We know the answer that some are wanting. While we’ve been willing to step on the contentious frog at times before, we don’t see that happening in 2025. There is a significant generational divide over FFS and its use.
The owners event is a more open format than most competitive events. They also allow full family involvement of three of four family members in the boat to participate. It has everything from the “Wild Cards” to “Rubber Ducks” and did those items as fun filling the festivities before any other events.
We do regulate the use of an Alabama rig, but otherwise it’s always been an open competition that allowed all legally rigged boats to be used. Our tournament staff, that manages one single event, will not be prepared to regulate removal of FFS or screen inches, as Bassmaster is on the Elites. Almost all of the retail product we build today has a FFS installed at the factory. That is a consumer choice and not a standard accessory. We can not install, sell and offer FFS options, then limit the use of those products we accepted your hard earned dollar for.
While we understand the generational divide and crossing of fishing styles,mits not the end is fishing as we knew it. Many events this fall have been won without FFS and the most major was the Bassmaster Open on Lake Martin, as that was a slugfest between three angler on private docks, with top waters. Locally the last three significant events on Bull Shoals and Norfork were won without use of FFS.
There is an extremely wide range of opinion on FFS and its use. Those vary greatly and it’s the hottest topic perhaps ever in bass fishing. Nothing since the Alabama Rig, GPS, bed fishing or… has rivaled its controversy. We likely will stay out of that controversy and especially at the time of year the Owners Invitational is held.
Late April on Grand it will be very thing from the last bed fishing, brush piles, rock banks, isolated cover, dock fishing, to schooling fish, and everyone should have a fun time.
Everyone just come to have a fun time, there will be many ways to win at the “Owner’s Invitational”.
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