Pro fisherman, popular YouTuber Ben Milliken charged with fishing tournament fraud

[TnRiver46]

1 minute ago, J Francho said:

@TnRiver46

Not sure there's a license for sucking, other than a drivers' license.

I get my sucks at fishing license every year during the spring 

[J Francho]

I'll allow some literary license here...

[volzfan59]

I’m going to wait until more is known. No matter the outcome, not going to crucify anyone for fishing without a valid license. While I’ve never fished without a license, I can certainly see how it can happen to Ben, to me or to anyone else.

[Tennessee Boy]

I haven't connected all the dot yet but I'm convinced this incident is somehow connected to the drones that are currently terrorizing New Jersey. 😆

[J Francho]

Checks out. 

[Cuivre]

On 12/17/2024 at 9:39 AM, volzfan59 said:

I’m going to wait until more is known. No matter the outcome, not going to crucify anyone for fishing without a valid license. While I’ve never fished without a license, I can certainly see how it can happen to Ben, to me or to anyone else.

Anything we are discussing is not a court record or official judgement or condemnation in any way- nor is it going to be used to hang anyone on any cross.  Let's not take things overly seriously (or literally).  This is what "discussion forums" are about- to discuss.  If people genuinely don't want to discuss it, the best way is to continue to sit silently on their high horse.  

[J Francho]

It's hard to speak Latin from a quarter horse. 

[Pumpkin Lizard]

On 12/16/2024 at 7:09 AM, J Francho said:

He can't say anything like that until the legal process is completed. His best bet is no comment, which is what every other criminal would say, lol. 

And how many videos has Milliken already made about this? 

He’s a professional fisherman. If he didn’t have a valid license when he was fishing then that’s not good. Contest or not. Professionals keep their paperwork up to date.

 

At this point he has to let the legal process play out. 

 

He has a very lucrative YouTube Channel it’s not like he doesn’t have the means to procure one. He makes enough money that he can basically fund his own Elite Series career independently which is to his credit. But it makes you wonder about him.

These days it takes 5 minutes on a website to get one. This is on him. He’s not being targeted that’s ridiculous.

 

 

[Pumpkin Lizard]

3 hours ago, volzfan59 said:

I’m going to wait until more is known. No matter the outcome, not going to crucify anyone for fishing without a valid license. While I’ve never fished without a license, I can certainly see how it can happen to Ben, to me or to anyone else.

 

A national fishing license would be fantastic.

 

That being said. You can buy a license while on your boat with a cellphone and a credit card.

[Catt]

4 hours ago, Tennessee Boy said:

I haven't connected all the dot yet but I'm convinced this incident is somehow connected to the drones that are currently terrorizing New Jersey. 😆

 

 

 

[F14A-B]

Trey McKinney made some costly mistakes this past Elite series tournament trail. People trashed him and he’s a kid, 18 turned 19. He was shown no mercy and he actually is a phenomenal fisherman unlike Ben. Folks didn’t really give Trey a pass even though he was 18 to start.. Ben is a grown Man and half as good as Trey. Ben is brash and arrogant, I don’t watch him on the tube but I’m thinking he’s the Jake Paul of the fishing world..he should stick with the tube, he’s got a army of like minded followers over there. Trey even reported hisself in one instance. I think it’s safe to say there is a character disparity between the two Elite series fisherman.. we need more Treys and less Bens.. 

[Pumpkin Lizard]

1 hour ago, F14A-B said:

Trey McKinney made some costly mistakes this past Elite series tournament trail. People trashed him and he’s a kid, 18 turned 19. He was shown no mercy and he actually is a phenomenal fisherman unlike Ben. Folks didn’t really give Trey a pass even though he was 18 to start.. Ben is a grown Man and half as good as Trey. Ben is brash and arrogant, I don’t watch him on the tube but I’m thinking he’s the Jake Paul of the fishing world..he should stick with the tube, he’s got a army of like minded followers over there. Trey even reported hisself in one instance. I think it’s safe to say there is a character disparity between the two Elite series fisherman.. we need more Treys and less Bens.. 

 

Jake Paul is the perfect analogy.

 

Ben always rubbed me the wrong way. I watched him way back when I still used facebook. He'd buy different small animals intended as pets from a pet store and feed them to the bass he kept in his garage. It just seemed stupid, pointless and inappropriate for some reason.  After that I didn't have much use for him.

[volzfan59]

20 hours ago, Pumpkin Lizard said:

 

You can buy a license while on your boat with a cellphone and a credit card.

You certainly can, still, people from the pro’s down to every day individuals get caught every day either fishing without a license or with an expired license. I never have, but I can see how it can innocently happen.

22 hours ago, Cuivre said:

Anything we are discussing is not a court record or official judgement or condemnation in any way- nor is it going to be used to hang anyone on any cross.  Let's not take things overly seriously.  This is what "discussion forums" are about- to discuss.  If people genuinely don't want to discuss it, the best way is to continue to sit silently on their high horse.  

Anyone with half a brain knows what I meant by saying that I wouldn’t “crucify” Ben, or anyone else, for fishing without a license. 

