I read Kernan's report of the incident. Kernan wrote, "So Keith came in and took it off pad, then walked up front and put his trolling motor down. His boat still had momentum, and the wind at his back was not helping. Instead of slowing his boat down with the trolling motor, he was pulling out his papers and not paying attention. His troll motor shaft hit Ish's rub rail. It probably hit it hard enough to put stress cracks on it, but I couldn't see visible damage."

Kernan is part owner of a fiberglass repair shop, so you can consider him an expert when giving an opinion on possible damage to the boat.

There is no doubt Poche had a legitimate complaint for the tournament director, but Ish could also argue that Poche wasn't exercising safe boating practices. Hell, Swindle got disqualified from the Classic for being to close to another boat while on pad.

I think involving the police was unnecessary. Can you imaging what hockey would be like if the police were called to every tussle?

Poche sought medical attention for his hip. Had it been a serious injury that required a surgery or PT of some sort, he would likely want to recoup any out of pocket medical costs from Monroe. Having the police report and charges filed would go a long way in determining fault in the instance of litigation. This is the world we live in

Both made errors in judgement.

Both, from what's being reported, violated BASS rules. And both engaged each other when tempers flared.

I would think it's going to be hard for BASS to " take a side" and both will be disciplined. Poche for failing to operate his boat safely and Ish for boarding Poche's boat in an aggressive manner.

Then throw in conduct unbecoming on both sides.

If they were both just fun fishing average citizens and not professional fishermen competing in and representing BASS then their incident could be shrugged off as, boys will be boys.

But I would think BASS won't tolerate any type of behavior that had to do with safety and also to do with anyone attempting to or getting physical.

I wouldn't be surprised to see BASS make an example of this incident on several levels and hand out some pretty stiff punishments.

I bet they both wished they could have a do-over on the whole deal...

A Stress Crack on his FREE boat isn't worth getting into all that. Those guys ramp those boats over logs and stumps without second thought. I think his temper got the best of him.

BTW,
Ish, if you carry your insurance card you would know that is what insurance it for....boat repairs! Poche's insurance would have covered the damages, anyway. Amazing how civil it could have been, Ish go borrow some Zen from the Zen Master Clunn.

Nice to see everyone keeping it civil in this thread. Makes for a good read seeing everyone's opinions.

I would like to see the punishment go back to a 52.50 disturbing the peace fine like in the good old day's! A good fight would have had everybody in the lock pumped up for a day of fishing!

a few are posting like they haven't heard both got a DQ, not sure what BASS or law enforcement will do beyond that. I imagine law enforcement will let it go and BASS will add probation to both.

If Keith sues for back problems, I hope Ish and his Co sue for whiplash.

So...you are driving down the road and the guy in front of you has stopped at a red light. You don't come to a complete stop soon enough and bump his rear bumper. Nothing serious and no visible damage.He gets out of his car cussing and waving around like an idiot. You recognize him as a co-worker.You appologize for the bump and let him know you didn't mean to bump his car.But instead of asking for your insurance he threatens you and yells at you as he approaches your car TWICE.He then opens your car door and tries to get at you.You defend yourself and get injured in the process.

So you wouldn't have an issue with that or wouldn't report the incident ??? Really???

If any of my staff assults a co-worker they are terminated...period.Its called workplace violence these days and it can't be ignored.Its just the way it is.If you do not terminate that person you may be held responsible for any future incident.BASS may want to think about that.

What does his boat being free to him have to do with anything? First of all, it is still property with value, and a lot of it. Insured or not that is still property damage on behalf of Poche.

Second of all, the entirety of Poche's crying and drama is involving potential (but no actual) bodily harm or injury. Which do you think is more likely? Someone getting severely injured by slipping off the boat deck into the water or a competitors boat from a scuffle on deck between mere mortal men, or the odds of said injuries/damage occurring from a TON, 2000lb+ of force moving at 5-10mph hitting a boat, in a sea of boats tied together? What if it knocked him overboard between boats, and then the wake he carried into the lock caused the boats to clap together and pop his head like a zit? Man, good thing we are portraying Ish as this big dangerous guy and Poche as this harmless victim...

To the guy who just posted... if you rammed into a car at a red light and didn't expect your coworker to want to kick your [censored] for your rampant disregard for the safety and lives of others as you operated a 2,000lb+ machine on public roadways, you're as dumb as Poche. Pay attention to what you are doing, show others respect if you expect to get it back. Play by the rules 100% if you want to live by them. Don't make up your own giant gray area for yourself and black and white for everyone else. That pretty much sums up my problems with the world. I am too black and white for most people... to me this was actions and reactions. Actions always illicit reactions... you don't get to cause a reaction then act surprised, as if it was an action towards you, not a reaction. That's womanly drama B.S. Poche should own up to having been unsafe as heck (from reports, I wasn't there) and accept that he caused greater risk and potential harm than he is accusing Ish of, and in the future shouldn't let himself get as upset as someone else if he is the one who pissed them off, and should've tell someone to say something to their face if he doesn't want to get pushed on his butt. You ask for a whooping you deserve and cry and act surprised when you get it? Someone get Poche a sippy cup, and put Ish in timeout. Immaturity all around but still have to say Poche got what he asked for in regards to his actions and words as I saw reported by witnesses, then crawfished to play victim and act like a coward.

edit: Poche didn't go in because he thought he was injured, he went in because he new he messed up and wanted to be the one who didn't get spanked when they both had spanking coming down from daddy. Pure and simple. Anyone who doesn't see it probably grew up an only child. I hope if anything, punishments are equal throughout.

