Check this out. Tournament cheater caught.

[silverside]

Crappie Angler Disqualified, Banned for Life for Cheating - Wired2Fish.com

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[deathb4disco]

Cheating in a fishing tournament is so lame. Be a man and commit a real crime.

[SuperDave336]

https://www.crappie.com/crappie/alab...heating-3.html

[DRFISHDUCK]

He left with his cheatin fish, did he filet em up and have a wonderful fish dinner that evening?

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[trypman1]

I am shocked but not surprised. I saw this happen in a big Bass tournament in 1975, a cop was caught having fish already in his boat. He was banned for life but, it got worse- he was fired from his job, lost his family and committed suicide. this guy will pay in many ways. Sad, Sad for all.

[SuperDave336]

Lucky he was allowed to leave. Some suggested they should have just let him go ahead and then pressed charges.

[SuperDave336]

I am shocked but not surprised. I saw this happen in a big Bass tournament in 1975, a cop was caught having fish already in his boat. He was banned for life but, it got worse- he was fired from his job, lost his family and committed suicide. this guy will pay in many ways. Sad, Sad for all.

That's horrible. One decision can change everything.

[M R Dux]

I know Darrell VanVactor of Crappie USA very well and know Paul Turner from being around him at tournaments. Paul has always seemed like a nice guy and seemed very well liked. That point is why so many from the crappie tournament community have remained very quiet. I know this is a shock to them,even the ones who might have had suspicions of cheating for some time.

Darrell VanVactor is a great person in my eyes and we’ve been friends for years. When this broke, I sent him a text to ask if a statement was coming from CrappieUSA. He said their actions were their statement. I can imagine this hurts, having to take such drastic actions against a friend. It also shows Darrells character because rules were broken and he had to take the actions he did. He acted promptly but also respectfully. He also abided by the written rules— no favors for a friend. My wife and I saw the Facebook Live as it happened and I told Vicki that Darrell is HOT! He waited a few minutes to collect his thoughts before he made the vocal statement about what had transpired. It aggravates me that some think Paul should have been escorted away in cuffs. He was shown respect but by taking his fish and leaving the stage, he admitted to his guilt. Any other legal actions against Paul will have to come from those who feel cheated.

Justin and I finished one place behind Paul at Rend Lake Crappie Masters, 5th place. Do I feel cheated? Not really because I have zero reason to think he cheated. Nobody came forward with a grievance. I have no idea why he felt compelled to cheat. There is zero doubt that he is an amazing fishing talent. He and his wife weighed in just behind us at Grenada Crappie Masters National Championship. They were the picture of a husband and wife having a great time.

Paul has now ruined his life as far as ever being allowed to compete in Crappie tournaments. All the sanction bodies will deny him to fish their circuits. He has to live with his actions.


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[Bluesraider]

I know Darrell VanVactor of Crappie USA very well and know Paul Turner from being around him at tournaments. Paul has always seemed like a nice guy and seemed very well liked. That point is why so many from the crappie tournament community have remained very quiet. I know this is a shock to them,even the ones who might have had suspicions of cheating for some time.

Darrell VanVactor is a great person in my eyes and we’ve been friends for years. When this broke, I sent him a text to ask if a statement was coming from CrappieUSA. He said their actions were their statement. I can imagine this hurts, having to take such drastic actions against a friend. It also shows Darrells character because rules were broken and he had to take the actions he did. He acted promptly but also respectfully. He also abided by the written rules— no favors for a friend. My wife and I saw the Facebook Live as it happened and I told Vicki that Darrell is HOT! He waited a few minutes to collect his thoughts before he made the vocal statement about what had transpired. It aggravates me that some think Paul should have been escorted away in cuffs. He was shown respect but by taking his fish and leaving the stage, he admitted to his guilt. Any other legal actions against Paul will have to come from those who feel cheated.

Justin and I finished one place behind Paul at Rend Lake Crappie Masters, 5th place. Do I feel cheated? Not really because I have zero reason to think he cheated. Nobody came forward with a grievance. I have no idea why he felt compelled to cheat. There is zero doubt that he is an amazing fishing talent. He and his wife weighed in just behind us at Grenada Crappie Masters National Championship. They were the picture of a husband and wife having a great time.

Paul has now ruined his life as far as ever being allowed to compete in Crappie tournaments. All the sanction bodies will deny him to fish their circuits. He has to live with his actions.


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Its my humble opinion, but I do think he was let off the hook (pun intended) to lightly. I said in another thread the old saying of "where there's smoke, there's fire" is pretty accurate here. Hard to believe this is the first time he has cheated and one his main sponsors (B-n-M) felt that way too when they parted ways with him back a few months ago for other suspicious activity at a tournament. We will probably never know but I would venture a guess (again my opinion), that he has taken money from anglers in past tournaments by cheating. Those that do this type of stuff are pretty good at it and have been doing it a while...right up until they slip up and get caught. I would have like to at least seen a large sum of money in fines, and maybe have that money go back to the sport in a good way such as program for kids, new fish habitat, etc.

[ET Fish]

My feeling is that Crappie USA handled it the way they thought was best. As much as you want to press charges, it usually just gets ugly and time consuming. Then, after dragging on for months and even years, a simple slap on the wrist is the possibility. Attorneys know how to work the system, and unfortunately criminals often get off on a technicality. I think this was the best outcome. His competitive fishing days are over, and his reputation is clearly tarnished.