Brandon Palaniuk Dq

[Zach Dunham]

Anyone pay attention to the Mississsippi River Rumble this past weekend? The big news obviously being that Brandon Palaniuk's day 2 weight was disqualified for unintentionally culling a fish in Minnesota waters. A bunch of the pros ended up sticking up for him saying that BASS shouldn't fish in waters with silly rules like that, especially in a place where the state borders jump all over the place. He missed the Wisconsin border by 100 yards. Considering his AOY standings, this is HUGE. Not only did he probably lose $100k, he is very low in AOY standings this year and this would have put him high enough to make the elites again next year. This pretty much puts his entire Elite career in jeopardy, all because of a ridiculous rule.

 

Now, obviously they can't change tournament rules midway through so they had to DQ his weight once this whole thing was found out. I have two issues here though. Firstly, I agree with the pros who said BASS shouldn't have tournaments in states with assinine laws. Boycott them until they change their silly ways. Second, what in the hell is wrong with Minnesota? This isn't the 1950s, livewell technology is just fine. And before any Minnesotan even comes on here and tries to defend this by saying "look how great our fishing is", you have no point whatsoever. Look how great the fishing is in all of the places that allow culling. This has ZERO affect on anything.

[OkeechobeeAngler]

As dumb as we may think they are rules are rules. It is every anglers responsibility to know the rules for every body of water and the states bordering it. Plus the organization you are fishing for.

[Zach Dunham]

As dumb as we may think they are rules are rules. It is every anglers responsibility to know the rules for every body of water and the states bordering it. Plus the organization you are fishing for.

 

As I said, I realize there is no way that they could avoid DQing his weight after it was shown that he culled in Minnesota. They had no other option. I just don't understand why you would go to places that have ridiculous rules that are not tournament friendly.

[flyfisher]

I agree it is a silly rule but with the advent of all the technology out there coupled with the seriousness of an error he should have known where he was.  I am sure his electronics are fitted with a GPS and when he noted where he was he could have kicked up the big motor and been out of MN in a matter of seconds.  Also, I am sure that he knew of the rule prior to fishing so while i think the rule is antiquated, it doesn't excuse the fact that he broke it and has to be DQ'd for the day.

 

I want to know who made the official written protest.  If someone was able to call him out on the rule than that person should also be man enough to put his name behind it.

[Zach Dunham]

 

I agree it is a silly rule but with the advent of all the technology out there coupled with the seriousness of an error he should have known where he was.  I am sure his electronics are fitted with a GPS and when he noted where he was he could have kicked up the big motor and been out of MN in a matter of seconds.  Also, I am sure that he knew of the rule prior to fishing so while i think the rule is antiquated, it doesn't excuse the fact that he broke it and has to be DQ'd for the day.

 

I want to know who made the official written protest.  If someone was able to call him out on the rule than that person should also be man enough to put his name behind it.

 

 

Well, in his explanation, he was in an area where the border jumped 100 yds to the right to a diff canal and then jumped back over after some bridge, but apparently it was 100 yds further past said bridge that the border jumped back across.

 

And also let me say, props to Brandon for not complaining about the ruling and for saying it was fair after it was explained to him. Most people would not be so professional after possibly having their elite career derailed.

[BassAssassin726]

Apparently his GPS was telling him he was in Wisconsin waters. Thats why he culled. He didnt purposely break the rule. Still i dont think they should fish waters with such silly rules. He was in a flurry of action in that spot. He was catching fish after fish. In the heat of the moment youre supposed to check your gps and make sure ypu cull in proper waters? Silly. Like i said too his gps told him he was in Wisconsin waters.

[flyfisher]

Apparently his GPS was telling him he was in Wisconsin waters. Thats why he culled. He didnt purposely break the rule. Still i dont think they should fish waters with such silly rules. He was in a flurry of action in that spot. He was catching fish after fish. In the heat of the moment youre supposed to check your gps and make sure ypu cull in proper waters? Silly. Like i said too his gps told him he was in Wisconsin waters.

I never saw anything stating where his GPS said he was in Wisconsin waters, I know my car GPS while travelling on the highway shows the speed limit changes pretty much instantaneously as I pass the signs.

