Thread: Enough is Enough

Originally Posted by keeferfish

Again not arguing (JMO) but a bunch is 1 dead fish maybe that was two in the video, one one the bank? Also trash on the bank even worse - plastic cup!

Leaps and bounds in improvement of fish care over the years, yea maybe more poplar but fish care is much improved.

They at least try to keep fish alive and release them healthy now. Even Ray Scott has photos with dozens of fish nailed to a billboard for a photo op. Catch weigh and release tourneys have become more poplar but not every fish caught and release immediately survives.

I'm not trying to get the last word so I'm not commenting any further but just to clarify my thoughts.
1. Tournament fishing was something I thought was cool; however, it has gotten out of control with the number of tournaments. Tournaments need to be reduced, not done during the spawn or hot weather, be catch, weigh, and release when available or weigh in less fish, especially on a co angler side.

2. Having multiple tournaments, especially big ones on the same weekend, and especially on a pleasure boat lake like LOZ is a safety concern. I'm perfectly aware laws are laws and just like cars on highways there is no limit of boats on the lake. Highway departments are constantly improving roadways to make them safer b/c of things like increased traffic and it's kinda hard to do that with a lake. Multiple tournaments stacked together is irresponsible, cigarette boats doing 130 mph is irresponsible, and yachts made for the Gulf of Mexico plowing enormous wakes on a man made impoundment is irresponsible.

3. I used to fish tournaments and quickly realized what a money pit they are. I also question the integrity of tournaments b/c in just one season of BFL co angler the boater asked me to cheat twice. One invited me to fish on the front deck, which is strictly prohibited, and another wanted me to jump in the lake, dive down, and get his bass hung in a tree. I'm not kidding he was dead serious. I also spoke to the operator of a big bass tournament, asking how he knew if fish were not being bought into the tournaments since there are no livewell checks anywhere ever. I weighed a 6 pound plus with absolutely no questions asked. His only answer was they have never found any evidence of cheating, and anglers are subject to polygraph. Polygraph tests are simply a scare tactic and only a few top anglers even receive them. You're not going to find cheaters unless you're actually looking for them. That's like Walmart saying there's no shoplifting, but they don't have a loss prevention department. There have been many tournaments where cheating has happened, and some fishermen would sell their soul to the devil to cash a check. The recent walleye tournament scandal is proof.

4. I'm not an economists and I could be wrong, but I think tournament fishing is the reason we see bass boats as high as they are. I believe it's simply b/c these addicted tournament fishermen are willing to pay and finance whatever in order to compete and the recreational (good ol pastime) fishermen gets screwed.

5. I wish tournaments would simply go away. Any complaints of mine may fall on deaf ears but I don't care at least I said something. The LOZ is a special place to me and I think it's being exploited by tournament fishing.

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