Joined: Mon Jul 28 2008, 09:48PM
Location: west des moines
Posts: 33
nope not me after all it is illegal and all the other tournys i have ever fished only had a 1 lb penalty per dead fish as to discourage culling dead fish im surprised the dnr hasnt caught on to that
kilerBASS
Joined: Mon Jul 28 2008, 09:48PM
Location: west des moines
Posts: 33
why when every other trail allows u to weight them they still would have won the tourny with a 2 pound penalty. and if they would have known the rules whos to say if they caught another 15 inch fish they would have thrown back the dead one, seems to me that since the last guy who threw a fit at one of your tournys about this rule wont say names but a well respected fisherman who has had his shares of wins that the number of teams entering your competions has dwindle down to nothing notice that at all
kilerBASS
Joined: Wed Mar 26 2008, 03:32PM
Location: Indianola, IA
Posts: 15
Hawk26, please put you name in your profile. This is a serious issue that I believe needs to be debated and it will be helpful to know who is making posts...
The reason I posted this is because I feel that we all need a better understanding of this rule. I do not like this rule, but will follow it. My main conern is this rule will ultimatly lead to culling dead fish. Once a fish dies in your possession, it is part of your bag and cannot be replaced with a live fish. There is no loop hole or way around this. I just want to make sure everyone is on the same page. You do not have to bring that fish to the scale, but you cannot hide it in you boat or throw it away and bring a live fish in its place.
Brannon Hilton
Joined: Mon Jul 28 2008, 09:48PM
Location: west des moines
Posts: 33
i think its pretty apparent who i am after all i witnessed this whole incident first hand after being told to weight the fish by several of the hawgz regulars there that day just still a little miffed u know after catching one of our better bags ever and having two die on us then being told one thing and end up getting screwd out of a win .it just seems a little odd on the decline of anglers at these tournys after the last time this happened obvisouly not everyone agrees with the it and with that said obvisouly not everyone knows the rules after all we asked. and there were no set of rules there so how would we know, besides the fact it is an illegal practice, i was told by an undisclosed offical that who would have known if we had thrown the dead fish back.i mean come on a law is a law
kilerBASS
Joined: Wed Mar 26 2008, 03:32PM
Location: Indianola, IA
Posts: 15
I would be upset too and that is why we need to get this in the open...I hope more people will respond to this...I have never heard of a rule like this and I am concerned about its impact. I was totally unaware that someone else had a conflict with this rule in an earlier tournament, and after last weekend, it is obvious that not everyone knew or understood the rule.
Brannon Hilton
Joined: Fri Feb 01 2008, 07:02AM
Location: Cedar Rapids, Ia
Posts: 138
Jeremy, I can understand your frustration, but at the same time it is your responsibility to know the rules. Ignorance of the law is no excuse. Where was the other tournament you are referring to that this issue came up?
I'm a little confused with your comment about dwindling tournament anglers as the tourneys have been pretty consistent with 10-15 boats at every tournament with the exception of Brushy.
Please note that if anyone wants to comment on this subject to keep it civil and converse in an adult manner.
Joined: Mon Jul 28 2008, 09:48PM
Location: west des moines
Posts: 33
im not frustrated there will be plenty more tournys, ignorance of the law is no excuse ur right ur tourny trail encourages culling of dead fish that is breaking a law, i just dont see on how so many teams didnt agree or even no the rule this weekend at the tourny even the forest city guys dont have that rule so why do we, and as the other incident with the other angler im not calling him out im not that type of guy lets just say he held his own when team supreme was around and they had 50 boats at every tourny they also didnt impose this rule, as far as u brannon thanks alot man for going to bat for us i appreciate it. i just wish that everyone was in agreance to the rule instead of everyone not knowing or not agreeing to it
kilerBASS
I was reading this and thought I would just say a few thing. So you all know, I am Nick Siepker, and I fish many tournaments throughout the midwest. I feel that the team in Okoboji had a right to be upset. The rule is steep. At the same time I agree with Darrin. Before I even enter tournaments I read the entire rules, unlike most people who just assume they know them all. It is a rule, printed in black, on paper that EVERYONE had access to when you register. Therefore dont be so upset when others told you differently than the rule. Its your own fault not knowing. As for culling a dead fish, yes that is illegal. Hawgz is not doing anything illegal. I feel the rule is set more for a public image. I am going to college for fisheries science, and have done extensive research on tournament mortality of black bass. The public eye looks down upon large bass circuits when dead fish are weighed in, and dead fish are floating all over the lake after the tournament. The Hawgz rule does not suggest for you to take part in illegal action, it suggests that you take extra caution when fishing, not to kill the fish, and weigh in healthy fish. If your fish dies, then that is part of fishing. Take it with a grain of salt, keep it in your livewell, and weigh what you have left. If you dont like the rule, dont fish. Hawgz does a great job with how things are run, and I will be happy to fish many more tournaments to come. I wouldnt mind seeing the rule changed in the future though. Like I said, a pound plus the fish weight is rough, but it should keep anglers from weighing in their dead fish and providing a negative image of bass fishermen to the public.
