Tournament Cheater CAUGHT

[@harleylif1929]

I fished tournaments from 1986 to 2003 and saw people cheating and I told the tournament director and was told (I know them and they would not do that) So I no longer fish tournaments.

[@deanbheffelfinger2829]

Same here. Club president bent rules. The club disintegrated due to anglers dropping out.

[@ricklayman9345]

exact reason I stop fishing tournaments

[@henryturnerjr3857]

Not bass tournaments, but the same thing happened in catfish tournaments years ago. People finally stopped entering the ones ran by that bunch.

[@4336aaa]

With the same experience and disappointment, my time in fishing tournaments was very short......I love competition, but competing against cheaters, not so much

[@larryled6839]

Around here we all wish they would ban tournaments in this state. Totally ban them. They are the rudest fishermen on the lake and think they own the water.

[@chuckjones2368]

cheaters caught should be banned forever.

[@comfortablynumb9342]

Automatically. And there should be a database of them so they can't fish in tournaments where they're unknown.

[@russellstewart5414]

@@comfortablynumb9342only when tournament directors start making the names known will you be able to put a stop to this type of nonsense. Every tournament should have a 4’x 8 ‘ billboard with the photos of known cheaters , and all participants should have to sign an affidavit stating that they have looked at the billboard and will notify the directors if the see the person. He could very well be helping someone else cheat.

[@240LTS]

@@comfortablynumb9342 ... Agree.

[@DHW448]

Thanks for sharing the story. Being older, Honor & Respect is more precious than people think. Once you lose it. It doesn't come back.

[@CoinHELPu]

I think it happens more than people think. He just wasn't slick enough. Where there's money there's cheating. I do think 99% of the anglers don't cheat, but it only takes that small percentage to cheat and win.

[@michaelhowell2609]

I think I like Hunter’s rules: Don’t be a cheater or you’ll get punched in the face. 😂

[@comfortablynumb9342]

Luckily for the animals there aren't big hunting tournaments

[@Aaron_Hanson]

That’s BEST case scenario 😂

[@sliderman6899]

They should have left the fish there and filmed him putting the fish in the boat, called the local law enforcement and then let him weigh in and collect what prize he may have won. Now you have him on a larceny charge. That is how you stop these shit bags from ruining your tournaments. I stopped fishing partner tournaments a long time age!!!!!!!!!

[@mikehowe2768]

I think it’s called taking through deceit or cohesion

[@maxcole3930]

Anyone actually caught cheating should be made an example of! Removed from all tournaments, fishing license revoked for life. They should be charged for theft of whatever the total of all payouts is. Maybe people get absolutely hammered for being a turd, there would be less people trying to cheat. Polygraph's are BS, not 100% reliable.

[@johnmorganjr769]

That, my friends, is why I don't trust events like that. None. 🐟💯

[@jamesborders9841]

Me Neather

[@notsogood6249]

I have seen numerous cheaters in tournaments over the my 35 years of fishing. I report the cheaters to the directors and they said that we will question the accused angler. Next tournament same cheater fishing the tournament. One tournament for example, my co-angler and I watched two different boats pull up within 45 minutes of each other and give the tournament angler fish to put in his LiveWell. WE wrote down the registration numbers of the boats and gave it to the tournament director. Next tournament I asked the director about the cheater, the director told me that he has been very busy and haven't had time to speak to the angler. If there is money involved there will be some cheaters. That is why I just go out and fun fish now. I don't like donating my money to cheaters.

[@RichardWhole1]

Need to have a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) brain scanner at the weigh in. Better than a polygraph.... It is like forward facing sonar vs 1980 hummingbird flasher.. lol You are fishing with the latest electronics, time for the tourny director to pony up..hahaha

[@iamcrankinstein8013]

Was this in KY

[@RetiredEE]

Video the cheaters cheating, then post it. Video the directors saying they're too busy. Cheating has gotten out of hand and it's ruining the sport. The electronics should be banned. Let's see how good some of these "pro's" are in tourneys without their crutches. For regular fishing? Sure. Competition? Nope. Make it pure talent instead of most toys.