[Cuivre]

23 hours ago, Pumpkin Lizard said:

 

A national fishing license would be fantastic.

 

That being said. You can buy a license while on your boat with a cellphone and a credit card.

Very true.  Ben didn't, and he got a simple citation for that.  That would have been the end of it in any other situation where an 8 or 13 pound Share A Lunker bass wasn't involved.  People seem to persistently ignore the fact that he got into the bigger mess for knowingly committed fraud- not the actual license violation.  They are linked, because Ben lied about the "fish was caught legally" requirement.  Ask any politician- it is rarely the first offense that is the most serious.  The actions that result FROM that first offense is where things typically start to go south. 

[VolFan]

He’s a YouTuber first, tourney fisherman second. This is all publicity.

[TOXIC]

The key issue can be summed up in 1 word…..Intent…..Did he intend to deceive or was it a simple oversight.  All of the rest of the comments of “I dislike him because” or “ I like him because” are just inflections of personal opinions which sway the individual to assume his intent.  If he thought his license was valid, and had no intention to deceive, he would have filled out the form that way. If he knew his license was expired and filled out the form knowing that, then he intended to deceive.  

[rangerjockey]

15 hours ago, VolFan said:

He’s a YouTuber first, tourney fisherman second. This is all publicity.

Yep. He will come up another stupid saying to put on hats and t-shirts and make more money and make 6th sense look more juvenile. They are taking over the Googan market.

[Skunkmaster-k]

I just don’t Gnu what to think about all this. He had to have known they were going to check his license. Texas Parks and Wildlife ain’t screwing around. What a moron. 

[txchaser]

If he lived in another state I'd be more inclined to cut him some slack. But... Texas is his home state. 

 

[Susky River Rat]

So I do not know how you go about filling out the form. My guess is you already have the fish in your possession which would already be illegal for him. He than thought oh **** I’m already in to deep I’ll just go get a license after. Maybe he had an auto renew for his license and something didn’t process?

 

a lot of times the cover up is worse than the crime. Like people who think they have warrants give a false name. Than they find out they didn’t have a warrant but, are going to jail because they lied to an officer. 
 

of course he will turn this into YouTube videos that’s his job. He’s d**n good at it obviously. 
 

On a personal note I like that he is an outlaw and not bought and paid for by the fishing companies. I don’t agree with everything he does. He is however living on his terms. Isn’t that what we all would like to do?

[J Francho]

"Lunkergate" LOLOLOL.

 

I though he was sponsored by 6th sense?  They must love this ratchet stuff.

[Catt]

49 minutes ago, J Francho said:

"Lunkergate" LOLOLOL.

 

I though he was sponsored by 6th sense?  They must love this ratchet stuff.

 

Ben is a partial owner 

[Catt]

46 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

Ben is a partial owner 

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=ben+milliken+6th+sense+owner&oq=&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCQgEECMYJxjqAjIJCAAQIxgnGOoCMgkIARAjGCcY6gIyCQgCECMYJxjqAjIJCAMQIxgnGOoCMgkIBBAjGCcY6gIyCQgFECMYJxjqAjIJCAYQIxgnGOoCMg8IBxAuGCcYrwEYxwEY6gIyCQgIECMYJxjqAjIJCAkQIxgnGOoCMgkIChAjGCcY6gIyCQgLECMYJxjqAjIJCAwQIxgnGOoCMgkIDRAjGCcY6gIyCQgOECMYJxjqAjIRCA8QABgDGEIYjwEYtAIY6gIyEQgQEAAYAxhCGI8BGLQCGOoCMhEIERAAGAMYQhiPARi0AhjqAjIRCBIQABgDGEIYjwEYtAIY6gIyEQgTEAAYAxhCGI8BGLQCGOoC0gEGLTFqMGo3qAIUsAIB&client=ms-android-americamovil-us-revc&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8

[Pumpkin Lizard]

9 hours ago, Susky River Rat said:

So I do not know how you go about filling out the form. My guess is you already have the fish in your possession which would already be illegal for him. He than thought oh **** I’m already in to deep I’ll just go get a license after. Maybe he had an auto renew for his license and something didn’t process?

 

a lot of times the cover up is worse than the crime. Like people who think they have warrants give a false name. Than they find out they didn’t have a warrant but, are going to jail because they lied to an officer. 
 

of course he will turn this into YouTube videos that’s his job. He’s d**n good at it obviously. 
 

On a personal note I like that he is an outlaw and not bought and paid for by the fishing companies. I don’t agree with everything he does. He is however living on his terms. Isn’t that what we all would like to do?

 

 

Bass Talk Live which usually has a level headed take on things says there is a ton below the surface on this matter that will come out.  That's good enough for me.  I don't care for the guy but he should get treated fairly.

 

This won't affect Ben's involvement in the new Angler's Review Group or whatever it is called with BASS.   It's going to take months for the legal process to work itself out.

[rangerjockey]

4 hours ago, Catt said:

 

Ben is a partial owner 

 

If I'm not mistaken one of 6th sense staff guys ,who I won't name got into a little tiff with the law that had nothing to do with fishing and they dumped him.

It's going to be interesting to see how this gets handled. It isn't a good look.