I feel one of the driving forces behind the diminished notoriety of Bassmaster and even the other tournament series is a change in culture. In the 80’s and 90’s, kids rode their bikes, climbed trees and touched grass. Most boys now, and increasingly more girls, are obsessed with video games. Kids are indoors glued to the internet in some way. You don’t even see kids outside playing anymore where I live. The youth aren’t excited about outdoor activities like they were in the past. Sure some kids are still fishing addicts, and God bless ‘em 🫡, but most of them are inside on the internet.
And it’s there parents fault for letting them lay around all day. Telling them it’s ok to go tell if someone did anything they didn’t like. Then when they did do anything they gave them trophies for not winning & breathing then told them it was good enough. Sore We were real men&women. Someone did something no one knew about it. Did us something we fought it out shook hands & were fine. We won and got told if we tried harder we could have won by more so than we did it. Hell i remember winning a baseball game 3’rd ending it was 4to3 they were up first in the 4’th 3 up 3 down they called it at 20to3 in the 4’th ending with 0 outs. And we ran 30 laps 5 right then before we could leave that day because we didn’t play hard enough in the first 3 endings and still didn’t go 100% in the 4’th. That’s what we were taught to be winners you go 100% from start to finish every day that’s how you BECOME A WINNER anyone can win but only few of us are TRUE 100% WINNERS because you have to want it live it love it and never let up no matter what
I saw kids out playing baseball a year or two ago. I almost stopped to play with them. Nowadays you are looked at as a perv for playing ball with kids.
I’d like to add that the youngsters that are fishing today have had much greater access to bass fishing techniques and strategies. The internet has drastically shortened the curve to learn techniques. It no longer takes years and decades to become proficient. FFS for bass fishing is still very recent. The youngsters today did not grow up with it.
Randy, do you participate in any charity bass events? Might be time to focus on these positive events instead of the apocalypse. Perhaps post a link where positive people can help out with a cause you support.
Learn to listen. It was a real competition not this cheater box bs it is today. You the one bitching and moanin all over social media cuz you sad you suck at life and need a video camera to hunt bass. $20 says you voted for a pedo
@@motherlodebassin5369So you still watch black and white TV then, right? You better not enjoy this new fangle technology. Heaven forbid people adapt and push the sport forward.
Well for one thing it would have been much better. Because it’s all REAL MEN who don’t care about anything said about em. And had the old man grandpa uncles older & younger brothers and even mom and grandma. Pushing you and telling the truth about how ya fished and you BETTER DO BETTER. Suck it up and be a real man. Now days there would be a shrink in the boats with these kids if where told the truth and then told shut up no one cares what they think or have to say just do as you where told to da.
So people showed you three examples of young guys winning the classic. It’s always been a young man’s game. So do you always just say something you have no idea about or is this just part of the Randy’s Karens complaining and saying it like it’s factual, yet you was proven wrong pretty easily.
The Bass Master Classic started to diminish waaaay before the "cheater box" came on the scene. Don't conflate the two. Everything "jumps the shark" at some point.
In the late 90's, I was on the Board of Directors for the NC BASS Federation. We hosted two classics out of Greensboro. I was truck driver for Jimmy Huston. We also ran the casting kids contest at the outdoor show. It was really a special event. Those days are gone, sad to say.
What we fishermen should do is to boost npfl to the top. If the npfl will keep ffs out and just keep it real and getting the caliber of pros to join, then maybe we will get that greatness back. I could care less to ever watch bass masters ever again.
Hi Randy been a viewer forever. Been watching BASS and tournament fishing since 1982. I think back in the day when ESPN got involved everything started to go down hill. Thank for keeping us all informed on the latest goings on. Wish you and your a fantastic 2025.
I qualified in 1991 and 2005, it was wild! Don’t underestimate the impact of the Federation leaving BASS in 2006. The establishment of the Federation National Championship in 1989 immediately turned club anglers into contenders with Bryan Kerchal winning in 1994. Iaconelli, Palaniuk, Muller and others came from that program. There was a time when anyone in a bass club had a real shot at making it to the Classic!
Is it possible to provide a wide variety of high level tournaments across various organizations and have just one mega-prestigious championship tournament?
Top 20 from B.A.S.S Elites Top 20 from BPT Top 20 from NPFL Top 3 from B.A.S.S Opens Top 3 from B.A.S.S Nation Top 3 from MLF Invitational Top 3 from Toyota Series B.A.S.S Team Champion B.A.S.S College Champion Abu Garcia College Champion 75 total anglers. All fish both days. Top 25 final day. 5 fish limit. Total combined weight over 3days. Expo and Live coverage. Winner gets payout plus automatic qualification for following year.
Bassmaster will never be the sole professional angling association. MLF isn't going anywhere simply because they're bringing in so many sponsors. BASS is a victim of their own greed. Had they continued to pay more money for the Classic it mightve been different. In their regular tournaments is it really necessary for the winner to get $100K? Why not spread the winnings across the board? 50K for 1st is plenty.
You are so right! I used to fish the Federation divisionals and made several of the state teams and we got large gift bags full of baits and clothing and everything else.
Randy, I appreciate your knowledge and teaching tips. It would be great if you would look for a positive story or aspect of bass fishing organizations to report on. There is a lot of good out there, but if you look for the negative, that is what you will find. God bless
Randy has said in the past that drama gets more clicks and more clicks equals more money in his pocket. I use to wait for Randy to do a fishing video now its almost all drama.
