Pro Caught Stuffing Bass with Lead Weights During Tourney

[Madcrawdad]

A link to the article:

http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/blog/19468/cheating+scandal+at+us+open+rocks+bass-fishing+community/


Monday, August 2, 2010 2:16pm PDT

Cheating scandal at U.S. Open rocks bass-fishing community
By: Pete Thomas, GrindTV.com

A professional angler found to have stuffed lead sinkers down the throats of fish he submitted for weigh-ins during a prestigious bass-fishing tournament has been banned for life from that and other competitions in a scandal that has rocked the tight-knit and passionate bass-fishing community.

Mike Hart, a successful Southern California pro whose career earnings total more than $200,000, was accused of cheating in this manner during the recent $100,000 U.S. Open held at sprawling Lake Mead on the Nevada-Arizona border. An official with the Western Outdoor News bass tour said Hart confessed after he was caught virtually red-handed.

WON Bass will not pursue criminal charges against Hart, but the episode has tournament organizers around the country speaking out against cheating and seeking ways to prevent their events from being similarly tarnished.

"On the one hand it was a day of infamy for organized bass fishing in America," said Harvey Naslund, director of the WON circuit. "But on the other hand it was a major victory for all who have long cared for, and taken steps to protect the integrity of bass-fishing tournaments."

Catching a cheat is difficult because tournaments are catch-and-release, so bass are kept in aerated wells on the boats and weighed live at the end of each fishing day, then released.

However, sometimes bass die after being caught and Hart had offered three dead fish during the weigh-in on the second-to-last day of the U.S. Open. They were filleted so the meat could be delivered to a charity, and found to contain weights.

Officials waited until the final day to confront Hart, who turned in a full limit of five bass. All five were found to contain lead sinkers.

In all, nine sinkers were removed from bass turned in by Hart. Naslund said each sinker was torpedo-shaped and weighed two ounces. Each was attached to a short line and tied to a small treble hook, presumably to catch in the throat and hopefully keep the weights from entering the belly and being detected if the bass were cut open.

WON Bass determined that Hart acted alone, even though he had a lower-tier "Triple-A" fishing partner aboard his boat during each of the three days of the U.S. Open.

Naslund explained that the Triple-A partner fishes from the back of the boat while the pro stands at the bow, driving and steering with a foot-powered trolling motor.

On the third day of fishing, Naslund said, Hart was said to have asked his partner -- who had flown in from South Korea -- to change places while he rigged some tackle and checked on the fish in the live-well.

"The same scenario existed on Day 1 and Day 2 of the U.S. Open," Naslund said.

The South Korean angler, who would have shared part of whatever purse Hart had been entitled to after the third and final day, was given a refund for his entry fee.

For what it's worth, the U.S. Open was won by Arizona pro Clifford Pirch, with a total weight of 31.44 pounds. He earned $40,000, plus a new bass boat.

[excuzzzeme]

What a shame to bring discredit to a sport.

[jbradt]

Before long, even the fishermen will be taking steroids...

[jpappy789]

tsk tsk...

[dixienut]

thats what happens when money is involved,... greedy,...

[Scuppers]

I go on a "Bunny Blast" each January when I am back in Wisconsin. It is a one day rabbit hunt where you form teams and spend eight hrs out hunting then come back to the club-house for the weigh in.

On several occasion competitors have been caught stuffing lead weights in "various" rabbit orifices and even injecting them with water. So now all rabits have to be skinned and gutted before the weigh in...it's a sad day....

[Madcrawdad]

Obviously buying an X-ray machine would prove too costly for each tournament, but maybe organizers could buy a pair of the "X-ray Specs" that they used to sell in the classified section of kids magazines.

The tagline "Girls won't trust you with these," always intrigued me, but sadly, I never bought a pair.

[Ruskie]

Shame on them cheating their way through fishing

[Slappy*McFish]

Obviously buying an X-ray machine would prove too costly for each tournament, but maybe organizers could buy a pair of the "X-ray Specs" that they used to sell in the classified section of kids magazines.

