Just do away with the boat captains being allow to fish. this would solve a lot of the problems. there is only 5 regular tournaments a year (365 days) that gives you 360 days to show and team them how to fish..

+1

I'm not sure not allowing the captains to fish would resolve anything. If they are that big of cheaters that the boat captain would weigh in a fish they'd probably cheat anyways. I can't imagine weighing in a fish as a boat captain, says a lot about that person.

The boat captains need to make the kids do some of the research and work also. I'm making my son research a lake, pick out a spot to fish, explain why he wants to fish there, then we go try it out. Having a boat captain that is extremely familiar with a particular lake take two kids to his spots, tell them what rod and lures to use, doesn't teach them much about fishing. It's great they are taking their own time, boat, and money but it needs to be a little more about education than just trying to win. We have kids that place in the top and wouldn't have a clue as to where to fish or what to fish with. This has nothing to go with the tournament organizers, they do an outstanding job I think. This has to do with the local school clubs, people that oversee them, and the boat captains. I know this probably won't really change much but they won't have a boat captain telling them every single thing if they compete in college or elsewhere.

Again, I think the THSBA and others do a terriffic job. I know it's not an easy one and they can't control everything that others do. We have to control ourselves. They are doing an excellent job on their part, we have to do ours.

I'm not "sure" it would either, but it would make it easier to police and possibly reduce any temptation. And it definitely would resolve an accidental drop into the wrong box by a captain. I just see that there are plenty of opportunities for you to put your money on the line for competition against other fishermen any weekend of the year. Like you, I believe it should be about taking care of the kids from launch to weigh-in and education of those kids. So let them sling the baits for the day and the captain educates. My .02

I agree and definitely see your viewpoint also. It sure doesn't matter to me if the ban the captains from fishing and definitely wouldn't make me any less inclined to be a boat captain. It's pretty sad we are even having to discuss the topic of cheating, especially regarding the adults who are supposed to be mentoring the youth.

I agree, it's sad.

great...havent even reached this point in my child's lives and the sport is tainted? awesome.

I've been raising my 2 boys to fish, and we practice often, go over conditions, lure selections and why, etc. Makes me sick to think that anyone would network prior to the tourney, whether hiring a guide, consulting a guide to gain a competitive edge. Sounds like an MLF-like approach might work best. 2 days notice to get from wherever you are in the state to the ramp (and being fully aware of the commitment) when you sign up.

"Networking" is nothing new in bass fishing. Pros do it, weekend warriors do it, club guys do it - everyone networks.
The problem is that there is a time to do it and a time you can not - some people do not respect that rule.

Allowing boat captains to fish is the worst decision in the history of the sport.

Bullcrap.
Cheaters. Are. Going. To. Cheat.
You'll find that the majority of fishermen as a whole are honest to a fault.

I agree, those that are going to cheat will cheat. If a person is nice enough to volunteer to take the kids out fishing all day why not add a little something to benefit them. There's a hundred ways to cheat I'm sure, letting the boat captain fish isn't going to make a difference for the cheaters.

The idea that a captain being allowed to fish makes any difference to the cheaters is just ridiculous. As already stated, cheaters are going to cheat, and unfortunately there are a lot of worthless people in this world that dont feel the need to have to earn something.

There are also a lot of people that feel that they can protect kids from all possible evil and that eliminating every tiny possibility for making a bad decision is the only way to keep their little minds safe.

Interesting that some assumed I was referring to "cheating", when I said "Allowing boat captains to fish is the worst decision in the history of the sport".

I agree with what has been said, that only a very small % of boat captains might cheat.

There are so many other reasons/problems that are not good for the kids or the sport when captains.

Draw a line down the middle of a page. On the left side, write down all of the reasons boat captains should fish; on the right side, write down all the reasons boat captains should not fish. You run out of room on the right side of the paper.

You only run out of room if you write REALLY big.