TOP BASS Fishing Series Anouncment May 31, 2016.

May 31, 2016.
To all TOP BASSFishing Series Anglers,

The TOP BASS Fishing Series has acquired the services of 3 individuals that have agreed to become Tournament Scrutineers for the TOP BASS 2016 season.
These Scrutineers will be placed with 3 teams at each event during the 2016 season at the Tournament Director’s discretion or by a lottery draw.

As per General Rule1-1(c) (see below), any team that refuses to allow a scrutineer in the boat will be immediately disqualified from the event and possibly future events.

1-1(c)
The tournament director may, at any time or during any event, place a scrutineer with any team(s) of his choice.
He need not give a reason for doing so.
Refusal of this rule will result in an immediate disqualification from the current event and the possibility of refusal of entry into any future events.
If a team is disqualified for this reason they will forfeit their entry fee.

I do have some concerns with this and i imagine so do some other people. Ted, Jeff you know i am not a shit disturber but i do think my concerns should be heard. Question #1. Will or Do these individuals compete in tournaments themselves? All of us anglers are pretty protective of our water at times and we don't want our "spots" being used against us in the future.
Question#2 Because of the increased weight, accessibility of having another body in the boat, will there be a monitary concession on the entry? Fuel is getting more costly every year hauling an extra 200lbs (or so) will slow the competitors down for the day, not to mention having to trip over that third person when your partner yells "Net!"....um not cool. I lose a 5 lber to an observer......that dude or dudette is swimming back to the Launch trust me!
Question #3. This is obviously a protective measure over the allegations of an infraction of a certain team last year. Why don't you implement a rule that states "The tournament Director can refuse entry of any individuals without explanation at his own discretion."

Again i'm not trying to cause issues I just want to be fair. I do plan on fishing the events this year as usual. There will only be one reason i won't and i'll leave that to myself but you can imagine what the reason would be.

Good rule, but I'm wondering....wouldn't it be easier to mandate 2 GoPro's, one for the front of the boat and the other for the back, to be mandatory?

I know it's an extra expense, but one could even use the footage to create promotional videos of themselves....just a thought from a non tournament angler.

Given it is at Tournament Director’s discretion, this should not be a problem. just thought i throw out that not everyone fishes out of a large boat, to some this might be illegal (over weight) & what would happen if lottery draw created such. I certainly understand the idea / purpose of this, and while i do not fish that many tournaments anymore i have always found Ted to be a very fair person & excellent organizer. best of luck to top bass great to have a moderately priced & well run circuit.

Every boat should have a scrutineer then as not to cause issue's for 3 teams. I for one have never and would never cheat in a fishing tournament, but this rule might have me rethink about fishing Top Bass. I've always enjoy the events I've fished but think there are other ways to catch the wrong doer's if there are still some out there.

Wow is this whats its come to , Please...................

I havn't fished a Top Bass event in a few seasons, but I like the change.

Ted's series and his rules. The rule has always been there, just maybe not implemented. If anglers don't like it for whatever reason, there are other choices out there.

Good move in my opinion.

I don't fish top bass, however, the angling community is small and it seems to be the same lakes every year. If I worked hard, spending money fishing these lakes creating my milk run the last thing I would want is a third person watching what I'm doing how I'm doing and where I'm doing. No to mention not everyone has the luxury of fishing out of a 20 food bass boat...

Just start winning! You will learn to disguises what you are doing.

If I was drawn I'd have to have a scrutineer weighing less than 100 lbs to be legal and I would have a lot less room in an 18 ft boat. Let alone taking off. Maybe if your drawn for the day entry fees or a percentage are returned to the drawn teams to help offset the negatives like room, weight and extra fuel? Just an idea.

I personally don't like team events that much. I'd rather fish by myself / with a scrutineer. The first tournament I see that allows you to go solo with a scrutineer has my money. At least you know the event is clean and theres no BS.

Personally, spots ? really ? no offence but spots mean nothing. You have to be good, you have to have options and personally i wouldn't care about a scrutineer, id rather have that on every boat and know that everyones fishing clean...

Not everyone would agree but i think having partners is an odd structure, always has been a differentiator between our tournaments and american tournaments. I think they have it right ....

How about hearing from people who actually fish the tournaments? Everyone has an opinion that doesn't fish team events, or "spots" whatever, I don't give two shits. I put my money on the line in these events so people that don't fish these events kindly move on. This is a discussion for the people that do plan on fishing the Top Bass series like me and my partner and I appreciate input from the others that are. I don't chirp in on other series rules that I don't fish.

