New BASS rules!

In the Tournament Forum Bill Cadwell has posted a link to an article in regards to a new “No Info” rule passed down by BASS. You can read the article by clicking here. “No Info”

SaaaaWeet.
This will definately help to seperate the best bass fisherman from the best info fisherman. I wonder if iaconelli can win squat without fishing other fishermans fish.
Thanks for the info guys.
jc

How in the world is it going to be enforced? Maybe they can set up “stings” with locals trying to give out info!!

I hope the rule works out and is followed.

How do you guys know who were the guys getting info and who wasn’t? I don’t follow real close, but I have heard Roland Martin usually hires planes and tracks where people are fishing.

Okay, then, it raises the question similar to the one we discussed at legth this summer… Culling goes on in WI without saying in most tournaments even though the rules (and the law) state very clearly it is not allowed… Instead, “common law” is followed: “Don’t ask. Don’t tell.”

So, what prevents someone from breaking this rule?

From the article: “Anglers will have to police themselves, but they feel that if the rule is made, it will be followed. Failure to adhere to the rule will result in a stiff penalty.”

Again, from the article: “The penalties for violating the rule begin with tournament disqualification for the first offense. The second offense will result in loss of eligibility for the following season.”

So, how could there “penalty” actually be proven????

Thoughts?

If it is enforceable it will be great otherwise it will be another no culling joke. By the way does anybody know where the legislation is at regards to allowing culling in tournaments. It will be better for everyone if it passes.

Good Afternoon gents…sorry i’m a little slow today, i’ve been in meetings for the past 3 hours . This is a very interesting, and yet another controversial topic. Mt.Man brings up good points, as does everyone else. I believe enforcement is THE big issue here…IF I were a professional fisherman (that’s a big IF ), I might not be able to ask someone about the lake/fish/etc…but that doesn’t mean i couldn’t listen in on others talking at the baitshop/dock etc. ..Not that i would do that, but do you see the point i’m trying to make here …And let’s not forget about forums like this…We try to share information w/each other, and most of it would/could be invaluable to someone fishing a tournament wherever they may be. I’m sure there are forums like this all over the country..

I’d be in favor of this law/bill and I think it would really separate the men from the boys …

I am glad to see BASS go back to the off limits and such. It will show who’s got what again. In that cut throat game you can bet they will police themselves with some vigor. Those with the talent don’t need the help anyway.

I THINK THE IDEA MAKES SENSE IF ALL FISHERMEN ARE CREATED EQUAL. FOR INSTANCE, IF KEVIN VAN DAM AND I HAD THE SAME ABILITY, LAKE EXPIERIENCE AND SAME MONEY AND SPONSORSHIP BACKING. IT WOULD MAKE FOR A GREAT COMPETITION. LOOK AT IT FROM A ROOKIE POINT OF VIEW. YOU WILL RARELY EVER BEAT KEVIN VAN DAM UNLESS YOU CAN GET OUTSIDE HELP. HE IS LIGHT YEARS AHEAD OF US IN EXPIERIENCE, LAKE KNOWLEDGE, AND FINANCIAL BACKING. IF VAN DAM FISHES AGAINST RICK CLUNN IS SEEMS LIKE A GOOD IDEA. IT SEEMS LIKE A RULE TO KEEP THE VETERANS IN THE TOP TWENTY. TBASS

I can see your way of thinking but bring those pro’s to the river, any river and I will toss down the money to see how I fair. Its not that I want to fish against them on my own water, its that this is a type of area that I understand as well if not better than most. I really think it will get rid of the gross misconduct about beating down doors and getting in good with the best local guys.
Either way it will make things interesting. It seems I remember a local guy around here getting caught hiring a guide once upon a time.