@@joebuckley-n5ybut everybody loves to brag how much he has made from tournaments so why would he have to stoop so low to farm clicks if that was the case?
@@joebuckley-n5y yea I remember when everybody was 2-3 then 3-4 videos of old tech, baits,tips, or storytelling of good times. Now it’s so much hate and bitterness that he’s becoming a better problem and also you NEVER SEE ELIJAH AROUND HIM ANYMORE OR EVEN IN THE BACK GROUND.
@@joebuckley-n5y Yea Randy is so into a video screen To post about hating everything about people with a screen he’s messing up the worst way. As a father of three I’ll say he’s making the biggest mistake a father can make in life. And to caught up in a video camera bitching about people looking at a screen to see the wedge he’s driving with a air hammer
Everything in life evolves. I remember when I was a young boy, my grandfather complained about how MLB or the NBA was "not what it used to be" and was fed up with it. Just basically lost interest in it, while I was loving it. Then as a young man, fell in love with NASCAR, along with many of the guys I ran around with. I'm one of few that still faithfully watches and keeps up with it these days. "It changed when Dale Earnhardt died". As of now, I'm getting up in the years, and my sense of how I look at sports has changed, and I'm not as of an intensive fan as I once was, but I still keep up with them. Yes, I see changes. Yes, I see new faces in the sport. But it's still the sport that we enjoy watching / keeping up with. Your Dale Earnhardt's of the world of the sport that you love don't last forever. Technology will continue to change the way we participate and view the sports that we love. You can't change that. Getting on a rant about it doesn't help the sport at all. If you want to be stuck in the past, so be it, but the future is gonna pass you by while you're dwelling in the past.
I think a lot of what you're saying is your feelings towards the classic at this point in your life. You have a negative attitude toward everything. I guarantee that there isn't a tournament angler in the world that doesn't hold the classic as there top goal or dream! Just because you don't have the same ambitions and dreams as you ounce did doesn't mean what you are feeling is actually reality!
The Superbowl has not been affected like the World Series has. The reason, you see the football stars play on Saturdays in college, then you follow your "Hero" to the NFL. The World Series most people cant name the complete starting line up for either team. There is no "Hero" in baseball like Nolan Ryan, Hank Aaron, Pete Rose, Mickey Mantle. Bass Fishing is going down same road as baseball.
Randy I’ve never commented on anything you’ve said about the “cheater box” but now the Classic?? Come on man, have you grown older & grim about everything in fishing? Sports change with times, bass fishing is most definitely making a huge change but why not focus on the good in the changes instead of focusing on all the negative. I’m sorry Randy, pulling ur plug to get ur boat in that pocket is still one of my favorite tournaments fishing memories but just because you & your generation of anglers of the sport are older & not the cream of the crop anymore, these young kids can fish, box or no box. The Classic is still the super-bowl of bass fishing, maybe not for you but I promise it is for the guys who have the opportunity to make it! Nothing stays the same Randy, let it go & just keep fishing how you prefer & focus on the positives, problem is your positive videos don’t get the likes as ur videos like this will which I think is ridiculous & we’ve got to stop this. Enough is enough. Fish or don’t fish. Use FFS or don’t. Like the new classic format or not. It’s your opinion and I believe your stuck in the old ways & days of Tournament bass fishing brother. I bet if we fished together we’d have a blast but this one finally got me. Come on. Even guys in the other leagues will tell you there’s nothing like the Classic. The Bridgford booth probably sux for you but not for the guys fishing the derb! 😊
When did they stop allowing nets? I’ve watched some video of the 70’s and 80’s tournaments and nearly every fish, even the small ones, were landed with a net. Now they slam it on the deck.
Different times, different economy, different world, and circuit is not unique anymore. Plenty of others to join. Also, the internet is used more now than ever to advertise, so sponsors moved their budgets over. Its called evolution. Cant go back in time and get rid of all of the other circuits after you yourself have promoted youth participation.
@jefferytodd3265 He's a Scoper, just like the rest of the New Ones, Take It Away and they couldn't catch 12lbs, They Couldn't Compete At The Club Level
Your a fool young guns couldn’t tie the old guys shoes if they didn’t have that monkey box in the front of there boat we will see though when npfl gets televised and we get to see those ogs
Fishing as a "pro" sport is changing. I rarely watch any pro tournies any longer because of the overwhelming sway technology has over the need to learn, practice and even be an apprentice while you learn. Having no prior knowledge of a body of water barely has an impact any longer. I will not however start calling LS/FF a "cheater box". It is perfectly legal and it is what the younguns, especially in HS and College competition are being brought up with. Bores the hell out of me but I'm looking at 65 and will never understand the new tech as well as the new generation. Even in my Kayak trail the tech has become overwhelming. 75% of the guys I fish with cruise around looking down at a screen. Where I get bothered is what the industry impact will be for tackle and baits. You can narrow the list down to 3 types of baits now. All I read, watch or hear about now is the latest Strolling bait. The recreational fishing industry will definitely feel a negative impact. Don;t care what the pros do, just sorry at the prospect of losing much of fishing's flavor to another screen...
Get tournaments off our public waters. Get your own "professional" field of play (i.e., private waterways) like every other professional sport. I bet the focus on maintaining the resource would shift considerably and you could use any method to fish including dynamite and no one would give a shit.
