Quote Originally Posted by fishbum View Post
DO NOT MOVE this is for non Tournament Anglers as well..

Today a couple of good ole boys decided to fish against the tournament fishermen. Came to the ramp curious about what was going on asking about the BFL National Championship out of Louisville.
They then took off ahead of the gentlemen in the tournament and proceeded to fish some water in Harrods Creek. NOW... they themselves were not fishing a tournament.. just fun fishing.
When POLITELY asked to allow one of the tournament anglers to fish a bank they refused and proceeded to put 3 fish in the LIVEWELL and not release them back into the creek. As it ended up the Angler caught fish and did well but the upshot is this..
To me.. this tournament benefits everyone especially the anglers who were in my opinion being rude by continuing to fish water after being asked politely to allow the Amature Angler fishing for $100,000 to fish it. Beyond that is the simple fact that when local anglers are polite it reflects well on the community and helps in bringing tournaments like this to town. This helps provide tax money to Louisville and to Kentucky and the FLW is as I understand it making a nice contribution to the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Am I wrong in believing that a basically rude answer to the request and continued fishing was out of order and unethical especially when the boys were not fishing a tournament and proceeded to put the fish in the livewell.
(They SAID they were not fishing a tournament)
This is for all anglers to chime in...
Bank Anglers in another situation were NOT asked to move, so I can not tell you what that situation would be.. but most bank anglers do not fish for bass.
Jim Dicken
Just because a person is fishing a tournament, doesn't make them "better" than that same "good-'ol-boy" that refused to give up his spot. This kind of mentallity is what turns other fishermen against the tournament angler. If this same guy came to the "honey hole" of the tournament fisherman, who was catching loads of fish, and asked if they would please move aside so that he could fish the spot, in hopes to feed his familly a nice dinner, do you honestly think he'd get to fish? It's NOT the anglers fault that money/fame was on the line. Besides, most GOOD tournament fishermen would have found multiple spots from which to catch their fish, just in case this very scenario was to happen to them. To even ASK someone, regardless of whether they are fishing a tournament for fame and forturne or for fun, that question is, in my opinion, lame. Just wait them out and fish the spot when they're done. It's that simple. If anyone was rude and unethical, I'd point MY finger at the tournament fisherman in this case.