Did anyone catch the article where bass pro, David Dudley, says he uses tournament practice hours to stick bedding bass so no one else can catch them? Then he fishes elsewhere. Good plan? Bad ethics? What do you think?? Food for thought!

Sounds like he has thought of something that no one else has thought of. It might be bad ethics, but it is not in the rule book that he can't do it so hes not cheating. Its not fair for other bass fisherman that have fished the bed and are going to use that during the tournament, but I guess he's just trying to put some of his opponent's early.

I think we should run our sport, the way golfers run their sport. Thay might be axxx off the course, but during play they have to abide by the rules, and manners.

For the money they are fishing for and the money they are putting out.Most pay their own entry fees about 2500.a tounry.its not cheating so go for it.This goes on everywhere David Dudley just had the ba--s to say it on national tv.I fished with him in a bfl,he is a good guy who helps you when ever he can.Good Luck David the rest of the year.

My thoughts immediately are: Do to others as you would have done to you. While sticking fish just to give them lock-jaw may be deemed defensive strategy. Is it in the spirit of good sportsmanship? If your a Pro you should act as a professional at all times. If I'm fishing a tournament on a lake that has an accessible pond only connected by a small channel. Should drop anchor right in the middle to block entry to the pond from competitors? Should I ask a power boating buddy to nonstop buzz a small bay a competitor is fishing to gain an edge for myself? I suspect BASS rules will be written to address this issue that transpired. I was fishing as a non-boater a few years ago at a BASS federation zone event. The boater who pulled my name at day 2 was in second place based on how well he did on day1. On Day 2 he drew starting position 35 with me. Off we went for a 5 mile ride to his honey hole from day 1. Once we arrived another boat was on his spot. The other boater asked my boater if he was on his spot. Answer: YES! What happened next amazed me, the guy gave up the spot to allow my boater to fish his spot. That's what I call sportsmanship!


Bassin Butch

Good posts guys!!
I only know that I would never intentionally do anything that other competitors might feel is deceitful or unsportsmanlike, not for any amount of money or fame. I love the sport too much and as far as I know I have a very good reputation for fair play and honesty. Even if I tried I couldn't sore mouth enough fish to make mjuch difference in any tournament. Keep these boards rollin' guys, spring is coming soon? Johnnie

Is it ‘unsportsmanlike” according to common past practice and unspoken ‘rules’ that have developed over the last 35 years or so of Bass Tournaments?

Yes, unequivocally.

But, is it against the written regulations that B.A.S.S. uses now?

No, and I can’t see how an enforceable rule could be added. How would infraction be defined? How can you know that an angler is violating the rule?

In the years I spent fishing with pro’s the courtesy and sportsmanship I witnessed on a daily basis was incredible. The anecdote about someone moving off another participant’s area was not only common practice, it was expected.

Some of the people I met among those who cast and crank for a living were.......shall we say....unpleasant ... to be around while off the lake.
However, on the water they were courteous and sportsmen - and - women. Well, most were, most of the time.

Unfortunately this is an indication of Tournament fishing coming of age, moving from a ‘fringe’ sport on the National scene to a ‘second-tier’ event.

With ESPN’s acquisition of the B.A.S.S. tourney trail our sport has been moved into an entirely new level of competition. The cash value of a major tourney win has increased dramatically. Add the wide public exposure for a winner and there are those who will spend a lot of time and effort working out ways to stiff the competition in ways that do not break the rules, but sure bend the h*** out of them.

This may not be the first rule-bending occurrence, but it was reported widely. And, sadly, it will absolutely not be the last.

You know, I've even heard of pros that would pay locals to pre-fish for them. Surely THAT is against some rule. Even to the point of having the angler sit on the hotspot until the competitor arrives. I guess money IS the root of all evil. Well , like you guys said, the cost to enter-the potential for fame and fortune- pay back to sponsors etc. might make a select few do things we probably will never have to worry about. Thanks guys. Johnnie

Saw that guy on TV this morning, defending his practices of sticking fish. Called it a good defense. Sure he may have messed up the fishing in that area for a day or so , if that long. Seems to me that practice is for putting together a good offense for the tournament. Once you have that and confidence in your abilities, it comes down to who gets that one BIG bite that makes the difference. I do think that sticking fish, planting fish in coves, hiring others to fish for you during off limits times, dropping trees across channels to block access till you arrive with your Poulan are all unsportsman like. But like a few have said, more money means more deceitful practices. I love to fish. Catching makes it even more enjoyable. But to compromise my ethics as a sportsman would mean to me that I have lost sight of what it's all about. I may be in the minority here, but the only way I am going to get my share of all that prize money is practice, practice and more practice.

I think we’re all in agreement with that statement Herb. If by chance I started fishing at the pro level again I would never use similar tactics. Or any other that skirted sportsmanlike conduct.

Long ago, on one dreary Sunday I came home from fishing a tourney where I’d been quite thoroughly, and publically, thrashed in a tournament. I was not in a good mood, in fact I was downright nasty.

My daughter, who was very young, pre-school, asked me a question that made be pause and consider. “Daddy, why are you so ‘gripey’ after you go fishing?”

I thought about it for a long time. I discovered something about myself, winning had become more important than fishing. And I didn’t like it. That was the last year I seriously fished at that level. If continued participation in competitive angling meant I had to forgo the simple joys of fishing, then I was unwilling to make that sacrifice.
A personal perspective perhaps, but it has worked for me in the thirty some odd years since.



I can think of no more sure way to the winners circle. No matter what sport you chose to pursue. (Let’s not get into the long discussions about ‘luck’)