No you wasn't there.

^^^^^this^^^^^

I think that just because the captain is fishing it doesn't mean he is taking fish from the kids. I fish a various times during the tournaments but typically when the kids are not getting bites. I am always trying something different then them when I do fish so we can see if something else is working.

I am sure there are others like me, but me and my kids don't typically get a practice day on the water. The 2 tournaments we did practice before we did better, but I don't have that kind of time to get out there every weekend. Honestly, I am not sure I would even get to use the boat more than twice a year if it weren't for these tournaments. Not everybody has the life style that fits a professional fisherman, so think that the captain can do all the teaching doing "practice days" doesn't work for everyone.

Yep. this exactly. ^^^^^^ I don't get to get away to fish much on weekends, so if I am gonna take 5 or 6 Saturdays for kids that aren't even mine, then I am fishing. Plus, my kids have asked half-jokingly if I catch a good fish could they weigh it, and I laughed heartily then used it as an opportunity to teach them about honesty, integrity and protecting the sport. Me fishing isn't a temptation, being dishonest about who's fish get weighed isn't an option for me. Unfortunately, you can't stop all the cheating and having captains not fish only stops the honest guys from fishing, it won't stop the cheating. They will figure out another way.

I am a boat captain and sometimes I fish just to see if there is another type of pattern! I dont enter the side pots, because that definitely takes away fish from the kids! Its all about coaching and maybe it gives the kids some confidence! But the bottom line is that he cheated! Saw a boat captain on Rayburn last wknd that was fishing with his kids. when he saw me, he put his rod down and never got close enough for me to get TX numbers! Its supposed to be fun for the kids! I'm thankful that these kids are willing to get up at 3-4 in the morning and enjoy the outdoors! Just teach right from wrong!

Agreed.

I had a kid try to tell me it was ok to let him reel in a fish I caught !?
We had a long discussion about the rules and how I felt about dishonesty.

The boat captain that gave the kid the fish also won the side pot

Are we teaching a sport, or how to win at any cost?
When I was growing up, there was so much cheating in tournaments here in East Texas in the late 70's and early 80's, that I never started tournament fishing. High School kids hiring guides to find their fish, now I understand why. Big money scholarships. Shocker.

I told the kids I had that they had to come up with a game plan for how and where they wanted to fish on a lake.
I was was only here to drive the boat and give advice when needed.
They need to know how to do this if they are to go on their own one day after they finish school.
I told them "nothing is given to you, you have to earn it!" In fishing and Life.

I always heard that cheating in a bass tourney in Texas is a felony. Why should this be treated any differently? Do you have to be entered to cheat? If you're a captain and you have the ability to impact the result you can be called cheating. You should have as much culpability as the anglers.

Just my opinion of course but I can tell you I won't be partaking in this deal

This is High School, the school should ban the adult forever, and DQ the kids for X amount tournaments.