In 2011 I was fishing a BASS Open on Lake Lewisville. I drew Mark Tucker for the final day of the tournament. Mark was leading the tournament on the final day and was on an awesome jerk bait bite. Just before takeoff the tournament director told Mark that the Insurance card he had presented had expired. They let everyone else launch and left the tournament leader sitting there trying to figure out. Mark had valid insurance but didn't have a current card on him. I was able to call a buddy of mine who worked for Progressive and they were able to email him a current copy. In the end everything worked out and Mark won the tournament by ounces but it was still a pain in the but that should have been delt with before the tournament started.

Interesting to see the dynamics and opinions of people here.


A lot of the difference in opinion is likely age based.

Because adults shouldn't need someone to hold their hand. It's called personal responsibility. I know you don't understand that

typically young and club level fishermen put more emphasis on making “rules obeying “ more important than who catches biggest bag of fish ….most experienced tournament fishermen don’t want dishonest cheating but don’t want to win or lose because of some trivial mistake similar to this situation where it was obvious the man made an honest effort to buy a license…..and we will never know the reason why his attempt to buy a license failed….it could very well been the website was not functioning that day….that happened in Georgia several years ago….

So this is what I’m reading again, much like the cheating thread we had a few months ago. Guys who have broken the law, are all for this angler having won and receiving the money. All those who don’t break the law and follow the rules, say he got what he deserved.

Does he not get a ticket for fishing without a license?
That would really add injury to insult.

more like guys who can't discern the difference between hiding fish in a basket and not having your life jacket zipped all the way up...

The more I read and think about it, the guy had to be disqualified, rules are rules, cannot make exceptions, I do believe if I had been the guy that was in second place and ended up winning I would have cut the guy a very nice check, it would be for at least what second place paid, would not feel right benefitting from someones honest mistake.

agree with this....or...would have got the top 10 guys together and explained the winner had made an effort to buy a license and thought he had but either his fault or website malfunction,the license did not record...please vote,majority rules, on whether to disqualify him or let him make another attempt to obtain a license....

you have to go by the rules set letting fishermen decide a rule at a weigh in is a disaster waiting to happen when one rule is changed then the rest of the rules dont matter.

Anyone saying this is on NPFL for not pre-checking license while they were changing the anglers adult diapers are the problem. Individual accountability is not inhumane. This is about the simplest decision a TD can have. It’s cut and dry. You’re required to have two basic things, a fishing license and insurance. If you can’t get those right as a touring pro I have no sympathy for you.

And I’m not about to cut that guy a check because he failed the basic entry test. I’m paying the taxes on it.
And as another competitor I wouldn’t want you as a TD to put your job responsibilities on me in a vote. Angler votes are the absolute worst thing for tours.

I’m shocked at the bleeding hearts in here wanting to hold the man’s hand, bend the rules for him, and believe other anglers should give him part of their money.

Is there no accountability for anything anymore? Do we just look the other way for rule breakers and law breakers? If so, why would anyone choose to follow rules and laws? Because this was against the law. Mistake or not it’s the law.

DQ was the right decision. We all live and learn. Some educations cost more than others.

Sounds perfectly reasonable to me that a tournament trail should check licenses at check-in but hey I guess I'm just another young dumb kid that doesn't understand personal responsibility.....

A lot of varying opinions, the work hard generations vs the participation trophy generations.


If you get a ticket for not having a valid drivers license, is it the cop, the city, the county or the state's fault you do not possess a valid drivers license?

Answer is none of the above. 100% your fault

This is really a black and white rule with no gray area or latitude.

Don't know why this is so hard to understand for everyone.
I've never fished a tournament that had "suggestions" - they all had "rules".