Fish drums and possible cheating

[agentjmw]

I fish Lay amost exclusivly. I started payinng attention to docks latley. Its amazing how many drums, and wire cages either in the water tied to a post, or sitting on the dock. And these are not the traps you put the dog food in to catch crappie. These are simple cages. These are my questions:
1) Is there a legitimate use for them? If its for keeping the fish while you fish to consume the fish later wouldnt a stringer work just as well?

2) Is it legal for a fisherman to check these on a tourney day to see if someone is stocking bass for a tourney?

3) Does Alabama water patrol check these contraptions?

TIA...

[AveryF]

Good question! I've noticed these before, mostly on Coosa River impoundments, and have asked myself the same question. WTF are they for???

[Eric B]

Tell you how to find out if they are cheating mark the fish some how either with a piece of braided line in the mouth or something to that effect. Then have the weigh master in the big tournaments keep a look out for it.

[Tr21Pd]

Take a hole puncher for paper ..... punch the dorsal fin .... then tell the weighmaster what you did ...... & then tell the local police that you may need their assistance at weigh-in ...

[Shoofly]

Let's say a hole is punched in the fin or the fished is tagged in some permanant way. What happens when that fish is released back into the lake after the tournament and someone catches it in another tournament legally?

[Eric B]

Well that may happen but unlikely but it could. The weigh master and you could tell if it freshly done or not. It's not that hard. I caught some guys at Smith lake once that were cutting the tail fins so they would be below the slot limit.

[BlaznbyU]

Ya'll crack me up. If ya'll are that worried about cheating then get a few of your buddies together and have a small tournament each week where ya'll know each other. Everyone seems to forget what we got into this for: FUN, RELAXING, NOT BEING AT WORK. If ya'll stop fishing these tournaments then sooner or later the thiefs won't be there, no big money fish pots and they will go somewhere else. It's getting ridiculous on Lay with a different tournament every day of the week. Lord why can't we just go out and fish anymore...

[agentjmw]

If I never fished a tourney in my life I would be concerned. Im not a big tourney fisherman. I don't have the time or the determination. But I fish the Marks tourney because the money re stocks the lake and I have a chance to win a new boat. But I am pretty sure there are a few cheaters. If you saw a drum full of bass tied up next to you on a dock on Shelby Shores and saw a boat come get them would you do anything? Would you write the boat number down and call the water patrol? Of course you would.

[BlaznbyU]

Like I stated before if everyone stops fishing these tournaments the cheaters will start to vanish, simple small pots are not worth the aggrevation and gas usage to find and keep them alive till TD. I wish everyone would stop fishing these local tournaments, and I think that you will also when you move to Lay on the shelby side. I know people cheat, that's just human nature, only the ones that were brought up with morals in their lifes do the right thing. I wouldnt be looking for baskets, I would rather be looking for them Coosa Spots and the really big ones are not on the piers lol lol. What about the hundreds of boat houses on the lake with doors? If I was cheating I sure wouldn't be leaving the proof tied up to my residence, you think that they would? Like I said simply before everyone just stop fishing these tournaments and they will go somewhere else with the prices of gas. If just interested in fishing Marks for the restock advantages Southern Lake Management is just down the road in Calera and they would probably sell some of the fingerlings for u to restock yourself, much cheaper than the entry fee for the Marks tourney...I fish local club tournament trail, maybe only 10-15 boats, and sometimes the Marks, but you will never hear me ever wonder about cheating. My main goal is to compete with them little green fishies and if I do get them in quantity and quality then thats a bonus to my self esteem, I dont think I will ever get rich or even keep boat payments regular with any earnings from these tourneys, my goal is for fun and to see some old friends again, that's all...Oh and the Blast off, the entry money is well worth it for that alone lol lol gotta love them gas sucking, oil belching, 6000RPM screaming 2-strokes WOW

[Challenger84]

David, what is the next date that you will be home??? I wanta ride in your new boat.

[BlaznbyU]

Hey there Winn, man long time no see. I cant wait to get back home and see ya'll. I'll be home July 1 if there are no more problems over here, they are always having some kind of conflict. The commercial flights have had to be re-routed around North Mali over here cause the rebels have been shooting at everything. I need you cell or home number and we will definately get together and see if we cant catch them little green fishies again like on Jordan and Smith, only this time ya'll have to let me catch a couple. maybe some of us from the BBC could get together I sure would like to see all of my old buddies, it makes the days over here a little easier with something to look forward to...

[Challenger84]

David, my cell phone number is listed in the Nextel/Cell Phone thread. Give me a call when you are here and we'll get together if you have some time. Be safe over there. If you remember I warned you about the bullets flying around over there. Keep your head down.