I fished the Mountain Division as a Co-Angler for a couple seasons a few years back. After fishing a few tournaments I was starting to see tournament fishing in a different light. You know, the parts they don't show on TV.
The final tournament I took part in was an unseasonably hot day (low 90's) at the end of June. After weighing my fish I took them down the hill to the release tank where I saw numerous 4 to 6 lb green fish belly up or close to it. Those fish never had chance. Bounced around in a live well all day then waiting in plastic bag then dumped into laundry basket for weighing then back into the bag then to a kiddie pool. Just didn't seem worth it to me anymore. I have never fished another tournament and have no plans to do so.