ISh DQ'd

[jgip087]

I don't know fi you heard but Ish Monroe got DQ'd today on Toledo Bend because he could not show proof of insurance and he launched from another ramp. The tournament director told him to go get it from his truck because int he rules it clearly states it must be in the boat and able to be shown. He blows the no wake on the way out, comes back and Bowes asks him to wait until he is done calling numbers so they can discuss the penalty for violating the no wake and its standard to hold them til the end if they can't furnish it up front. He shouts profanity at the tournament director in front of all the fans at the launch and gets DQ'd for unsportsmanlike conduct and says publicly he should have been able to fish without proof of insurance in his boat for the day.

In another note JVD did a little better today if you follow him and moved up to finish 119th and Luke Gritter is at Amistad and starts practicing for his 1st Elite series event Monday morning. Go Luke!!!

[Cy]

Here is the story. 

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/tournaments/opens/news/story?page=b_tourn_2009_Central_Open_ToledoBend_Ish

I'm not an Ish Monroe fan either.  I once saw an interview with him where he talks about pretending to be someone else when fans come to talk to him in public.  In the same interview he also said "...you can keep the fame just give me the money."  I'm not impressed by him at all.

Cy

[Skip Johnson]

The insurance shoulda been in the boat and Ish knows that, Im glad to hear that he didnt get preferential treatment especialy after shouting profanity over something he was dead wrong about.
I allways keep my policy with me and I still would even if I didnt TX fish just incase I hit something or someone hits me.

[BigSmallie]

ANY......large bass tournament like this should have the insurance requirements met WELL before the tournament......like during registration.

I really don't know Ish........other than he can't hold on to fish! 

BS 

[jgip087]

They check while on the water before they start only the first couple boats of each flight because in most states it is required to be in the boat, not in the truck. At the registration they make it clear for about 5 minutes that the first couple of boats will be checked in each flight so have it with you or you won't fish until you can furnish it. If it's not in the boat then it violates rule number one of most events, follow all state and local laws.

[BigSmallie]

I can't believe they ask for a copy of your insurance as the boats are idling out......I can see checking the live wells....but the insurance too??   Just seems to me this should be one of those things that should be verified well before the tournament.

I mean....what's next.....have your drivers license out to verify who you are.......??

BS 

[nitroderrek]

did they check for a proper fishing license?
did the check to make sure his kill switch worked?
did they make sure he had a fire extinguisher on board?
is it in date?
does his horn work?
does his running lights work?

if they want to check one thing,,, why not everything?
do the boats need to go through a full coast guard inspection before every tournament? ..  no

i think he should have been able to show proof after the day's weigh-in, privately, and not been handled the way it was. 
just my opinion, nitroderrek

[jgip087]

He wasn't idling out when they checked him. I guess you would have to be in a tournament to understand. First, you launch then idle down to a pier usually away from the ramp. Next, you line up a few minutes early and the first couple boats of each flight tie to the dock, insurance is checked at that time. The national anthem is played and the tournament director starts calling the numbers. As you idle by the dock your livewells are to be open and running at one point and then you pull your kill switch at the next point, it is a very quick and smooth process if you have things working as required by the rules. If all works properly the last guy on the dock tosses you a key float you turn in at the end of the day and tells you good luck and the official time, and lights must be up and turned on.

[1javelin]

I kind of think this guy is none too professional acting to begin with, but I've never met him, so what do I know.  I think if they want to check anything they have the right to do it.  You should have any pertinent papers with you in the boat all the time anyways, so why leave it in your truck?  Just my opinion, which isn't much.

1Jav

Sorry Dan

[djkimmel]

I'd prefer that we don't call pro anglers jerks or similar disparaging names on here. Why? I don't want any angry or threatening phone calls from someone. Please remember that I have previously been contacted all the way from the Zapata Texas Chamber of Commerce demanding a retraction of statements 'my web site' made that weren't true. I had to remind them that any comments by others on this forum were their own personal opinions and not GreatLakesBass.com's opinion, and that they were welcome to respond.

