Jr. World record "Declined"

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Letter from IGFA:

The application received June 2005, was reviewed and subsequently declined due to Lee's catch not being weighed on a scale. IGFA rules state that catches are to be weighed in, and the scale be certified within the last twelve months in order to qualify for a record. Junior anglers are given the opportunity to weigh their catches on the boat and release them after the weigh in, along with not having to submit a line sample.

It was an outstanding catch and I am sure that Lee will remember it for many years to come even though the IGFA could not grant him his request to hold a junior record and we truly hope that he has an opportunity in the future to catch another potential world record.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact me again.

Best regards,

Rebecca Reynolds

IGFA World Records

300 Gulf Stream Way

Dania Beach, FL  33004

(954) 924-4246

Oh well, he tried!  Not many of us can claim an 18+ either way!  

[Guest avid]

BUMERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It just reinforces my belief that if you catch what you believe to be a world or more likely a state record, you are well advised to keep the fish, kill it quickly and humanely.  Immediately put it on ice, and get it to a certified scale, call a state F&W rep, the IGFA, the local newspapers, and weigh it again on a different certified scale.  Get the names and addresses of at least a dozen witnesses, none of whom are personal acquaintances.  Quickly get the fish into a freezer and keep it frozen untill IGFA certifies it.  That along with several dozen photo's will limit the doubters to maybe only a million or so.  ;D

Seriously, I've said it before and all who yelled at me for "killing a big breeder" now understand what i'm talking about.  This young man would be in the record books and on his way to a pro career with lucrative national sponserships.  

Now he's just another kid with a fish story. :-[

[senko_77]

so your sayin he didnt weigh the fish??

[Guest bigtex]

In my eyes he is a champ and a junior world record holder.  I don't care what anybody else says.  Great job and keep up the good work.

[Cephkiller]

I thought the fish was weighed?

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Not on a "certified" scale.

[5bass]

Not on a "certified" scale.

Sorry to hear that.I was pullin' for the kid.

Couldnt they just get the scale that it was weighed on,check it for actual weight variance and adjust Jr.'s weight accordingly?

[KU_Bassmaster.]

Not on a "certified" scale.

Sorry to hear that.I was pullin' for the kid.

Couldnt they just get the scale that it was weighed on,check it for actual weight variance and adjust Jr.'s weight accordingly?

That's too easy ...... :

[5bass]

Not on a "certified" scale.

Sorry to hear that.I was pullin' for the kid.

Couldnt they just get the scale that it was weighed on,check it for actual weight variance and adjust Jr.'s weight accordingly?

That's too easy ...... :

I figured the same,just a thought mainly.It would make too much sense to do that,wouldnt it?

[Topwater_Popper]

That "certified" scale thing drives me crazy.  Aren't other scales just as good as any others?

No matter what the IGFA says, he still holds the jr. world record for me.  Here is something interesting though.  There were two potential world records caught around the same time: Lake Dixon and the one this thread is on.

[flechero]

I'm beginning to think the IGFA is a bunch of @#$^&* &^%$#@! %^&*( *^^$!#@%!!!!!!

I honestly think if I caught a world record tomorrow, I would do everything required by the IGFA except submit the paperwork... and have an officially certified weight and tons of photos/video/etc. and when asked by reporters why I don't submit it for the record, say something like "I don't recognize the IGFA as a legitimate organization..." just to give them a taste of there own crap.

It is easy to certify a scale after the fact or simply calibrate (by actual weight and a certified scale) a weight from a scale that doesn't certify... any idiot with a 3rd grade education can do it.

I say "HORSE $#!+" (poop) !!!!!!

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

There has to be a a set of rules for somthing so controversial and "non-believable" as owning a world record.

Top-popper-2 different records. One is the overall WR and one is the "Jr." WR.

Flech- I gotta disagree. I hold a line class rcord and it took almost 1 1/2 yrs to finally solidify after line submission, all that stuff. They take forever and decline quite a few entries because the criteria have to be met EXACTLY. My personal belief is that whatever governing body is going to rule on these things has to be strict in maintaining these criteria.