The tagline "Girls won't trust you with these," always intrigued me, but sadly, I never bought a pair.

LMAO

[DrgRcr]

There will always be cheaters in events that involve prize money and prestige. In my racing, after every run you have to cross a scale and be at least the minimum weight for your class, including the driver and all of your safety gear. They caught a guy several years ago with a separate helmet with about 30 lbs of lead in it that he used at the scales.

[SubRosa]

I just think there's something very wrong about this type of "professional" fishing in general. Perhaps eradicating Largemouth Bass from areas where they're not native to.

[MotionInSilver]

Not cool at all.

Wonder about the fate of all of the bass that was still alive then released with those things in their bodies... how many fish went thru this stuff for nothing.

[excuzzzeme]

Obviously completely oblivious to what these tourney's do to help preserve the fish industry through education, sponsorship, research, and conducting local talks. They have a higher impact on cleaning up the waterways than almost any single entity out there.

[SubRosa]

The two previous posters are obviously oblivious to the massive ecological damage done by the Largemouth Bass due to its being stocked into areas it's not native to. The fact that the stocking has been done by "official" agencies, and the fact that the stocking began so long ago that nobody alive today can remember what our ecosystems were like before the invasion seems to justify it in some peoples' eyes. Their eyes are closed of course.

[wespastor]

I go on a "Bunny Blast" each January when I am back in Wisconsin. It is a one day rabbit hunt where you form teams and spend eight hrs out hunting then come back to the club-house for the weigh in.


On several occasion competitors have been caught stuffing lead weights in "various" rabbit orifices and even injecting them with water. So now all rabits have to be skinned and gutted before the weigh in...it's a sad day....

Maybe the Fishing sport can adopt such a program for itself.
Then fish then caught can then be filleted and donated to local homeless shelters.



Obviously completely oblivious to what these tourney's do to help preserve the fish industry through education, sponsorship, research, and conducting local talks. They have a higher impact on cleaning up the waterways than almost any single entity out there.


The two previous posters are obviously oblivious to the massive ecological damage done by the Largemouth Bass due to its being stocked into areas it's not native to. The fact that the stocking has been done by "official" agencies, and the fact that the stocking began so long ago that nobody alive today can remember what our ecosystems were like before the invasion seems to justify it in some peoples' eyes. Their eyes are closed of course.

Education is key to understanding, I would bet that even most ppl on the forum even know what our eco system looked like on this continent 500 years ago. I can openly and honest say I do not. But I can do the best I can with where I find myself today and do the best with what I have and learn to make it better. Reversal may net be an option and in all likelihood is not unless everyone want to leave the continent.

Just my $0.02

And I don’t even like fishin’

Best wishes,
Wes

[Ninja Pigs Rock]

very odd

[Rbishop]

Please folks..let's keep the name calling out of it...period. Thanks.

[excuzzzeme]

I think the most glaring omission is the fact that people feel the need to cheat. Why isn't it ok to participate without winning? Why must we "win" to feel good? I had participated in many fishing tournaments until I learned of the cheating by officials and contestants. Until that started to be the norm, fish tourney's were a great source of camaraderie and education.

[llamabob]

The two previous posters are obviously oblivious to the massive ecological damage done by the Largemouth Bass due to its being stocked into areas it's not native to. The fact that the stocking has been done by "official" agencies, and the fact that the stocking began so long ago that nobody alive today can remember what our ecosystems were like before the invasion seems to justify it in some peoples' eyes. Their eyes are closed of course.

My post wasn't in reference to your views on the ecosystem, it was in reference to the term you used to describe those who participate.

I'm not denying that they may have caused damage to certain areas, but overall I don't see or hear anything about them decimating native species of fish or plants, but then again here around the great lakes, fishing is a multi billion dollar industry spearheaded by bass fishing. Fact is they are native to many waterways in North America and I hardly see why some fisherman cheating calls for their eradication.