Hey Randy, love ur perspective on the Classic. But we have had the Bassmaster Classic in Knoxville twice and it was big deal and a ton of fun!!! We had more attendees than any other Classics in history of the Classic and weigh in both times was very well attended! Ott Defoe won the first one and, as a hometown boy , the crowd went crazy!! Don’t know how other classics have done but the ones in K town r a big deal!!! On another note, I also deplore FFS… it’s just wrong.. leave those deep fish alone!!!!!
You’ve been too worried about the negative sides of bass fishing instead of enjoying and keeping up with who’s won the Bassmaster classic. True fans can remember the classic champs!
I don't think the Live View "cheat box" are cheat boxes. Studies have shown that bass anglers only fish for 40% of a bass population, the other 60% is either underneath them or behind them. This 40% bass population receives a lot of pressure and are more difficult to catch. The live view allows anglers to find the other 60%, that are less pressured, so they catch more. I don't care if you can find an untapped group of bass on an area of a lake, you still must get them to bite, and that is selecting the correct lure and presentation. Finding the fish and watching the bait and the fish, doesn't mean your going to catch them. I've fished the same lure beside my friend and out fished him or them me, it's not about just being able to find them on a screen and watch the lure and behavior, it takes much more than that. It's just that they other 60% are less pressured and might not have seen a lure in their life. So they're more app to bite. I can go back to the old times, I grew up in the 70's and saw the huge creels they caught of dead fish and we knew then that was hurting the fisheries. So instead of speaking against technology, that we have no way of stopping. I think we need better management like on Dale Hollow, where you can't bring in a huge weight to weigh in. I think there should be a limit to how much anglers can bring in. I think there should be much better methods of handling fish. I see them throwing them back in the water, jerking them up on the deck and letting them hit it and flop around. They should take better care of the resource that makes them money or gives them enjoyment. Use a rubber net, handle them gently, use a cradle type scales instead of them handing from a pincher type scale. So many ways to handle, release fish, so the larger catches don't diminish the fisheries. I am for catch and release tournaments myself. With cameras and the tech we have, we should not be dragging those precious bass all over the lake and in live wells, just so they can be hoisted as trophies.
You see why Randy’s wins happened before the leagues had a lot of talented anglers. If the leagues had the talent they do now and even before FFS Randy would have 1 win maybe. It’s exactly why he never won anything when the competition got substantially better.
@@LandonS_23Seems pretty accurate to me. I had no idea who randy was so I took the time to look up his fishing history. Most events he didn't even finish in the top 100.
I share your sentiments Randy, but the reality is money drives the sport today, and as long as anglers choose to support the various trails, BASS wil never be the sole player again. That said, instead of remenising on the past, look for ways to change/improve the future because we're never going back to how it was.
I agree. I haven't watched it in years. I barely watch bassmaster at all any more because I'm tired of watching the backs of people's heads looking down at their screen. I can't tell you 75% of the names because they have no credentials.
He never talks about the split. That's why the anglers are "unknown" (to him at least). And the winners over the last 10 years have had only 2 "unknowns", Gustafson and Hamner. Both of those guys are great anglers, with or without FFS and I guarantee he knows who they are. The other 8 are definitely anglers he's heard of.
I love how some people say the cheater box users would dominate with or without using it. This is nothing but speculation and not supported by fact or logic. Have them not use it for a year and we'll see how they do.
@@randyblaukatintuitive No different from your speculation that they can't fish without it. Jeez man, they're winning with it, but the whole field has it too - including guys like Hack and Gman (both of whom I love btw). You still sticking by your statement that you've never heard of Christie, Cherry, Lee, DeFoe, et al? As for Gus and Hamner, those guys are as real as it gets. They put in the time, were great anglers to begin with, and yes, add in their skills with the tech available to every pro, and they succeed.
@ those guys won prior to the complete domination of live scope and the transducer improvements. Every classic from now on is gonna get one using the cheater box and nothing else.
@ Yes, they did. But you stated you haven't heard of the Classic champs for the last 10 years. Just going by what you said. As for those guys, they are also using FFS now. You are right that this is due to the tournament organizations, and you always say you don't blame the anglers and that you don't mean to disparage them. But then you turn around and call them names.
Take the boxes out of the boats and we'll see who knows how to read the bank,find the creek channels and different structures. You will find out who has true fishing skills pretty quick. Many without that knowledge would more than likely get discouraged and give it up. Most just want to be the one getting Talked about. Just my opinion.
You’re kind of wrong on this video. I agree with most of your videos, but I follow the sport super close and most of that stuff you’re talking about they still do they have banquets and they make a big deal out of everything guys dress up with their wives and I think they don’t really even care if they use their own boat Because it’s easier than unloading all your crap and putting in another boat anyway I think it’s still a prestigious tournament to win
When you have a six figure boat with all the modern ( boxes where you can watch your lures go down then watch the fish come and look at it. Where is the skill factor??. There is none!! All you have to know is how to read it. We both know it's all about the Money!!! Damn Shame
WAY BEFORE FFS,AND thank Ike for not having same boats. Randy talk about what Ike trashing of the American flag on tv had an impact on the classic.Still wanna smack him! Then BASS promoted his career ,should have been kicked out .BASS lost all credibility.Cant follow your stars if they never on tv.Got go to youtube to see your favorite.The stars a spread out among all the circuts.Always going back to FFS,This one track mind of your is why you are not a better angler.
@andybales7318 I never tried making money fishing.I do it for the fun.Whos making millions,Randy borrowed a boat last year.Ike is at the end of his carreer.There doing podcasts!!!!