[@TripleAstyle1]

Cheaters should be banned for ever.

[@DanielBoone337]

Damn Hunter went into full squirrel mode mid story... look a blue jay... LOL Cheaters ruin everything and you did the right thing putting him on blast that way hopefully his name gets out there far enough so he can't just travel to another state and start this all over. The other thing is polygraph test aren't allowed in court for a reason. I know it's what we have now but I know people who's failed test and didn't get paid even though pretty much everyone was in agreement that they didn't cheat in any way shape or form. Great video as always keepem coming guys!!!

[@kennightingale516]

I use to fish a small Friday Night Bass Tournament, with no more than seven boats at the height of the season. There was another tournament at another marina down the lake. We started getting boats from them due to the same two people winning every single tournament. This was before live scope. I know there are places on the lake that hold fish. I understand you know the lake, but we very seldom had the same person win two weeks in a row. I guess we sucked at about the same level. I still like tournaments but now I don't want to fish against livescopers.

[@NathanBromley]

This is exactly why I don’t fish very many tournaments anymore. Too many people cheating, and guys who actually catch them, getting accused of it. Coming from a sports background I’m fishing to compete. If guys are cheating, it’s not a real competition.

[@youtubecertified4643]

Maybe the cheating is a set up as part of the "tournament" scheme to make money? Could entirely be a scam and the cheaters are ensuring they and the people running the show make their money and take everyone else's.

[@jasonhinson3812]

I don’t fish tournaments and have had bad experiences with tournament fisherman on a few occasions. It appears that some “pro anglers” the same a couple guides, they think they own the dang lake. I have bad news, I don’t keep track of pro tournament trails and have no idea where they’re going to be fishing. If I happen to get up at 4:30 in the morning, drive 2-3 hours and happen to get to a good spot before you do, I don’t give a crap who you think you are…………I just know I’m not on private property and have just as much right to be there as anyone else.

[@carlknight7469]

I have found baskets on chicamauga and that's why I won't fish tournaments here

[@porthos6914]

With or without fish? Man if I ever found one and had any thought of cheating I’d stake it out!

[@ChrisHenderson-by8lj]

We dealt with this for years in the dfw area. One guy won six figures over the years, boats, huge checks. He passed polys for BassChamps Team trail, Media Bass, finally, a big bass splash, his large bass sank in the huge aquarium release tank for spectstors to enjoy big fish. IT WAS noted, and immediately netted, he was told Tournament Director was cutting fish open. If you guys gonna mention bad run trails or cheaters, be a honorable, own it. Name the cheater and help an honest anglers fish better run trails. Robby Rose was convicted of this offense around 2007,8 in Dallas area.

[@jr19gene69]

It is good to know this situation is not like the Tony Christian cheating scandal from around 20 or so years ago. Per the words of Bill Taylor the tournament director of FLW only two people know the true story and they decided to sweep it under the rug and make it disappear so FLW doesn't receive bad publicity. Two thumbs up for this organization having the balls to get the cheater to repay money that he has one this year.

[@thecursedfisherman]

In New England there is the NEBassin trail and they let caught cheaters fish their trail!!! Unbelievable!!!!

[@QwikFishing]

First one of your videos I've seen, great stuff, entertaining and informative!

[@cjr4497]

I'm glad some of these people are finally being caught. I quit fishing local tournaments because of all the cheating. It's hard to beat the cage and not worth it.

[@ClayWilliamson]

If they don’t have the polygraph guy set up at registration then you got cheaters in the field. I used to think it was rare for someone to cheat, it’s not, it’s normal. It’s just rare that they catch em red handed. When the lakes get low around here you can find baskets like you find lures. Easy money for someone who doesn’t have integrity.

[@choccolocco]

Polygraphs don’t matter.