Guys

One more viewpoint: http://www.bassfan.com/news_article.asp?ID=815

JC, I KNOW WHAT YOUR SAYING. I’M CERTAINLY NOT AFRAID TO PUT UP MONEY AGAINST BETTER FISHERMAN. I DO IT IN EVERY TOURNEY I’M IN. I AM NOT AGAINST THE NO INFO RULE EITHER. BUT, WHEN I ASKED YOU FOR HELP YOU SAID “SPEND A DAY ON THE WATER WITH ME AND YOUR LEARNING CURVE WILL BE ACCELERATED”. AND IT WAS. NOT JUST SPOTS, BUT REALLY, RIVER FISHING 101. NOW IF YOU ASK ME, THERE ISN’T ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT. NOW, IF I HAD TO FISH AGAINST THE TOP STICKS ON THE RIVER, WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO USE OUTSIDE INFO, I WOULDN’T BE COMPETITIVE , EVER. I COULD NEVER CATCH UP. YOU SAW THAT IN THE FIRST TOURNAMENT BACK IN APRIL. THE TOP FIVE SPOTS WERE ALL RIVER STUDS. THAT TELLS ME I AM BEHIND AND NEED TO LEARN. SO IS IT WRONG TO CALL OL’ JEREMY AND ASK FOR HELP. ONLY IF HE DOESN’T WANT TO GIVE IT. IT JUST SEEMS IT WOULD KEEP THE RIVER STUDS ON TOP.

CAN YOU TELL ON THE GUIDE HIRING CULPRIT?

Most everyone who spends anytime at all on this particular forum is probably a good hook or at least someone who can catch fish if someone puts them on fish. Therefore, if we had someone out on the water finding 15-20 spots (basically a half dozen or better for every weather condition) for us to run to on tournament weekend, we could probably be competitive at a very high level. This new rule will force the retirement and or down fall of some very big names in the sport of Bass fishing. Wait and see.

Crees, no offense intended but most of the big names made their name when these similar rules were in affect years ago. FLW kind of forced some rules changes on BASS but they now regress to the old ways. Sounds like it is well received by most.

Non-taken. But my impressions (from reading/research)of how the early tour use to be was very much like it is now. They may of had the these laws, but they did not have today’s communications and technology. It would have been much easier to break these rules back then, then it will be in todays circut. Just opinion. Doesn’t mean much.

CREES, I WOULD TEND TO DISAGREE ALSO. THE REAL LEGENDS (FOR THE MOST PART) ARE GOING TO MAKE OUT GOOD ON THIS NEW RULE. THEY ARE THE ONES WITH THE KNOWLEDGE, EXPIERIENCE AND FINANCIAL BACKING. THEY DON’T REALLY NEED THE HELP. IT IS THE LESS EXPIERIENCED THAT IS GOING TO FEEL THE WEIGHT OF THIS RULE. TBASS

This is a great conversation….. Here’s just another thought. I can get all the “inside info” in the world, but it could mean absolutely nothing come tourney day depending on the weather, conditions, fish mood etc….It still takes skill to put fish in the boat, not matter what “inside info” one might obtain. (i’m still searching for the skill ..lol)

I agree great conversation. A year and a half ago I went to Bass University in Chicago (it was really good) and several guys from the Chicago area talked about how they had put guys on fish at the Classic there. It sounded like the pros that had “help” really relied on these guys. They even poked fun at one of the guys that didn’t help the pro that asked him for help. Now I’m not condemning the practice, but I think it would make for more interesting and competitive tournaments.

