how about everyone just keeping there eyes open for things that just dont seem right. not advocating the above for sure, but if you see someone on an off limits day, or you see someone sleeping during a tournament that they somehow win, how bout bringing it to the attention of the t.d.

getting beat is not cheating...first to a spot is not cheating..If people turn folks in for that kind of BS then you have more problems than just cheaters.

I second this because let's be honest here folks. The only thing a livewell check does is give an illusion that things are being checked. It's nothing more than someone walking by with a flashlight looking in your livewell, or driving by and having someone look in there. It's not stopping a cheater, just giving the illusion and putting out a deterrent. But if someone wants to cheat, they aren't going to have those fish in the livewell, they'll just get more creative.

I agree with cheaters fishing for a ck not always a win.
I know of another guy caught altering a fish this year. He no longer competes, he also fished alone, always. Didn't RR fish alone most of the time?

If someone wins a dozen tournaments in a year you might want to put an observer in his boat for a couple to see if he catches only rats when someone is watching. Might give a few clues. I would use a cheap metal detector for the top three bags only. Just wave it once over the full bag and you will know if any metal is there. If there is you wand each fish and cut the one that beeps. Anything under an ounce is deducted and over that you got some 'splainin to do.

As a tournament director, I can say that "some" of us do communicate with each other about suspected fishermen or their antics. We then keep an open eye on these people. I, for one, am actually on the water on tournament day observing the fishermen before I have to go do the weigh-in set up. Some tournament directors won't communicate one single bit with other directors though. They sure wouldn't tell you of a "problem child" they have.

Also, I don't wait to see who is in first or who has a big bass before I assign the first team to get in line for the poly. When a team brings what I feel is a good sack across the scales during the weigh-in process, I pick one of the team members out and tell them to go take the poly. Sometimes I will reach into the weight recording box and pull out a weigh slip. It might be 10th place. But, they get a poly. That way, no one knows if they are going to be given a polygraph or not.

I have my teams place their entire weigh-in bag in the bump tub before I place them on the scales. I then can reach in and inspect each fish while they are still in the water bags. It takes a little longer to do it that way. But, this keeps the fish in the water longer. I hate watching a weigh-in or a televised weigh-in where the fish are held out for what seems like 10 minutes while pictures are being taken. I was always told that the rule of thumb for a fish to be held out of the water was the same time that you could hold your breath.

Whatever you guys think needs to be added to the list of things a TD needs to have in their possession or do, will ultimately cost the fishermen. These costs have to be taken out of the "kitty" to pay for the extra expense. I know a lot of fishermen that already gripe out the percentages paid back in this tournament or that tournament.

I know that tournament directors are always wanting to hear suggestions to keep potential cheaters at bay. But, please remember that anything you come up with will cost someone some money from their winnings. But, if it helps insure that the real winner got the check, I'm all for it.

I think a big key is hiring a qualified professional with the latest equipment. Someone without the latest equipment is just simply not good enough. Technology has come a long way. I believe that the Bud Light Trail has a computer driven system. I would love that in my series on Fork or on every series.. Another thing. You should give a guy all day to pass a Poly. I mean the longer you give them the less of an emotional response he is likely to give about a rule he may have broke. You should get 2 chances at the most and not 5 or 6.

Just a question do youl guy give a poly to a kid?

We gave a poly to a 16 year old that did well in a tournament with his father. We did it with the blessing and permission of his father. I knew they didn't do anything wrong. But, I wanted the young man to experience what the poly did. The father was all for it. We did have fun with him before he was "hooked up" though. We told him that the only probe that hurt if it suspected a lie was being told was the one that was hooked up to his privates. You should have seen his face.

Sorry,,,, had to inject a little humor into what seems to be a very emotional week for a lot of people.

fish for trophys...its all about the money,..

Seems to me that worrying about a "weighted" bass would normally be something that happens in a big bass event. In a 5 bass tourney, I would be more concerned with a potential cheater having fish tethered to a stump or dock post or possible caged fish, maybe even receiving fish from someone else on the lake who is not fishing the tourney. Of course, they could do that too in a big fish event but the addition of weights would be more effective in big bass events. I don't know. All in all, I believe most tournament trails out there do a pretty good job of trying to deter potential cheaters. Will they stop all of them, probably not, as there will always be someone at some point willing to take the risk. I still say that cheating in bass tournaments only happens occasionally. I don't think it's rampant in our sport, at least I hope not.

awww here we go again! with entry fees/winnings the way they are shouldnt be a problem. Or the same way you buy a metal detector/x-ray machines.

I take the oppositie view than the majority on here it appears. I am not more concerned about cheating in tournaments now. I am lessed concerned. The guy that has been cheated us for years has been caught. I don't believe that there is much cheating that goes on at all. I have been fairly positive that Robby was cheating for several years just like many people in south Texas were sure the Golds were cheating in years past. They were eventually caught and so was Robby. The vast majority of tournament anglers are honest and trustworthy folks. I stated in a different post that Robby was the only angler I have been truly concerned about cheating in 15 years of fishing all the major local circuits and both of the major national circuits. I mean it. The signs were all there. Some just choose to ignore them. Where there is smoke there is fire.

This I agree with 100%.

I think Bill of A/Q has the best fit, first talk to others and tell them the concerns, if they do not listen then you did the best you could. Next put someone with them, that does work the best, they may bad mouth, but it is better to have a crook bad mouth then have a crook ruin a trail or worse.