Lot's of great stories in this thread. Thanks for the entertainment.

I have had TDs measure fish and push the fish's nose against the end of the board as hard as they can to try to make it short (on a 14-inch minimum lake). The law doesn't say you have to try to push the fish through the end of the stick, just that it should be touching. Touching and smashing flat are two different things.

Almost everyone has a phone with a video camera. If you feel you are getting the shaft, ask for a remeasure and video it.

Was Chris Fried doing the measuring?

I'll just leave this right here. My wife is a bad to the bone lawyer and might be willing to help out! PM me for contact info

[censored] you want to encourage sueing a tournament and/or TD? That's real smart. Put the tournament trail out of business so none of us get to reap the benefits of it. People nowadays effin [censored] me off.

I was just curious about the "relaxed mouth" measuring technique. Never heard of it much less a fisherman getting a ticket for it. This guy isn't some schmuck who never weighed in a fish before.

Shoot ya go get them! It's very simple to measure a fish everyone should be required by law to use the exact same method every time

Rumor from McDonalds tourney at fork

That says it all, unless someone has pics and proof.

I would not sue a tournament unless it was a blatant case of discrimination. I would challenge a ticket if the GW did not follow the laws set by this state. GW's are enforcers of the law and do not make or interpret it. That is a judges job. Collect as much evidence as possible if you feel you are wronged and challenge the officer in court. I have been ticketed for things I did not do, and I know others have as well. That's why you are not convicted by the same man that accuses you, but instead by a jury of your peers.

Who pissed in your cheerios??? I made no comment or suggestion to sueing the tournament D or circuit. The Game Warden in question "the one making his own rules and laws" would be my suggestion.

Just saying. If I had legally caught a money fish and a person says NO, that's illegal because of my half [censored] judgment and him bending the law, then writing me a citation, I would be livid and expect someone to step up and defend me. If anything have this joker be assigned a new job to keep from happening to other fellow fishermen.

I agree if some uneducated game warden is out there making up his own rules that not only cost you money in tournament winnings but then also in citations... That's BS and should be called out.

First I have heard of the open mouth deal. I cant imagine having another variable in measuring fish. Different boards, pressure against the board, touchy 16, no touchy 16, pinch or not to pinch, the flip, the swish or straight pinch......... shezzzzzzz

Pretty crazy stuff indeed!

I have a theory that if Five different people measure a fish and ask what their EXACT measurements were, there would be FIVE different answers. Depending on how hard you press the fish's nose against the stop you can make a 16 inch fish at least 1/8" shorter.

If it's a big fish like a 24 incher you can make it 1/4" shorter! Seen it happen with my own two eyeballs.