If my dad was close by, this is exactly what it's about.

1. great song
2. I always catch big fish when I go out so seems the same to me

Living in south Texas is tough for a bass fisherman because there are few lakes that are within reasonable driving distance that aren't dried up not counting the coast.
The good part is the lakes are usually down for so long the new growth of trees and brush are so thick that when the rains do come we have like practically new lakes.

it's kinda sad to say this, but as one of the newer generation anglers, I definitely think that some of the best fishing is gone. almost every angler you see are carrying at least 6 rods, throwing their monofilament around and trashing shorelines and banks like nobody's business, and just chucking the living [censored] out of the smaller, non-10lb+ fish and calling it "Catch and release". I mean, fishing for me is a getaway almost, so one or two rods is really all I need. fishing shouldn't be such a complicated sport where you need the latest and greatest gear with 25$ lures just to get a slightly tighter wobble. you can get the job done, and do it well with some experience and some par gear. now I'm not saying using a barbie rod and reel to chase monster bass, but do we really need the 200$+ Shimano dc reels? sure, it's a nice luxury to have and sure it puts more fish on the boat at times, but in my opinion, there's just no fun in overpowering a fish just to say you caught it. second of all, you're trespassing on mother nature's land. treat it with respect. it's supplying you with peace and fun, so give it the respect it deserves. pick up not only after yourself but others as well and take care of the environment! bring a trash bag and pick up the trash along the shorelines. treat each fish you catch with respect! sure, they may not feel pain like we do, but they're still living things, and if you're gonna try and catch you might as well put the effort to respect the fish as well. learn to handle and release the fish properly. I think it's not so much the sport developing and gaining greater traction, but rather the direction it's going and the ill-advised practices people are starting to do more and more. if there's one person who doesn't care for the environment, there should be 10 who do. at this point, it's more like 10 people who don't care about the environment and 1 who does. sorry for the long ramble, just my two cents.

YEP. TOO MANY ANGLERS, TOUNAMENTS AND SPACE AGE TECHNOLOGIES AND NOT ENOUGH WATER TO FISH. QUIT "GROWING" THE SPORT UNTIL WE START "GROWING" A BUNCH MORE LAKES. I DON'T SEE THAT HAPPENING. CHEW ON THAT ONE FOR AWHILE.

Fishing will always be good if we do are part in keeping our great outdoors clean and not trashed up!

Fish are so much more educated and pressured in this region than when I was younger. Lakes are so much older and less productive too. Throw in how incredibly trashy our public waterways are in this area of the country. I still have some incredible days on the water occasionally, but it's because I'm just a better fisherman than a couple decades ago.
So to answer your question, in this region it might be. There is still great bass catching to be had, but you really need to go to areas of the country where bass isn't king. A trip to someplace like N. Michigan can be a real eye opener and somewhat addictive.
Hardly any trash anywhere around or in the water and the fish chew.
I still enjoy every moment on the water but it is not like it used to be.

#growthesport.....

I love fishing near a bunch of others...................”said.....NOBODY”! Keep up those FB look at me post, just don’t complain when 10 boats are in your hole!

Still a lot of good times to be had fishing. Some need to quit focusing on what bothers them and just go fishing.

Not interested in growing the sport. About the right amount fishing these days.

My dad passed Christmas eve 2017....but he's never far away

Decency or common sense is over too.....I get cut off every weekend....without fail....like they can't fathom being called a MF with zero manners

Not just HS kids sticking 5 fish in the well see tons of pics where even guides are doing this for picture taking purposes later. They are basically relocating fish from one part of the lake to another. Just follow the simple rules of CPR - Catch, Photo, Release. I would never.never haul fish around in the livewell I plan to release.

The other we won’t agree is tournaments there are so many more on nearly every lake compared to when I started bass fishing in the 70’s. If you think that is not making a negative impact on lakes you are kidding yourself.

I don't want to work or "grind" while fishing. I get enough of that at the office. I'm not a professional fisherman. I do it for fun. Yes, I fish tournaments and I'm as competitive as anyone, but I'm not fishing for the mortgage or truck payment.

There are way too many people on too little water most of the time. Yesterday was an exception. We caught fish all day, most of them keepers, and no one was around us. That's probably why we caught so many.

Tournament pressure was already an issue. Add in everyone going to the lake during Covid (temporary problem) and high school fishing (longer term issue) and it becomes less enjoyable all the time.

Went to Fork on Memorial Day, 2 boats at public ramp at day break. Only was encroached on by a guide in a small pocket. He literally saw us catch a fish and came to us and fished the opposite way. pure "pro" move

I rarely fish shallow all day, but we whacked on them on a frog and swim jig from 6:30-1 then went home. Only boat that got close to us was that "pro guide". It was a nice day

Plus #1.