Just look at the James river classic won by Clunn. He worked for a couple of years to develop the lure he won with. Those days are long gone. What a loss. Don
@@rayminthecat and at what part of this video did anybody mention what place anybody has finished in the classics? The whole video is about the following people bring to the sport of fishing. This is what happens when you are blinded by hatred and twist every topic to fit your delusion.
Bass will never be top again. Right now your top anglers are fishing “FLW”. You said that the top anglers aren’t known. Jacob Wheeler,DC are known. I may not like one of these guys because I feel he is cocky. They are still the best out there. So part of what you said isn’t correct.
Just like the NFL with an influx of new athletes every year. If Bart Star and Joe Montana were still in the league, mayne people would watch........😂😂😂
I have always and still like you Randy…..BUT this is capitalism! Bassmaster essentially had a monopoly on the tournament industry. Now, they don’t! Oh well…..too bad, so sad, not really! The more opportunity the better. Think of the amount of talented anglers who would have never been known if BASS monopolized tournament fishing until present day…..just sayin! Look at it from all perspectives. Thank you Ray Scott……because of his innovation and vision the opportunities abound for up and comers these days. Think about it. 💯💪🏼🎣🎣🎣😉✌🏼
So I've listened to 15 minutes and 8 seconds of negativity lamenting about how great the past was but not even 5 seconds of solutions ...?? Of course we got the usual whining that " it's all FFS' fault" but no actual solutions ... just more complaining. In every leadership position I had during my 41 year military career my #1 rule was .... you don't get to talk to me about a problem unless you bring potential solutions as well because I never had time to listen to bleeding heart whining. And most importantly, you don't get to blame things that are not the actual problem without getting called out. BTW ... The 'general public" has no idea who Rick Clunn was or is ... because bass fishing tournaments are not revenant to 99.9% of Americans. It's not exactly football or baseball ...🦖👽
I did provide solutions to the problem. Number one Bassmaster needs to be the only professional tournament circuit in the country. Number two live scope needs to be made illegal to where people will actually have to fish to find fish and develop skills that go beyond looking at a video game screen.
@ saying "Bassmaster needs to to be the only tournament" is not a solution. It's a statement of a desire you have. An actual solution would be to recommend exactly how to make BassMaster the only tournament. Some actual actionable steps to take to achieve a desired outcome. As for banning FFS I wish they would so you would stop blaming it for every problem in bass fishing and then be forced to start focusing on the real problems destroying our fishies ... the BSEs themsleves ...
I feel one of the driving forces behind the diminished notoriety of Bassmaster and even the other tournament series is a change in culture. In the 80’s and 90’s, kids rode their bikes, climbed trees and touched grass. Most boys now, and increasingly more girls, are obsessed with video games. Kids are indoors glued to the internet in some way. You don’t even see kids outside playing anymore where I live. The youth aren’t excited about outdoor activities like they were in the past. Sure some kids are still fishing addicts, and God bless ‘em 🫡, but most of them are inside on the internet.
100% correct!
Spot on!
And it’s there parents fault for letting them lay around all day. Telling them it’s ok to go tell if someone did anything they didn’t like. Then when they did do anything they gave them trophies for not winning & breathing then told them it was good enough. Sore We were real men&women. Someone did something no one knew about it. Did us something we fought it out shook hands & were fine. We won and got told if we tried harder we could have won by more so than we did it. Hell i remember winning a baseball game 3’rd ending it was 4to3 they were up first in the 4’th 3 up 3 down they called it at 20to3 in the 4’th ending with 0 outs. And we ran 30 laps 5 right then before we could leave that day because we didn’t play hard enough in the first 3 endings and still didn’t go 100% in the 4’th. That’s what we were taught to be winners you go 100% from start to finish every day that’s how you BECOME A WINNER anyone can win but only few of us are TRUE 100% WINNERS because you have to want it live it love it and never let up no matter what
I saw kids out playing baseball a year or two ago. I almost stopped to play with them. Nowadays you are looked at as a perv for playing ball with kids.
I’d like to add that the youngsters that are fishing today have had much greater access to bass fishing techniques and strategies. The internet has drastically shortened the curve to learn techniques. It no longer takes years and decades to become proficient. FFS for bass fishing is still very recent. The youngsters today did not grow up with it.
Basically it has become FFS on steroids
Randy, do you participate in any charity bass events? Might be time to focus on these positive events instead of the apocalypse. Perhaps post a link where positive people can help out with a cause you support.
@@DavidBalll-md8np you both need Help 🧠
Imagine if the bassmassters had 100s of social media guys, bitchin and moanin about everything they did back then.
Learn to listen. It was a real competition not this cheater box bs it is today. You the one bitching and moanin all over social media cuz you sad you suck at life and need a video camera to hunt bass. $20 says you voted for a pedo
You get offended by the truth a Nancy!
@@motherlodebassin5369So you still watch black and white TV then, right? You better not enjoy this new fangle technology. Heaven forbid people adapt and push the sport forward.
Well for one thing it would have been much better. Because it’s all REAL MEN who don’t care about anything said about em. And had the old man grandpa uncles older & younger brothers and even mom and grandma. Pushing you and telling the truth about how ya fished and you BETTER DO BETTER. Suck it up and be a real man. Now days there would be a shrink in the boats with these kids if where told the truth and then told shut up no one cares what they think or have to say just do as you where told to da.
What is really sad is people just like Randy and Randy himself is the cause of of everything he cries about.
