Looking For Answers??? TRUE or RUMOR. CRAPPIEMASTERS Tournament

[swampdaddy]

Several weeks ago I received a call from a friend who had some concerns about fishing anymore CrappieMaster Tournaments. He then informed me about what is considered at this point to be a rumor he had heard and asked me if I had heard anything about it. My friend advised me that the rumor was at a past tournament a team was allowed to weigh in after they were late to the weigh in line and after weighing in they won the tournament. Since my friend called me I have heard this story from several others but I have yet heard it from anyone who was there and participated in the tournament. None of them could say for sure if this is true. It was just something that they had heard.
The purpose of this post is to try to figure out if this is true. The CrappieMaster tournament trail is a major trail that I have enjoyed being a part of for several years now. I've gotten to meet some very good people who are for sure to be life long friends of mine. I love to fish tournaments and hanging out with people who enjoy the sport like I do. There's nothing like sharing tactics and picking up techniques from some of the best known crappie fishermen in the country. This post is not to hurt any feelings or reputations but only to figure out if there is any truth to the rumor.
I figure the best way to find out is to ask. I know this site has a lot of tournament anglers on it and I hope someone can shed some light on this subject for me and the rest of the fisherman who participate in these tournaments. We should be concerned either way. If its true why was it allowed and who is responsible?? And if this is just a rumor that has spread around it should be cleared up by us anglers who participate in the tournaments in hopes that something like this want hurt the participation in the future. There's enough corruption in the world now I don't care to have it in the sport of tournament fishing. Just looking for the truth. Thanks.

[PBUG2009]

The sad part is once money is involved, people cheat. Look at the bass tournament guys caught a few yrs back. I hope its a rumor myself.

[beagle man]

call up the owners and ask, bet there is a phone number out there somewhere, from what little I know they are pretty honest bunch, some weird rules but nice guys. don't think they are into that sort of stuff

["G"]

I would go to the horses mouth......Ask Crappie Masters about it

[BigRiverMarine]

I agree with you about fishing the tournaments, even though I quit quite a while ago. (because of work). I loved seeing my friends and meeting new friends on the trail. The learning and fellowship was the main factor for me as well. I did want to do well, but all in all it was just fun to fish new places and travel with my buddies while getting a top notch education on crappie fishing.

The cream always rises to the top, and I don't think the Tourney Director would have allowed a late weigh in to happen, if HE knew it. I do know that the guys I traveled with WOULDN'T cheat anyway, and some of those guys are the best in the business now!!!!! Their reputations are worth more than the money!!!! I certainly hope this is a rumor also. It seems like a few sorry scumbags are always looking to give any sport a black eye just for the few dollars they might win from it. It has to be about the money, because they have absolutely NO CHANCE of ever building a reputation anyway. I do know the traveling pros are honest, dedicated people.

[Mississippi Slab]

I was at the tournament and I can say it didn't happen. The weigh-in site was held away from the lake at a casino. The tournament was different because you could fish Lake Washington or put in at Lake Ferguson on the MS River. They had officials at each ramp Washington/Ferguson to check your fish since you had to travel 10 miles to the weigh in site. They stated at the pre tournament meeting you had to be checked in by the officials at the ramps by the cut off time.

[chaunc]

"They stated at the pre tournament meeting you had to be checked in by the officials at the ramps by the cut off time".


So that would allow them to get to the casino/ weighin line a little later than most others, i'd think. They checked in on time so there shouldn't be a problem. I understand why some guys would be mad tho. According to the rules, that tourney, they were legal.

[Bottom_Bouncer]

Looks like Mississipi Slab and chaunc have clarified what happened in this particular tourney and no rules were broken. Occasionally, the Tourney Director will modify a rule for a tourney for a specific reason that applies to that tourney only. This information is disclosed to all anglers at the seminar the night before the tourney and everyone has to play by the same rules.

Crappie Masters performs polygraphs and/or voice stress tests to ensure those that win follow the rules.

The guys on the trail are top notch anglers and like previously stated are a group of very honest people which I'm proud to be associated.

The guys that run Crappie Masters are top notch. It is a well run organization.

I like participating in their events because I like the challenge of catching crappie on a lake I've never been before. Competing in these events has made me a better crappie fisherman plus I like the camaraderie on the trail.

[kingkrappie]

I've never fished a tourney that someone didn't have something to say afterwards, people always "hear" somethin.

My partner and I won a cat tourney a little while back, a guy came into work and asked if I fished it, I said yeah, he proceeded to tell me how his brother seen the first place team checking trotlines, I asked if he gotta good look at tge boat and what it looked like, he said it was cammo with a Bimini top, I told him I won, my boats red, no top, and I've never trotlined, he crawfished quick.

[Shine Runner]

Looks like Mississipi Slab and chaunc have clarified what happened in this particular tourney and no rules were broken. Occasionally, the Tourney Director will modify a rule for a tourney for a specific reason that applies to that tourney only. This information is disclosed to all anglers at the seminar the night before the tourney and everyone has to play by the same rules.

Crappie Masters performs polygraphs and/or voice stress tests to ensure those that win follow the rules.

The guys on the trail are top notch anglers and like previously stated are a group of very honest people which I'm proud to be associated.

The guys that run Crappie Masters are top notch. It is a well run organization.

I like participating in their events because I like the challenge of catching crappie on a lake I've never been before. Competing in these events has made me a better crappie fisherman plus I like the camaraderie on the trail.

X 2.....I agree and feel the same way.