tv news program

[Gregory]

My neighbor says she saw where 20/20, 48 hours, or some other news show was doing a story on a pro that was caught cheating in either BASS or FLW tournaments. Has anyone seen it or seen it advertised?

Here is the link to the show the other night on CBS.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/07/04/eveningnews/main3016169.shtml

[Devils Horse]

Like it or not draw clubs are on the decline, at least in our area. Nobody wants to give fishing spots and knowledge it takes years to accumulate to a stranger or someone they don't fish with regularly. Plus I think it takes a lot of guys out of their comfort zone fishing all day with someone they don't know. Then there are the 'who gets to pick the spots', 'who gets to fish off the front', and 'who buys gas' issues to deal with. Guys used to fishing together have all that squared away. Bass clubbers are for the most part in it for enjoyment, (certainly ain't for money) so the partner clubs are doing better than draws far as I can tell.

Our club, the SOKY Bassmasters out of Bowling Green have gone to a format we hope will be the best of both worlds. Points are still individual, but you can fish with anyone you want to, including guests. Provisions in the bylaws make sure members who don't own a boat will have someone to fish with.

I disagree with the 'tip of the iceberg' comments. I believe there's a VERY small percentage of people who'd sell their self respect for bass club, or local open tournament money.

I'll reserve comment on cheating with big money on the line. For me personally, I wouldn't cheat regardless of the stakes, and I believe the lion's share of people feel the same way.

[Cobra190]

I disagree with the 'tip of the iceberg' comments. I believe there's a VERY small percentage of people who'd sell their self respect for bass club, or local open tournament money.

I'll reserve comment on cheating with big money on the line. For me personally, I wouldn't cheat regardless of the stakes, and I believe the lion's share of people feel the same way.[/QUOTE]


Would have to agree with DH here. I believe a whole lot of it comes down to the person you are and would want to represent yourself as being. If you would be willing to cheat at any event at all, then you are showing what you really think of yourself, regardless of how others see you.

[dh]

I agree with Devils Horse that draw tournaments are on the way out. Buddy tournaments are much more fun,,,, or tournaments where you can fish by yourself. Usually people who make comments that cheating in tournaments are rampant have no basis for saying these things other than to say that's the reason they don't fish tournaments because either they don't like them or they don't feel like they can compete. I have been around fishing for 35 years and I think it is rare when somebody cheats in a Bass tournament. There is alot more cheating and lying going on in everyday life than there every has been in Bass tournaments. The majority of fishermen have more morals and respect for nature than the general population. Just my humble opinion....

[Danny]

*******There is alot more cheating and lying going on in everyday life than there every has been in Bass tournaments. The majority of fishermen have more morals and respect for nature than the general population.******


I realize that is your opinion, but remember, fishermen/women are made up of people in everyday life.

All I know is that every "buddy" club I have ever been associated with has had accusations of someone cheating. No one will step out in the open and say it, but the mumblings/grumblings are always going on. I know I fished an open buddy tournament, two anglers came in with a ton of fish, while the other 25 or so teams had zero to modest numbers. The fish from the two with the huge poundage were all bloody on their noses. I asked about this, and was told it was from pulling them out of the bushes. It was a February tournament. It does make one wonder.

Danny

PS, I'm sure you know that people can not easily change their character, and if they lie and cheat in everyday life, that will carry over to their passtimes.

[Devils Horse]

Hey Danny, good to 'see' you, how you been?

You gave an example of a time you were suspicious. I'd guess you've fished a bunch of tournaments, how many other times were you feeling like you may have been cheated?

I can honestly say I can't remember a time when I had serious doubts about cheating save one time on a weigh in snafu at Barren. But I've been fishing against those guys for years and believe it was an honest mistake.

[stoner]

What ever happened to the thrill of the competition?
Stoner

[jgevedon]

I've also had suspicion about cheaters in buddy tournaments that I've fished through the years. After later fishing with a lot of those guys I found that most times those dudes just had either more knowledge than I did (oh that hurt), or they just had better tournament preparation. Success seems to breed this suspicion at times. I know that some cheating does exist but not at a greater rate then most other things you undertake. I enjoy the buddy tournaments much more myself but then again I'm not in them to try and make a mint.

[Danny]

Jim,

I was a member of only one buddy club, and I have to tell you, it was run very suspicously. If you were a member of a certain cliche, your bass were never measured. I know what a short fish looks like, and if you weren't a member of the cliche, you got every fish measured. My partner even refused to take the fish we caught to the scales.

I had my suspicisions in each and every tournament that I participated in with those guys.

Now your club, the Owensboro club I fished, and draw tourneys like the old Redman Tournaments never bothered me. I have fished a few buddy tournaments that are independently run, and I had plenty of faith in them. I'd fish them again today if I was able.

BTW, I really miss fishing with you guys. I'm really curious about your new bylaws. Since my hard drive crashed, I lost most of my bookmarks. Can you post the website for the club again? If it ever happens that I can, I would love to rejoin.

Oh, by the way, I never have had a problem with the buddy FOCUS tournaments out of Cadiz either. In fact, my wife and I plan to retire to the Cadiz area at some point in the not toooooo distant future. I've actually been doing some house shopping. If we move, then obviously, if I do get to where I can fish tournies again, I will likely try to join a club down there. But that is a few years away probably. I just figure if I can buy now, the prices will only keep going up. so, maybe, just maybe, we can get more house now and just keep it up until we move.

Danny

[Devils Horse]

Hey fishy1, how do you know they cheated and what did you do about it?

Thanks for the words on our club Danny. Good luck with house hunting. If you see that redneck hillbilly Darryl, tell him I'm looking for a $5 bet.

Basically we changed from strictly draw partner to fishing with whoever you want, including by yourself or with a non member guest. The points stay individual, and only members can operate the boat during a tournament.

We're trying to attract some new members. Anyone interested in fishing a small KBF/FLW sanctioned club made up of some good guys get hold of me. We're out of Bowling Green and fish lakes in central, south central, and western Ky, but every year or 2 we'll venture as far away as northern Al (Guntersville, Wilson,Wheeler,Pickwick) for a tournament.

Our web site is http://sokybass.home.insightbb.com/ but it hasn't been updated with the newest bylaw changes.

[Danny]

Hey Jim,

Thanks for the clarification on the bylaws and the website. I still hope that at some point I'll be able to get back to fishing. I like the fishing alone part. With my back as bad as it is, I never thought it was fair to anyone who drew me. I was never sure my back and legs would hold up for the entire tournament.

We won't be moving anytime soon, or at least I hope not. We are planning to definately stay and take care of her dad, and I hope he is around a long time yet.

I've not seen Darrell or heard from him for a long time. I have called him several times to invite him to fish, but he has been sick, or busy everytime. But if you get a hold of him, just ply him with adult beverages and you can get him to bet on anything... LMAO

Danny

[MsgMills]

I have not and never will cheat in a tournament...But given what I have read in the article about the guy fishing. He only weighed in one fish, out of the bunch that was tied to the stump. Why did he not weigh in all of the fish that were tied up? Did he cull out the lighter weight fish? Or did the guy actually catch one of the fish that had been marked by the CO. Did someone let the fish go after the were marked by the CO? Makes you sit back and wonder until all the facts are present., if the guy cheated then slam him for what it's worth....

But if you or I happened to catch a fish that was tagged and marked while fishing in this tourney. Then I guess you or I would be arrested as a cheater as well. But stranger things have happened, I know this for sure....But all the facts need to be submitted first....

I just hate the idea that something like this has taken place in a sport that I truly love. Makes me awful sick....