What do you think about people who cheat in things like fishing tournaments that win big money?

Question

I am doing a research paper in college and I need to know what real people think about people who cheat at certain things like fishing, when the prize results in up to $50,000. So all those people who bass fish, please give feedback!

Answer 1

When all the cheating started in the tournaments, and created the lie detector tests, is one of the main reasons I stopped fishing Tournaments.
Cheating is more wide spread in Bass Fishing Tournaments than people realize, due to the prize money and or boats that can be won these days. The boat value alone can be close to 65K. This is why the lie detectors are starting to be used at random on all entries and the top 5 finishers.
When money is involved its a same but people will try and cheat, thinking they will get away with it. As to date to my knowledge those that have been caught cheating in T's are getting no more than a slap on the wrist.
They need to start prosecuting them for what they are THIEVES.
There is a open case here in Ky that has been going on for more than a year, where the team had won a boat, and a CHARITY Tournament, they figure they have cheated to the amount of over $100,000.
Confiscate their boat, equipment, ban them from fishing for life and put them in jail.
Its a same tho that society has come to the point that if money is involved cheating will show up.
Just an old fisherman's two cents worth.

Edit; with entry fees that can be over $100 easily, to say someone is only letting them selves down, and will get no respect is B$. Would you let someone take that much money out of your pocket each week and just shrug it off.
Bass Fishing Tournament entry fees can be as small as $50 for locals and up to over $1000, for the bigger ones.
Theft is theft no matter how its done, and to cheat, steal money from honest fisherman is nothing more than being a thief. Period.

Answer 2

I tried fishing a couple of tournaments a few years ago and found it to be a very unpleasant experience. They were small events so the prizes were not that big, but even so the amount of cheating that went on and was attempted was amazing to me. I did not know that fishing could become a full contact sport. I can only imagine what it would be like if there was real money involved like you mentioned. I quit doing these events and went back to having fun and relaxing.

Answer 3

Years ago Bob, a buddy of mine, was fishing in a "team fishing" halibut tournament, where only the biggest fish caught by each partner counted. Bob caught 22 and 21 pounders, while his partner got a 10 pounder. (This is southern California, where a 20 pound halibut is a big fish.) So their total of 32 pounds won them second place. I asked Bob why they just didn't turn in the two big ones for 43 pounds and first place (worth a couple thousand dollars more). He replied "Winning is no fun if you have to cheat."

Makes sense to me. After all the prize money's spent, you still have to live with yourself. If you get a reputation as a cheater, that's hard to live down, even if you don't have to give the money back.

Answer 4

i think cheaters can shove it you know where the people not cheating work their butts off just to even be in the tournament well in my club we do if they feel they need to cheat well that just shows you what type of person they are and what they'll do behind your back. in a few tournaments I've fished people have cheated and they got busted because the tournament director was going from boat to boat and when he got to their boat he saw them bringing up a fish that they tied to a tree the previous day during prefish. So you know what in simple words DON'T DO IT.(not to blame anyone) But then again if the person is that desperate all their letting down is them self and loss of other peoples respect and most of all their pride.

Answer 5

You've got to be a real horses-@ss to cheat in any type of fishing related sport!

In regards to B.A.S.S tourneys:

I personally don't think any contestants in a tourney should be allowed to "pre-fish" 3-4 days before a contest. But, sponsors would have a "cow" if NOBODY brought back any fish to weigh-in!

I also believe they should restrict the distance you can travel to fish. Taking a 25-50 mile ride to another lake/river system is ridiculous! Better "boundary's" would help to inhibit cheaters from cheating; they couldn't drive 30 miles away to some distant dock where they have 5 "caged" Bass waiting for them!

If B.A.S.S would do these 2 things it would help.


PS: I loved everyone's answers. Fantastic!

UPDATE:

Here's an interesting story:

When I first hit the Bass fishing Club Tournament "scene" I went to a couple of tourneys held by 3 different clubs. (I was trying to see which one I wanted to join.)

Club A was fine. Club B was fine.

Club C. AHA! Cheaters galore! (lol)

When we arrived at weigh-in I guess someone from the club had caught the #2 best "angler of the year" beaching his boat and taking a "walk" to an oxbow creek nearby that was filled with hungry Bass. They "canned" his @ss on the spot! And they informed B.A.S.S about him too!

You woulda thought he lost his mother! (lol)

( He kept saying," I didn't KNOW it was illegal to get out of the boat!!! SURREEEE!)

Everyone in the T was "p_ssed-off" that day! It was SO upsetting, the club "called" the tourney, (everyone was fix'in to fist-fight!), and re-scheduled the event! (I was kinda pissed TOO, I had 3 nice keepers!)

Ironically, the cheater-guy had an amazing amount of "wins" and was slated for their "classic" (Club Classic= Top 10 guys out of 100, (or so), get to compete. Winner of the clubs "classic" got club to pay for fee's to enter any B.A.S.S. afiliate tourney.)

Needless to say, I never went back or joined that club!

Answer 6

I think when you take any activity, even one as venerable
as fishing and make it a money sport you'll get cheaters. I'll bet if you could play marbles for $50,000 someone would shoot steroids into their thumb to get an edge.
I do think that if they get caught they should be banned for life from tournys.
I know that one who cheats has to live with it, but someone who would go ahead and cheat in a fishing tourny most likely has little concience in the first place.
It's too bad for those of us who play by the rules.

Answer 7

well i don't think much of a person that cheats at anything, and anybody that's fishing a tournament and cheats,there should be a fine,revoke their fishing licenses,ban them from any kind of fishing tournaments for the rest of their life.the game warden should be able to take their boat and fishing gear.i know that's kinda harsh,but you don't have to cheat.OK compare it to someone that hunts deer at night.if caught they are fined,gun and vehicle is took.and they are arrested.and what they were doing was cheating,not like cheating in a tournament but still cheating.deer don't have a chance with a bright light in his eyes.so i think they should be prosecuted to the max.

Answer 8

When it comes ta' CHEATIN', that is a word that = insecurity and as musicman noted : "Once a cheater always a cheater", no matter what it's relatin' too!x!@x!! Let's face it cheating is cheating, no 2 D _ _ n ways bout' it! Sad thing is though, their cheatin' with themselves :(! Don't think my insight will help ya' on your research paper, but just addin' my two cents. Aside from all that, "Fish On";) ;) ;)...

Answer 9

Cheating to win is not good a any level, for any price! Once a cheater.. always a cheater!

Answer 10

if they want to cheat then they are cheating themselves its up to them we know different so if they need the money of fame they have to live with there own conscience .we know the value of doing it right