 

And yes, if i have a 100k purse, classic berth, elite tour card and know i am close to the border then i am making sure where i am fishing and catching no matter how hot and heavy the action is.

 

He was very good about the whole situation though, just imagine if cry baby Dean Rojas had the same situation happen to him....

[buzzfrog]

how is Dean I whiner, lol not being rude, I missed a few tournaments this year, DId he get in a fight or somthing

[Zach Dunham]

how is Dean I whiner, lol not being rude, I missed a few tournaments this year, DId he get in a fight or somthing

 

He complained after the first tournament that Alton Jones stole his spot on the last day and caused him to lose, even though Alton Jones was there every one of the days prior, just at a different time during the day. He has had several whining incidents in the past also.

[buzzfrog]

Ok that musta been the Sabrine tournament, gotta go watch it On web

[buzzfrog]

I get that rules are rules, but having a tournament in a area with  a rule like that is, well like opening a bar in a town that doesnt allow alcohal.

[Zach Dunham]

I get that rules are rules, but having a tournament in a area with  a rule like that is, well like opening a bar in a town that doesnt allow alcohal.

 That pretty much sums it up. They shouldn't go to places with archaic rules.

[Bass Dude]

It seems that everyone is blaming BASS for choosing this tourney location for the reason BP got dq'd.  If I'm not mistaken, he was the only one that had this problem.  FLW goes to areas where the rules for the umbrella rig are varied and sometimes very hard to understand, yet those anglers are able to fish without getting DQ'd.  The rule may be stupid, but BASS shouldn't determine a fishing location based on what the fishing regs are.  In NY waters, you can't use lead weights under a certain weight...should BASS not fish Oneida or St.Lawrence because of this.

[lmoore]

They had a tournament in lacrosse last year and no one had a problem. They went back because of the number of fish the anglers caught last year and the turnout for weigh ins.

[jhoffman]

I dont think his sponsors are going anywhere, hes all over everything. If BASS wont let him in the Elites I am sure he will be just fine in FLW.

[Zach Dunham]

It seems that everyone is blaming BASS for choosing this tourney location for the reason BP got dq'd.  If I'm not mistaken, he was the only one that had this problem.  FLW goes to areas where the rules for the umbrella rig are varied and sometimes very hard to understand, yet those anglers are able to fish without getting DQ'd.  The rule may be stupid, but BASS shouldn't determine a fishing location based on what the fishing regs are.  In NY waters, you can't use lead weights under a certain weight...should BASS not fish Oneida or St.Lawrence because of this.

 

None of those things you mentioned are comparable. The reason it is ridiculous to go to rivers where borders matter is that the border moves. The border is not static. It jumps all over the place, from the main river to canals and back. The GPS systems don't even know where the border is sometimes. If your own GPS unit can't figure out what state you are in, how are you supposed to know?

 

An umbrella rig rule is easy to figure out, and once you know the rule you know the rule. You can know you can't cull in MN, but if you can't even figure out what state you are in because the borders change and are confusing, it doesn't matter.

[J Francho]

The problem is that he broke a law, which is different than breaking a rule.  If it was just a rule violation, then he would probably have not had that weight voided for the day.  He's lucky he wasn't DQ'd for the whole event (or was he?).  In my club, you get a ticket, you're done for the whole event, whether it's a one day, or three day event.

[Zach Dunham]

The problem is that he broke a law, which is different than breaking a rule.  If it was just a rule violation, then he would probably have not had that weight voided for the day.  He's lucky he wasn't DQ'd for the whole event (or was he?).  In my club, you get a ticket, you're done for the whole event, whether it's a one day, or three day event.

 

He only lost his day 2 weight, his day 1 weight allowed him to finish somewhere in the 70s or 80s I think.

[jhoffman]

Whats odd about this whole situation is that you cant cull in one state, so you can then take fish from that states "waters" run to another state and then cull????

[NWBasslover]

The problem is that he broke a law, which is different than breaking a rule.  If it was just a rule violation, then he would probably have not had that weight voided for the day.  He's lucky he wasn't DQ'd for the whole event (or was he?).  In my club, you get a ticket, you're done for the whole event, whether it's a one day, or three day event.