Lots of people out there that would "attempt" to jeopardize their integrity to hold a record.

The IGFA is like the fishing version of a the police.  Sometimes if you're a cop, people are going to hate you but the general "honest" citizen doesn't have a problem with you doing your job. Same thing for the IGFA as I see it.

(plus let's not forget all the good they do for our sport from The Billfish Foundation all the way up to their jr angler educational programs.)

[flechero]

L_B_H,

I understand where you are coming from but we are not talking about line verification and approval. I will also agree that they do some good things. (so did FEMA and they got trashed) But for an organization that champions trophy fishing and records, they are pretty snobby to the common people. It is NOT difficult to get an accurate weight from a scale after the fact.

The IGFA is like the fishing version of a the police.

No way, they are like an *** claim forms administrator, lets credit the law enforcement to the game wardens.

Agreed to respectfully disagree.

[Guest avid]

No one is denying that this young man had a remarkable acheivement.  But let's not kid ourselves either.  We can "proclaim" outselves anything we want.  

When it comes to fishing records you don't have to recognize IGFA.  They have to recognize you.  If you want the recognition and accolades that come with the status of record holder.  Then you play by their rules or you lose.

I feel sorry for  the kid, I really do.

No one can take away from him the fact that he caught a monster.  But it is not the junior world record and I know he is grievously wounded by that fact.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

flech- I can agree with that to a point.  Absolutely.

However, I don't think this was the case with Lee.  Personally I think Lee got robbed!  I would be super disappointed (to put it nicely) with the guide that didn't know better than to help this young guy properly document what the 2 of them had accomplished!  Nevermind that this could have been huge for his business!!

I really feel for Lee but as stated above, he holds the record in my book.

Live and learn I guess.

[langs15]

I guess I am going to go out and catch a big one to get that record. :

[Guest ouachitabassangler]

One of the marinas on Ouachita weighed in fish for at least 20 years on a scale that turned out to be a little heavy, adding a few ounces. Maybe some time back they wanted to get more bucks for a "pound" of minnows. Now they supposedly have an expensive scale complete with a set of standard weights to keep it accurate, yet they don't charge anglers for using it. I certainly agree an official scale ought to be regularly certified as accurate. Some weigh-ins from that marina are probably questionable now, a sad possibility for some proud striper catchers if much is made of that problem. I carried a spring type scale for many years that turned out to be 1/4 pound light past about 4 pounds, so my own memories are tainted now. I was catching bigger than I thought. I suppose those scale springs stretch. I use a digital meter now.

Rules are rules. Look what steroids have done for integrity of sports records! Of all sports, fish records need to carry very high standards of measurement and confirmation of legal catch.

Jim

[fishingfrenzy]

I hold a line class rcord and it took almost 1 1/2 yrs to finally solidify after line submission, all that stuff.

LBH what line record do you hold?  

[Raul]

The IGFA is to fishing what AKC and FCI is to dogs, if in their books the breed is not recognized then it 's not a pure bred.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

I think I meant more like "the justice system" more so than the "police".  That's definately the wardens job

FF- Northern Pike, 6 lb, no leader.  It was '92, may have been broken since.  I havn't paid the $25 for the "official" book since 2000,lol.

[rocknfish9001]

LBH, how heavy was it? My neighbor caught a 15 lb. on 6lb with no leader.

[fishingfrenzy]

I never saw your record on the igfa website.  So I guess it was beaten or they took it out cause you never paid  

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Someone said that it wasn't in there anymore but I havn't looked in yrs. Mine was 16lbs-6 ozs.

sidenote- my first name is John.  That's how it was in there.  I go by "russell", my middle name.  If it's still John THetonia, that's me.  Actually I'm pretty sure it was listed as "J. Russell THetonia"  If anyone has the book, I would be curious to know if it still stands.

[Guest avid]

I don't know if it is still standing but I GUARANTEE that the next time you go fishing you wil DEFINITLY catch a boatload of huge bass (jinx)

Me         =  ;D

you        =    

Me         =