TBASS,
While I understand your frustration with getting up to speed with what some of the guys winning many tournaments is very difficult, I feel that if you put in your time and pay attention to the little things you will be much further ahead than if you try to “do what they are doing” My tournaments are sporadic at best. Some tournaments I absolutely stomp the competition and some days I blank. 99% of what I know I learned without inside help. Anyone that fishes with me will confirm that I do things a little different and look in places that many would pass up. Case in point is a day fishing with a fisherman I respect very much (Blue Fleck). We were fishing one of his little spots and when I started trying to float the boat on a mat of coontail and much he thought I was a bit odd until we started pulling fish out of the back. This spot has all new potential. I will admit that many people fish these types of areas but if you could have been there you would have thought I may be nuts as well.
Tony, You said you will never get to “that” level… I think you are mistaken. If you refine the metal part of your game I think your successes will be profound. My best advice is to never visit the same place twice (I wish I would do this more) and learn what the area has to offer and how fish would use this at different times during the year. Then when you are out fishing and start deciphering the patterns at hand you will have many more places to draw from. Many people know piles of money are won out of MN Slough on pool 9 but it’s the little things these guys are finding and noticing in practice that are paying off on tourney day.

As for the pro’s not being allowed to get formal help I think this is the way it should be. They can get help while escalating there knowledgebase and overall skills but when money is on the line they have to find there own fish and catch them in ways they know how. If Aaron shows me how to dropshot I may or may not be effective, If he shows me where to through it I will probably catch I would not otherwise catch. In this case I don’t really think those are my fish and should not be counted in a tourney.

I guess I am a purest at heart. I wish everyone had the same practice time and they had the same starting info. From there you will see who is and who is not a quality hook. The sweetest thing about this will be watching Rollin Martin fall flat on his face this year.
The young guys without a big name will be able to better compete and when I make it to the classic I will be competing wits against wits. I like those odds.

By the way…. Mark you calendar this spring for a little smallie action.
Jc

To address an earlier question, “How is this going to be enforced?”

It will be enforced fom the inside. Think about it for a minute. Most of the guys that fish this circuit live and die by sponsorships. Let’s face it, bass fishing isn’t a business that offers a steady paycheck. It may for some but not all.

If you were an active fisherman in the circuit trying to weave your way to the top, the last thing you want is your name in the paper associated with a headline depicting you as a rule breaker. You can bet with the blink of an eye you will be stripped of your sponsors. Name one sponsor that wants to be associated with a cheater. That’s how it wil be enforced. I know for sure if I were out there trying to carve a name for myself, this is the last thing I would want associated with it.

You can bet there’s going to be more than one guy out there looking to bring some top notch angler down, by saying he helped him or he saw him talking to a local angler.

Hey BF:

You rbing up a good point. So good, as a matter of fact, it brought up another. Since it is a cutthroat world, to you think it may lead to some false accusations? And, what kind of “proof” do you think would be needed? If just taking the word of someone who says they gave a pro info, with no further evidence, would be enough to bring sanctions, that could get ugly too.

Ahh yess…Hearsay ….rumors ….one man’s word -vs- another. I think i’m gonna go buy an audio recorder

Good point mossboss. That was part of the point I was trying to make earlier. Fear of being discovered as a cheat or someone who used local help to find fish will prevent some of these pros from competing at a higher level at some tournaments. Old School or rookie. The true fishermen will show on top of the leader boards this season.

I think the old guys will do better. Most of the old guys have been to these lakes before and have at least some knowledge of what the lake holds.

On the point Scooter makes, I have heard that some of the
pros use advance teams of friends, and family, that fish
upcoming tournament waters for them, and help track the
seasonal patterns for the pro. In one instance, a pro
would either rent, lease, or own a place on most of the
big name lakes, in the south, so this advance team
could have a base of operation. So I don’t know how
much the “old guys” actually remember, versus how much they
are kept up to date on where the fish are in their
seasonal patterns, what areas are holding forage, area
water levels, and clarity, etc. That is the real valuable
info, that shortens the pro’s learning curve in those
few official practice days. This new rule is going to
kill that kind of help, and that is more important than
some local saying fish here.

