https://www.in-depthoutdoors.com/community/forums/topic/tourneys_148970/


Excerpt from the link:

I fished with a couple of pros this year and they didn’t talk specifics but they said what he was doing was catching fish out of a box. This may not have technically been illegal because he was indeed catching fish. I guess it might be a loophole. It does in my mind violate the sportsmanship rule.

I was also told that there were lots of lawsuits proposed against FLW for winning that fishermen were cheated out of and this prevented FLW from announcing anything. It appears they are more scared of being sued than being fair.

I admit this is hearsay but it was told exactly the same way to my by at least 6 people who should be “in the know.”

I’m more upset by FLW’s handling of it than the act. ABA or BASS would have announced it as would any other sports organization. I can assure you if this happend in my circuit everyone would know what happend. I don’t tolerate cheating.


Another Excerpt:

This is what I “heard” about the box in question.

It was large enough to hold some decent fish. The lid was constructed in a manner that would allow a small gap for a bait to fall through. Once a lot of upward force was applied the fish could be pulled through the top. Maybe the top was made out of some thick semi-flexible rubber or something of that nature.

Not 100% clear on the exact construction but I have a basic understanding of how it “supposedly” worked.

And you are who? Did you fish professionally?

HDVS is legit, no need to worry about that

Well somebody had to put the fish in the box, correct? lol

That woulda been his brother who was an ex military diver!

keep in mind those polygraphs stop about 99% of the cheating in buddy or solo tournys.....FLW should have asked T.C. to take a polygraph (or maybe they did and he refused)....

Yes I did! Had to walk away to raise my kids bc my ex went off the deep end. Back to fishing now and doing pretty well. Just not full time anymore for now. That's why I don't like throwing names around on a public form. Other than a Cheater! lol.

Ain't tournament fishing grand???... Dan

Not at all tearing your head off but I gotta say you have a bit of an unhealthy view of competitive fishing.

I have lived in Wylie since 1999 , I have fished both Lavon and Ray Hubb mostly for all those years , recently on Lavon there has been some awesome bags weighed in on weekly tournaments 8-10 lbs more that what I used to consider a pretty darn good bag in the past.

I can’t even tell you any names of the current group of competitors but I can tell you the thought that they are cheating is no where in my head.

Also I can add that there are “good” fishermen which most of us on here are and then there are “great” fishermen that are simply on a different level talent-wise which seems to come naturally when you fish with one of them.

Guys like TC , ML,or RR were probably in the “good” but couldn’t stand not being in the “great” so they squared away in their head what scum bags they were/are and somehow in their mind elevated themselves to “great”

Yes I did! Had to walk away to raise my kids bc my ex went off the deep end. Back to fishing now and doing pretty well. Just not full time anymore for now. That's why I don't like throwing names around on a public form. Other than a Cheater! lol.

BV?