Garland fisherman on the hook for felony theft after cheating in bass tournament (Texas)

Dallas Morning News ^ | 04/14/2010 | Matt Peterson

[devane617]

The theft charge was prompted by the grand prize in October's Bud Light Trail Boss Big Bass Tournament on Lake Ray Hubbard: a $55,000 bass boat.

[FlyFisher]

Boat? Who needs a boat? I thought fishin’ was about standing in the middle of creek or river.

I agree with all the non-competition guys here. Fishing is about getting out in nature and enjoying yourself. Heck, if was about collecting fish, dynamite and net work better anyhow.

[vetvetdoug]

There is many checks and balances at these Bass Pro tournaments. I remember some contestants catching fish in a pond and sneaking them alive to the tournament to increase their take. Now this has been closed up by judges and oversight referees at the tournaments. I know that many of the champion Bass are radiographed for heavy metals because of the weight that can be falsely elevated with lead. This cheater will never fish in a tournament again.

I recommend that Freepers within a five hour drive of Cotter, Arkansas, go fishing for trout on the White River at the Cotter trout dock...absolutely a great fun time.

[ArrogantBustard]

I like fishing from a bassboat, a rowboat, an innertube; I like fishing from the shore, fishing while wading, fishing in the mountains, fishing from the beach, deep sea fishing from a charter boat ...

I just plain like fishing. I like the fresh air, the water, the solitude, the companionship, the strike, the fight (if any), the food (if I so choose) ...

But the idea of formally competing with other fishermen just seems to ruin it. For me.

[djf]

Guy deserves a good kick in the bASS!!

[1066AD]

Tournament cheating isn’t new of course. I remember a few years ago reading where one guy brought in fish that were still frozen, others where the fish had obviously been dead a while, having been placed underwater before the contest and so on.

[OBXWanderer]

Never understood the economics of buying a $100,000 dollars worth of equipment to fish

used to run a charter fishing yacht down Texas way, back in the 80s....dockwalkers would stand there and ask about prices, etc...I would be in the cockpit answering....almost always got asked..."That boat have a fish finder on it?"....my answer...."yep, your lookin at it"......anyother frequent "layman" question....."How many people does it sleep?"........canned answer, "Depends on how friendly they are".......or "Where did you catch all those fish?".....answer..."In the lips"....