Big Bass Bane

JEREMY, I WANT TO ADD JUST ONE OR 2 MORE THINGS AND THEN I WILL QUIT GOING ON ABOUT THIS. CAUSE, I FEEL AT THE TOP LEVEL THIS IS A GREAT RULE. AT OUR LEVEL IT JUST DOESN’T FEEL AS GOOD. I JUST THINK THAT BESIDES THE ON THE WATER EXPIERIENCE THE SHARING OF KNOWLEDGE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TOOL FOR LEARNING. I WOULD’VE NEVER THOUGHT TO SWIM JIGS. SOUNDS SILLY TO ALOT OF PEOPLE INITIALLY, ESPECIALLY ME, BUT I HAVE REALLY SPENT SOME TIME DOING IT. I HAVE STARTED TO GAIN CONFIDENCE, AND ABILITY WITH IT. I HAVE ALSO STARTED TO RECOGNIZE THE SITUATIONS THAT IT WORKS WELL IN. WOULD NEVER HAVE GOT THAT FAR WITHOUT THE SHARING OF A RIVER TACTIC GIVEN TO ME BY YOU. I’M GRATEFUL, THANKS. BUT NOW I CAN TAKE THAT SMALL PIECE OF THE PUZZLE AND EXPAND ON IT. MAYBE MY PROBLEM IS THE RELUCTANCE TO, I HATE TO SAY IT, THINK OUT OF THE BOX. MAYBE I NEED TO WORK ON THAT ALSO.

ANYWAYS, I DON’T WANT TO BEAT THAT TO DEATH. AS FAR AS THIS SPRING, I WILL NEVER PASS UP AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET INTO THE CLASSROOM.

AND THAT SCOOTER GUY. HE IS A LEAD PIPE CINCH IN ALL THE TOURNAMENTS I FISH AGAINST HIM IN. HE SHOULD HAVE TO GIVE SOME OF HIS KNOW HOW BACK, HE HAS SO MUCH..

TBASS

I’ll tell ya what. I’ve asked many folks for info about the Miss as I was up against other guys doing the same; what’s more, they’d take the guys out, give the spots, lures and show’em how to fish’em. It was very frustrating and humbling for me.

I could spend years on the Miss, or any body of water, just getting to know it; I’ve also learned the most doing that though.

Thanks,

OnTheWater

I remember about 14 yrs ago Tommy Monseur getting into trouble for receiving info from a local, one of the tournament pros turned him in. Tommy swore up & down that he did’nt get that info from the local & they took the pro’s word in stead of Tommy’s. I remember a friend of mind who fished often with Tommy before this incident and the situation had come up with them in a suzuki scholarship champion tourney and Tommy walked away from the local who was giving the advise. …………. In other words; who’s word are they going to believe? Your’s or the Pros? Just my 3 cents worth {John}

Ok, perhaps I’m a bit nieve here, JC, but are you tellin’ me that Mike Iaconelli got/gets his info. from locals?

I’m learning that quite a few “pros” hire or get guys to take’em out and show’em their places; apparently that’s what happened on the James River during the Jacobs Cup.

Man, I just take for granted that on the “pro” level, that, well… you’re a “pro” and find your own fish.

I also learned this year that many “pros” are out there, running up the bills and are about to claim bankruptcy… That’s total nonsense, running all over the country, spending money they don’t have.

If the business isn’t makin’ money, it’s time to close. Get a different job and pay those bills. I’m not one for takin’ the easy way out.

It’s certainly been a revealing year this year.

Thanks,

OnTheWater

it’s not the “”job” they’re chasing, it’s the “dream” they’re chasing… so the bills go along with the dream, and hopes of a big payout some day to pay those incurring debts, personal and business. Would anyone like to have a chance at chasing down they’re dream? I would, but haaven’t figured out a good way to start it out?!
champman

This new rule levels out the playing.I know for a fact when FLW Jacop Cup was MN there where a # of pros who had sponsers make phone calls to local anglers to take there pros out on the water.The pros didn t even have to have a local contact.I think these rules will take hold for all levels of tournys that have championship and off limit times. Rember this rule means no info. during off limits and offical prefishing times, so people can fish with locals and get info. just not at these times.