Fisherman Admits Rigging Bass Tournament

SF GATE ^ | Thursday, January 17, 2003 | AP

[vannrox]

MONTICELLO, Ind. - A man's attempt to rig a fishing tournament by retrieving prize-winning bass from a sunken cage has landed him a fine.

Danny Engleking, 40, was arrested in August after a surveillance camera showed him loading bass from the cage onto his boat during the contest on Lake Shafer, authorities said. He later claimed the contest's $300 first prize.

[vannrox]

Hum.

[babble-on]

winning isn't the most important thing, its the only thing.

[connectthedots]

This guy will be shunned by other fishermen more than than a former member of ___________ (select any of a number of religious cults).

[auboy]

Cheating in Bass tournaments has been going on for decades. I am very disappointed that Mr. Engleking did not have to pay a heavier price for his dishonesty. Nothing drastic, just cage him at the weigh-in site for a tournament or two… with a sign saying "CRIME DOESN'T PAY".

[apillar]

I'm no legal expert but felony theft doesn't seem to be the right charge for what he did he didn't steal the prize money he obtained it through fraudulent means. Wouldn't fraud be a more appropriate charge?

[Wright is right!]

"Cheating in Bass tournaments has been going on for decades."

How does that work? Guy grows his own bass to gargantuan proportions and then secretes it in the waters where the tournament will be held? How DO you cheat in a fishing tournament? Stuff your catch with lead pellets to make it weigh more?

Inquiring minds want to learn....

Michael

[Mister Baredog]

must be a Clinton type Democrat, character doesn't matter as long as you win

[auboy]

Most commonly, a fisherman will catch the bass, sometimes over a period of days, before the tournament and place them in a fish basket or cage for retrieval during the actual tournament. This way, the angler can choose the largest limit of bass to cage. A secluded spot is usually chosen, for obvious reasons, to hide the "treasure".

Then, after retrieval, the "lucky" angler proceeds to "fish" until time for weigh-in. He/she thens brings the bass to be officially weighed. Shazam… what a fisherman… wish I could catch 'em like that. We have a winner!

[Frapster]

I'm no legal expert but felony theft doesn't seem to be the right charge for what he did he didn't steal the prize money he obtained it through fraudulent means. Wouldn't fraud be a more appropriate charge?

There was a time when folks were run out of town on a rail for stupid stuff like this. Felony, fraud... it was a fishing tournament for crying out loud... and a $300 prize on top of it all. Punch the guy in the nose and don't let him come back.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

This very thing happened on a lake just north of Minneapolis a couple of years ago. The bad boy won a new pickup truck for his trickery. He was discovered--but kept the truck.

[Bluntpoint]

The worst punishment:

Having to listen to the inane Bill Dance for hours on end.

[Pompah]

That's a lot grief and trouble for a lousy $300. Bucks
The guy is a prize Dip-Wad.

[auboy]

By the way, most larger tournaments, with larger prizes and more exposure, have an observer (often a sportswriter) to make sure the fishing is on the up and up. Usually, the type of fraud that Mr. Engleking was attempting happens in smaller, local, one angler to a boat type tourneys.

[SquirrelKing]

They should throw his b*ss in jail.

[auboy]

He was discovered--but kept the truck.

So, maybe the sign should read, "CRIME DOES PAY".

[auboy]

:?)

[par4]

Just go out in the days before the tournament, catch as many fish as possible, put them is your live box and select the largest for hiding in a cage somewhere out of the way.

On the day of the tournament, go to the spot, pick up the cage and "Viola!", instant day's catch.

Now, for lesson two - how to use Life Savers to cheating at golf......well maybe that's best kept a secret.

[Vigilantcitizen]

"Having to listen to the inane Bill Dance for hours on end."

Exactly.

[Grampa7030]

I have seen people pencil whip the field in golf to win a whole T-Shirt or sleeve of balls. They have an inordinate need to have people recognize them as a success. Wherever there is competition, there will be some who will seek an unfair advantage.

[TroutStalker]

Report him to the fish commission and let them confiscate his gear.