I think it provides a good deterrent to cheating and builds integrity into the events at the same time. If a team can show it puts them over capacity then give them a pass but as far as extra weight, only an 18'r etc. well none of that will hinder guys putting fish in the boat. I think im fishing Mike so I took a chance on posting this lol

I have to kind of chuckle here...
Complaining about having a scrutiny and wanting money paid back to you for your inconvenience etc... REALLY!!! What about the inconvenience of fishing against cheaters???
I would think sacrificing some room in your boat form time to time in order to keep things on the up and up is a small price to pay!!! Personally I would pay extra if I new that money was going towards stopping cheating.
And Go Pros??? obviously if your suggesting that you haven't used them!!! Max battery life is 2 hours and they don't always work the greatest in extreme conditions like heat.
I applaud Top Bass for trying to do something!! If may not quite be the answer but they are trying!

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Originally Posted by MikeGray

How about hearing from people who actually fish the tournaments? Everyone has an opinion that doesn't fish team events, or "spots" whatever, I don't give two shits. I put my money on the line in these events so people that don't fish these events kindly move on. This is a discussion for the people that do plan on fishing the Top Bass series like me and my partner and I appreciate input from the others that are. I don't chirp in on other series rules that I don't fish.

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So you don't care about top bass expanding? You don't want new anglers "blood" putting their money on the line? This is the "tournament angler" attitude that keeps guy like me and many more from entering tournaments like this. Wrong attitude dude. If guys like you are fishing top bass, guys like me will not be. Check it at the door man... The rule change was posted on big fat bass. It's an open forum and any member of this forum has his/her right to comment. " why are we not seeing new/younger anglers entering Ontario bass tournaments?"

Some people are getting it all wrong and probably because of the way I am wording it. So for that part "my bad". I don't really want a scrutineer in my boat only to find them fishing my water next year when I am competing against the said person. It has happened before and I have heard the stories. I don't think this is a valid responce to the situation at hand. As for expanding TOP BASS , hey I'm all for it but to many people sit on the fence here chirp up and never have any intention of fishing the events, they are nothing but arm chair "pro's". And I do agree I like ideas coming in but I think a formal meeting or discussion with the anglers that support the series should be considered. You can't please everyone but some input is always helpful. And before it gets stated yes I can go play with my marbles somewhere else but I want to stay in this playground. I may have to move but atleast I'm voicing a concern.

I agree with Peter and others who would like to see some type of deterrent for anyone who may be thinking about cheating in these team events.

It may be beneficial to include some language like, "Winners may be subject to a lie detector test". The operative word here is, "may". You "may" get a scrutineer or you "may" not. People who are looking for a quick easy scam will hopefully look elsewhere in case they may not get away with it and they may get exposed to everyone as cheaters.

I don't think there is one single approach that will solve everything but cheaters need to know that tournament organizers are committed to protecting the integrity of their circuit, protecting their anglers and taking an active approach to stop any cheating.

Hopefully the tournament community being vigilant and talking about it on a chat board will make some conspiring cheater think twice!

way to go Ted. You know that you will never please everybody but this is a step on the right direction. Happy to see that you steeped to the plate and stop or at least you are doing something about it.
Cheating is the biggest garbage stunt I tournament angler can pull.
If you don't like it so take a f... bow and leave more anglers will fill your spot
Other series provide scrutinisers during regular and final tournaments.
just wish that where a few more to help ted catch some of this so called cheaters.
Catching them is not easy but adding scrutinisers will definitly make some of them think twice

ohh buy the way there are very few Pro Anglers in Ontario.
Most of us work all week so we can enjoy a tournament fishing on weekends.

And one more thing if you don't fish Top Bass you should worry to much with what Ted does or doesn't

So how are you going to react Joe if these scrutineers and up either telling someone about your water or docks or maybe fish them against you in the future? Your going to be okay with that? Not the Figueira I know... Lol. Hey I do appreciate what Ted is trying to do. There is a simpler process and I have mentioned it in private. Do I think the scrutineer idea is the way to go? Not really would I leave the tournament series because of it probably not... Would I take a polygraph if I won a tourney (one can only dream) sure no problem. The question is would you fish a tournament that knowingly had cheaters in it unscrutinneered? I think I know the answer....

yes I don't care. I fish many different areas in any different lakes.
I have had a few scrutinisers on different lakes and series.
On the old chevy/mercury you need one on the classic.
I can leave with the scrutiniser but cant stand cheaters

I really don't think it's the answer simply because these guys had the intent on cheating in every tournament they fished last year. They or someone else could have the exact plan this year but with knowing they might have to abandon their plan IF they get a scrutineer for that day which they would just go fishing for real... It's a good thought I just don't think it's fool proof.

