I hadn't been over to bassfan.com in awhile. They have an interesting couple of interviews -- one with Jim Bitter & another with George Cochrane, about a dispute that erupted in a BASSMaster event @ the Harris Chain of Lakes. Apparently, there was some coverage of the dispute on ESPN (I wouldn't know, I have only seen about *one tournament* on BASSMasters since ESPN took over -- too damn early for me to be watchin' TV on a Saturday morning!).

Anyway, it's an interesting look at what happens when other fishermen start encroaching on "someone's else's water" -- even the top pro's, apparently, have their moments of heated 'debate' on the water. I guess with more & more money on the line for these hi-profile tournies, it's bound to become an issue every now & then.

In any case, maybe this can generate a discussion on our board about the 'rules' of encroachment in our tournies. I thought BnT's rules stated something about this, but I'm not seeing it now (was it ever there, or am I imagining it?). Apparently, we're leaving it as a basic 'gentlemen's agreement,' to be dealt with on the water as it happens, with some supposed 'understanding' of what constitutes "encroachment"?

Does SCBBBC have a more definitive rule on this issue? I seem to recall a comment from one of the guys at one of the Sonoma tournies, where I had apparently (unwittingly) gotten a little too close for comfort.

I don't know -- can we have a quiet discussion without flaming up the gas here? How 'bout we give it a try?

Whether or not we get a thread going on this, I recommend listening to those two Bassfan.com interviews to see how the story changes from one guy's perspective to the other's.

I've been following it Jeff. It is an interesting topic. I know you said you don't watch the shows. ESPN has 2 new shows Bass Center and Loudmouth Bass. Both shows covered the topic and gave their opinions.

I agree with both parties on certain aspects. I also agree with the show hosts and Bitter, that money will take the 'gentlemenship' out of the sport :-(

That was 1 of 2 heated topics recently. The other one was about David Dudley. He was one of the last flights to leave. Dudley, knowing this, and knowing that the tournament (so he thought) would be won by site fishing decided to play 'defense'.

He went out to the spots where he thought the guys would be sight fishing, and intentionally hooked bedding fish durring practice. He did this in order to hopefully keep the other anglers from catching those fish x(

It's not illegal, but it's also pretty chicken sh@t :o

And you're right, all those shows are on waaayyyyy too early! That's why I love TIVO :+

Just something interesting about the Dudley incident, I can't recall off the top of my head i think it was on Bassfan i read that he actually only stuck a total of two fish and then talked about it publicly. Seemed more like he was just trying to play with the other competitors heads rather than stick all the fish and it seemed like it prolly did after reading their comments. I just think its funny, of course you would be pissed if you were in the first flight or two, but you didn't hear any negative comments from guys in Dudley's flight.

They interviewed him on Loudmouth Bass. That's where he said he only stuck 2 fish. One was like a 5 and the other was like 1.5. He said it was simply a head game. Once he got into their heads, that was all it took. ;)

Roland Martin called him an 'idiot', and Jerry McKinnis called him a 'spoiled little brat' :o If you can't catch the fish, so be it. But I don't think it's very sportsman like to try and keep the others from catching them just because they get to go out first? But, it's not against the rules!

He also said (Dudley) that anglers have been doing that for years? They just didn't have the balls to go public with it }(

The irony of the Dudley situation is that he placed like 90th place in the tourney .I just watched a show were Joe thomas was pre- fishing for a tournament and was catching his fish stating he wanted to know the size and quality of the fish in the area he had found them which to me was basically the same thing.I can see both sides of the arguement.This is going to be a heated debate i imagine.As for Jim Bitter I couldnt a gree with him more did you see how close that other idiot got to him,Jim could have flipped a bait in his boat with out leaving his seat, this in a lake of that size .Had it been me i would have been pretty upset as well.
tight lines,
brian

BNT did have the rule you are talking about but it got voted out a long time ago. The main complaint was sometimes guys like to share baits, relax under a tree for lunch, etc. I dont think this rule fits BNT right now. I know there has been people whining about others getting to close in the past, but personally thats between the 2 anglers. I have never had any issues myself with this.

About the Dudley thing...this is a competitive sport deal with it or get out. The level these guys are fishing at is not meant to be the fun laidback type events. These guys are not there to make friends, they are there to catch more weight then everyone else and make a living.

I like the flexibility of leaving it up to the fishermen. I like to fish with my bro, we often fish farily close to each other, and we frequently trade off who works a shoreline first. It is really a crack up when one of us catches a fish in the others dirty water; a lot a smack talkin happens after that! Anyone else I will ask if they mind if I think I am getting too close.

Just taking a break, hanging out, and shooting the breeze can make the day enjoyable too.

Buzzfish