This was a Costa tournament, the only off limits are the evening before the tournament. And that dude has owned Grand Lake for several years.

Yes, in this specific case, it's been reported that the older brush piles weren't holding fish and had been pounded all summer. So, close to the tournament day he put out some very green (still had leaves on them on tournament day) brush piles.

Within the rules, but yes, locals have an advantage in tournaments

I don't think brush piles should be the debate here, but if the Costa off limits period is only 12 hours, maybe that is what should be discussed.

Man thats it... I am getting me some deer hide lures and going to town! I will be bigger than AP Bassin!

Only natural lures allowed are pork rind and pork strips.

Deer skin will get you disqualified.

Is it ok to bait your brush piles with live crawdads? Asking for a friend.

No! That would be "chumming".

So joe says there is no difference, but there is, unless it's against the law or tournament rules to sink brushpiles. In that case, there would be no difference.

So would it be a red flag if someone were purchasing massive amounts of crawdads from a bait shop?

In my opinion, yes. Someone was baiting their new, green brushpiles with crawfish prior to the Grand Lake event? Is that what you're alleging?

I'm not alleging anything. Just asking questions.

Step 1. Drop a lot of brush.
Step 2. Take a 5 gallon bucket and load it with crawfish and crawfish food.
Step 3. Poke a small hole in the bucket for crawfish to come and go as they please from the brush.
Step 4. Fish brush with crawfish imitating bait.
Step 4. Win

Is the how it works?

I have no issue with folks planting brush. It's a lot of work and doesn't guarantee success; just putting a pile out doesn't mean the fish will flock to it and you still have to catch them. And, it's only a matter of time before side imaging finds the new ones and the process has to start all over. Hard to stay in front of it for long.

my understanding of "chumming" is that it's a saltwater technique that involves dumping baitfish or cut bait out of a boat WHILE YOU ARE FISHING to attract fish to come near your boat and bite your bait you are fishing with.....
I can see where that might be unsportsman like but it's really no different in principal than someone using a swimbait to attract a bass then quickly following up with a senko to catch the fish....
I don't think someone putting dog food in a brushpile prior to a tournament should be labeled as chumming....

Hell no.

Have done that before for crappie up on Livingston.

I have no issue with putting brush out.