Tony Christian

[Swamp Girl]

Ever heard of Tony Christian? He arrived out of nowhere, placing high at an heretofore unheard of rate. Then he disappeared. MLF wrote this in his bio:

 

"Nobody knows exactly why Christian has been so good; all they know is that he keeps on catching enormous bass. In three of the five 2002 Savannah River tournaments – lakes Keowee, Hartwell and Clark Hill – he won the Boater Division big-bass award. His biggest fish, at Clark Hill, weighed 8 pounds, 11 ounces.

With numbers like that, inevitably, there have been theories floating among the ranks – competitive, dubious theories – about the man’s success. Some of the more laughable ones that Christian himself has heard include the notion that he’s invented some kind of new bass-attracting chemical, that he baits fishing holes with dog food to attract bass’ favorite prey, crawfish, and even that he hires scuba divers to put big fish on his line.

But, of course, he says it’s all nonsense. “Nope, none of the above,” he said. “How could I have a scuba diver down there? Don’t you think the co-angler would see the bubbles?”

[TnRiver46]

Cheater, banned for life 

 

most think he was fishing for a fish in a box underwater because he never moved and always flipped a jig to the same spot all day. But part of him being banned was nobody will say why 

[JHoss]

He's the worst cheater in bass fishing history, but only 3 people know exactly how he did it. From what I understand, the heads of FLW met with him at his last tournament and told him they knew he was cheating but they would never say anything if he would just leave and never fish again.

 

I've heard speculation that he was using fish baskets of some sort. Would stock bass in them in practice. People have said his brother donned SCUBA gear and would hook fish to his jig when he casted in. Others say he just kept them in the basket and would flip his jig into that basket and pull them out. 

[Glenn]

He's no longer fishing tournaments.  Anything beyond that is unsubstantiated rumors and speculation.  If you like that sorta thing, go ask RB about him.

 

[Pumpkin Lizard]

  On 3/28/2025 at 7:53 PM, Swamp Girl said:

Ever heard of Tony Christian? He arrived out of nowhere, placing high at an heretofore unheard of rate. Then he disappeared. MLF wrote this in his bio:

 

"Nobody knows exactly why Christian has been so good; all they know is that he keeps on catching enormous bass. In three of the five 2002 Savannah River tournaments – lakes Keowee, Hartwell and Clark Hill – he won the Boater Division big-bass award. His biggest fish, at Clark Hill, weighed 8 pounds, 11 ounces.

With numbers like that, inevitably, there have been theories floating among the ranks – competitive, dubious theories – about the man’s success. Some of the more laughable ones that Christian himself has heard include the notion that he’s invented some kind of new bass-attracting chemical, that he baits fishing holes with dog food to attract bass’ favorite prey, crawfish, and even that he hires scuba divers to put big fish on his line.

But, of course, he says it’s all nonsense. “Nope, none of the above,” he said. “How could I have a scuba diver down there? Don’t you think the co-angler would see the bubbles?”

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Somebody recently found him fishing an electric only league in Georgia.  There are several recent podcasts on with guests that were his co-angler and one that finished second to him twice.  The Luke Dunkin pod I think.

 

In addition to the other things people mentioned, one of his co-anglers said it was weird fishing with him because he wouldn't make a cast until he got to certain spots and docks. When they asked him why he wasn't casting he would say something like: "I only cast to where the big fish are."

[12poundbass]

Mike Long illegitimate son? 😂

[Glenn]

[r83srock]

Watching old FLW footage of him is just sickening and disheartening. I’m honestly glad you brought this up as I feel it shouldn’t be forgotten. I remember doing some deep dives on the history of cheaters of the sport and it just became exhausting. Every year you hear of something new coming up on a national scale, but nothing quite like Tony, at least in the bass world. His actions make me question the legitimacy of tournaments I’ve competed in. 

[bowhunter63]

Watched a few Mike Long seminars maybe. Learned from the best 

[GaryH]

Cheaters or thieves can’t stand them…

[F14A-B]

Didn’t Mike Long post on here? I feel like I’ve read posts involving him many many years ago. 

[Chris Cavanaugh]

We know Long was snagging, Tony was probably fishing out of a barrel, but we will never know.

[Pumpkin Lizard]

Can someone explain Mike Long?

[TnRiver46]

Yeah he was famous for catching monsters, on the front of bassmaster and all that. Turns out he was snagging them all, keeping them at home, bringing them to tournaments and weighing them in. Hidden fish compartments in rod lockers, pulling the wool over co anglers eyes, etc. He even caught many of them at lakes he was trespassing into after dark 

https://www.bassmaster.com/news/americas-big-bass-guru-exposed/