[SubRosa]

What some bozo(does that term offend you too much?) chooses to stuff down the throat or up someplace else on a fish doesn't call for anything. Their current existence on the east coast of the US is what calls for their eradication. Their current existence in Mexico, where they are directly responsible for the vast majority of recent extinctions in the family Goodeidae calls for their eradication. A few examples: Skiffia francesae, Zoogeniticus tequila, Characodon garmani, Allotoca goslinei.Several of these fish still survive in aquaria. There are others, and many that have been brought to the brink of extinction because of Largemouth Bass introduction. You should educate yourself on the subject. My main point is that govt agencies need to stop supporting some invasives such as Bass, Rainbow Trout (not native east of the Mississippi), Brown Trout (native to Europe) while persecuting others. Since you seem to think that stocking non-native fish is ok I bet you can't wait for the Asian Carp you'll be seeing in the Lakes within a few years!

[llamabob]

What some bozo(does that term offend you too much?) chooses to stuff down the throat or up someplace else on a fish doesn't call for anything. Their current existence on the east coast of the US is what calls for their eradication. Their current existence in Mexico, where they are directly responsible for the vast majority of recent extinctions in the family Goodeidae calls for their eradication. A few examples: Skiffia francesae, Zoogeniticus tequila, Characodon garmani, Allotoca goslinei.Several of these fish still survive in aquaria. There are others, and many that have been brought to the brink of extinction because of Largemouth Bass introduction. You should educate yourself on the subject. My main point is that govt agencies need to stop supporting some invasives such as Bass, Rainbow Trout (not native east of the Mississippi), Brown Trout (native to Europe) while persecuting others. Since you seem to think that stocking non-native fish is ok I bet you can't wait for the Asian Carp you'll be seeing in the Lakes within a few years!

Well when you're done making claims on my behalf that I did not make, feel free to explain how a cheating fisherman and some poor decisions on fish stocking in select areas calls for an immediate ban on professional fishing and eradication of all bass in non-native areas.

Never did I say it was "ok". It stinks that there are "insignificant" species that, because they don't put up a fun fight or taste as good, are deemed expendable. But you're blind to the fact that bass fishing directly and indirectly holds invaluable social, economical and environmental benefits that far outweigh the consequences. This is most likely WHY it's so heavily supported.

You're calling for extreme and ridiculous measures because of a blind prejudice you hold, all stemming from a cheating "redneck" fisherman.

Edit: Forgot to add, although I am clearly uneducated, I am well aware of the potential threat of Asian Carp passing the electric barrier(DNA evidence suggests they already have), as there are almost daily articles about it in the paper here.

[SubRosa]

Well when you're done making claims on my behalf that I did not make, feel free to explain how a cheating fisherman and some poor decisions on fish stocking in select areas calls for an immediate ban on professional fishing and eradication of all bass in non-native areas.

Never did I say it was "ok". It stinks that there are "insignificant" species that, because they don't put up a fun fight or taste as good, are deemed expendable. But you're blind to the fact that bass fishing directly and indirectly holds invaluable social, economical and environmental benefits that far outweigh the consequences. This is most likely WHY it's so heavily supported.

You're calling for extreme and ridiculous measures because of a blind prejudice you hold, all stemming from a cheating "redneck" fisherman.

Edit: Forgot to add, although I am clearly uneducated, I am well aware of the potential threat of Asian Carp passing the electric barrier(DNA evidence suggests they already have), as there are almost daily articles about it in the paper here.You have me all figured out Bob! Your insight into human nature is surpassed only by your ability to justify something because it benefits you. Asian Carp are not a threat at all. They're merely another economic opportunity that nobody has figured out how to exploit yet. After somebody figures that out Asian Carp will be great, just like Largemouth Bass!

[SubRosa]

Btw I never called for a ban on professional fishing. I never get the govt to do my dirty work for me. I said that "professional" fishermen need to get real jobs. You're not too bad at putting words into someones' mouth yourself!