 

No, he wasn't DQ'd from the event, they just gave him a zero weight for the entire day. WHICH IS CRAP! Why didn't they just take one of his fish, eliminate the largest from his bag?  Even if they had made him take a four fish bag, eliminating his largest fish, he still would have made the day three cut.

 

Yes. I AM a big Palaniuk fan.

 

That being said, he is a pro, just like all the other guys. If the boundary is that confusing stay away from it, especially with $100K on the line!

[J Francho]

Fan or not, he broke Minnesota law, not tournament rules.  Had he been caught by authorities, I bet the outcome might be even worse.  I don't agree with any of the laws, the decision to fish there, and though I'm not a Palaniuk fan, I certainly feel he got a raw deal.  The fact that it's $100K on the line is EXACTLY why he was reported.

[Kevin22]

Fan or not, he broke Minnesota law, not tournament rules.  Had he been caught by authorities, I bet the outcome might be even worse.  I don't agree with any of the laws, the decision to fish there, and though I'm not a Palaniuk fan, I certainly feel he got a raw deal.  The fact that it's $100K on the line is EXACTLY why he was reported.

 

 

Would have just been a warning probably, since the fish was released unharmed and he was not over his limit. I cant see any CO writing him a ticket over it... they want to keep a good rapport with professional anglers, just like a cop doesnt want to write Dale Earnhardt Jr. a ticket for 10 mph over. 

 

He surely did not do anything severe or he would have a ticket right now, they had it on video and they could write him up if they wanted to. I don't see the point of bringing up that he broke a law as if it is something huge, at most it would have been a $30 ticket which is less than some of the lures in his boxes cost. 

[PondBoss]

Would have just been a warning probably, since the fish was released unharmed and he was not over his limit. I cant see any CO writing him a ticket over it... they want to keep a good rapport with professional anglers, just like a cop doesnt want to write Dale Earnhardt Jr. a ticket for 10 mph over. 

 

He surely did not do anything severe or he would have a ticket right now, they had it on video and they could write him up if they wanted to. I don't see the point of bringing up that he broke a law as if it is something huge, at most it would have been a $30 ticket which is less than some of the lures in his boxes cost. 

Totally off topic, but every cop wants to give Dale Jr. a ticket even for 1 over. lol

[Bass Dude]

None of those things you mentioned are comparable. The reason it is ridiculous to go to rivers where borders matter is that the border moves. The border is not static. It jumps all over the place, from the main river to canals and back. The GPS systems don't even know where the border is sometimes. If your own GPS unit can't figure out what state you are in, how are you supposed to know?

 

An umbrella rig rule is easy to figure out, and once you know the rule you know the rule. You can know you can't cull in MN, but if you can't even figure out what state you are in because the borders change and are confusing, it doesn't matter.

 

 

Actually, they are comparable.  If you lived in Tennessee when the rig stuff started you would know how foggy the unbrella rig rules can be.  Even the game wardens down here would give you different answers regarding what was legal when it came to what could be used on the umbrella rigs. 

 

Regardless, it wasn't the rule that got him busted.  It was BP.  It was a mistake, we ALL agree it wasn't done intentionally, and I don't think there will be any huge ramifications from his DQ.  But I do think that BASS isn't the one to blame in this and I don't think they should be choosing tournament sites based on the laws and regs.

 

On a side note---Joe Balog wrote a blog about this on another site.  He is a very good writer and gives a great perspective on all things bass fishing.

[Zach Dunham]

Actually, they are comparable.  If you lived in Tennessee when the rig stuff started you would know how foggy the unbrella rig rules can be.  Even the game wardens down here would give you different answers regarding what was legal when it came to what could be used on the umbrella rigs. 

 

Regardless, it wasn't the rule that got him busted.  It was BP.  It was a mistake, we ALL agree it wasn't done intentionally, and I don't think there will be any huge ramifications from his DQ.  But I do think that BASS isn't the one to blame in this and I don't think they should be choosing tournament sites based on the laws and regs.

 

On a side note---Joe Balog wrote a blog about this on another site.  He is a very good writer and gives a great perspective on all things bass fishing.

 

I still ask the question, if the GPS systems cannot figure out where the state border is, how is an angler supposed to know? Someone mentioned having this happen to them in the first page of this thread.