I have a friend that recently failed a polygraph test and after conversations with him and research on the net, I'm not at all sure that I could pass the test 100% of the time.
I have been fortunate enough to weigh in enough weight several times that I was required to take the test. I knew that I had not cheated or broken any rules but I was still scared to death when they hooked me up to the machine. I have passed every test I have taken.
What bothers me here is that the research I have done proves that these tests are not 100% accurate. Do a web search on polygraphs and you will be amazed at all the sites available out there.

What are the opinions on polygraph tests ? I agree that measures such as livewell checks, kill switches, life jackets etc should be checked, but from what I have learned there are wayyyy to many variables associated with a polygraph test.
Most of us are not fishing tournaments to make a living. The most important thing we have is our reputation and I would hate to think that mine could be tarnished by a machine.

Please chime in and give your opinion on this subject.

Thanks, Steve

Well I have always heard that they can not be used in a court of law. What does that say about them??

I know a guy that took one of these tests three times and failed. The question they were asking him was what was his name. Each time he gave his name, and each time it said he was lying. The fourth time it finally accepted his name.

I tend to agree with you as far as having your reputation tarnished because of failing a lie detector test, when you know you are innocent. However, and unfortunately, when there is money and/or big prizes on the line, some ethically challenged folks will go to any extreme to win by cheating. I agree too that we as non-professional anglers are there to have a good time and test our skills against other anglers and have no intention to cheat. But there have been numerous cases of cheating in tournaments so the hosts of the tournaments are basically forced into providing as many safeguards as necessary to deter cheating.

I agree polygraphs make me nervous, however over the years my partner and myself have probably taken 15-20 tests and had no problem, remember the Tournaments are looking for basic questions, did you catch your fish legally, did you observe Tournament rules ect. Personally Im very happy that the Tournaments I fish have polygraphs, my only complaint would be to polygraph more people at the event. Furthermore, during the events I've attended over the years when someone failed the test, even when they said they did nothing wrong, turn out to be some type of rule infraction that they forgot to mention during the testand at some later time admit to or remember the problem. One last thing, I have got into the habit(when I'm lucky enough to place high) when taking a polygraph to write out a list of anything bothering me big or small so that I clear my mind. This has worked well for both myself and my partner. Hope this helps, and my opinion "Keep the Test Coming, Infact I hope I have to take one this weekend!

GARY

If you did win a tournament and failed the polygraph, would that DQ you from the tourney immediately, or would it create a case for the board of directors to review? It seems to me that a machine should not be the end all, be all when we as humans are concerned. I agree that it should make a case to move forward to an investigation, but destroying someone's credibility and percieved integrity because a machine says that someone is lying seems a bit assanine. I'm not a tournament fisherman, but am considering the possibility in the near future. It's a bit unnerving to think that a faulty machine could destroy my family name and my credibility. This was a very good topic, bankbeater.

Thanks for your input guys and Mudcat has said what I was really wanting to say.
Yes, if you fail a polygraph, you are DQ'd from that event and in most cases not eligible to fish in any other tournaments. (TFF tournaments included)
I know that most circuits will allow you to re-take the test at your own expense, which I understand to be around $300.

I agree 100% that there needs to be something in place to deter cheaters, but what if this happened to you and you KNOW that you are innocent.
How do YOU clear your name ??

I have heard like you that some questions are really bothersome to people, and even though they did nothing wrong it caused them to look suspicous on the machine. Sure hope I don't have to take one, because I have done enuff bad stuff to last a life time.

I hope I get to take one this weekend also, but I will be nervous about it if I do and only hope that I can pass. I have thought about that when I enter a tourney it is there in the rules that If you have ever failed a Polygraph you are not allowed to fish. HUMMM Lots to risk.

Jody

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It's not the machine, it's the tester.
I've taken one as part of a work related investigation.
The pre-polygraph interview is the key.
They will ask you questions that 90 percent of people would lie about because of embarrassment or just the fact that you figure, you don't know this guy, why would you tell him your personal business? Things like: Do you drink and drive on a regular basis?? You're thinking "well I have before but not on a regular basis" or "I'm not telling a cop anything about my drinking".
All those little things will get you in trouble later on when the test starts.
Plus, the cops are good. They go to school to learn different behavior patterns. They can come pretty close to reading you in 5 minutes or just watching you sit in a chair. They will constantly ask you questions like "are you nervous? you seem a bit nervous." "anything you need to tell me?"
It's just a big game. It could get serious though if it messes up someones life.

Just be glad the fishing tournaments aren't criminal polygraphs. That's another ball game. You don't want any part of that. Trust me.
I could go on for hours on polygraphs but I guess I will leave it at that.

Tx-weeble,

I'd be interested to here more from you on this topic. As you stated "Just be glad fishing tournaments aren't criminal polygraphs".
The way I see it, this is worse. What we have at stake here is our NAME. That is really all we have and I would hate to think that my reputation could be tarnished simply because I played "the game" and didn't win.
I, along with the majority of the folks on this board are passionate about our fishing obsessions. Failing a polygraph could cause us to loose that passion. I just hope it never happens to me.

NOT ACCURATE as I have actually been a victim of this process.

Several years ago, I caught a fish that placed fairly high in the money at a KILT $100K big fish tournament.

After completing the mandatory lie detector test, the examiner accused me of failing the test. I said "you've got to be kidding". I requested a re-test and he reluctantly agreed. After I "failed" the second test, the examiner became accusatory and stated that liars and cheaters like myself should be barred permanently from competive fishing. I was dumbfounded. I immediately protested to the tournament director who was pissed because they couldn't award monies until the situation was resolved. I vehemently argued my case. The owner of the company conducting the tests overheard my conversation and volunteered to adminster a final test. The tournament director, owner and I agreed to a final test. The owner understood that I was visibly aggravated and he directed me to go have a soda and calm down for 15 minutes. He subsequently adminstered the test and I passed with flying colors.

When I inquired as to how this could have happended, he admitted that the process and results are subjective (not permissable in a court of law) and can be misinterpreted by the examiner. He also explained that some people, for unknown and unexplainable reasons, simply don't do well regardless of the situation. In my case, the mere accusation of me cheating would send the meter off the scale.

Although the situation was rectified. I felt tainted and basically stopped competitive fishing altogether because this issue always weighed on my mind. What if I had to go thru this process again? We'll see. Also plan to fish a draw circuit like BFL where lie detectors are not an issue.

Just thought I would share my experience on this subject.

Walt...

Guys and gals, lie detectors are like all-weather, computer controlled aircraft...all you need in the cockpit is someone who will completely trust and turn control over to the computer. Other than that, there's absolutely nothing wrong with it...

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HI GUYS I AM THE ONE RANDY CISLER WHO FAILED THE POLYGRAPH .LET ME TELL YOU SOMTHING PRAY AND I SHALL PRAY FOR YOU THAT YOU NEVER HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS . TAKE STEVES ADVICE AND RESEARCH IT . I AM ON THE VERGE OF HAVING TO SEE A SHRINK. ONE WEEK AGO I MADE THE COMMENT THAT I WAS THE HAPPIEST I HAD EVER BEEN . WELL NOW ONE WEEK LATES I AM A MISERABLE BROKE DOWN PERSON . LET SOMEONE JUDGE YOU FROM A BOX AND TELL YOU YOUR A LIER. RANDY CISLER

THANK YOU WALT YOU KNOW WHAT I KNOW YOU FEEL MY PAIN . GOD BLESS