[@bassingaround3233]

Never crossed my mind either at that level

[@christopherfoster3744]

😂 Hi ! There isn't a machine on this Earth that can tell if somebody is lying or not lying ! ✌️

[@LarryOrtwine]

@@bassingaround3233 why would they pay for that? Takes away from tourney winnings and they arent accurate

[@Bass_attack7755]

There is a reason polygraph isn't admissible in court.

[@coygreathouse1211]

The bass fishing world is a small community with big ears.

[@choccolocco]

And way more cheaters than ppl realize.

[@Silentone-s8j]

Small community full of babies.

[@bosshogg6653]

I don't Tournament fish much at all but Snag proof would sponsor a frog Tournament every yr on Caddo and me and my buddy would fish it every yr but cheaters just ruined it for me. if they werent having fish in baskets wich is blatant cheating of course they would fish other baits and try and say they were frog fish. I just don't get how a grown Man can win this way and live with themselves I would feel like a POS And less than a man..

[@DTONEE24]

Dont forget Hector is going to be running 3 Honda Civics with spoon engines. And on top of that he just came into Harry's and he ordered 3 T66 turbos, with NOS, and a Motec system exhaust.

[@jamescaspersamanthalintner4767]

If a dude showed up to weight in in any of the tournament I fish here with 7 fish in your live well you would be dq in a got minute. And i am taking small fields less than 30 boats .

[@HCBCHEMISTRY]

That’s crazy. I seen 1 fishing tournament that was for charity, and I believe there was some big moves being made too. Even in charity.

[@chrisludston1455]

I'm thinking about starting to fish local walleye tournaments. Basically, to help charities, figure if I can do what I love, help someone in need, and, have a chance at making a little something, it's great for everyone. Not just your story, but after all the big noise about Runyan hit, and tourney cheating had taken front row, I have 2nd thoughts. I have no problem if anyone wins fair. That's the game. Cheaters should be caught, taken out back of every store they walk in, caught outside every local bar, and be dealt with. Nothing happens with the law anymore. Have your name smeared, get 6 months probation, and walk away. Already spent 99% of the money they stole. Let these guys know, their peers will knock their heads off, everytime they're seen in public. Now, you can cheat, catch a bad name for yourself, and Basically walk away. There needs to be more consequences for them all. Shame dont do a dam thing. Neither do the courts. Give them a little old school lesson, watch how fast it stops !

[@randymcgee9176]

We had a very respectful guy in California putting fish in a barrel under a dock on the California delta and got caught we lost all respect for him

[@jsfishing4374]

Who's that I never heard about that? Old news but keep cheaters on blast,let them never live it down

[@thegreatpotatokitty8196]

tech has gotten good enough that it should be mandatory to run a gopro for the whole fishing day and anyone winning would have the footage reviewed. it would be annoying but its easy enough to set one on a pole with a power cord and make sure its recording.

[@TrueNorthOutdoorAdventures]

Love the intro🤣 New Sub from Indiana!

[@jimmycollette9209]

This is exactly why I don't fish tournaments. I've been accused and have made accusations. It was taking all the fun out of fishing so I quit tournaments. I don't even fish on weekends. I'm retired so my fishing is during the week.

[@pandafox94]

"If you cheat, you get beat" should be a community standard.

[@fheeter8665]

all the tournaments I finished top 3 , A polygraph is mandatory. fish a day and half, get home and just getting rid of the wobbles when you get called to take the test. its the only way to reduce cheaters.

[@christophershelton1735]

Thank you for sharing this unfortunate and slimy situation with us.

[@codycampbellfishing2007]

Ready to see you on the FNGO live show next week!

[@KyleWelcher]

I’ll be there

[@choccolocco]

Btw, there have been ppl caught using a person under docks with a snorkel loading lures with bass from a basket, so even if it were being filmed, it would appear legit. Ppl will do crazy things for money and a little “prestige”….

