Tournament cheating

[gettingonefishin]

Exactly Jim thats why i didnt say nothing when i caught someone.

Dennis

[MASBASS]

I never would fish T's until this year. I got lucky had a good partner and won the first T I ever fished. I would not cheat for any amount of money. I have seen sign, or what I felt were signs of cheating before. I found a fish basket in Barton's Run once, no fish in it, but it was there can not say for sure maybe for something else.
I have until a month ago never told this one to anyone, not even my closest friends or my fishing partner (sorry Ranger492). I was waiting to see if it happened again or someone said something. I found two bass, 4-5 lbs tied up in Dogcreek last year the night before a big T, will not name which one. The fish were tied up funny, not in a basket. The fish had been tied to, root or limb of a tree about 2-3 inches out of the water. The fish had a small hole punched thru the top portion of the gill plate about 1/2" in from the edge. There was a fairly large latch pin (diaper pin type) inserted thru the hole. That was attached to a very large swivel attached to a nylon twine, like trot line, about 6 to 7 feet long. The fish could not have been on there long the area around the hole was not bloody like a fish gets when placed on a stringer. It may not get bloody thru the gill plate like it would thru the lower jaw, I do not know. I know this the could use thier gills and swim about freely to the length of the cord. I assume that they were placed there for the T if they were HAHAH got you, if not I am sorry I turned your fish loose. I still have the pins and swivels somewhere the fish swam quietly away.

[mhall]

I never would fish T's until this year. I got lucky had a good partner and won the first T I ever fished. I would not cheat for any amount of money. I have seen sign, or what I felt were signs of cheating before. I found a fish basket in Barton's Run once, no fish in it, but it was there can not say for sure maybe for something else.
I have until a month ago never told this one to anyone, not even my closest friends or my fishing partner (sorry Ranger492). I was waiting to see if it happened again or someone said something. I found two bass, 4-5 lbs tied up in Dogcreek last year the night before a big T, will not name which one. The fish were tied up funny, not in a basket. The fish had been tied to, root or limb of a tree about 2-3 inches out of the water. The fish had a small hole punched thru the top portion of the gill plate about 1/2" in from the edge. There was a fairly large latch pin (diaper pin type) inserted thru the hole. That was attached to a very large swivel attached to a nylon twine, like trot line, about 6 to 7 feet long. The fish could not have been on there long the area around the hole was not bloody like a fish gets when placed on a stringer. It may not get bloody thru the gill plate like it would thru the lower jaw, I do not know. I know this the could use thier gills and swim about freely to the length of the cord. I assume that they were placed there for the T if they were HAHAH got you, if not I am sorry I turned your fish loose. I still have the pins and swivels somewhere the fish swam quietly away.

Mark without a doubt those were cheaters. I have heard of what you spoke of exactly the same way before. This is how the so called good ones do it. Good for you on letting them go, I would have done the same thing. To me a cheater is the exact same thing as a thief and I think unless you are stealing food to keep your starving family alive, ONLY EXCEPTION, you should be shot, run over by a truck and then shot again. Buriel should be a trip to the landfill where you are run through a large trim limb grinder and spread over the landfill.

[offdtop]

I have been tourney fishin for 17+ yrs, I too have had suspicions of guys cheating, I have fished 10 boat club tournies and 500 boat tournaments regionals, classics etc. 2 yrs ago my suspicions came to reality when I witnessed cheating by a team whom I was waxing in points in another club (one that did polygraph - unannounced/randomly) yet they were tearing me up in another club that didn't polygraph and was leading points and won 3 of 5 events and placed in the money in the other 2.

Well I witnessed the fish transfer from one guy not in the tourney to the guys in my club, well I quietly waited till this guest boat left and I eased up around the corner with trolling motor on high and went for 'em "we need to talk" I said, they clammered and spoke with broken voices and I told them I had seen the whole thing and they may as well throw them back 'cause they weren't weighing them in because I would protest. I was MAD fellas, furious and was ready to fight and they knew it.

What can be done? Well, talk to a polygraph tech in your area, they're around everywhere if you look, talk to the tournament director let him know of the polygraph guy/girls name and number let them make an announcement that everyone is subject to polygraph. How to pay for it is up to discussion charge someone or take from the winnings, from the club funds - be inventive. In closing, help promote your club to be upstanding and honest group of fish catching machines not cheaters taking your hard earned dollar, because sometimes small clubs just don't think about it or have people willing to help set it up.

Mike

[Stevens]

I know alot of guys have there own oppinions on this but on a small scale tourneys, there aint to much that can be done like you said. You just have to stay positive and keep fishin. I know some really good fishermen, but for some reason they feel the need to release good bass in the area they plan on fishing, it may not be cheating but i dont get why everyone doesnt just go out and fish the way its intended. Its all about the dollar, and i think what goes around comes around so i dont plan on worrying about it anymore.

[Boat Bums]

I used to fish in local tourny then I noticed that the person that showed me and got me started was sitting at home. He spent most of his off weekends to put up with me being knee deep in mud. Or hung up in some tree or just off being groofy (for 10 year). We had a couple of good time after that as a grown man (me).

Tourny used to be things among friend for a case of beer or tank of gas (.89 a gal.). we all thought the grass would be more greener over there. so the tourny got bigger. More money.

Look now a days people steal from kids (wiring for light on a football field). Just the other day some told me I have to worry about some part of my truck missing (catilict conveter) while i'm out fishing.


I guess it does not suprise me to hear about this. But after reading some of the replies here I think that I have found a good place to hang out. Maybe make some new friends.

[Lee]

Just assume that all buddy tournaments have cheaters and sometimes they will get the money. Should be more difficult to cheat in a draw tourney.

[ranimated]

Sounds right. Thanks. I really hadn't thought of that (concerning draws).

[chris20]

I would say it happens more often than anyone thinks especially in open buddy tourney's. My opinion on it is if you have to cheat you are not any good anyway and you shouldn't be fishing to start with. I have never cheated I have had the chance to, but if I can't win fairly (Not that I win alot or anything)I would just sell all my stuff and just quit fishing!!!

[bigwormy]

found a 55 gallon drum tied up in yatesville lake one time. was running a crankbait in a cut and got snagged up. well it kept coming with me and when i pulled it up it was snagged on a rope hooked to the drum.

[18'stratos]

I have had winning streaks, at one time I had 3 in a row. I was on cloud 9 and everything was clicking. I was on them good. Then the people that owned the dock asked me if I was cheating!!!! The only time I fished was during the tourney and I said When I was loosing no one asked if I was cheating! ""I think there may be a bad apple out there somewhere but there are a lot more Better fishermen then there are cheaters.""
If I could spend as much time on the water as I wanted to I think I could do better in every tournament that I fish. Some of these guys spend their lives on the water and are just that good.

[NEWTON]

I have been ask as a Director for USA BASSIN about cheating I have not seen any or had any body point the finger and say hey there cheating. But as small divisions for a national team trail at any time in are divisions if I or any body sees somebody we think is and they win we will hold there money until are poly. guy can meet and do a test if they pass they get paid. If not they get banned. But as a whole I think most of the guys and gals out there are on the up and up just my view on it.