MLF High School results

[Quillback]

Took 20 lbs. to win:

Abu Garcia High School Fishing - Major League Fishing

[Champ188]

This is a competitive arena in which FFS should certainly be banned. These kids need to be able to compete on ground that's as level as possible --- and not be disadvantaged because their boat captain didn't have FFS and others did. 

You learn a lot in high school competitions ... losing gracefully is one of the most important. When you get beat on level ground, the lesson you take away is (a) someone is usually going to be better than you and (b) to be top dog, you have to outwork the others. You shouldn't be able to "buy" first place at that stage in life. Those hard lessons --- that often in real life, money is the determining factor in who wins --- will come soon enough. Let the kids play on equal footing. 

[fishinwrench]

When I think about how long and hard I had to fish, and all I had to go through before I scored a 20# limit of bass......

This just makes me wanna PUKE !   🙄

[Seth]

12 hours ago, Champ188 said:

This is a competitive arena in which FFS should certainly be banned. These kids need to be able to compete on ground that's as level as possible --- and not be disadvantaged because their boat captain didn't have FFS and others did. 

You learn a lot in high school competitions ... losing gracefully is one of the most important. When you get beat on level ground, the lesson you take away is (a) someone is usually going to be better than you and (b) to be top dog, you have to outwork the others. You shouldn't be able to "buy" first place at that stage in life. Those hard lessons --- that often in real life, money is the determining factor in who wins --- will come soon enough. Let the kids play on equal footing. 

Could say the same thing about kids stuck fishing in a little aluminum boat vs those that have access to a 20’ bass boat with 250hp outboard. The kids success also depends a lot on who they are fishing with too. I’ve helped in several youth tourneys and the kids that do well are always paired up with those of us that do well fishing ourselves. Somebody will be at a disadvantage for one of many reasons no matter what.

[Smithvillesteve]

Hank Parker came out against the use of ffs. This was one of his main points. Some kids fishing in tournaments can afford it and some cant. Thus, an unlevel playing field. 

[Seth]

27 minutes ago, Smithvillesteve said:

Hank Parker came out against the use of ffs. This was one of his main points. Some kids fishing in tournaments can afford it and some cant. Thus, an unlevel playing field. 

So a kid fishing out of a cheap aluminum boat that runs 35 mph that invested $2k into FFS is cheating the kid who is fishing out of a 70mph glitter boat that doesn't have FFS? The aluminum rig with FFS is FAR more affordable than the glitter boat setup.

[fishinwrench]

30 minutes ago, Seth said:

57 minutes ago, Smithvillesteve said:

 

So a kid fishing out of a cheap aluminum boat that runs 35 mph that invested $2k into FFS is cheating the kid who is fishing out of a 70mph glitter boat that doesn't have FFS?

He isn't "cheating" if it is allowed.   

But ADVANTAGED?   Yes. 

[Flysmallie]

Money wins in every sport. 

[snagged in outlet 3]

Seems like "tourney" fishing should be the last thing a high school should promote.   If like @Seth said, the kids that have better fishermen, boats and electronics will win then, what's the point.  Saturday I'm playing goalie for my 7 year old granddaughters soccer team.  Anybody gets in the penalty box and they are going down hard!!!!  😆  

[ness]

I've been thinking about all this and comparing it to one of my favorite things: bird hunting.

I can't imagine I'd like it if it was just go to where I know the birds are, then shoot them when they get up. Or on the ground. Not a real solid comparison I know, but even when I hunt a preserve, which is what I do most recently, there's the dog work, the effort finding the birds, making the shot and the retrieve. It's still hunting, with all the great pieces of it. 

FFS feels like one of those European hunts, where you stroll along and the hired boys flush the birds in front of you. I feel a little sorry for kids that get into this tourney fishing and don't really learn the 'hunting' aspect of fishing. And to me, the have versus have-not aspect of this just seems shatty. Like @Champ188 said, there'll be plenty of time to face the hard realities of this later on, but at the high school level I think it should be more of an even playing field.

I'll admit I'm a sentimental sap; I kinda like the low-tech approach. Whether hunting or fishing, I enjoy being outdoors and the experience much more than the tally. I'd rather fish a small stream, be immersed in it all and get skunked, than cruise around a huge reservoir looking at a screen and have a big bag of fish to talk about afterwards.