[@mitchelljennings9107]

The Curtis Sanders stocking program has really put West Point on the map

[@fire71man]

Before people knew I was good at bass fishing, I don’t want that to sound bad 🤣. You are a freakin hammer dude, we all know 🤣. We have the same things going on here in NC, same people win tournament after tournament.

[@mikegoodman8136]

Thanks for telling what happened. Unfortunate it has happened before in major tournament. Thanks

[@KyleWelcher]

Definitely unfortunate

[@cwstewartjr1973]

It was supposedly what happened

[@PeterWFishing]

great video man. great blue jay feature too hahaha

[@thecursedfisherman]

So where’s the video of him pulling up the cage ?

[@unsafe_at_any_speed]

Every boat should have a tournament official onboard with a live video monitoring camera. Any and all movements are instantly uploaded for review. It's the only way to combat the theft.

[@rodney7780]

Nice thanks for laying it out for me. I didn't know all this.

[@Freedomfishingtuglife]

Good video Yeah I always wondered about that too cuz you see in the tournaments there are sometimes the same guys up there at the top.

[@markolson5626]

My dad fished a 200 boat team tournament emceed by Ray Scott on Pool 14 Mississippi River in 2000 or so. The winner got caught pulling fish out of a shopping cart in a marina.

[@anthonyvespia6662]

These people should be banned from tournament fishing period. And lose their F.L. for 3yrs. Plus a fine. Fishing is a hobby, sport, and it's therapeutic. I love my modded out Yak, my motors, and accessories. Fishing tournaments with my buddies, camping out for a tournament weekend. I hope they go to Go-Pro's. So every catch has to be on video. Most of us pre-fish, plus entry fees, traveling, etc. Just my opinion. Thanks for sharing bro. 💯 🎣 😎

[@Dmckmaw]

It’s actually sad and pathetic that someone would cheat in any competitive sporting event. I haven’t bassed fish competitively I’m many years but I do shoot competitive archery. Sadly, we have the same problem so basically I won’t enter any tournaments that have money payouts unless they are professionally managed and judged. Most of the tournaments in archery are for bragging rights only and unfortunately people still cheat.

[@choccolocco]

I quit tournies over a decade ago because of the blatant cheating. Cheating which also involved the ppl who put on said tournies. Cheating has been an issue for decades, even in the big ones. At one point I could take you and show you many, many, baskets on docks that would always have good bass in them Saturday morning and be empty after weigh in. Take a trip to your local backwater after winter drop, and you’ll see plenty I’m sure.

[@meghan7547]

All bass tournaments stink. They should be illegal imo, using a natural resource of wild fish, to commercialize a monetarily activity based solely on that wild fishery.

[@MoneyBass]

When are you going to be fishing Lanier again?

[@ericsmith3317]

You talking about Tyler Wesley?

[@realname2490]

Live scope has absolutely ruined the sport period

[@big1bass]

Robbie Rose did the same thing this guy did. He was sponsored by Nitro and was winning team tourney's by himself. Every Time Skeeter Bass Champs put a camera in his boat, he never caught anything.

[@delylewoods1682]

Kyle, i was out on Sam Rayburn recently and i saw a fish basket in the water. Before that I thought the same thing but now i think different....

[@robertcarpenter7486]

I think tournaments is a bad idea and is not good for fishing period.

[@donearhart5599]

Thanks Kyle great podcast ❤😂😂

[@prestigeworldwide5538]

7:02 lol A.D.D. moment for the camera lol

[@muskyhunter1535]

Way back in the day we were fishing Madison Chain and the day before we found a dryer bin u deer water with a cover on it. We picked it up and 5 4 pounders swimming around in it. We dumped them out and laughed. Told the director and he said nothing we can do. Last bass tourney I fished. Many years ago.

[@jgibel]

I can't believe colonel Sanders is a cheater. I love his Chicken.

