FFS

So, I’m seeing reports of someone catching 29 Muskies and other reports of 10+ on the Fox River before daylight on opening day.  Just curious on people’s opinions on this.

Here’s mine:

A:  I feel that it is unethical harassment of fish that would otherwise not be caught.  I’ve not heard of someone catching that many fish in that short of time.

B:  I assure you fish are being snagged.

So you’ve made comments about people fishing once a month or not much.  Don’t you think FFS cuts the process of fishing down?  Finding and patterning fish?  So to answer your question.  Absolutely people are catching more fish and at a quicker rate.  And snagging more fish.

I haven’t seen where people are saying it isn’t a significant advantage.  Anyone who would say that doesn’t know how to use it or they’re lying.  I have seen where people have them but choose not to use them unethically.

When it comes to FFS, I think about additionality, are guys that are using FFS catching significantly more fish than they were prior to getting FFS.   Folks that are ponying up for FFS are not novice fishermen; they were catching fish prior to getting FFS.  So the question is how many more fish does FFS allow them to catch and harvest given daily bag and possession limits, versus not having it and is it significant enough to matter?  There are a handful of guys that have chimed in on this thread that have FFS and seem to be somewhat indifferent about how much it has improved their catching.  So people might be freaking out for nothing.  

Wright, I agree fishing muskies in warm  >78  degree water is a likely death sentence whether they were caught in 8'  FOW or sharpshooting out of 25', but think this is an educational thing and not regulatory thing.     

That’s precisely the point of this discussion Robollio.  How much more can we pile on and be able to sustain?  Like you say, the internet has ruined a bunch of bites.  Why keep piling other detrimental factors into the mix?  Like noted, stocking and wildlife conservation in general is pretty low priority in this state right now.  Do we treat it like I’m going to get mine while it lasts or are we going to try and conserve?

This very website and other social media has done more harm then livesonar. I've seen small lakes absolutely destroyed in a month of ice fishing in southeast Wisconsin when word got out on a hot bite. It takes one single punk to ruin it for everyone. Part of the reason I just don't care to post anymore. I have FFS and enjoy it to find cribs and whatnot. But tend to use my other stuff more. If I told you the lake I ice fish though it would get absolutely raped by numbers of people without FFS.

That’s sadly true River.  We as a society have proven that unless directed by law, we are unable to do the right thing.  Always get the answer “it’s not against the law.”

Sounds like not so much a FFS problem rather the usual problem of ignoring the bigger picture in regards to our outdoor pursuits and this falls right inline with the daily parade of pontoon boats pleasure cruising through spawning beds and "conservation clubs" spreading several thousand pounds of lead every year shooting clay targets.   

I should have labeled it FFS Muskies.  I don't like it for any fishing but especially for big fish like Muskies.  It isn't difficult at all to cruise these small basins in Northern Wisconsin and pick these fish off.  They stick out like a sore thumb in open water.  In the summer months especially these fish are being yanked up off the thermocline in hot water conditions which makes it 10 times worse.  We are finding at least 4 floating fish every summer because of this.  They don't all float so a would have to say we're losing at least a couple more than that.  Now the lake I live on is 800 acres and the DNR says there are about 260 muskies in there or roughly .3 per acre.  With the great reduction in stocking, if we loose 6 to livescope, 6 more to poor handling and 3 to the panfish and walleye fisherman on accidental catch and keeps, it's not good.  That's losing nearly 10% of the population yearly.  Obviously more fish caught equals more fish handled.  Also think about the fish that was just caught, released and now resting.  Then someone comes by and spot lights it.  Many of these guys are snagging fish.  If that fish is snagged its all but dead before it even hits the net.  

This isn't a jealousy thing at all.  This is a true threat to muskie populations.  I am a Muskie fishing addict, so I do care about the resource significantly.  Muskies take nearly 10 years to reach 40 inches in most of our waters.  A four footer is 20+ years old and so many people act like it's not a big deal if a 45 inch fish sitting 25' below the surface in 80 degree water is snagged and killed for a picture and bragging rights.  Once it's gone, it's gone.  You guys think it can't happen.  Just look at big waters like Mille Lacs and Vermilion.  Those lakes are shells of themselves since the introduction of livescope and the reduction in stocking.  I think you need to get back to the normal stocking levels of the early 2000's for this style of fishing to not be detrimental.  

