It takes a special kind of person to spend their days perfecting ways to make a fish seem heavier than it is. But the fact that polygraphs are commonly required to claim prize money suggests cheaters aren’t necessarily outliers, writes Leila Atassi.
It takes a special kind of person to spend their days perfecting ways to make a fish seem heavier than it is. But the fact that polygraphs are commonly required to claim prize money suggests cheaters aren’t necessarily outliers.
Perhaps the sport could use better technology to keep anglers honest.If there’s a list of the year’s dumbest criminals, these guys ought to be on it. But close behind should be any organizers who allowed themselves to be scammed by these knuckleheads. Why not just withhold any prize money until the winning fish are cut open and examined?This is interesting as well as rather dispiriting -- giving new meaning to the word “fishy.”If you would’ve told me before this controversy that fishermen get polygraphed at fishing contests, I would have said, “Seriously?” But, hey, if we learned nothing else, this is affirmation that people will cheat atLisa Garvin, editorial board member: Fishermen are known for exaggerating, but it’s all in good fun. Jake Runyan and Chase Cominsky have ruined a recreational pastime that must find new ways to deal with cheaters. Maybe large cash prizes and $100,000 boats are just too tempting. Shouldn’t smaller prizes and official bragging rights be enough?Another one of America’s great traditions ruined by a win-at-any-cost attitude. Perhaps this is just the American way of life, and we should just get used to it. After all, we have been here before, and some of the biggest perpetrators are more popular now than ever.For these greedy cheaters, tournament prizes were irresistible bait. But this time, when they nibbled, patient tournament director Jacob Fischer finally reeled them in. A good catch! Now, make the penalties harsh to dissuade others from the lure of easy money. Fortunately, however, most anglers aren’t looking for an angle, just a good fish story.Now that we know that walleye cheating is a thing, tournament organizers need to act to preserve the integrity of these competitions with far broader anti-cheating measures, whether random fish-gullet inspections, routine inspections of the victors’ walleye or other measures.* Email general questions about our