A teenager will win the bassmaster classic very soon....just more proof actual fishing skills, talents, techniques no longer required
Some 19 year old guy did it pretty sure and a 21 as well
@@garlawrence5070 not the classic
@ Stanley Mitchell won it at 21. Kerchal was 23, but he wasn't a "pro" according to Randy's standards.
Jordan lee won it at a young age using conventional fishing.
So people showed you three examples of young guys winning the classic. It’s always been a young man’s game. So do you always just say something you have no idea about or is this just part of the Randy’s Karens complaining and saying it like it’s factual, yet you was proven wrong pretty easily.
The Bass Master Classic started to diminish waaaay before the "cheater box" came on the scene. Don't conflate the two. Everything "jumps the shark" at some point.
@@gregarmstrong6798 he said that way before- like 1996 or 7 I think… rewatch!
In the late 90's, I was on the Board of Directors for the NC BASS Federation. We hosted two classics out of Greensboro. I was truck driver for Jimmy Huston. We also ran the casting kids contest at the outdoor show. It was really a special event. Those days are gone, sad to say.
What we fishermen should do is to boost npfl to the top. If the npfl will keep ffs out and just keep it real and getting the caliber of pros to join, then maybe we will get that greatness back. I could care less to ever watch bass masters ever again.
Hi Randy been a viewer forever. Been watching BASS and tournament fishing since 1982. I think back in the day when ESPN got involved everything started to go down hill. Thank for keeping us all informed on the latest goings on. Wish you and your a fantastic 2025.
I always felt the "Classic" was way over-rated. Winning "Angler of the Year" means much more than a single tournament.
There's a great argument for that. I do disagree with you but guys like Iocanelli and Roland share your opinion.
Ive never understood that arguement. Give me a Classic win.
The organization doesn't provide boats anymore because the anglers wanted to be in their own boats, to represent their sponsors.
IKES FAULT!
Randy didn’t mention it because it doesn’t fit his agenda.
I disagree with you on many issues yet agree with you on so many? That is the allure of Randy. 100% agree.
Bryan Kerchal was 23 when he won the Classic in ‘94.
I was there (Richmond, Va) in 79 and 80. It was definately a show and an honor to meet some of the pros of that era!! Wish it could be that way again!
I qualified in 1991 and 2005, it was wild! Don’t underestimate the impact of the Federation leaving BASS in 2006. The establishment of the Federation National Championship in 1989 immediately turned club anglers into contenders with Bryan Kerchal winning in 1994. Iaconelli, Palaniuk, Muller and others came from that program. There was a time when anyone in a bass club had a real shot at making it to the Classic!
Got to give it to Ray Scott!
Wow. If you are a true fan. Two of the guys who have won the classic in the last 10 years. Were back to back Champs.
Yea pre Cheater box. Who are you to come on here begging for tips and than talking trash. Grow up and be thankful you spoiled brats
I agree with everything ur saying and it’s very sad and sickening
Is it possible to provide a wide variety of high level tournaments across various organizations and have just one mega-prestigious championship tournament?
Top 20 from B.A.S.S Elites
Top 20 from BPT
Top 20 from NPFL
Top 3 from B.A.S.S Opens
Top 3 from B.A.S.S Nation
Top 3 from MLF Invitational
Top 3 from Toyota Series
B.A.S.S Team Champion
B.A.S.S College Champion
Abu Garcia College Champion
75 total anglers. All fish both days. Top 25 final day. 5 fish limit. Total combined weight over 3days.
Expo and Live coverage. Winner gets payout plus automatic qualification for following year.
Bassmaster will never be the sole professional angling association. MLF isn't going anywhere simply because they're bringing in so many sponsors. BASS is a victim of their own greed. Had they continued to pay more money for the Classic it mightve been different. In their regular tournaments is it really necessary for the winner to get $100K? Why not spread the winnings across the board? 50K for 1st is plenty.
You are so right! I used to fish the Federation divisionals and made several of the state teams and we got large gift bags full of baits and clothing and everything else.
Randy, I appreciate your knowledge and teaching tips. It would be great if you would look for a positive story or aspect of bass fishing organizations to report on. There is a lot of good out there, but if you look for the negative, that is what you will find. God bless
Randy has said in the past that drama gets more clicks and more clicks equals more money in his pocket. I use to wait for Randy to do a fishing video now its almost all drama.
@@joebuckley-n5ybut everybody loves to brag how much he has made from tournaments so why would he have to stoop so low to farm clicks if that was the case?
@@joebuckley-n5y yea I remember when everybody was 2-3 then 3-4 videos of old tech, baits,tips, or storytelling of good times. Now it’s so much hate and bitterness that he’s becoming a better problem and also you NEVER SEE ELIJAH AROUND HIM ANYMORE OR EVEN IN THE BACK GROUND.
@@joebuckley-n5y Yea Randy is so into a video screen To post about hating everything about people with a screen he’s messing up the worst way. As a father of three I’ll say he’s making the biggest mistake a father can make in life. And to caught up in a video camera bitching about people looking at a screen to see the wedge he’s driving with a air hammer
Failed to mention that the B.A.S.S. angler’s wanted to fish out of their own boats.