I like the idea of having a scrutineer if you suspect someone or having the lie detector tests for the top three winners in each tournament. Maybe even having spies with binculors watching out in the water if anything just to make dishonest people look over their shoulders. The more deterrents the better.

Either way this decision won't make me not want to fish top bass. I appreciate Ted being proactive in the matter to help regain the confidence of the anglers.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Joe Figueira

yes I don't care. I fish many different areas in any different lakes.
I have had a few scrutinisers on different lakes and series.
On the old chevy/mercury you need one on the classic.
I can leave with the scrutiniser but cant stand cheaters

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Be nice to your scruts! You never know! You might build long time friendships :)

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Originally Posted by Peter Bartonek

And Go Pros??? obviously if your suggesting that you haven't used them!!! Max battery life is 2 hours and they don't always work the greatest in extreme conditions like heat.

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My bad, was just a suggestion though. I've been watching too much footage as you can tell. :)

As for scrutineers...if I remember correctly I've received emails asking for scrutineers as they were in short supply (I don't remember the series) so if a series can't even get scrutineers wouldn't this be a moot point?

I'd like to fish tournaments but can't afford a boat yet nor a partner...c'est la vie.

There has been some awesome points brought up here and just about every one has some potential to it. However the part the i truly dont get is how us as anglers have made these cheaters feel so welcome that they keep coming back year after year. As a tournament community we have relied on other forms of athority to fix the problem yet the anglers always end up with the egg on thier faces. So i guess my point is instead of beating around the bush with these "rules" why dont we as anglers just stand up and say "listen basket boys your not welcome here ther are 200 guys here today and i cant garentee one of them night not take exception to you guys". It only took one team to step up last year imagian if we all banded together to clean up the sport. I could not think of a bigger deturant in the world if you told me that when I showed up 200 guys were going to have problems with me well i would problem have to stay home!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Cory Banford

Be nice to your scruts! You never know! You might build long time friendships :)

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True I met Cory as my scrutiniser on a classic.
Made some good friends like that on other series

IMO there should be a Lie detector test in everyone of the top bass events there is already a black mark on the series and If I was a betting man I would bet this has been going on for years not just last year !!!!!

zzzzz

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Originally Posted by martinszomolanyi

zzzzz

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Nice.....................................Richard Cranium

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so Im gonna say what no one wants to say. Its obvious this new rule is in as a result of the two accused of cheating last year. Its been the rumor mill that they will again be fishing tournaments in southern Ontario. I would think that it would have made the best decision to have banned these two from competition. Regardless of their guilt or innocence ( and we all know truly what happened) why would an organization allow them in at the cost of additional scrutinizers lie detectors potentially sponsors and other anglers withdrawing from the series, why potentially lose thousands and thousands of dollars for a team entry? It doesn't make sense to me.
As a business decision it seems clear the best decision is to ban the said individual's as opposed to allowing them to compete under controversy. Which sadly says there is much more to this story then any of us will ever know.

Running a bass circuit is a hard endeavor. Running a bass circuit and being criticized is even tougher. Choices made by directors are those that are acceptable by legal standards. I applaud the directors of Top Bass and wish them well. Anyone can be a captain in calm seas. Only the good ones can be captain in rough seas.

I understand people voicing there concerns regarding the new rule. My opinion on the situation is it is better to do something then sit back and do nothing. I whole heartedly agree with Joe and Peter. Back years ago there was a marshall in every boat, nobody ever worried about what there Marshall would do after the tournament either. Fishing changes year to year. The assumption is that these are people who fish. The only one that can answer that question is Ted. Ted has had to weather a storm he never created but is now having to deal with the aftermath of a bad situation. It is very easy for all of us to make judgements of this situation, however does anyone here have all the facts. Probably not. The only person that knows and that can truely answer is Ted.

well said Tim.
ted needs to put this scrutiner in place or have the right to refuse entries.
I do believe he has the later on is rules.

Ted makes the rules.

I do not think there is a fool proof way of preventing cheating. Bringing on scrutiners will not prevent me from fishing Top Bass and I have fished many Tournaments with scrutiners in the past, in both a 16 foot boat and a 20 foot boat. I think this measure will help deter cheaters. I think scrutiners only add to a tournaments credibility.