Picture below is a 4 footer that floated up last summer.  Fish was witnessed being sniped by a guy fishing league in 80+ degree water.

There's a reason why the PMTT outlawed the use of FFS. Two days prior to any tournament through the last day.

Like, I'm not a huge fan of live sonar.  I have it, it was gifted to me.  I do use it a little bit, but overall I can do without it easily.
I've seen boards and television shows, ruin lakes and spots faster than FFS will ever ruin them.

I've got more issue with Go Pro/YouTube fishing heroes than I do FFS.  Combine them?  Worst of both worlds.  They bring way too much pressure to a lake or spot.

Would agree that a lot of guys/women who own one, gets out when they can, which isn’t much in some cases. My Buddy has one but hasn’t done much fishing so far this year. He hit it heavy last fall though. 
You had me laughing talkin about the Snoopy Pole! 😂🎣

Wright, "They don’t care to learn, just want it to happen.  I’d venture most of these Millennial and Gen Z guides/Youtubers have no clue why a fish is in a certain spot positioned a certain way."

That's straight out of a get off my lawn stereotype playbook. Just a heads-up: most millennials are in their 40s now and have families.  Are you around Gen Zers at all, I'm around them everyday, yes 20% of them fit the stereotype but most are really good kids want to work, learn and make a difference.  Hunting and fishing is dying sport for a bunch of reasons,  1. Kids sports are year round and expensive, parents are chasing the college scholarship dream and spending piles of cash and time chasing that dream and not exposing kids to hunting and fishing like our generation, so they arent into it. 2. Cost, fishing is expensive, factor in a lost lure, bait, truck gas, boat gas etc and its more than a round of golf.  Heck a snoopy pole cost 30 bucks The list goes on and yes kids are different today but I have yet to take a kid fishing that didnt love it, its not the kids.  Things are just different, not sure how to change it.  I remember when flashers and simple depth finders were going to destroy fishing, alabama rigs, then down and side imagining.  Etc.  The reality is 9 out of 10 FFS will be on boats owned by guys that ​are lucky to fish once a month.

Lac Du Flambeau banned it.  It’s a start

Technology is a bugger. It’s just going to keep getting better. It’s here to stay. Some will accept it, some won’t. If you don’t accept it, you’ll have to get a very large group of fishermen on board with you and go to the Legislature. What have they done about the lake water left in Wake Boats? My Lake Association has banned Wake Boats through the Township  Specifically for our lake. Don’t know if they banned all lakes in Township. 
If they brought Banning FFS to Town Board, I do not think they would be successful at this point in time. Heck, I was going to buy one, but fixing broken body parts for last 20 months, so did not purchase. 
Im not against the Sportsman that are against it. That’s why we have a free country. Honest debate is great! If you’re smart enough, You can prove to Legislators how devastating (Don’t know that myself in #’s) it is to the fishery. Lock ur guns with proof and go to State Legislature. Good luck 👍 

And why do you think the sport is dying?  We’ve had FFS for 11 years.  It should be growing!

It’s all about instant gratification.  Young adults and youth are more entitled than ever.  They don’t care to learn, just want it to happen.  I’d venture most of these Millennial and Gen Z guides/Youtubers have no clue why a fish is in a certain spot positioned a certain way.  Same thing applies to a 6 year old shooting a deer.  They have no clue why they are where they are or why the deer is there.  They need to be taught correctly and it teaches skills and patience.  Also becomes more gratifying when effort is involved.  I can’t imagine thinking it would be fun for someone to say “cast 60’ that way.  Start reeling, oh he’s coming reel faster, jerk it, jerk it again!  You got it!”  All while making about 25 casts in a day.  

Junkie is right it is a dying sport. Every category of fishing license sales is in decline except for senior licenses.