me.
I've said this before and got laughed at a bit for suggesting 8t but a guy can work a side gig, odd job, mow some yards etc to scrape up that amount. While not the perfect solution and one that requires a little more effort it's still a viable solution. Ne er has it been easier to earn some extra cash through Uber, Uber Eats , Grub Hub etc. A month or two if a day/evening here and there and that monetly is earned.
I don't come from money and would never be too proud to mow a yard or odd job for extra money. I did that very thing when I was younger just starting out with a family. Money was tight and I would never take away from my family to buy some gear or fish a tournament. If I wanted something bad enough I would find a way to work for it.

If a person says they can't devote a little time to earni g some extra money then there is a good chance tgey don't have the time to put into mastering FFS as it's not just turn on and start catching fish.

People can laugh all they want but in my mind FFS is not such an unobtainable thing financially. It just takes effort and creativity if you don't have the disposable funds.

[JB134]

This is all so silly. You don’t like FFS, don’t get one. Argument is just so stupid.

[ECobb91]

If you can afford a fiberglass boat then you can afford FFS. That same unit also will do 2D sonar, down and side imaging plus have maps for navigation.

true to an extent. If you can afford a 20k plus boat then yes you can afford FFS.

Not everyone who has a fiberglass boat can afford or justify spending $1700 on a hobby.

[H2O_Fowl]

Live scope isn’t the end all. I’ve never used one so I don’t know. What I do know is that two winters ago I was plucking crappie after crappie outa the piles while the guy 50 yards away was staring blankly at his live scope. This has happened several times. You still gotta make them bite. Just like traditional sonar fishing straight down. You can see the fish and see them come for your jig but still gotta find fish that will eat.

I’ll have Live scope some day.

[ChuckTR21]

I would think that the fish will adapt to it like everything else in nature has done when we get tech savvy.

Agreed. Power Poles ran the fish offshore and the FFS will run them back to the shoreline. I'll be waiting on them....

[Ron H 520]

Pretty much the same reason there was some much drama of the a-rig. Some people don't like and/or don't want to use/learn to use it so they don't want those that do to have an advantage. And while it is popular on this site to bash Randy, he makes a point that we are already overfishing some of our fisheries and this just exacerbates the problem. I don't know if he is correct but that is worth exploring to see if it is true.

Personally, I enjoy hearing what Randy has to say, and imo, there is some truth in what he’s saying about FFS. I’ve been around a while, and it may be that my skills are slipping, but it seems the fish are a tad smarter, or a few less. Either way, I’m keeping an open mind on it. Watching Randy and hearing his opinions is always interesting to me, and I just take it for what it is, one man’s opinion on a controversial subject. Keep at it Randy!

I have FFS, and have used it one time, I’ve got a long way to go to justify putting it on. But…..it’s a toy to have fun with to me, if I don’t want to use it that day, I won’t turn it on. Now the Force TM, I feel like I’ve been living in a cave, that thing is sweet!!! Hope it’s as reliable as the MG I took off, it was 20 Years old, gave or take, and still running strong.

[osutodd]

In the overall cost of bass fishing 1700 is nothing.

That's hardly nothing. I paid $9000 for my boat eleven years ago. All the rod/reel combos I carry in the rod locker might total $1700, brand new.

I did just add FFS to the boat, but I saved for a year and a half to do it. I would not call that nothing. Maybe to some it is, but not everone.

[jimsch]

I think since this newer technology wasn't available to us in the beginning, it should be given to us at no cost.
Just to make us all equal, no unfair advantage.
And everyone gets a trophy.
What say you?

[Mark Perry]

That's hardly nothing. I paid $9000 for my boat eleven years ago. All the rod/reel combos I carry in the rod locker might total $1700, brand new.

I did just add FFS to the boat, but I saved for a year and a half to do it. I would not call that nothing. Maybe to some it is, but not everone.

I hope you catch a ton of fish with it.

[jigheadworm]

So you can afford a 50K boat but can't afford a livescope setup.

I have no clue what these FFS cost or what the difference in brands are. I don't have it, won't have it. I couldn't afford it I am sure of that, nor would I have any clue of how to use it. Castledine made this video and i found it interesting. But one thing he didn't say was that all "pros" can have it so nobody in the pro tours are at a disadvantage on that end. Now he maybe right about local tournaments. or club tournaments. But the pros should be on a level playing field by this point, I assume. So this whole debate over FFS as being an advantage doesn't hold water. If all the elites and BPT guys have it then nobody has a leg up right? so why all the debate?

[VA Bass]

So you can afford a 50K boat but can't afford a livescope setup.

well the boat didn't come with it and honestly the boat I got was the best that I could afford and there is a limit. Heck if I was going to spend 1700$ now it would be to extend my motor warranty and I don't have that just lying around. On a teacher's salary and a single father, I can't justify buying one. But if you would like to contribute then I would consider my man.

[MichAngler]

And there it is

We should call this "Grumpy Anglers Matter" and donate millions so these anglers can have FFS

[morrcat33]

Just like my ultrex and eventually my Power Pole Move, I will buy a livescope setup used at a substantial discount. I run a 16' tin rig on the upper Mississippi, so it's hardly a necessity.

[jigheadworm]

since the cost has been mentioned you could probably get into a 93 and lvs32 for a grand used if you tried.I have a 93 sitting here on the boat deck i was thinking of selling for $400 if i decide not to mount it on the dash.Used lvs32 and box should be able to be found for around $700 or $800.