[@tedlovellfishing1467]

I overheard an angler in the line, at the tanks during a weigh-in, saying, "...and if you've ever voted for Trump, you've cheated in a bass tournament!". You'd never believe what happened then!

[@Crankbait]

Do tell ….

[@thecursedfisherman]

So what happened?

[@leroyusa935]

He's an angler ranting that Trump won this year on November 5th. Give him your dirty fishing towel that you wipe your hands with for a crying towel.

[@leroyusa935]

Crybaby ranting

[@michaelraddish7898]

I gree with the trump statement

[@comfortablynumb9342]

There should be a database of cheaters so they don't go across the country and fish in different tournaments and people can be banned from tournaments for life.

[@Osprey1955]

Looks like he got off easy. Should have been prosecuted!

[@TheBeefSlayer]

It only takes one cheater to completely screw up a bass tournament trail. More than one and even worse.

[@user-eh5cr4or6k]

They should require GoPros that are controlled and owned by the tournament. Issue the GoPros mounted to the fisherman's hat and have a requirement that there has to be clear video of every fish that's caught and it being placed in your Live Well and at the end of the tournament you have somebody check every one of those videos before the payouts to confirm every catch and any other anomalies that may pop up on those GoPros.

[@PeytonNorrisFishing]

One graph on the console?

[@skinny.chicken]

first cheat i heard was dude with the weights in the walleyes. now this! im not for the cheating, but im excited to see the next cheat used! good job to the ones that watch and try to keep it fair for all!

[@frankrosenbloom]

I fish quite a lot but I've never competed. I guess I'm living in a bubble but how do you even cheat in a fishing tournament?

[@GrippingLipsFishing]

The guy he was fishing with is a real good guy. Tournament director.

[@Jigger2361]

...the flip side of this tourny coin are poorly-run tournaments what can result in false accusations. I was in my 20s back in the 1980's, my trout was weighed in and boom, ultimately won me an outboard motor. I was thrilled. Fast forward to the Awards Night. The winning fish are laid out for all to see and two guys are looking at mine saying "Jim's was bigger than this". Long story short the St. Catharines, Ontario tourny organizers came to my house the next day, said there had been a screw up, handed me a Lowrance fish locator and took my outboard motor. I was a dumb kid too shell-shocked to react the way I should have. It leaves a bad taste to this day and I can only wonder what the whispers were about, how they damaged me personally.

[@stevesteve4350]

Polygraph tests are a joke. I was court ordered a polygraph test years ago and lied but still passed. Still went to jail because I was guilty of the charge but still I lied and passed.

[@stevesteve4350]

I've been clean and stayed out of jail since then.

[@airadaimagery692]

It’s not designed to pass or fail, it’s a tool or instrument designed to receive and record simultaneously tracings of variations in certain body activities. Only an educated Polygraphist can determine if you pass or fail, not the instrument. That’s why schools more important than drugs.

[@stevesteve4350]

@@airadaimagery692I took the test and know what it's designed to do. Determine if someone is lying. School is more important than drugs wow your a wise person.

[@fishybassvon5752]

We don’t know for sure if he caught that 13lb bag, can’t rule out that he might gave another cage tied to another buoy

[@factsoveremotions6035]

Liars, dirtbags rarely change.

[@B3BlueBellyBaits]

Kyle, Do the polygraph people get polygraphed? I guarantee polygrahers get bribed! 100% Maybe the director should look into that! BTW I subsided to your channel because whomever was filming this video is super funny! Great commentary!

[@choccolocco]

From my experience, the ppl in control are in with the cheaters many times….

[@leojeidy8010]

They are easy for a person with that kind of mindset to pass. That's why in most states they don't use them as evidence in courts. A habitual cheater will be relaxed during the test as he comfortable with cheating.

[@B3BlueBellyBaits]

@leojeidy8010 It is very suspicious that this guy gave back the money without a legal fight! Usually, people of that mentality always think they are right all of the time! I bet the officials that he bribed told him to so they wouldn't be exposed!

