Fishing Ethics: Would This Pizz You Off?

[bhjr.]

My partner and myself fish a local winter trail here on Lake Norman. This weekend the team that finished first got a phone call from some striper fisherman who was trolling live bait and hammering the big spots and big largemouth on each pass through a certain area. This is not just an accusation, it is fact, as it was verified by one of the passengers in the striper fisherman's boat who knows the winners as well as us. I know that the winners still had to catch the fish, but I, as well as my partner, spend a lot of time and money practicing to find our own fish to try and do well. We did manage to place third and would have probably been leading in the points but are now in second for the points. The points winners get to fish free in the next winter trail! This has kinda bothered me and I am not calling these guys cheaters, because there are no rules against cell phone use as far as I know. What do you guys think about this?

[Kight21X]

This should be interesting

[skydever]

Well funny someone mentioned this. This year our club added a new rule. No information can be gotten during tx hours. I like it. We had several guys call each other if they were on fish.

[Hardhead1]

Not anything can be done if no club rule was broken, not saying it was right or wrong, either.

[aussiebasser]

So, they didn't cheat, they won and you're not happy. Does that about cover it?

[Steve M]

If there isn't anything in your clubs rules there isn't much that can be said. Does suck but was usefull info for them

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by skydever &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote"> This year our club added a new rule. No information can be gotten during tx hours. I like it. We had several guys call each other if they were on fish. </td></tr></table>

Thats a good rule.

[twitch]

that's why most of the clubs or orgs around here have a no cell rule during competition unles it's an emergency.....

[billius]

I sure don't see anything wrong with it, as long as there is no rule broken. So you practiced a lot...must not have been enough, since you didn't win. Next tournament out...get that striper fisherman's phone number!

[Habby]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by billius &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote"> Next tournament out...get that striper fisherman's phone number! </td></tr></table>

[Toptiger]

I was of the impression that you could use electronics to find fish in tournaments. You know, " Fire up the Android and we'll see about the other side of the lake"

[WarEagle24]

Far worse things have happened in tournaments to help someone win. Just ask Nate!

[bhjr.]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by billius &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">I sure don't see anything wrong with it, as long as there is no rule broken. So you practiced a lot...must not have been enough, since you didn't win. Next tournament out...get that striper fisherman's phone number! </td></tr></table>

No, I practiced enough. Both of these guys had been out of town for the week previous to this tournament. Just to watch your efforts go down the drain with a phone call kinda sucks. By the way, second place was a friend of mine that I had just given a bait and he actually beat me with that bait! You won't hear me belly aching about that, as he beat us fair and square. Guess I'm starting to see how some folks really are, huh? I myself like winning with my own efforts and knowledge, much more rewarding than the money.

[K-DAWG]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by aussiebasser &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">So, they didn't cheat, they won and you're not happy. Does that about cover it?</td></tr></table>

Dale, he never accused them of cheating. He was only asking if this would piss you off and do you think its ethical? To answer your question. Yes, I would be pissed off and would let it be known to everyone who fished the TX what happened. Then, the others fishing could decide for themselves if they would like to have that addressed before the next TX. I am sure if enough TX fisherman let them know how they feel. They will fix this before the next TX. To answer the second part yes I also think its unethical.

[teeboy]

Hmmmmm....
Either go with the flow and use it to your advantage or quit!

I quit years ago due to things like that;)

[BP in ME]

Take it up at the rules meeting next year.

Man, I'm glad I don't fish TX! Seems like I'd have to go around with my panties in a wad all the time.

[Triton Frank]

Inquiring or receiving information about fishing spots before a Tx or even off the water during multi day Tx seems to be fair gamesmanship, on the water during a Tx; appears to be something "ethically" wrong if it's not in the rules, and it should be.

[Hoot]

I think posts like this are just another good reason not to fish tournaments as they are everywhere on every Bass board & blog. It must be durn tough to fish with your drawers always wadded up all the time like that. I try to avoid any and all confrontations with tournament anglers that want to fish where I'm fishing don't want to be responsible for causing someone to have a heart attack, Fellow Bass club members are another good reason not to fish clubbers.

[SkidMark]

The bigger trails has in writing...no shared info during a tournament. They also cover if any off-limits time before a tournament. I call guys in my club at times during a club T but NEVER, ever ask where they are catching and how. I do not get any info in bigger T's either. It is just not right.

What that guy did in the trail to get that info from the Striper boat is wrong IMO. I have no idea if it is clearly stated in the trail's rules or not....but should be.

[Reel Northern Bass]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by skydever &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Well funny someone mentioned this. This year our club added a new rule. No information can be gotten during tx hours. I like it. We had several guys call each other if they were on fish. </td></tr></table>

I'm pretty sure that goes on in my club as well. Nothing I can do about it though.

It is what it is, it's something that I learned is a fact of club fishing, and unless you put in more rules than what BASS is currently working under (because the pro's also get their information from outside help for tourneys as well), you're not going to be able to stop it. It's the sad truth of the matter, doesn't mean I like it, but the hassle it would require to stop it, would take away all fun from fishing in a club. That's just my $.02.

If it does bother you that badly, bring it up in the next club meeting, try to be as firm but nice about it as possible, and have new rules enacted next year to avoid this happening again.

[UBF1]

IMO if there is no rule cant call them cheaters. May want to talk to who runs the tournaments and try to get a rule change.