Everything in life evolves. I remember when I was a young boy, my grandfather complained about how MLB or the NBA was "not what it used to be" and was fed up with it. Just basically lost interest in it, while I was loving it. Then as a young man, fell in love with NASCAR, along with many of the guys I ran around with. I'm one of few that still faithfully watches and keeps up with it these days. "It changed when Dale Earnhardt died". As of now, I'm getting up in the years, and my sense of how I look at sports has changed, and I'm not as of an intensive fan as I once was, but I still keep up with them. Yes, I see changes. Yes, I see new faces in the sport. But it's still the sport that we enjoy watching / keeping up with. Your Dale Earnhardt's of the world of the sport that you love don't last forever. Technology will continue to change the way we participate and view the sports that we love. You can't change that. Getting on a rant about it doesn't help the sport at all. If you want to be stuck in the past, so be it, but the future is gonna pass you by while you're dwelling in the past.
I think a lot of what you're saying is your feelings towards the classic at this point in your life. You have a negative attitude toward everything. I guarantee that there isn't a tournament angler in the world that doesn't hold the classic as there top goal or dream! Just because you don't have the same ambitions and dreams as you ounce did doesn't mean what you are feeling is actually reality!
The Superbowl has not been affected like the World Series has. The reason, you see the football stars play on Saturdays in college, then you follow your "Hero" to the NFL. The World Series most people cant name the complete starting line up for either team. There is no "Hero" in baseball like Nolan Ryan, Hank Aaron, Pete Rose, Mickey Mantle. Bass Fishing is going down same road as baseball.
Truth
Randy I’ve never commented on anything you’ve said about the “cheater box” but now the Classic?? Come on man, have you grown older & grim about everything in fishing? Sports change with times, bass fishing is most definitely making a huge change but why not focus on the good in the changes instead of focusing on all the negative. I’m sorry Randy, pulling ur plug to get ur boat in that pocket is still one of my favorite tournaments fishing memories but just because you & your generation of anglers of the sport are older & not the cream of the crop anymore, these young kids can fish, box or no box. The Classic is still the super-bowl of bass fishing, maybe not for you but I promise it is for the guys who have the opportunity to make it! Nothing stays the same Randy, let it go & just keep fishing how you prefer & focus on the positives, problem is your positive videos don’t get the likes as ur videos like this will which I think is ridiculous & we’ve got to stop this. Enough is enough. Fish or don’t fish. Use FFS or don’t. Like the new classic format or not. It’s your opinion and I believe your stuck in the old ways & days of Tournament bass fishing brother. I bet if we fished together we’d have a blast but this one finally got me. Come on. Even guys in the other leagues will tell you there’s nothing like the Classic. The Bridgford booth probably sux for you but not for the guys fishing the derb! 😊
Imagine crying about the evolution of the sport
When did they stop allowing nets? I’ve watched some video of the 70’s and 80’s tournaments and nearly every fish, even the small ones, were landed with a net. Now they slam it on the deck.
Different times, different economy, different world, and circuit is not unique anymore. Plenty of others to join. Also, the internet is used more now than ever to advertise, so sponsors moved their budgets over. Its called evolution. Cant go back in time and get rid of all of the other circuits after you yourself have promoted youth participation.
Hank Cherry Is A Traditional Bass Angler, and Hanks The Real Deal! and Justin Hamner NO! He's a Gamer
He is sponsored by garmin and credits it towards his classic wins lol
@ He was a hammer already, and has upped his game with the tools available to him, and every other angler.
@jefferytodd3265 He's a Scoper, just like the rest of the New Ones, Take It Away and they couldn't catch 12lbs, They Couldn't Compete At The Club Level
@ sure dude
I sense dejection and realization that the young guns are Plain Flat Out better than the old guys!
Your a fool young guns couldn’t tie the old guys shoes if they didn’t have that monkey box in the front of there boat we will see though when npfl gets televised and we get to see those ogs
Qualifying for the classic is still a major deal. WTF are you talking about?
Bass Master might be trying to go woke
Already has
Interesting. What have you seen?
Fishing as a "pro" sport is changing. I rarely watch any pro tournies any longer because of the overwhelming sway technology has over the need to learn, practice and even be an apprentice while you learn. Having no prior knowledge of a body of water barely has an impact any longer. I will not however start calling LS/FF a "cheater box". It is perfectly legal and it is what the younguns, especially in HS and College competition are being brought up with. Bores the hell out of me but I'm looking at 65 and will never understand the new tech as well as the new generation. Even in my Kayak trail the tech has become overwhelming. 75% of the guys I fish with cruise around looking down at a screen. Where I get bothered is what the industry impact will be for tackle and baits. You can narrow the list down to 3 types of baits now. All I read, watch or hear about now is the latest Strolling bait. The recreational fishing industry will definitely feel a negative impact. Don;t care what the pros do, just sorry at the prospect of losing much of fishing's flavor to another screen...
Perfectly said I’m 65 too totally agree 100%
2 of the best classic years was on high rock NC. A Federation champ won and the year after you had the first angler do the year win.
Thank god youtube came around for you
Get tournaments off our public waters. Get your own "professional" field of play (i.e., private waterways) like every other professional sport. I bet the focus on maintaining the resource would shift considerably and you could use any method to fish including dynamite and no one would give a shit.
lol! PUBLIC WATERS!! SMH!! You see the irony in your comment brotha?
Lol@@CajunBadger
Stanley Mitchell was 21 when he won the ‘81 Classic.
