Dont want to start an argument...just curious:)

[QUOTE=IronWorker;486001]What about the guys who fish tournaments and gut the first fish they catch so they can study its stomach contents. Im not saying i agree with it but i know several tournament fishermen who said this is the easiest way to match bait sizes to what the fish are feeding on.[/QUOTE]

Really?? That is something I never heard of. How often does this happen?? If it takes something to this extreme for some loser piece of crap to try so he can win then he would prolly cheat as well. With all the information, technology and techniques available today someone would still find the need to do this?? Geez what a loser.

wow lots of thoughts on the subject so i guess I'll add mine. used to eat a lot of fish when younger mostly trout & perch. biggest mistake i see is people keeping wrong size fish.always here people talk about catching 30 or so crappie and and keeping some 15+'' ers for the table then after a few years these same folks are complaining about the small size when they can only catch 9-10'' ers now.
there is a reason haturies breed big fish and stock small ones. people should keep 1 or 2 trophys and let the rest go for breeding and sport then keep smaller fish to fill there limit for the table.
just my thoughts but what do I know.

[QUOTE=IronWorker;486001]What about the guys who fish tournaments and gut the first fish they catch so they can study its stomach contents. Im not saying i agree with it but i know several tournament fishermen who said this is the easiest way to match bait sizes to what the fish are feeding on.[/QUOTE]

I have never heard of anyone doing this. Where is this happening? If they are legal sized fish and are keeping it for the table, then I guess there is nothing wrong with it, but I have not heard of anyone ever doing this.

I know fly fisherman that carry a syringe and will **** stomach contents out of a fish to see what flies are being eaten, but never heard of anyone cutting a stomach open to see whats in it.

I fish tournaments every now and then not as much as I used to and I practice catch and release. But sometimes I will keep some to eat. No big ones but some smaller ones I do keep to eat I don't see the harm in keep some to eat..and who ever is gutting fish just to see what they are feeding on just to try and win is just plain wrong and should be stopped. Like some one else said with all the advancement in fishing and they have to kill a fish for some type of advantage and they are the ones who are complaining about throwing everything you catch back. These people should be gutted to bleed their stupidity out of their body. Sorry for the harsh words but that's how I feel about people who gut fish for no good reason at all.

I fished with two guys on seperate occasions and the guys happened to be related. And on both occasions each guy gutted a fish and said "When you start fishing tournaments this is a real time saver in a tournament and time is money in a tournament". Then they mentioned some names. All i could figure was since i had never fished a tournament and they knew was considering doing tournaments they could get me to gut a fish like that then they would have one over on me and then with me being guilty i wouldnt be able to call them out on doing it. I fished one tournament with someone else and all the gunning and running through all the big waves was a bit too hectic for me.