Elias v. Monroe

[burleytog]

Quite a bit of controversy coming fron Falcon.  Who is in the right in this situation?

Paul Elias was in 26th place Thursday but jumped all the way to fourth with 39-1, the second biggest bag of the day. Unlike the way Martens and Velvick have shared water the past two days, Elias and Ish Monroe got in a turf battle.

Monroe was in an early flight Thursday and stayed all day on the spot they'd both found in practice. Monroe finished the day in third place with 35-6. Elias said he motored over to Monroe that afternoon and told him he was going to be there the next day.

Monroe wasn't happy about it, and Elias said he struggled with the decision all night, barely sleeping. He finally made up his mind that he wasn't going to give up a place he'd found in practice just because someone else drew an earlier takeoff time the first day.

"I caught four of my biggest fish there, left my marker buoy there and told him he could have it," Elias said. "I caught another 8-pounder on my way back (to the weigh-in area)."

Monroe finished with 20-18 and dropped all the way to 19th place with 55-14.

[5bass]

The same thing happened at the Classic with Alton Jones (who won it) and Peter T.....Jones had the earlier flight on Day 1 and got there first. Day 2, Peter T had the early flight and beat Jones there. I guess they handled it a little better than Elias and Ish did. But the same thing happened, Jones and Peter T found the same hole in practice. Things may have been different if Peter T had been in the first flight on Day 1....he may have walked with the Classic trophy.

Martens and Velvick were sharing the same spot the first 2 days at Falcon, looks like Ish and Elias coulda, woulda, shoulda worked something out so they could both share the area. Well, Ish seemed like the one who was really miffed about it, which is understandable when you drop out of the Top 12.....I think Elias got into his head a little bit.

[Catt]

They both have a right to fish the spot; the order in which the anglers leave the launch is by the luck of the draw. They both knew the other was aware of the spot so its first come first served.

I have done it and had it done to me on many occasions  

[Wesley]

They both have a right to fish the spot; the order in which the anglers leave the launch is by the luck of the draw. They both knew the other was aware of the spot so its first come first served.

I have done it and had it done to me on many occasions

catt is right on.

When you prefish you should try to ID a few places to fish and not just rely on one.  

[5bass]

I bet Ish is really mad now....Elias just won it with 132-8. Over a 6# per fish average. Unreal. Falcon must be a big bass factory.

[burleytog]

Yep, that truly was a spot worth a fight.

[BillyBob]

If half the field finds a honey hole, or bedded bass in practice,...The luck of the draw on the first day, decides. If Ish was there first and stayed all day, then its his for the tourney. Only thing that gets in the way of that is if they both can talk it out. THATS the unwritten rule. Otherwise word gets out your a hole jumper and hurts you in the long run.  

Think about it awhile and thats probably the only fair way. If you find it and stay on it, its yours. Remember a few years back, Dudley went around stickin bedders? Believe me guys, this subect is worse. It always gets settled behind the camera. Paul has been around a long time and Ish must have gave in. Pauls to nice a guy, to know he was hole jumping and do it on purpose.

[Catt]

Hole jumping now that's funny right there  

Do you know how many times across this nation in every level tournament fishing anglers share the same spot. From every thing I've heard Paul found the spot first during practice and Ish knew it but since he drew first on Thursday he was there first. Martens and Vevick shred the same spot all week; I'm pretty sure others did to.

[BillyBob]

Senerio :  You pratice 3 days and find only one cove with your kinda fish, its a 40 mile run, and your boat # 68. Its the only thing you got so you make the run the 1st morning, only to find as you blow into the mouth..KVD over the sweet spot. Catt what do you do?

[Catt]

If you practice for 3 days & all you got is one spot you're only donating an entry fee anyway

The following 5 anglers were within 100 yards of each other & all broke the 100# mark.

Byron Velvick & Aaron Martens

Terry Scroggins, Mike Iaconelli, & Ben Matsubu

"I watched him catch probably about half of those fish. I felt sick to my stomach; it was pretty disgusting." Mike Iaconelli, on watching Scroggins sack 44-4 on Day Four

[jrhennecke]

I bet Ish is really mad now....Elias just won it with 132-8. Over a 6# per fish average. Unreal. Falcon must be a big bass factory.

I don't think that Martens is that happy with Velvick right now either.  He seemed a bit flustered at the end.

[Bassbilly]

Yeah, I felt terrible for Aaron Martens. Poor guy has been so close, so many times in his tournament career. Honestly though, not a big fan of Velvick, but he had a legitimate shot at winning. Martens made a bad decision to leave the spot they were on and fish other water. He should have stayed and bumped elbows and he would have won it.

[Shad_Master]

When a guy comes up short that many times he has to start looking in the mirror - I though it was interesting that he said his wife would be "p-o/d" at him.  

[Bassnbrett101]

They teach you how to share in Kindergarten

[jrhennecke]

The funny thing about this thread is that while a heavy majority of us said it was God's water and belonged to nobody, there isn't one of us who fishes tournaments  that wouldn't get a little pissy if someone pulled right up on our spot.  8-)

[Tin]

I don't care who you are or what your morals or values are. When there is 100k on the line, people change.

[5bass]

The funny thing about this thread is that while a heavy majority of us said it was God's water and belonged to nobody, there isn't one of us who fishes tournaments that wouldn't get a little pissy if someone pulled right up on our spot. 8-)

You got that right.

And Aaron Martens has won a BASS event before, he just comes in 2nd at the Classic a lot.

[jrhennecke]

The funny thing about this thread is that while a heavy majority of us said it was God's water and belonged to nobody, there isn't one of us who fishes tournaments that wouldn't get a little pissy if someone pulled right up on our spot. 8-)

You got that right.

And Aaron Martens has won a BASS event before, he just comes in 2nd at the Classic a lot.

Aaron won the Duel on the Delta last year.  He also has over a million in career earnings.  

[Bassnbrett101]

The funny thing about this thread is that while a heavy majority of us said it was God's water and belonged to nobody, there isn't one of us who fishes tournaments that wouldn't get a little pissy if someone pulled right up on our spot. 8-)

Thats one statement that I can't disagree with

[Shad_Master]

Well it's God's water but he said I could use this 50 yard radius of it for right now - so stay the #@)) away!

[Alpster]

I'm not a big tournament fisherman, but I thought the whole idea of the 300 HP boats was to see who could get there first. I thought that drawing a better hole shot is a part of the game. First guy to the spot gets to fish it. There are rules about how close another angler can get. I don't understand the controversy.

Ronnie

[ba7ss3in]

No comment >

[Rattlinrogue]

They both found it so it's a matter of who gets there first.Paul backed off that 1st day and gave it to Monroe,but he didn't get the same respect the next day.Make your own conclusions.I live about 30 miles from Paul so I'm always gonna fall on the side of my fellow Mississippian.I think I'm right on this one ,though.Besides,it doesn't really matter now...chalk that up as a Paul Elias win!