Rule #1

[MOsmallies]

So the guy that was a BASS "Pro" that read my fishing reports on the Red River and asked me to buy some maps, mark them with my favorite fishing spots, and then mail them to him at which time he would reimburse me for the money I was out would fall into your "bold" category?

That's unreal.... But actually not surprising. The guys fishing for $100,000-$500,000 will pretty much do anything to gain an advantage. I'd be interested to hear if any others here have similar stories.

[Chief Grey Bear]

That's unreal.... But actually not surprising. The guys fishing for $100,000-$500,000 will pretty much do anything to gain an advantage. I'd be interested to hear if any others here have similar stories.

I have had quite a few PM me for the scoop floating my area. They want spec's on what stretches, baits and all kinds of details.

I tell them I'll do them one better. That we can meet up and float together. But all they want is all the details. No dice!

Unless I know you.

[KCRIVERRAT]

Double Bingo! And the lurkers believe you bud, just play with'em concerning lakes. Small water should be left to those who have done their time on said water.

Those of you who read my posts know I often explain exactly how I catch fish. I sometimes say where the fish are. I have been known to describe the location/break/pattern. I have yet to see an ugly downgrade in the fishing because of this. Maybe it because no one believes me, anyway?

BTW, when it comes to creeks, sections of river, and coves that do not automatically "refill/replace" the above is very definitely not true.

[fishinwrench]

That's unreal.... But actually not surprising. The guys fishing for $100,000-$500,000 will pretty much do anything to gain an advantage. I'd be interested to hear if any others here have similar stories.

It doesn't necessarily take 100k to motivate a competitive angler, I have guided alot of beyond-local club anglers during their pre-fish trips. All they were out for was bragging rights or AOY standings within their club or company.

I really enjoyed attending their weigh-in's to see how "my boys" finished up.

I certainly didn't see anything wrong with it.

There was one time that the gentleman kept calling me throughout the later part of tournament day because he was looking for a kicker to upgrade his limit,.... I didn't care much for that at all. Podunk company tournament or not that's uncool in my book. He didn't get the kicker though, so karma worked, but he did finish 4th out of 30some boats and his co-angler got a check as well.

[Feathers and Fins]

I have heard so many stories about Pro-anglers and what they or more to the point their fans will do.

Posting on a forum full GPS then 15 minutes later deleting or editing the thread.

Getting a group together and sitting over an area for the days up to a tournament so others cant fish it and they were not ( spoiler spot for their Idol )

Pretending to fish a spot on a tournament day then when their Idol showed up bailed off it ( their lures had no hooks but made it look like they were fishing )

E-mails and phone called from fans or pros during the tournaments

The list goes on and on, If there is a way to skirt the black and white line and play in the fuzzy area people will do it.

[Mitch f]

I have heard so many stories about Pro-anglers and what they or more to the point their fans will do.

Posting on a forum full GPS then 15 minutes later deleting or editing the thread.

Getting a group together and sitting over an area for the days up to a tournament so others cant fish it and they were not ( spoiler spot for their Idol )

Pretending to fish a spot on a tournament day then when their Idol showed up bailed off it ( their lures had no hooks but made it look like they were fishing )

E-mails and phone called from fans or pros during the tournaments

The list goes on and on, If there is a way to skirt the black and white line and play in the fuzzy area people will do it.

This is exactly what I was referring to on a thread a while back. Readily available information is everywhere... just like PED's in sports. Hate to be this way but maybe a polygraph test should be standard procedure. When money is involved people are nuts!

[Feathers and Fins]

I sometimes wonder how "elite" some of these guys would be without so much "help"?

Before the net they went to a lake that was unfamiliar and had to learn the best they could in a short amount of time what they could. They may have had a few people they could go to and talk to or even in non-tournament season go to the lake with a guide to help better learn it. I wouldn't call that cheating but now!

With the internet and cell phones etc I think the edge swings to Pro's who are popular and have big followings. Are they really that good or are they given so much information from so many "fans" they can stick with the hot bite, pattern, locations that other less popular anglers cant.

[Mitch f]

I sometimes wonder how "elite" some of these guys would be without so much "help"?

Before the net they went to a lake that was unfamiliar and had to learn the best they could in a short amount of time what they could. They may have had a few people they could go to and talk to or even in non-tournament season go to the lake with a guide to help better learn it. I wouldn't call that cheating but now!

With the internet and cell phones etc I think the edge swings to Pro's who are popular and have big followings. Are they really that good or are they given so much information from so many "fans" they can stick with the hot bite, pattern, locations that other less popular anglers cant.

Seems to me that knowledge could never be a bad thing!

Here's a thought...Have ten potential lakes in a lottery type drawing that is to be announced 2-4 days before the tournament.

[Old plug]

I believe they get some spots told to them through jobbers doing sales for some sponsor. Like said I seen pro come up on a submerged bar full throttle and cut the motor and about 100 ft away and go up to this small bar like they were there several times before. And this was a good 7 miles from the take off. Maybe somebody spilled the beans on a place like this I do not know. But i bet some of. These guys troll these places for info.

[Feathers and Fins]

Seems to me that knowledge could never be a bad thing!

Here's a thought...Have ten potential lakes in a lottery type drawing that is to be announced 2-4 days before the tournament.

I have thought about that but the bottom dollar is the bottom dollar. By that I mean there is lots of money coming from the communities around the lakes and not giving them tons of lead time would take away the money generating machine that is the PRO circuits so it wont happen.

Now in a realistic setting they could do like they do in saltwater and do a grid system where anglers are only allowed to fish a certain grid of the lake that would cut down some of it.

Knowledge is a great thing but in tournaments its suppose to be an even field or as even as they can be. But when a pro has a huge following his amount of knowledge will be increased by his fans and that is an unfair advantage.

Like OP just said I have seen it myself, watched one pro run up on a large brush pile that was only 4 weeks old, no way in this world was it on any lake map and not yet very common knowledge also not in a place anyone would expect it to be there he had knowledge that was NOT public knowledge so he had an unfair advantage. Could he have found it in pre-fishing? Maybe but where it was I seriously doubt it