[@KeithGunsauls]

It happens more than you think at least at the local level. Most of us are so appalled at the thought of winning that way we just can't wrap our heads around it but I've been fishing tournaments for over 40 years and have seen it numerous times. I fished in So Cal and there was a couple of individuals/teams that actually got nailed conclusively like this dude but not before winning and stealing $1000s for years. There were others also. Snagging, fishing live bait, tying fish up, hiding fish in the boat, adding weight to fish. I could tell a number of stories with names and details. There's a lot of really good people and integrity at all levels of tournament fishing and the percentage of slime balls is very small but it is naive to think it doesn't happen. Sad but true.

[@Aaron_Hanson]

😂😂 I thought you said his name was Colonel Sanders initially 🤦‍♂️

[@kaisersoze1425]

Definitely appreciate your video. Im a west coast guy. My question is why not rat this guy out? Say his name. Get it out there.He has no legal recourse if the truth is being told, which im sure it is. Let's not hold back on these D-bags...

[@Viper-eq7by]

there is a fix for this ban team and solo tournaments with no observers and make them random draws...not really rocket science right? then give each person 1/2 the time in the front on the trolling motor.

[@Mjones8383]

My question is, is there any truth to 10 or more Elites not fishing the tour this year because of the rules like Slick Johnson says?

[@KyleWelcher]

Absolutely not

[@johnstanley6819]

The crazy thing is that he obviously can’t catch ‘em. Bringing in 13-14lbs when he was being watched.

[@russellstewart5414]

What’s his name?

[@bobwilliams5506]

Fishing is not a sport. It's a hobby. NOBODY breaks a sweat fishing.

[@blainefreeman3897]

the guy should never be able to purchase a fishing License.

[@bobbyswain7049]

Sounds like the dude didnt even need to cheat but did anyways just to see if he could get away with it.....what a scum-bag

[@Tom-b9n]

What has happened to honestly ???

[@aaronalto3034]

Great story dude!

[@WolfPackOutdoors211]

You found Millikens limit. Put it back 😂

[@paulgalloway5553]

You and Hunter are the best.

[@HowieDewitt7575]

Man some people dont have any pride at all , you have to live with yourself...jeez

[@Saltfly]

Tournament fishing relies on the trust system. You can NOT trust the general public. Especially if money is involved.

[@gregthomas2904]

Forward facing sonar isn’t fishing. It’s playing video games like a kid on his couch.

[@paulhorwath579]

If your found cheating you should have to refund every angler you fished against for all the tournaments you fished

[@justdoingitjim7095]

The only tournaments I get into are bowling and billiards tournaments. It's kinda hard to cheat at those!

[@toddlowery1738]

Great video, Kyle. I'm glad to hear the video about the scumbag cheater getting busted . # team Welch

[@ericporterfield8492]

Wow passed the 3 Polygraph’s what’s that tell you about the other ones ,,Through out the year .

[@jchae35jc]

Personally I'd rather win honestly to prove Im a good angler with skills (which Ive won 2nd & 3rd in lake Okeechobee) in tournaments decades ago. Ppl who cheat to steal the money are pure scumbags but to hold trophies not earned?! 🤬

[@roypeavy3542]

I used to fish tournaments years ago I stopped because of people cheating.

[@CommonSenseFishing209]

I believe most tournaments lower and mid level all have atleast 1 cheater in them. Imagine all the cheating that doesnt get caught!!

[@slimquinn5692]

No room for cheating in Bass Tournaments.

[@chrisfoley3320]

Night tournaments are the worst, if the same guys win every week I would find another trail. A guy just won three in a row on smithmountain lake against all the local sticks, sounds fishy to me.

[@GardenerEarthGuy]

Our diving service can handle your large fish needs using GPS with a diver to place the winning fish on your line.

[@castmastersoutdoors7762]

Its sad because when real anglers win legit alot theres speculation because of too many cheaters