Elite 50 in Paducah

I feel a little better about my fishing after seeing the results of the Elite
50 in Paducah. Some of those guys had a real tough time, too.

Most interesting story was Mark Menendez to me. He is a local guy and I met
him at our registration - he was representing Skeeter and Yamah. He also spoke
at our banquet - very nice guy.

He qualified for final six on the last day of the Elite 50. At some point
during the day he removed his life jacket in a prohibited area - the dam below
Barkley or KY Lake - can't remember which - has signs saying Life Jackets
Required. He must have pulled into that area to fish and took his off - dumb
mistake. We discussed that rule at the Southern Regional because several
members of the GA team were fishing there and we agreed they would have to wear
the life jackets.

Anyway, Menendez realized his mistake and called the BASS tournament director,
and was disqualified. He said he had the winning weight in the boat, too.

Could you be that honest? Don't know if his observer noticed, or would have
reported him. He said it was bad enough being disqualified, but would be worse
to win then be DQed.

Interesting how this played out as opposed to the Classic where Iaconelli was
supposedly shown on TV not zipping up his life jacket while running the gas
motor. Wonder how that was different - other than he did not report himself if
it happened.

I am not sure dumb safety mistakes like that should result in the death penalty
- some penalty is deserved, but not sure about disqualification. Cheating
should result in a lifetime ban, but making a dumb mistake?

I know I worried at the Southern Regional because I often slip on my
lifejacket, crank the motor and let it idle while I zip up. That would be a
disqualification if I did it in a BASS tournament.
Ronnie

http://fishing.about.com

RGarri7470 wrote:
That would be a
disqualification if I did it in a BASS tournament.

Unless you were Iaconelli, evidentally.

RichZ©
www.richz.com/fishing

"RGarri7470" wrote in message
...
I am not sure dumb safety mistakes like that should result in the death
penalty
- some penalty is deserved, but not sure about disqualification. Cheating
should result in a lifetime ban, but making a dumb mistake?

I also thought that disqualification seemed harsh for an inadvertent
violation, especially when it offered no advantage as far as catching fish.
But I've never fished a tournament and know little about operating them.

I wonder if the goal is ease of administration as opposed to justice. Right
now it seems pretty easy; violate a rule and you're disqualified. If they
were to ease up, would they need to have different penalties for different
violations, making it a lot more difficult to administer?

Nevertheless, the DQ still seems harsh--the punishment doesn't fit the
crime.

When a group submits itself to a rule not set to the higher standard of the
law then expediency will prevail more often than not.

On the other hand you have to have great respect for those who obey the
rules and call their own fouls.

--
Public Fishing & Boating Forums
Fishing & Boating Link Index
www.YumaBassMan.com


"Marty" wrote in message
...

"RGarri7470" wrote in message
...
I am not sure dumb safety mistakes like that should result in the death
penalty
- some penalty is deserved, but not sure about disqualification.
Cheating
should result in a lifetime ban, but making a dumb mistake?

I also thought that disqualification seemed harsh for an inadvertent
violation, especially when it offered no advantage as far as catching
fish.
But I've never fished a tournament and know little about operating them.

I wonder if the goal is ease of administration as opposed to justice.
Right
now it seems pretty easy; violate a rule and you're disqualified. If they
were to ease up, would they need to have different penalties for different
violations, making it a lot more difficult to administer?

Nevertheless, the DQ still seems harsh--the punishment doesn't fit the
crime.

The rules are the rules, and you abide by them!
Bass fishing is much like golf, it is self regulated in most cases, and
is a "gentlemans" sport...honesty is the key. You learn from "stupid"
mistakes, but the consquences are known, and the learning experience can
be quite costly, but that is what you should expect.
It is a great sport, and I believe it should be preserved through strict
regulation. When ever there are large sums of money offered, there will
be those that try and gain an unfair advantage, we need to keep those
individuals out of the sport, even when it means enforcing the lesser
rule violations to the letter. Just my opinion.
JK

If you aren't fishing a tournament (i.e., just out for fun) and the wx
is calm, do you wear a life jacket? I don't know all the rules
state-by-state; I'm assuming most states have a 'must have PFD for each
passenger in the boat' rule. I'm also assuming you know how to swim, and
have enough common sense to throw a PFD on as soon as the wx kicks up.
Just an informal poll....

"J Buck" wrote in message
...
If you aren't fishing a tournament (i.e., just out for fun) and the wx
is calm, do you wear a life jacket? I don't know all the rules
state-by-state; I'm assuming most states have a 'must have PFD for each
passenger in the boat' rule. I'm also assuming you know how to swim, and
have enough common sense to throw a PFD on as soon as the wx kicks up.
Just an informal poll....


If by myself, always wear a PFD! I have different PFD's depending on the
temperature. Thinking of getting the SOS inflatables for really hot
weather. The problem, is when you fall out of the boat you can hit your
head, or the boat can drift away faster than you can swim. And drowning is
not really nice. And if you go under and come up in a week, it is really
not nice. Found a floater years ago. He had climbed down a pier to untangle
a fish and slipped and hit his head. 1.5 weeks later, I found him.
bill

I didn't use to, but a conversation with a friend convinced me that crazy
things happen too fast to react.

So, while under way (only), I wear a PFD, along with the kill switch strap.
I take it off when I'm fishing in any sort of reasonable weather though. I
do own an inflatable "fanny pack" and I should get in the habit of having
it on when I'm stumbling about my little boat.

Also, now that I do wear the PFD when moving, I find it has become a habit
and I reach for it before reaching for the starter key!--

RichG manager, Carolina Skiff Owners Group on MSN
http://groups.msn.com/CarolinaSkiffOwners
"J Buck" wrote in message
...
If you aren't fishing a tournament (i.e., just out for fun) and the wx
is calm, do you wear a life jacket? I don't know all the rules
state-by-state; I'm assuming most states have a 'must have PFD for each
passenger in the boat' rule. I'm also assuming you know how to swim, and
have enough common sense to throw a PFD on as soon as the wx kicks up.
Just an informal poll....

I have a self inflate life vest for when I am by myself or when the wind kicks
up.

Brad Coovert
2003 Angler of the Year, Greenfield Bassmasters
http://www.greenfieldbassmasters.com

J Buck wrote:
If you aren't fishing a tournament (i.e., just out for fun) and the wx
is calm, do you wear a life jacket? I don't know all the rules
state-by-state; I'm assuming most states have a 'must have PFD for each
passenger in the boat' rule. I'm also assuming you know how to swim, and
have enough common sense to throw a PFD on as soon as the wx kicks up.
Just an informal poll....


I just have a trolling motor boat, so "under way" isn't an issue. Calm
hot weather, jacket is off. Rough weather or night, or anytime by
myself, it's on.