you make no sense skippy

Honesty among bass fishermen once was a thing of beauty. No mater the size of the tournament everyone was honest. Yes, the fisherman�s code is one thing, �Early to bed, Early to rise, Fish like crazy and make up lies.� It was always the �One that got away.� Besides the size of the fish, bass fishermen were as honest as the day is long. Someone you could depend on in the time of need and someone that was a true friend. For the MOST part, we are all still great people but it is the select few that gives us a bad wrap.

I only bring this up because of what happened last night. This is my soap box. A father and son fished the local working man�s tournament yesterday. The son, about 20-25 years old, was running the trolling motor and the father was in the back. My partner and I started on one point and they started on another. As we got closer, about 30-40 yard away, the old man landed about a 2 pounder. We told him great catch and engaged in some small talk as we passed by. Now fast forward to the weigh in. It is an individual tournament. The son, weighs in two fish and the old man weighs in nothing. When confronted about the fish, the old man says �I gut hooked the fish and it died in the live well, so I through it back.� The TD left it at that and it is what it is. Now, the son was not in the money and his weigh did not affect the outcome of the payout.

Here is the second part. The TD does not do live well checks and he allows anyone that wants to drive to the dam to launch 10 min head start. No big deal, yes I would like for live wells to be checked. Weigh in is 8:30 pm. I always, along with most others, check in on time. Some come straggling in up to 8:50 pm and still weigh their fish. That is what I do not like. Now keep in mind the TD, is a great guy, partly why he allows some to come in late. He does not want confrontation and just enjoys putting on the tournaments.

After this LONG Soap Box, would you continue to fish the tournament? Would you ask for some changes to be made? What is your input?

Have Roy D Mercer call them. Sounds like somebody needs a arse whoopin.

I was fishing a local tourney and ran way up this creek, spending a few hours up there. I was taking my time working my way back down when I spotted two boats side by side. One guy in one boat handed the guys in the other boat something twice then the guy in the other boat passed him something. I shut it down and watched, one boat backoff and left the area, the other boat waited 5 minutes and then left.

One boat won the tourney and the other boat won big bass.

To this day I check results and see their names all the time.

THIS WAS NOT IN TEXAS!

I am older now and only fish for fun.

As more money has gotten involved with tournament fishing, unfortunately it has brought about dishonest people. I guess having been an Athlete and competing to win for the satisfaction of saying that "I did it the right way" carries over even into my tournament fishing. I can't imagine cheating to win a few dollars. It would have the sour taste of something I didn't do or accomplish. The money will be gone and the plaques will catch dust, but the memories of true success or heartbreak will last forever.

As more money has gotten involved with tournament fishing, unfortunately it has brought about dishonest people. I guess having been an Athlete and competing to win for the satisfaction of saying that "I did it the right way" carries over even into my tournament fishing. I can't imagine cheating to win a few dollars. It would have the sour taste of something I didn't do or accomplish. The money will be gone and the plaques will catch dust, but the memories of true success or heartbreak will last forever.

As required by state game laws, dead fish must be retained as part of your daily limit. It is illegal to cull dead fish.

So for clarification purposes what about when you gut hook/gill plate a slot fish? If it's dying and bleeding out do you put it back in the water?