Jack Hains was 25 when he won the ‘75 Classic
All I can hear in the back of my mind is, "IT'S NOT YOUR DAY, EARL"! 🤣
Hey Randy, love ur perspective on the Classic. But we have had the Bassmaster Classic in Knoxville twice and it was big deal and a ton of fun!!! We had more attendees than any other Classics in history of the Classic and weigh in both times was very well attended! Ott Defoe won the first one and, as a hometown boy , the crowd went crazy!! Don’t know how other classics have done but the ones in K town r a big deal!!! On another note, I also deplore FFS… it’s just wrong.. leave those deep fish alone!!!!!
👍🏻
BAN LIVESCOPE NOW
Thanks for speaking the truth and being an adult unlike all these cheater box hacks
It has gone to hell for many years
You’ve been too worried about the negative sides of bass fishing instead of enjoying and keeping up with who’s won the Bassmaster classic. True fans can remember the classic champs!
It's not forward facing sonar, BASS simply does not have the best Anglers anymore since MLF started.
I don't think the Live View "cheat box" are cheat boxes. Studies have shown that bass anglers only fish for 40% of a bass population, the other 60% is either underneath them or behind them. This 40% bass population receives a lot of pressure and are more difficult to catch. The live view allows anglers to find the other 60%, that are less pressured, so they catch more.
I don't care if you can find an untapped group of bass on an area of a lake, you still must get them to bite, and that is selecting the correct lure and presentation. Finding the fish and watching the bait and the fish, doesn't mean your going to catch them.
I've fished the same lure beside my friend and out fished him or them me, it's not about just being able to find them on a screen and watch the lure and behavior, it takes much more than that. It's just that they other 60% are less pressured and might not have seen a lure in their life. So they're more app to bite.
I can go back to the old times, I grew up in the 70's and saw the huge creels they caught of dead fish and we knew then that was hurting the fisheries.
So instead of speaking against technology, that we have no way of stopping. I think we need better management like on Dale Hollow, where you can't bring in a huge weight to weigh in. I think there should be a limit to how much anglers can bring in. I think there should be much better methods of handling fish. I see them throwing them back in the water, jerking them up on the deck and letting them hit it and flop around.
They should take better care of the resource that makes them money or gives them enjoyment. Use a rubber net, handle them gently, use a cradle type scales instead of them handing from a pincher type scale. So many ways to handle, release fish, so the larger catches don't diminish the fisheries. I am for catch and release tournaments myself. With cameras and the tech we have, we should not be dragging those precious bass all over the lake and in live wells, just so they can be hoisted as trophies.
You see why Randy’s wins happened before the leagues had a lot of talented anglers. If the leagues had the talent they do now and even before FFS Randy would have 1 win maybe. It’s exactly why he never won anything when the competition got substantially better.
You obviously don’t have a clue what you’re talking about 😂
@@LandonS_23Seems pretty accurate to me. I had no idea who randy was so I took the time to look up his fishing history. Most events he didn't even finish in the top 100.
I share your sentiments Randy, but the reality is money drives the sport today, and as long as anglers choose to support the various trails, BASS wil never be the sole player again. That said, instead of remenising on the past, look for ways to change/improve the future because we're never going back to how it was.
I agree. I haven't watched it in years. I barely watch bassmaster at all any more because I'm tired of watching the backs of people's heads looking down at their screen. I can't tell you 75% of the names because they have no credentials.
I quit following Bass tournaments ten years ago 🙄 for this exact reason
Randy do you know any of the pros that Megabass sponsored
Formerly Chris Zaldain, now Brandon Palaniuk or 2024 anyway
Sears..K Mart..Woolworth ..White Castle.. B.A.S.S and life ( and fishing ) go on !!!
He never talks about the split. That's why the anglers are "unknown" (to him at least). And the winners over the last 10 years have had only 2 "unknowns", Gustafson and Hamner. Both of those guys are great anglers, with or without FFS and I guarantee he knows who they are. The other 8 are definitely anglers he's heard of.
I love how some people say the cheater box users would dominate with or without using it. This is nothing but speculation and not supported by fact or logic. Have them not use it for a year and we'll see how they do.
@@randyblaukatintuitive No different from your speculation that they can't fish without it. Jeez man, they're winning with it, but the whole field has it too - including guys like Hack and Gman (both of whom I love btw). You still sticking by your statement that you've never heard of Christie, Cherry, Lee, DeFoe, et al? As for Gus and Hamner, those guys are as real as it gets. They put in the time, were great anglers to begin with, and yes, add in their skills with the tech available to every pro, and they succeed.
@ those guys won prior to the complete domination of live scope and the transducer improvements. Every classic from now on is gonna get one using the cheater box and nothing else.
@ Yes, they did. But you stated you haven't heard of the Classic champs for the last 10 years. Just going by what you said. As for those guys, they are also using FFS now. You are right that this is due to the tournament organizations, and you always say you don't blame the anglers and that you don't mean to disparage them. But then you turn around and call them names.
Gussy has been known in this region (NW ONT, MN, WS) years before he won the Classic. He was and is a threat to win any event he enters up this way.
Sad times!
Yeah I was about to say flw tour as a marker for me
A league that no longer exists? If they were that that good they would still be around
@ i mean to say that the flw tour I believe was a turning point for the masters. I thought it muddied the waters then
EXACTLY RIGHT
It will be more difficult now to reach the $1,000,000 plateau.
Watch the NPFL this year!!! Real fishing
The best new fisherman will be who can be the best with ffs
Take the boxes out of the boats and we'll see who knows how to read the bank,find the creek channels and different structures. You will find out who has true fishing skills pretty quick. Many without that knowledge would more than likely get discouraged and give it up. Most just want to be the one getting Talked about. Just my opinion.
