Cheater at the US Open

[gar-tracker]

Something that I think a lot of people are missing, is that the dead fish weighed in were likely not dead from the weight, but from the intense heat. There were a LOT of dead fish weighed in. His third day limit of five fish were weighed live, but killed to prove they had been weighted.

I don't really think that makes a difference, how long do you think they would have made it with those weights pulling down.

[fourbizz]

Something that I think a lot of people are missing, is that the dead fish weighed in were likely not dead from the weight, but from the intense heat. There were a LOT of dead fish weighed in. His third day limit of five fish were weighed live, but killed to prove they had been weighted.

I don't really think that makes a difference, how long do you think they would have made it with those weights pulling down.

That doesnt matter to me.

[Tom H.]

"Mike Hart is a well known and was respected for his bass tournament successes in SoCal; fished approximately 100 team events, was in the money over 75% of the time and won over $190K and a few boats."

Now I don't know about the rest of ya'll, but I'd make him payback all his winnings and boats plus taxes and penalties.

Once a cheat, always a cheat regards-

[South FLA]

When money is on the line, people do crazy things!  From corking bats to drugs, at least in fishing we ban them for life.

[Shane Procell]

When I was a child in Bossier City La., one of my friends dad went away for many years due to cheating in bass tournaments. It was devastating on his family. Apparently he and his partner had a swimming pool full of FL. bass. It is good that Mr. Hart was caught but I feel for Mike and his family.

[frogtog]

In our hearts we know he cheated, but if there was a hook attached to the weight they will have a hard time prosecuting him. That is if he has a good lawer.

[rubba bubba]

In our hearts we know he cheated, but if there was a hook attached to the weight they will have a hard time prosecuting him. That is if he has a good lawer.

Not if he confessed to it.

It looks like they are going to need an x-ray machine at every weigh in soon.

[arul]

where is the world was the coangler as he was stuffing fish?  Must have been REALLY sneaky...

This is why I would never enter a $ tourney without random coangler draws or marhsalls.  I would wager some form of cheating takes place in any "team" tourney, or tourney without random draws, by at least 1 boat.  I am not a very trusting person...

I will at least stick to tourney where there is a chance a co-angler or marshall would blow the whistle on fraud.

[slonezp]

Just curious. My club penalizes 1lb for a dead fish at weigh in. Is this not a normal practice? If it wasn't the heat that killed the fish and was the lead, why would someone risk adding 2oz versus losing a pound? Maybe I just don't understand the cheater mentality.

[Matt Fly]

Talk about a sorry organization, they are not gonna prosecute the cheater and he confessed to cheating.

WON Bass lost all my respect. :-[

   

[fourbizz]

Yeah, that seems like a VERY strange move to me. More to the story maybe?

[Matt Fly]

Would love to hear some of the  western fishing forums comments on this.

    Surely WON Bass is getting some negative feedback from its anglers over its decision.

      

[fourbizz]

Oh yeah. WB has a couple threads started last night. The way that place is they will probably be locked by noon.

[bowfish12]

http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/blog/19468/cheating+scandal+at+us+open+rocks+bass-fishing+community/

Here's another story with a pic of the angler.

[fishermantony]

You don't love or respect the sport or the fish if you can do something like this and IMO he never did, glad he got caught.  He should be denied a fishing license in all 50 states for life.

[craigco24]

From the above post I take it that One Bass is not prosecuting.  I'm sure they have good reason not to if that is the case.  If he didn't walk away with the check, or admit to any other wrong doing in other tournaments it would be hard to prosecute for much.  That's okay though. We fishermen know who he is now.  The S O B's name will be trash anywhere he goes from here on out.  I'm in Illinois and this P.O.S. would get thrown out of a bluegill tourney if he was to show up.  I guess what I'm trying to say is that he will never fish another bass tournament in his life, anywhere! California to Maine, or Florida to Alaska, his name will be known.  We should make it a point to re post his name each year the Open is held so we don't forget.

[fourbizz]

I dont understand the " he didnt get the check" train of thought. Is that to say that if I walk into a bank with an uzi, but get tackled before I walk out, that I would walk away scott free? Nonsense.

It is attempted felony contest fraud. Book em Danno.

[cart7t]

we need to be more understanding.  Perhaps he had problems or needs that weren't being addressed that caused him to act out.  Let's all have a glass of juice, sit back from the computer, cool down and rethink all this negativity.

[bowfish12]

I dont understand the " he didnt get the check" train of thought. Is that to say that if I walk into a bank with an uzi, but get tackled before I walk out, that I would walk away scott free? Nonsense.

It is attempted felony contest fraud. Book em Danno.

Exactly, Robbie Rose didn't walk away with the boat (he was d**n close) and he was fined and spent time in jail.

Hart admitted it and it was a $100,000 tournament. What place he was in doesn't matter.  Still cheated and still deserves a punishment at least to the extent of what Rose got.

[Jaheff]

Guys

We do not have the option of pressing charges, etc. It is up to the state of federal goverment to prosecute a criminal case and it is the state versus whover is charged in a criminal case. All we can do is cooperate or not, but we have no say in whether a case is prosecuted. This is not different than any other criminal case.

The Nevada Wildlife department was involved with the initial sting operation in the matter, so obviously we have been more than willing to cooperate with them and any other legal authority involved. But we do not get to "press charges" as some are suggesting.

We were told at that time, and again since, to not discuss the case in public, other than to report the facts in our own publication. The more facts are discussed and things get report incorrectly, the more it would hurt any case they might choose to pursue, as an attorney would point to these contradictions when evidence is introduced.

I do think we did a good job in catching a cheater in the US OPEN, and in doing so in a way that mazimized the evidence we had against him and eliminated any controvery and debate in that regard. It obviously is a story getting a lot of press, and hopefully it helps to improve the sport in the long haul.

Our focus at the US OPEN though was not to catch a cheater , as we had hundreds of great and honest anglers battling it out in an amazing battle under the most brutal conditions you can imagine. It was an incredible tournament, a unforgetable Tribute to the Legends dinner program, following a great Icast show. That is what we would like for peope to remember about this years US OPEN, and many will for sure.

From another forum...

[key chain bass guy]

Do you think he was the first one to do this, or just the first one to get caught?

[Grey Wolf]

Do you think he was the first one to do this, or just the first one to get caught?

Where there's money , cheats are there.

[fishfordollars]

Do you think he was the first one to do this, or just the first one to get caught?

Not the first to do it

Not the first one caught

Not the last to do it

Not the last one that will be caught

[Eddie Munster]

Do you think he was the first one to do this, or just the first one to get caught?

Where there's money , cheats are there.

Yep. I've been in Church (yes Church) golf tourneys where members of the foursome I was in wanted to pull some shady things. Guys turning in 18 handicaps that haven't shot above 80 in decades.

Cheats are everywhere when money is on the line.

I'm with fourbizz; hang this S.O.B.

[tbird]

Get the rope !