+1 on that...Mark's initial reply along with this one is dead on. Reality is that there are cheaters in every sport whether its via steroids in baseball, lead weights in fishing or spit balls in baseball. Money is involved so those who are cheaters will continue to try to find ways. The other reality is we all must understand that % is so low that you can't change the way the TDs do everything, which cost time and money for such a small %, which I think is less than 5% and probably closer to 1%. Polys are normally VERY accurate especially if newer technology is used and administered by a professional or at least well trained person. These along with common sense like what was used in the Rose case, should be enough until a better technology that is affordable is available. Until then we should all just enjoy this great sport and competition we all love so much and quit worrying about the next guy that is going to cheat.

Clearly mark all tournament boats

Allow no contact with any other boatduring tournament hours except in emergency

Now this seems to be the kind of talk we need to be having with a situation like the recent... Good job JP!

I like your idea on keeping aside a few random bags to check for anything odd with the fish. I would be willing to bet, if scheduled in advance, a tournament director would be able to have a game warden on hand (maybe someone from the fisheries) to do such a service "on the clock." I would also be willing to guess that this would constitute as part of their job description as seen when wardens are present at hunting events (big buck contest, etc.) I have on occasion seen a Game Warden wondering around a weigh in but more of interest than anything...let's put them to work, that�s what they are there for.
Insuring the future of our sport and our fisheries are key and will only be done with continuing support of everyone...

Also, I am as guilty as the next guy for not protesting wrong doings of other contestants... I, for one, would never be able to show my face had I knowingly done something to break the rules (even as minute as a "no wake zone" or life jacket) but I do see it very often. This is a rule. It's a rule for a reason and we all need to take part in making sure that everyone is taking to heart these rules and making them standard for all of us.
***side note/example: I was fishing a big bass event (Rayburn I think) and saw J.P. (yes, this JP) bummed out. We started talking about the day and the fish we had (in my case had NOT) caught and he was bummed out having landed one that would have had him easily in the money... Problem was, he said that he let it go because he realized he didn't have his live jacket and kill switch on with all of the excitement. (Sorry JP if this isn't exactly how the story goes) This is the type of character that we all must have each and every tournament, big or small.

PS- my sponsors may or may not have these same views, yet they are all stellar supporters of the fishing industry. LOL!

I know the Game & fish have a way of verifying origin of fish. What if we got them to do random fin clippings to make sure where the fish come from ?

I also like the idea of testing for mind altering drugs. This can be done with urine testing & drug strips fairly cheap I believe.

All this being said I would not do any of this unless there was reason for suspicion like catching twice the weight of the rest of the field or different looking fish or something like that.

Correct me if I am wrong but I believe everyone suspected Robby of cheating years ago, thus the reason for putting an observer in his boat for BC tournaments. He quit fishing those tournies correct? That should show you he was more than likely cheating. I'm a fan of polygrpahs for winners....I'm a fan of polygraphs done randomly. I think the majority of the tournaments I have fished have done a great job of preventing cheating. I think I read something about having a forum for tournament directors. I like that idea very much. Isn't it the TD's discretion on whether or not they let someone fish in their tournaments? Plain and simple....If you think someone is cheating it should be investigated. If you can't come up with any facts the TD needs to determine whether or not to a) disreagrd the complaint as there wasn't sufficient evidence to claim the person cheated and continue to let the person fish or b) make the person have an observer in the boat with him/her and see what happens or c) DQ the person if they were in fact cheating. If it is an individual format this would work great and if ONE person is having so much success that the TD wants an observer to ride in the boat with them, they should take it as a compliment. Now this observer situation shouldn't be a full time thing because I know like me for instance, I enjoy fishing by myself. Make them have an observer for a couple of tournaments and see what happens. Either way, the TD need to be able to communicate with each other about this type of info so they can't know in advance to look out for a certain person and not let him/her fish their trails. If this Robby Rose character was accused of cheating so many years ago, then something should've been done years ago to put a stop to it.

I hope all of this makes sense as my 6 yr old has been running around the house like a wildman so I better get off of here.

If you want to fish alone in a Team Tournament you have a pay for a observer, maybe $50, who is the TD's choice.

Learn from this. Do a quick analysis on his technique.

Had a monitor applied to him on one trail and didn't perform according to what his record would indicate.

He then randomly jackpotted big money tournaments and won money nearly every time.

Continue as it is now and the Tournament Directors NEED to communicate their concerns of suspected anglers. Yes you are in competition but cheating should be of common interest to all TDs because it's bad for ALL your businesses.


Most of all don't overreact. The signs on this situation were staring at us all. We just chose to look away. I think what is in place now further supported by TDs sharing information might do the trick...or do nothing different and consider this an aberration of human nature.

Keep it like it is. the honest will keep other honest. This will put alot of pressure on the TD's. they have alot to do already.some might just quit doing it.This was a eye opener for future tourny.with the extra poly's and other testing that will drive entry fee up also and weigh in time. It's a shame we have to accommodate cheaters.

+1 My thoughts eggsactly.We just need to police our own.

Most TD have there own boats but do not fish the circut they are TD for. They could ride around the lake with binoculars watching some of the contestants that are fishing. We had a few trails back in VA that did this and they caught 2 guys cheating and after that it pretty much stopped evrybody who even thought about it.

I really reall really like the idea of all tournament boats being marked somehow.

a ribbon on the trolling motor shaft, a flag that clips on one of the rear cleats. something that is a universal marker for everyone to know you are in a tournament. and it is placed on your boat by a TD, yep the TD has his own type of flag that he installs on your boat with his own special type of attaching device (colored zip lock, plastic locks etc..) after the weighin the flag gets inspected for tampering. Doesnt have to be a flag either, it can be as simple as a plastic ID marker such as the lock/seals for Semi tractor trailers when they close the doors up before thier haul. Plastic strips with an ID number on it stand out big time and can be clipped on a Cleat for all to see from the water. and you log the number.

now, if this is a universal thing that all tournaments start using, then every boat on the water will eventually know who is fishing a tournament and who isnt, also all competitors know who is fishing and who isnt. any thing out of the ordinary being done by a tournament boat now has several opportunities to be turned into the TD.

i dont think there is a fix all, but there are ways to make it tougher on the cheaters and not kill the integrity of the sport.

There will always be someone that thinks they can get away with cheating, The extra random polygraph is not a bad idea, Also every boat ought to have some kind of a marker that can be seen from a distance,,a bright colored something,,then you will know they are entered,If one partner fails the poly then it should be administered to the other partner,, other than that we need to keep it as is ,, As far as Individuals that's a whole other ball game, 1 other note the team that weighs in several hours early has always bugged me,,i don't mean a hour its the ones that come in at 10 and say they are having live well trouble

I have reread you post 5 times. I still dont get it. Bill Long(sp?) is the worst trail about being lenient about cheatin. He had a team that both failed the poly at a championship and he disqualified. He said no more fishing my tournaments. Next year he lets them fish. People question that he says I gave them another poloy and they passed. So he let them fish.

I've never figure out why in all the BIG BASS tourneys that let boats trailer to any ramp on the lake. Never seems to be a good way to deter cheating. I believe I've only fished one that made you go by the check-in ramp and check your livewell.

I don't see any way your going to stop people from cheating, when the money gets big, that want to cheat.

Quit posting the top weight in an hourly tournament. If you don't know what it's gonna take to win, there is less chance for someone to cheat.