MN-fish Conference – FFS was a hot topic

keep or ban ffs dont care but either way lower inland limits to 4 walleye under 20″. and for gosh sakes let me use 2-4 rods while targeting catfish.

Couple screenshots from the camera roll… SMDH at these look at me glory seekers hunting and harassing the defenseless post-spawn basin muskies

Note the 2015 date… not sure when FFS came out but pretty sure it wasn’t on that 14′ lund back in 2015. No clue how she just stumbled into 5 basin muskies in an evening without FFS. I say we ban her… for the health of the fishery

Attachments:

1. 

   Screenshot_20250401_113203_Photos.jpg
   

2. 

   Screenshot_20250401_112716_Photos.jpg
   

tswoboda wrote:

Couple screenshots from the camera roll… SMDH at these look at me glory seekers hunting and harassing the defenseless post-spawn basin muskies

Note the 2015 date… not sure when FFS came out but pretty sure it wasn’t on that 14′ lund back in 2015. No clue how she just stumbled into 5 basin <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>muskies in an evening without FFS. I say we ban her… for the health of the fishery

sick brag bro!

buckybadger wrote:

Certain lines have been drawn with technology and the harvesting of large game. Yet for some reason many feel that fishing cannot possibly have lines drawn on technological assistance to harvest (or harvest and release) fish.

I don’t know what the “line” is for fishing. I don’t feel the current versions of FFS are something that need to be banned or strictly regulated. I DO feel that there has to be some kind of parameters at some point and planning for the future isn’t a bad idea. It’s not as if technology is just going to stop.

This is spot on, the current versions are powerful in the right hands, but not an existential threat to our fisheries. I do have concerns about what things will look like in 10 years with how fast technology is advancing which is why it makes sense to start at least studying the impacts right now.

Also, no one is disputing many muskies have been and will be caught in open water without FFS. The point is FFS is uniquely powerful/effective at locating suspended fish, especially recently post-spawn muskies, and pretending otherwise is disingenuous.

Many will say and I echo that the rise of FFS has led to more fish being caught that are suspended than ever before. I caught my personal best walleye with FFS by seeing it at 10-12ft in 29ft of water, reeling up and getting it. With my vexilar I wouldn’t have even noticed that fish.

I don’t think it needs to be banned, applaud the lowering of walleye limits, would like to see more smaller walleye (14 and down) released, like to see 2 rods in the summer, would support barbless hooks, and of course…maxing out the HP on any and all boats sold!

I think the reason the Musky guys are so up in arms, is this may enable them to catch musky without torturing themselves for hours days on end without a bite. And without that sadomasochistic process, they might get into some really sick stuff elsewhere. #jokingbutnotjoking

BigWerm wrote:

I think the reason the Musky guys are so up in arms, is this may enable them to catch musky without torturing themselves for hours days on end without a bite. And without that sadomasochistic process, they might get into some really sick stuff elsewhere. #jokingbutnotjoking

Might turn into bass guys

Most Muskie guys start out as Bass guys I think.

Dutchboy wrote:

Most Muskie guys start out as Bass guys I think.

Sad state of affairs for sure. So your saying bass fishing is the new gateway drug?

Sad state of affairs for sure. So your saying bass fishing is the new gateway drug?
[/quote]

BigWerm wrote:

I think the reason the Musky guys are so up in arms, is this may enable them to catch musky without torturing themselves for years without a bite. And without that sadomasochistic process, they might get into some really sick stuff elsewhere. #jokingbutnotjoking

Fixed it for ya. Based on personal experience and failure.

mnfisherman18 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>buckybadger wrote:</div>

Also, no one is disputing many <em class=”ido-tag-em”>muskies have been and will be caught in open water without FFS. The point is FFS is uniquely powerful/effective at locating suspended fish, especially recently post-spawn muskies, and pretending otherwise is disingenuous.

I don’t think anyone is disputing that Livescope can make finding suspended fish easier. However, the counterpoint is that if catching muskies suspended over deep water post spawn is so detrimental to their health, we do we allow any Muskie fishing during that time. It’s okay to catch a few trolling but not the same or a few more casting?

Nodakk wrote:

I don’t think anyone is disputing that Livescope can make finding suspended fish easier. However, the counterpoint is that if catching muskies suspended over deep water post spawn is so detrimental to their health, we do we allow any <em class=”ido-tag-em”>Muskie fishing during that time. It’s okay to catch a few trolling but not the same or a few more casting?

Good point. Because catching them that way has become so much more commonplace since FFS we should probably adjust the muskie season.

Point being, something has gotta give.

I guess if you guys want to lower limits and consider adjusting seasons and other methods such as barbless hooks just so you can keep your FFS that is your choice.

But then you can’t argue it has nothing to do with anyone else and ‘watch your own bobber’ because it clearly affects us all.

Lindyrig- Many have posted in this thread about how common place it was to see people basin trolling for muskies with planer boards. I see it all the time on Leech in walker bay. Wouldn’t say it’s more common place now to target them in that location. Some just are doing it differently

Nodakk wrote:

Some just are doing it differently

Correct. And they are being caught in a much greater frequency because you can see and target an individual fish whereas before you could not.