The Online Source for Washington Fishing Information

Cheater Caught at the US OPEN at Mead

ANNED FOR LIFE AFTER U.S. OPEN INCIDENT

A Southern California angler has been banned from all Western Outdoor News tournaments for life after he was caught bringing “salted” bass to the scales of the 2010 U.S. Open at Lake Mead, Nevada.

Mike Hart of Winnetka, California, was one of a handful of pros who had three dead fish to their name after the second day of competition. All were under suspicion the third day because when the dead fish were cleaned in order to be donated to charity, lead weights commonly known as ring or torpedo sinkers rigged with a single hook to keep them in place were found in the bellies of three dead bass.

Hart was the only one on the list who had moved into the money and when he brought his fish to the scales today (Wednesday, July 21) tournament directors John Cassidy and Billy Egan felt what seemed to indicate weights. Hart’s fish were taken immediately to be inspected in front of law enforcement and Nevada Fish and Wildlife officials and lead weights were found in all of the fish Hart presented. When confronted, Hart immediately left the scene at Callville Bay.

“Mike Hart is banned for life for presenting fish to the scales that had unnatural objects in their stomachs,” said WON BASS Tournament Director. “We plan on pressing charges against Mr. Hart and we will void any victories he has had in any past WON BASS events.”

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Joel Grafe on July 23, 2010 at 11:04am

i know that most if not all the winners of NWB have been polygraphed at one time or another, gary has the random ploy's too. the questions ranged from fishing to kill switches, i remember that tourny at potholes that the pen was brought in.. from that time forward it has been common knowledge that testing is there and will be done.
i think one of the earlier posts is right on.. the backlash and shame from other anglers and friends would be way worse then what the state would do.. hell now that guy will never be looked at the same weather his previous wins were legit or not. just the fact that nowhere he can go now he'll be able to avoid getting grief for it.. rightfully so too he deserves to hear it!
that alone should be enough you would think to make people not take a chance.
the bass fishing community is a small one.. with no where to hide.. LOL.

Jerry Wilson said:

There have been cages found in the dunes at Potholes before and at least two people that I know of have been caught cheating here in Washington. So don't think it doesn't happen that often. As soon as the prize money starts getting big people start to try to find ways to get and edge. Sometimes that edge isn't always legal.

If everyone was polygraphed do you think everyone would pass?

Permalink Reply by Scott Sevigny on July 23, 2010 at 11:23am

http://www.bassfan.com/news_article.asp?id=3679

Here's a link to more follow up on the story published at BassFan.com.

Permalink Reply by Ron Ryan on July 25, 2010 at 2:43pm

what a dick head

Permalink Reply by Mike Matkowski on July 26, 2010 at 6:54am

Its unforunate that the tourney director didn't take atleast one other witness when he spoke to Hart to support that he confessed and what exactly was said. I seriously question the veracity of the written statement offerd by his former partner on Bassfan.

Scott Sevigny said:

http://www.bassfan.com/news_article.asp?id=3679

Here's a link to more follow up on the story published at BassFan.com.

Permalink Reply by Joel Alinen on July 26, 2010 at 9:48am

I like Clunns idea...

"I'd have gotten a bunch of us old guys together who really respect the sport and we'd have taken him out in the desert and used the old Apache method of staking him to an ant bed. To me, that would be the fitting punishment."

http://www.bassfan.com/docktalk.asp?id=7405#7405

Permalink Reply by Dave Massey on August 4, 2010 at 1:05pm