CHEATING in ANGLING COMPS? - The Lure Fishing Podcast

I think they should allow all cheating bastards in one competition and the most elaborate grandiose ballbag wins based on creativity, dedication and know how, an artist in true bullshit, that is a winner.

You have to admit the evidence against the individual is very dammin, cheating has no place in any sport.

As you know Andy... I hate cheating and cheats. Cheats should be banned for life from tournaments no question, they rarely do it once, they are usually serial offenders. As Charlie said the only way to do this with a rolling measure is to show the top edge of the measure in the photo. Will only work with the wider measures unless it's a wasp fest.

Very fair video guys and some great information of historic cheating i did not know. The point of view on sponsored anglers is probably accurate as well. Keep on voicing your opinions.

You’re right. My main memory from the big lerf weekender was fishing and bantering in the sunset on Weymouth pier with Charlie, (Bradley?) and Tristan and his kid Tyler. The prizes are long gone in snags but the fun and memories can never be taken away by a submerged log.

Great you’ve covered this topic but not naming the individual perhaps suggests that those who have, have acted unreasonably. Even the organiser didn’t but thankfully a disgruntled competitor did. If it wasn’t for them, and the embarrassingly small number of people who showed their support, this may well have been swept under the carpet, and you wouldn’t have a vid to make. It also suggests to cheats that it might be worth the risk. If we all rely on someone else to have the courage to blow the whistle, it might never happen. Well done for acknowledging the extremely important part of this sad story. The damage of influencers and false belief in sponsor validation. That’s precisely why this recent issue has irked me so much.

A difficult subject well covered. Well done for discussing this issue.

I ask a simple question,
the truth is all I wish.
Are all fishermen liars,
or do all the liars fish?

Is it cheating when lure anglers use fluorocarbon traces instead of steel traces on waters that ban fluorocarbon traces on there waters?

Great discussion and points well put, is it a bit of a coincidence that in the day this came out the tackle shop made a statement followed by the angler, it should of been the other way round, angler followed by tackle shop followed by you guys, keep up the good work

Never understood the desperation to be sponsored or endorsed by a brand i go fishing for the pure love of it these days people thrive on Internet appreciation i dont even post what i catch because i couldn't care less what people think i go fishing to please myself

100% this is an ego thing as the competition entered was an open entry without huge prizes. Crazy

I don’t understand this, as someone that enjoys angling for the passion. I couldn’t imagine going out your way to cheat just for self gratification. I can get the American tournaments for bass with major prizes, although it’s still not alright or better because the prize is greater. Imagine being so smug you have to pretend your fish is bigger than what it actually was. Such a shallow ego lol

I was worried when this was coming out that it could turn into another witch hunt but it is far from it. Like others, it didn't directly affect me in a competition I had entered, but never the less it was shocking and as more and more evidence came out across multiple comps, I was genuinly dumbfounded.
Simply by brand association, others where then being automatically called out as cheats and targeted with zero evidence or facts. I also had the joy of being mistaken for the accused party at a fishing show last weekend and being told "I am suprised you are still alive". This is totally not on, even if was directed at the person in question. Cheating is something none of us as a comp angler can stand. They literally ruin everything we compete for.
Andy you and many others know that we often don't see eye to eye and have had our fair share of personality clashes, but I think on this subject we are very much singing off the same song sheet.
There is no place for this behaviour and I fully support a blanket ban on them being in any future comps, the repayment of any prizes that were effectively defrauded from other competitors and I think that has to be the minimum.

First of all,i like your podcast style.Watched with pleasure.

Feel sorry for the organizer such a shit show im glad i buy from tom n not pred tackle took them far to long to say something and even when they did wasnt anything innthe wrods they chose to say

Good podcast , being a Old Skool Angler myself I remember the blade of grass on the pikes tail in the Angling papers at the time . He had the same name as a very well known pike angling author of that era if I remember right , which the press had to point out was not the same person .

Over 30 years fishing, over a decade lurefishing and you're right ive see loads come and go but i still love it more than ever thats what you call winning 😊 life time competition bans for anyone caught cheating

diluted. He should say he cheated because he relly wanted to win. He will be not the first one. Admit and beg for mercy as if not u will be done.

hello tom i told you the legend of the grass on the pike will never die and as for the measuring cheating thing id never dabble in it

Sensible coverage of the topic guys weldone! When can i get a feature on the show 😊

The entry fees are huge in USA bass comps it’s like professional gambling. The sponsorship dollar has changed it used to be the best anglers got the backing from the sponsors now it’s the anglers that have the biggest social media following that are getting the deals. A lot of the newer pros are really finding it hard to get sponsored from results alone and they have to find their own boat, electronics travel etc. it’s been a big debate on a lot of the USA bass podcasts this off season. Social media is the key to anglers success in backing by big sponsors so it is understandable that done fellows are tempted by the pressure to make themselves look better than they are to keep the following and therefore the sponsors happy.

The US market is so big a lot of the lure brands there almost view our UK market as insignificant.

One solution but it would mean extra expense for competitors is to insist on pov video from cast to capture / measure.

Why you need to cheat when you fish lakes rammed with fish? 😂

Not an expert but does the lens of an iPhone skew the use of validation tool you used? Would think the further from the midline of photo, the more condensed things may be perceived. I also agree with Tom’s comments - comp fees should ideally include the cost of a board, would think sponsors like Reuben Heaton would be interested. At some point though, trust and validation tools needs to come into play as otherwise we’d all end up with 10’s of measures!

People avoiding naming him is ridiculous. If we’re trying to build something similar to the American model then once cheats are caught they should be thoroughly outed. The guy is back posting fishing content on Instagram as if nothing happened. I’d be far to embarrassed to be seen with a rod in my hand again.

I think this is all very interesting and honourable, but you all know who it was and many of us don’t. By now the truth should be out. If he has a channel I’m subscribed to, I’d want to know. I just hope it is none of those I follow religiously, I’d feel betrayed. I fish purely for pleasure - the competition is my own ability. Currently, I’m 3-nil up😂👍