It seems alot of folks here are saying its ok to not follow a very clear unwritten rule if there is money on the line. Pretty evident to me that BASS is sending out a message. And as Fouz has stated earlier its happened before with Alton.

to me its as simple as this for Alton.

You talk about higher things, yet when you are confronted with a situation where you have two clear choices

1. Do something where 50% or so of people are going to be against you? (the decision he made)

Or 2.
Do something where almost 100% will say what a great guy you are, that you live to a higher calling and are a true class act" (yielding to Dean)

Yet, you still choose number 1.....why, money, standings, a slim chance to win?

Here is the other thing, Christians make mistakes, just apologise and its over.

Now for Mr Rojas.....very poor choice of words and he certainly could have been a heck of a lot more professional.

Unfortunately cash and winning can get in the way of doing an honorable act for some.

RC

If unwritten rules are not important..... try these

1. Take your buddies last beer in the fridge

2. Tell your wife She DOES look fat in those pants

3. Return your buddies truck you borrowed on empty

4. Borrow a tool from a neighbor and dont return it or return it dirty

5. Don't open a door for a lady

6. Go into a public restroom and in a long line of urinals with only one other guy using one.....then go to the one right next to him.

You can certainly choose to live your life that way....but you should not be shocked when there are repercussions.

Always two sides to both stories. Doesn't seem like either one has handled it particularly well. Karma usually equalizes things eventually.

Lots of rationalizations on Altons part. Sounded like a bad lawyer throwing anything he could against the wall to see what stuck.

-Really, the unwritten rule is different on different bodies of water because of tough fishing? Thats all the more reason to give the leader the SPACE he EARNED by leading.

-To suggest Dean should have approached Alton to ASK for space proactively is also a rationalization. Dean was right to not expect Alton to be there. And I hate it when guys cite scripture to make themselves seem better than they are.

-Alton makes decisions for #1 and the ends justifies the means. He knows his fans and faith with forgive him and I honestly think that spurs people to do things they KNOW are not right.

-Dean handled it very poorly as well.

-Guys ask how Alton got to the spot first... This happened to me in the past. On the final day, I had secured my area and I was the ONLY one fishing that specific spot. Others could see me there, but NO ONE was anywhere within casting distance. Being the leader on the final day, and KNOWING the unwritten rule, I decided to make a stop for some topwater fish I had for 20 minutes before going to my spot. Well, in that few minutes, others pounced on the area like flies on [censored]. I could not believe that those who watched me catch fish would move in on that water just because I delayed a few minutes. I'm willing to bet Dean did something similar and once Alton passed him heading for the spot, Dean got behind him and started following him to the key 30 yard stretch. It was said to be a better afternoon bite so it makes sense to let it rest until the time is right.

Alton and Dean need to go to church.

Spoken like a true politician.

This happens at every tournament. The unwritten rule (as I have understood it) is "... if someone is higher than you in the standings and they have a chance to win and YOU DO NOT then you let them have the hole". IF both of you are in the running it is fair game if you have both fished it the prior days"

Dean Rojas is NOT one of the favorites on the tour. As one "unmentioned Elite Angler" told me a T-bend a couple of years ago "Dean can be a total azz." How many of you out there thinks finishing "second or lower and being a gentleman" will keep you on the Elite tour. As KVD's add says, "Everyone has the same enemy, second place". I believe Rojas over extended the unwritten rule. He felt Alton should give up his chance to win, so he could. Not the rule as I have always understood it.

Unfortunately this is becoming more of a problem on both professional trails as well as local trails.

It seems as though Respect and commom courtesy in fishing has been thrown out the window when there is money on the line.

I for one have been disgusted by the poor sportsmanship I run into in tournament fishing today.

Give people their space, unless you have an mutual agreement.

And if your 9lbs out of the lead and only catching 12lbs a day, leave the leader to fish his area Alone! There is no way your going to win, and your only creating problems for the future. Not to mention, your teaching our youth that it ok to have poor sportsmanship.

The guy tells his side of the story and does a very good job explaining himself and you guys still bash him. Wow. Someone of you fellas need to get over yourselves. I swear, some people on here could find fault in the good Lord.

If it had been Kelly Jordan leading and some Yankee...or Rojas...had come in that close to him I have a feeling the responses on this board might be a little different.

Did you all know that Faircloth won the first Elite series event of the season? Oh and Combs won the second event of the season? Just incase you all missed those very important highlights of the season.

Maybe BASS will take a poll on TFF to see if other anglers can share water with the leader at the next event.


Also, I have a bed fish in Higport I've been watching for the last 3 days! I've been feeding her, scratching her back with my rod tip, even named her Sally. I'm letting the internet world know that she is my fish. If you see her, do not make an attempt to catch her. Thanks

If people are around you and close enough to see you catch fish one day and the next you stop somewhere else and see them go to the spot from the day before an you get mad. Get over it! It's not "YOUR" water. It doesnt have your dam name on it. You should have went straight there if you were that concerned about it. People who think they own all the water. God this irritates me. People need to learn how to share. Maybe they had fished that spot before and knew about it and just weren't fishing it that day cause you were sitting on top of it. People take things way to far now a days. Why can't we all just get a long and have fun?

In the long run this is good for the sport, BASS is milking this story for everything its worth, as well they should because its getting them publicity, nascar does the same thing. Those two anglers have probably gotten more pub than the winner has. My opinion, both anglers were in the wrong at some point, but alton moreso than rojas. Can you imagine some of the responses on here if ike had done what alton did.

IF the other competitor has been fishing it the previous three days and is in the top 12, then I say the answer is yes.

you ever played church league softball?? Those folks ain't Christians! Theyre the debil!! Most fierce competition I've seen in adult softball...

[/quote]

you ever played church league softball?? Those folks ain't Christians! Theyre the debil!! Most fierce competition I've seen in adult softball... [/quote]

this is no lie