You’re kind of wrong on this video. I agree with most of your videos, but I follow the sport super close and most of that stuff you’re talking about they still do they have banquets and they make a big deal out of everything guys dress up with their wives and I think they don’t really even care if they use their own boat Because it’s easier than unloading all your crap and putting in another boat anyway I think it’s still a prestigious tournament to win
B.a.s.s. had no real competition before flw ...flw stole the show
When you have a six figure boat with all the modern ( boxes where you can watch your lures go down then watch the fish come and look at it. Where is the skill factor??. There is none!! All you have to know is how to read it. We both know it's all about the Money!!! Damn Shame
WAY BEFORE FFS,AND thank Ike for not having same boats. Randy talk about what Ike trashing of the American flag on tv had an impact on the classic.Still wanna smack him! Then BASS promoted his career ,should have been kicked out .BASS lost all credibility.Cant follow your stars if they never on tv.Got go to youtube to see your favorite.The stars a spread out among all the circuts.Always going back to FFS,This one track mind of your is why you are not a better angler.
@@toddaldrich1936 he's made probably a couple million..how many millions have u made fishing? I might add, thx for confirming you're a scoper
@andybales7318 I never tried making money fishing.I do it for the fun.Whos making millions,Randy borrowed a boat last year.Ike is at the end of his carreer.There doing podcasts!!!!
@toddaldrich1936 u don't realize he's made over a million, maybe more bass fishing? That's pretty good if u ask me
@@andybales7318he seems pretty desperate to farm clicks using drama on YT instead of putting out quality content. Must be hurting for cash.
All sports are dominated by the youth. Everyone is eventually humbled by time.
Just look at the James river classic won by Clunn. He worked for a couple of years to develop the lure he won with. Those days are long gone. What a loss.
Don
When Ray Scott died B.A.S.S died.
Thanks to Ben Milliken, he is bring back that following. He's the new age version of all the OG's you mentioned.
Nahhh, the OG's bought their fishing license
😂
he went to the grand lake classic with a ton of followers and came in last out of 100 boats!
@@rayminthecat 53 but yeah, was last
@@rayminthecat and at what part of this video did anybody mention what place anybody has finished in the classics? The whole video is about the following people bring to the sport of fishing. This is what happens when you are blinded by hatred and twist every topic to fit your delusion.
I think the hero worship thing is weird, but, nobody cares anymore. Bass tournaments hurt fisheries, period.
Go rewatch 2017 - 2024 it’s Awesome your opinion on a lot of things is rediculous
Bass will never be top again. Right now your top anglers are fishing “FLW”. You said that the top anglers aren’t known. Jacob Wheeler,DC are known. I may not like one of these guys because I feel he is cocky. They are still the best out there. So part of what you said isn’t correct.
FLW is no longer an organization
Yep! I went to the 2021 classic in ft worth , ray Roberts was the lake, Hank cherry won that event and I had no idea who the hell he was
Hank Cherry has been around over 15 years in the pro’s, he has won the Classic twice, clearly your head is in the sand?
@ he’s not that good buddy
To his credit at that point most of the guys we followed had left for MLF
FFSonars Overnight Unknows
It’s much more fun fishing blind! If you bought me a new ffs unit I’d sell it or destroy it! I watch TV at home!!!!!
Your LPGA analogy is a bad one. As a golf fan I know the LPGA is as prosperous as it has ever been. Your statement makes you sound racist
Just like the NFL with an influx of new athletes every year. If Bart Star and Joe Montana were still in the league, mayne people would watch........😂😂😂
Do you ever have anything positive to say? I know its probably just click bait, but dang your so negative about everything.
Your videos are so negative the bassmaster classic is amazing your losing your mind
They suck now.
I have always and still like you Randy…..BUT this is capitalism! Bassmaster essentially had a monopoly on the tournament industry. Now, they don’t! Oh well…..too bad, so sad, not really! The more opportunity the better. Think of the amount of talented anglers who would have never been known if BASS monopolized tournament fishing until present day…..just sayin! Look at it from all perspectives. Thank you Ray Scott……because of his innovation and vision the opportunities abound for up and comers these days. Think about it. 💯💪🏼🎣🎣🎣😉✌🏼
So I've listened to 15 minutes and 8 seconds of negativity lamenting about how great the past was but not even 5 seconds of solutions ...?? Of course we got the usual whining that " it's all FFS' fault" but no actual solutions ... just more complaining. In every leadership position I had during my 41 year military career my #1 rule was .... you don't get to talk to me about a problem unless you bring potential solutions as well because I never had time to listen to bleeding heart whining. And most importantly, you don't get to blame things that are not the actual problem without getting called out.
BTW ... The 'general public" has no idea who Rick Clunn was or is ... because bass fishing tournaments are not revenant to 99.9% of Americans. It's not exactly football or baseball ...🦖👽
I did provide solutions to the problem. Number one Bassmaster needs to be the only professional tournament circuit in the country. Number two live scope needs to be made illegal to where people will actually have to fish to find fish and develop skills that go beyond looking at a video game screen.
@ saying "Bassmaster needs to to be the only tournament" is not a solution. It's a statement of a desire you have. An actual solution would be to recommend exactly how to make BassMaster the only tournament. Some actual actionable steps to take to achieve a desired outcome. As for banning FFS I wish they would so you would stop blaming it for every problem in bass fishing and then be forced to start focusing on the real problems destroying our fishies ... the BSEs themsleves ...