I Know I Did The Right Thing As A Co-Angler

[Bass XL]

I want to know who called you a tool and a snitch...

[Big-O]

THANKYOU for being honest and especially for keeping your cool when others ridiculed your integrity! REAL Fishermen would never do that!

Big O

www.ragetail.com

[BRONZEBACK67]

I saw where you mentioned this on another site & he mentioned it again while waiting to weigh in while you were at the BPS. I am wondering how you were going back to the middle of the lake to put in his live well without being seen. Are you sure he was not pulling your leg.

The last time he asked me for the fish was while we were waiting to weigh in at BPS.(our fish were still in the live wells of the boat) The other times were on the lake.

As I have said before...He was not joking and YES I am sure he was not pulling my leg.

[Talmadge]

you defiantly did the right thing thats how this sport should be cheater free if everyone was like you maybe it would happen good job

[islandbass]

When I caught wind of this story, I wondered if the co-angler might be a member here. Bronze, I tip my hat to you with the greatest of respect. I also think you did the right thing.

As for the punishment, it seems the rules have a loop hole as to why he might have been dq'd.

rule 3(vii). In the Official Opens rules, it states that "Failure to report violations, or suggestions to another competitor that they violated these rules, or false verification of weigh-in forms, will be cause for disqualification."

Cause, as opposed to will result in a disqualification, the latter, which some people have interpreted the rule. BASS definitely left themselves some wiggle room.

[Bluebasser86]

This sport requires a large amount of trust to be had between anglers. I have no problem if you beat me fair and square but as soon as I find out someone has cheated once or even tried to cheat I could never trust them enough to fish in a tournament they were in. I couldn't imagine guys on the pro level that do it for a living would be any more understanding than me. You did the right thing for sure and you can never make a tough decision that will make everyone happy.

[guitarkid]

That took real guts, good for you keeping a "professional" honest.

-gk

[Bass XL]

Can you imagine the stir that is to come if Nate Wellman ends up winning the classic?

[shootermcbob]

It took not only courage but INTEGRITY for you to do what is absolutely the right thing. Your character and integrity are to be respected and admired, while Wellman's lack of both traits unfortunately showed through as well.

You should hold your head high and be proud as all the honest folks are proud of you.

[J Francho]

Can you imagine the stir that is to come if Nate Wellman ends up winning the classic?

He won't be able to - no co-angler to catch his fish!

[hookingem]

He won't be able to - no co-angler to catch his fish!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! :lol:

[J Francho]

http://www.bassmaster.com/news/perspective-nate-wellman-story

[Sfritr]

As some of the other comments have stated, who would EVER fish with this guy again. No, there is no proof, except the fact that he admitted to "jokingly" asking to purchase fish. Come On, if I were Nate and my carreer, name, and guide career were on the line and I thought I were innocent I would be kicking, screaming and yelling on every podium I could find to clear my name.

The fact that he only made a half hearted excuse/apology condemns him IMO.

A dark day for Bass fishing for sure.

[bassfisherjk]

You did the right thing.Congrat's

[GrundleLove]

I would have done it for 2000.00

Kidding!

In all honestly you did do the right thing, I always thought about how easy it must be to cheat in bass tournaments, i bet people do it all the time.

[Gotfishyfingers?]

You did the right thing! There is no room for even a joke about cheating during a tournament period!

[Nitrofreak]

One can only imagine the courage that it took to bring yourself to making that decision and picking up the phone and making that call.

Do not concern yourself with what was and still may be being said about you in a negative manner, you have stood up for the right reasons and faced a firing squad and came out a better man for those of us who support you and the decision you made.

To me you are a true to life hero that is willing to make a difference and stand firm in your belief's and that makes you a true friend not only to this great sport but to us as well.

Hell of a good job !!!!

[Big Fish Rice]

I wasn't there, but I can guarantee that you aren't the "tool" in this scenario if everything is as it appears.

It's too bad that one person can cause so much distaste in our sport.

Can we dress this guy up in a Polk-a-dot outfit and make him fish some trout derbys or something, lol?

[Diablos]

What has been the feedback from the other guys in the tournament?

Are you considered a snitch or a 'good guy'?

I'm just trying to see the mentality of the others. If you are considered a snitch then I'm guessing cheating might be more common than we hoped for.

[scbassin]

Wow that guy is unbelievable, I am glad you busted his butt.

[preach4bass]

You're a man of integrity. I'd be honored to fish with you.

[SirSnookalot]

I would love to have been a fly buzzing around that boat and listening to the conversation. If a person feels in their heart they made a right choice on the proper course of action to be taken, then that's all there is too it.

The first question I would have asked myself after receiving the offer of bribery, is this the first time or is it common practice for this fisherman. If I felt it was a one time shot, I'd reject the offer then probably just dropped the issue right then and there. Doing damage to some one's career for a lone error in judgement is something I could not do. However if I felt bribes were common place I most assuredly would have reported the incident, but would have done it as anonymous as possible.

[Nitrofreak]

I would love to have been a fly buzzing around that boat and listening to the conversation. If a person feels in their heart they made a right choice on the proper course of action to be taken, then that's all there is too it.

The first question I would have asked myself after receiving the offer of bribery, is this the first time or is it common practice for this fisherman. If I felt it was a one time shot, I'd reject the offer then probably just dropped the issue right then and there. Doing damage to some one's career for a lone error in judgement is something I could not do. However if I felt bribes were common place I most assuredly would have reported the incident, but would have done it as anonymous as possible.

Doing damage to someones career is something I think had to cross his mind before he made his decision to report him.

The damage was brought upon himself by himself not by bronzeback doing what he felt was the right thing to do.

Weather or not it was a lone error in judgement should not come into play, the plain and very simple fact is he tried to cheat the system by offering a bribe, It does not matter if it was his first time or the 100th time.

It is however hard to believe and also sad to hear that someone who has worked so hard to get to the pro's and make it there has to stoop to such a level and bring shame to this sport and himself by doing such a thing in the first place, I hope that this is not the way he achieved his pro level but one has to wonder.

The chance to fish with a pro is not within everyones grasp and the lessons we learn from them should not be about bribery.

[royal0014]

You absolutely did the right and honorable thing. I commend you.

And he tried to play it off as a joke. A comment I read elsewhere...'$5 is a joke,a $1000 is an offer'.

[SirSnookalot]

Any person is entitled to their opinion of right and wrong regarding this situation. If one feels that they have taken the right action, well that's the end of it. After really thinking about this and reading an article regarding "the scandal", I would without doubt have taken a different path. I understand even a suggestion is against the rules, the governing body did not disqualify, still allowed him to win, did not reduce prize money, gave him a small fine of $2500, and probation for year, which really means " watch your step". It my mind it doesn't appear that the governing body took it all that serious, after all there was no serious penalty.

Had a bribe been offered to me, given my nature which is easy going and never uptight, I would rejected the offer with my own chuckle, whether he was joking or not. I then would give the professional fisherman the tongue lashing of his life, I'd make him feel lower than bass crap at the bottom of Lake Erie and warn him not to try it again, I think that's punishment enough, but to report the incident is something I would never do.

I don' know how Wellman's fans, sponsors and other professionals react this infraction, but I would not want to be responsible for anything negative. I'm speaking only from my own experience, been offered bribes and kickbacks in business far exceeding this small amount of money, turned them down but never jeopardized a person position, having some one get fired was something I could not live with, that's how I view integrity. For me a simple no thanks is sufficient.

As I original said if a person feels comfortable in telling, so be it.