Here you go – just some musin's:

1. Is FFS starting to spook fish/some fish?

Been hearing a few more reports about forward-facing sonar spooking fish – remember that crappie and other fishermen are using it now too. So:

Will those "easy fish" naive to FFS start to disappear – kinda like those easy A-rig fish?

Will FFS "run off" fish from certain areas? Maybe under some conditions? Or not?

Will those "inbetween" fish (between structure/cover spots) become less easy to catch with FFS?

Will this tech that's made fish easier to catch eventually make them – or some of them – HARDER to catch? 🤔

Could it make some fish angry??

😁 Okay seriously: How many transducers is too many for fish?

Is John Cox's "no transducers" approach smarter in the long run? Or just as effective anyhow?

Who knows – we'll have a dang good time findin' out peeps!

2. New fishin' techniques and strategies?

Will lots of FFS use create new ways of fishing and new tournament strategies even for guys who don't have it or use it much? I've been saying yes and I'm stickin' with it!

3. What's coming from the Borg?

What will the electronics companies come out with next year? I mean, I doubt they can go a year without rolling out something new because the competition is so fierce....

Sounds like Lowrance has a better transducer coming, heard rumors about one of the troller companies coming out with something...and will the Power-Pole troller ever happen at this point??

Interesting tidbit: On the salty side you can buy aftermarket transducers, which could be really cool for bassin'.

4. More BPT power?

Will we see a lot more jigs and other power baits on MLF's Bass Pro Tour? I kinda hope so but also hope they don't get too far from how it's been over there.

I was readin' a Mark Menendez post on Bassmaster.com, and he said something that jumped out:

> ...the bigger fish that make the most difference in tournaments tend to get on isolated objects or in heavy cover.

Yes they do! So...how have the flippin experts been doing on the BPT? Will that pendulum swing back now? I think so – not a rocket science conclusion and I'm sure you see it. Btw Mark also said:

> Ultimately, I think flipping is the only technique that gives us the chance to be at 100% conversion on opportunities.

5. Hammer time?

Will Bobby Lane, Ish Monroe and other top sticks plow through the Opens and get back onto the Elites? Tough field but I'm votin' yes!

One more thing to look out for next year: LARRY NIXON!!!

Just some thoughts, worth exactly 2c. Love to hear any you might have.

1. No daylight savings!

Get rid of daylight savings – at best it's 1 less hour of potential fishing time each day for half a year (ish), and at worst folks can't even go because it gets dark too dang fast!

The fishing industry should be lobbying for this more than anything. 👀

2. No more sportsmen/women $$$ theft!

Stop state DNRs from having to handle stuff like endangered species and aquatic nuisance species using our money (licenses and excise taxes). Not cool and possibly not legal? (I don't know.)

The fact that they have to do that is known and used as a hammer (lawfare) by the bad guys to spend our money on their stuff. They need to put their money into the outdoors, not just lawsuits!

And wow much is the shipping industry paying (responsible for zebra mussels)? How much is the aquaculture industry paying (Asian carp)? How about the aquarium industry (all kinds of fish and aquatic veggies)?

3. Help or get mad at some state DNRs

Get state DNRs that are waaaaay behind the curve and/or are just not real good at doing what they're supposed to do (eg, NJ) to be better – meaning actually serving their customers.

Maybe the American Sportfishing Assn (recreational fishing lobbying group in DC) could spend less time focusing on the feds and more time doing this, if that fits with their mission. It's like: If you wanted more kids playing football, would you spend time talking to the NFL or would you be working at the youth/high school level? Or something like that....

4. Have electronics "classes" in tourneys

Amateur tournament trails I think need to have different electronics "classes" – at least 2: forward-facing sonar guys, and non-FFS guys.

There's nothing wrong with FFS, but not everyone can afford $10K of electronics/batteries and not everyone wants to have to fish that way – and we need our tournament guys to still fish and kids from modest means to be able to compete.

5. Lower tournament entry fees!

In my 2c that should always be the goal, especially at the top. The top pros should spend less than everyone else and make more than everyone else, whether they're rookies or been at it 30 years. I've been saying that for 20 years and KNOW it can be done so I don't wanna hear any excuses!

Told Jar Jar what it cost to fish as a pro and he was like:

Okay I know Jar Jar ain't the sharpest hook in the box but I think he got it this time! 😂

And...?

Pretty sure I have one more way to get peeps – including tourney peeps – fishing and have a new kinda fun doing it. Been nursing an app idea for years, think it'll kick tail. If anyone wants to build it, lmk. Won't be cheap...which is why I haven't done it myself!

You can read about the ChatterBait's history here and check out Mark Jeffreys/BTL's real good "20Ft Deep" vid on it on YT.

Runner up: Phenix Vibrating Jig?

The original and other ChatterBaits really are the runners up, but the Phenix was the deal for a little bit because of quality components and especially because of back to back Brett Hite wins in 2008 at Toho/the Kissimmee Chain and the Cali Delta. In 2009 Rusty Salewske won an FLW Series at the Cali Delta and one of his baits was the Phenix.

It started to get popular and then as Z-Man was protecting its ChatterBait patent(s), in 2011 Phenix agreed to stop selling their bladed jig – tho they now have one on TW that no doubt is being produced through a deal with Z-Man. Gotta give it to Z-Man on the patent protection – even if we didn't know how crazy great and popular these bladed jigs would be, they did!

Honorable mentions – Swim-jigs

Okay not bladed jigs, but they are swimmin' jigs and for sure they have been more of a tournament staple over the past several years. Here's a couple that have popped up in big-time tournaments:

1. Dirty Jigs Swim Jig – A high-quality product that has had national tournament success.

2. 4x4 Swim Jig – Put a quality jig in the hands of guys like Randall Tharp, Brandon McMillan and Bobby Lane, then let 'em eat! Word got around quick....

Shout-out to Tom Monsoor, Mr. Swim Jig, who has won major tourneys on it for decades. Dude's a swim-jiggin' stud!

Why is there so much in the Bible about fish, fishing and fishermen? Obviously because fishing and fishermen are the shizzle 😁 but guess I don't know for sure – but I know it was intentional so God for sure loves us fishermen mang! Anyhow, here's 5 things I dig – hope you enjoy it peeps and thank you Sea Foam!

Click it to watch:👇