I have also had one company owner threaten me with a law suit for comments made on here so this is not a wishy-washy or namby-pamby thing I ask. I don't want to be shut down because of something like that. The Internet makes this world real small in a hurry. You'd be surprised from how far away I sometimes hear and I remind you that a lot of industry people do read your comments on here.

It is okay to talk about the person's actions, and say you did not find it professional or to be what you would expect from a pro angler, but name calling is personal and it truly is important to avoid it for real reasons.

Talk about the actions. Don't call the person names. The best way to help someone change bad behavior is to point out that you don't find the behavior acceptable and sometimes people get it and change. Call names, and the hackles just go up. Things can get out of hand to no good purpose. If it wasn't an important point, I wouldn't stress it when necessary. Thank you.

[motocross269]

I think BASS needs to be more consistent while enforcing the rules....I will leave it at that...

I will say that being a TD at that level has to be a pain in the rear...

[jgip087]

Understandable Dan but going back to that Zapata deal I still believe 100% Zapata kept things on the down low that really happened down there. A tackle store on Falcon Lake out of Zapata talked about the hundreds and hundreds of dead fish that were dying after that tournament and it was all over the Texas Fishing Forum from ticked anglers and photos were available. If I were them and they brought business to my small dusty border town I would not complain either. It happens everywhere though. Might stir something up again but the Tennessee DNR had a thing with FLW over a huge fish kill on the lake. Charlie Evans son actually was ticketed for collecting dead bass after the tournament so they couldn't be seen floating dead in Kentucky Lake where they released them, I saw the citation and I think he was 50 or 100 over limit. Photos were also out and FLW did everything possible to stop them from hitting the press. Does that make anyone wonder what happens on St. Clair because they do not know how to properly handle fish???

[Fishmael]

Yeah, it is not ideal to have a fish kill after a tournament because of poor handling or poor conditions (hot weather, etc.).  However, how many tournaments (local and big tourneys) are held each year on St. Clair/Detriot River/Erie for example?  People wack them every time.  If you don't come in with a limit over 20lbs, you aren't even close!  So, does it sound like any dead fish are really restricting the population?  It is probably pretty consistent with those 50,000 to 100,000 reservoirs as well.  Just a thought...

[jgip087]

I think some fish dying helps because less people are keeping them but I don't believe major trails should have those big fish kills. I am for fish care though and wish none had to die but then we may over populate. I think our waters have a lot more fish than those southern reservoirs though and they are so much easier to catch! It just doesn't seem like you get many bites most times you are out down south but they have time to grow year round and plenty of water to do it in so they can get big.

[djkimmel]

I think BASS needs to be more consistent while enforcing the rules....I will leave it at that...

I will say that being a TD at that level has to be a pain in the rear...

A big AMEN to the 'pain in the rear' part. I done it a few times, and at least half the time, I wonder why

[Fishmael]

I bet they probably have more people who eat bass down south.  Up here, we don't need to as much, since our waters are flowing over with walleye, perch, etc...well maybe not flowing over, but still available.  There is a theory that makes a lot of sense about how a square acre of water can only support X number of fish.  It is the same with trout in a river.  So, when people always catch and release, it is easy for a piece of water to exceed its holding capacity.  Up here, with the boom of the goby, I believe the carrying capacity is probably much higher than in other waters.  But I agree that it definitely does not look good for a tournament to have a big fish kill.

[cameraguy]

Boy a thread can really get off topic can't it?

As far as the Ish Monroe situation...any participant should know the rules, abide by them, and be prepared to be checked for any infraction.  If anybody wants to play fast and loose with the rules or try to skate by hoping not to be caught has to deal with the consequences of being caught.  Ish violated the rules and was caught.  He was even given a chance to redeem the rule infraction and violated two more right in front of many onlookers.  He has no one to blame but himself.  Know the rules, abide by them or pay the consequences.  It doesn't matter if you like the rules, if you decide to participate, then you had better follow them.