You can tell it's winter. Three months either direction and we'd all be out fishing.

It is crazy to read on here some you guys actually condoning Monroe's actions. You act like Poche hit his boat going 70. I am guessing everyone of you on here is perfect? Never had an ACCIDENT before? Never mis-judged the wind or current? Never had a wreck in a vehicle? Never made any mistake in your life, ever? Go ahead, speak up if you are. Poche didn't seek out Ish and say, "man, I think I will hit Ish's boat today". And as far as bashing the guy for going to the tournament directors who then told him to go to the police? Come on. Really? I am guessing you keyboard tough guys would take care of it yourselves by "meeting them in the parking lot after the tournament". To many egos in this sport gentleman. I see it on this forum way to often. Jumping into another competitors boat is not justified in this instance.

No meeting in the parking lot, Poche told him to come say it to his face and met him then. He got what he asked for. Look at the facts of the situation. Poche hit Ish's boat and pissed Ish off. Anything Ish said out of anger at that point was him in a high stress situation pissed at Poche who just carelessly rammed into his boat. 10mph might not be 70mph, but it's more than enough to [censored] you off, and be considered dangerous, and failing to control your boat. Ish makes idles verbal threats in anger, Poche mouths back off at him while he is venting and the situation escalates, in the manner to which Poche asked for it to escalate to, which was "come say that to my face".... so Poche started the conflict, and Poche escalated the conflict by inviting the physical confrontation when Ish was just angrily not choosing his words and venting... then Ish left it at that and went on to fish while Poche, knowing they were both going to get the hammer dropped on them, went and crawfished to play victim and hope he didn't get as many licks as his brother. Again, anyone who doesn't get all of this was probably an only child... or maybe you had sisters? *shrug* Normal sibling/schoolhouse stuff guys. Childish and stupid, but that's exactly how this all went down.

I never said I condoned Ish's actions. I said Ish did what Poche asked for. It was all stupid, but asking for it then crying about it... well... come on, really? Play it out. You're Ish... tied up to other boat waiting... hanging out... Poche comes in on pad 70mph, shuts of, wind to his back, trolling motor comes down, he doesn't slow down, and drifts straight into you causing nasty crunching sounds and rocking your boat when he impacts at 10mph+ probably... you go "WTF MAN?! PAY ATTENTION OR I'LL KICK YOU BUTT YOU JUST CRASHED INTO ME!" and Poche basically responds "whatever, I didn't mean toman, don't make such a big deal out of it" - "It is a big deal, pull your head out of your butt before I kick it" - Poche "well come say that to my face then!"... Ish takes bait and jumps aboard

I bet the entire exchange took 30 seconds, and with tempers high zero thought went into it, just adrenaline, testosterone, and childish tempers on both parts. I do believe also that while Ish boarded Poche's boat (after being invited aboard as far as I can see?) Poche immediately met HIM to push him. So how would you feel with that being the case? If that is what happened and Poche said come say it to my face and Ish stepped onto his bow and Poche jumped in his face and pushed him?

Two sides to every story, and the "victim" usually tells a less honest story in my experiences because they care more how it is all viewed. Ish didn't seem like he was trying to spin it any which way... just it happened, it was unprofessional on all accounts, and shouldn't have. I'd LOVE to see video and see exactly how it played out, I really hope it gets released... which if there is any, with the publicity it will give, I can't see it NOT coming to light, and I bet it confirms most everything I just said. I could be wrong, but I doubt it. It just doesn't make any sense any other way honestly...

Also I tried hard but couldn't find the older footage from like last May from Pche's gopro where he was fishing along a bank and someone else was just spot fishing and hopping from location to location, one of his spots was down the bank from Poche and he came in on pad 100yds from Poche's boat, Poche felt the need to fire up the big motor and blast it for 4 seconds and pull up on the guy and give him "what's for" and an earful, when the video shows really Poche was just having a rough day setting the hook on snags he thought were fish... so he isn't the sterling calm guy the media seems to be making him out to be any more than Ish is a raging angry hulk with no control of his temper. Tempers get high for everyone. All you can do is look at the facts, look at it from each perspective, and decide what makes most sense to you.

If anyone here knows Kernan you can go to his website and hear from him on what exactly was said and what actions took place. He was a bystander sitting right next to ish's boat as they sit in the lock.