7-1 ND Walleye Tournament Cheating - FFS Debate

We’re back Baby! - Quick Update on Our Lives

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Storms in 2025…oh and Reed Timmer will be here again on Tuesday 

Snow Goose Hatch Sounds Amazing

Prairie Pothole Situation ( much of the precipitation arrived too late, after many ducks had already “overflown” the prairies in search of better habitat conditions farther north and west. )

Tales from the Chub Tank

• Chubs weren’t very effective for us “near the bottom”.  Leeches actually outshined chubs early most mornings.
• Mention that RYG has it’s own aerator 

https://reviewyourgear.com/product/portable-fish-aerator/

Upper Missouri Salmon Outlook

HEADLINES

• Minnesota Twins Firestorm - What the Heck are the Pohlads Doing???
• Best States for Fishing, According to MSN - North Dakota is #35 - Montana is #32 - MN is #15 - South Dakota is #49 (Delaware was 3, Florida was 2, Alaska was 1)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/the-best-states-for-fishing-in-u-s-according-to-one-study-here-s-the-full-2025-ranking/ss-AA1JMU7b

• Rumors of Cheating in 2025 North Dakota Governor’s Cup - Word on the Street is Guys were “Apparently” Exchanging Fish…

2nd Half

Dakota Walleye Classic 2025

• Tough Pre-fish - Lake is “Changing”.
• Need to throw a Rodfather mention somewhere
• Never got a fish on live bait (chubs, leeches, crawlers)
• Fish moved up and down throughout the day - they’re more aggressive up and that’s where FF shines
• Yes there were cheaters, again.  Yes, and it’s unfortunate, but the evidence of the cheating was messed up.  So they really can’t prove the felony. 
• LOTS of rule changes coming each year.
• Confusion with new “Side Pot” categories coming - How much of the whole entry goes to which pot???
• Lots of the “Non-FFS Peeps” aren’t happy with how the tournament has changed, and for other reasons…so I fear the entries may be much lower next year.

Forward Facing Sonar and the Future of Tournament Fishing

Must Note: This isn’t a FFS Bash Fest.  That’s not the Point here.  It’s not going anywhere.  This is only relating to tournament fishing.

• Tournament Fishing in general, not just walleye…is all one-dimensional now.
• I miss the days before FFS on Lake Sakakawea when a tournament could be one in the back of the bays, cranking, jigging, rigging, jig raps, chubs, etc. etc.) - So many techniques came into play.  
• NOT HATING ON FFS - Just merely pointing out how it’s changed walleye tournaments.
• Musky guys seem to either HATE or EMBRACE…no middle ground.  
• 2019 - NWT in Oshkosh, WI - First event of the season, 154 entries.
• 93, 79, 82 entries in the first 3 events so far in the NWT in 2025
• 2025 Leech Lake Walleye Tournament (10-year waiting list 3 years ago) - 135 of 155 
• https://leechlakewalleyetournament.com/results/
• Minnesota - Mille Lacs - Isle - June 9th AIM - 83 teams this year compared to 100

https://software.aimfishing.com/event/285/isle-mn

• Banned on MN Muskie Tournament Trail:

https://muskyinsider.com/blogs/past-newsletters/ronnestrand-mods-pmtt-news-tackle-tariffs

• Let’s face it - some guys are REALLY REALLY good at FFS.  So good, you tend to see the same names in the top 10 of every leaderboard (if not top 5).  AGAIN, not hating.  Just noting from an outside perspective.  Midwestern men are old school and they don’t like donating for too long LOL… Tournament Fishing in 2025 going forward - you either embrace/practice/master FFS or you may as well get out of tournament fishing.
•  
• Don’t forget…FFS is here to stay on major scenes because if they banned it they’d lose A LOT of sponsorship money too…just sayin

Would you buy a pizza specific oven?

Best Prime Rib in Nodak