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Cheater caught in US Open Tournament

5K views 23 replies 15 participants last post by  Munkin 
#1 ·
It's a sad day for bass fishing as a cheater was caught in the biggest tournament in the West, the US Open. They found weights inside of his fish. What a shame. I posted something about this on my blog, click the link in my signature if you want to see it. I found a few photos of the weights inside the fish, the full details continue to come out.

On a positive note, Clifford Pirch won the event!
 
#2 ·
Thats just absolutely uncalled for .If he is a sponsored fisherman , he should be completely ban from tournaments all together.Theirs a lot of people that would be grateful to replace him.He must not be all that good to have to cheat !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a loser.
 
#3 ·
This stinks. If you feel the need to cheat to win something, then you are pretty low. The articles I read on this say that they will ban him permanatly and they will try to prosecute him. Remeber, innocent until proven guilty. I think he deserves some lead poisoning like he gave the bass.
 
#5 ·
[Full story from Bill Egan Director of Operations for WON Bass


As most of you have heard and read in our blog, and many other forums, as I would have to assume.

Mike Hart was caught placing unnatural items in the bellies of fish presented to our scales at the third day of fishing of the US Open, at Lake Mead, Nevada.

Here is what happened and how it played out!

As I was leaving the Callville Bay Marina Bar and Restaurant and weigh in location. I wanted to run by and check on our anglers whom were having motor or boat issues. As I drove to where Mark Niccoletti and Jordan from Anglers Marine, were working on some angler boats, I was flagged down by the Nevada Fish and game. They were filleting the fish that were collected after the weigh ins, which came to the scales "DEAD". I told them that I would return in a minute or two, as I wanted to check on a few of our anglers. When I was able to return to the area where the staff was cleaning the fish that are to be given to local area homeless families, I was pulled aside and told of two different issues. One was regarding a AAA, that dumped a whole bottle of Rejuv in a livewell, and ended up killing all of his fish due to over Rejuv. Then the Nevada fish and game agent seemed to have a lump in her throat and a plastic bag in her other hand. It was mentioned, that they happened to be talking about the fish that were being filleted, and what the fish happened to be eating. One of the staff, decided by random to open up the belly of a fish and instead of finding a crawdad, a lead weight, with a fixed drop shot hook was found in stead. There were a total of four 2 oz ( not confirmed ) weights in the bellies of three separate fish at day two weigh ins.

I was sick to my stomach when I saw what was in the bags, it was like someone hit me in the stomach with a hammer. I decided to make sure that nobody, other than the people that were at the fillet station, found out that we had discovered the weights. Headed to the hotel to check in with tour stat girls, so they could look up the number of anglers, who happened to weigh in 3 dead fish on day two. There were only three anglers that day that brought three dead fish to the scales that day. It was decided between Harvey and myself, that the best way to handle it, was to pretend that we never found out, so that whom ever was responsible, would feel as if they had gotten away with it. We placed some paper clips to the said anglers weigh cards, as we were confidant that the AAA's in no way had anything to do with what had happened, based on our findings.

Day three started at the scales and things were under way for the final day of the 2010 US Open. As the anglers approached the stage, I would look at the weigh cards waiting for those that had been clipped. As I look over, I see the first weigh card come up with a paper clip attached and nothing was found in his fish. The second clipped card came up, and same deal. As the third weigh card that was clipped came up, I saw Mike Hart at the bottom of the stage. I got on the mic, and announced his name, and made comments regarding the Castaicanator. Signals were given, and Mike's fish were placed in the holding tank. As the fish are tested to make sure they are dead, I was called over by my TD, John Cassidy. As I approached the area, to feel the belly of the first fish I grabbed, it was obvious that there was something hard, and unnatural in the belly of that fish. I asked Mike to step to the side, as there was something we needed to talk about. The five fish were immediately set aside in a separate bag. Mike was escorted to the side where we had officials waiting. All five fish that had been presented to our scales by Mr. Hart where then gutted, and as most of you have seen, the lead weights where in all five fish. As I continued to keep the scales going, it was said that Mike had run. I was not made aware of the fact the Mike Hart was still around, until an angler came to me and said, that Mike was still here, but was hiding in a friends truck. I was taken to the truck, as Mike had requested to talk with me. I opened the driver side door, as Mike Hart was in the passenger side with the air on. As I got in the car, all the signs were there...... He was slumped in the chair with his hands on his face. He confessed to adding weights to the fish and was completely demoralized regarding his pour and completely unacceptable decision he had made by cheating. I mentioned that he had made it to easy for us to figure out, and it was only due to the fact that the Nevada Fish and Game happened to fillet and donate the meat to the local homeless families. I asked him, if he wanted to take the stage and face his friends family and fellow anglers, and he said he could not face it. I explained that we as a tournament organization will go after him with everything we have, and that I was troubled that we would have to make an example of him.

As you have read in our Blog.... Mike hart has been banned for life from all WON Bass tournaments, and is facing criminal charges. It is a sad day in angling history once again. I am sorry that this had to happen and take any of the deserved emotion of winning the US Open away from Clifford Pirch. He deserves everything, for winning this years event, and he does not deserve to have his moment taken away.

Mike Harts action does not, and should not reflect what so ever on any of the AAA's he happened to fish with on any of the three days of this years 2010 US Open. As there was no fish found to have weights added to them on Monday, and that we could not confirm that Mike had actually put the weights in the Tuesday fish, both the AAA's weights for Monday and Tuesday were left as is. The AAA that was paired with him today, was given his entry fee back.

Please.... lets all remember this is a human being that we are talking about. He made a horrific and unforgivable mistake and will have to live with his decisions for the rest of his life. This will no doubt show that we tournament organizations are serious about cheaters and are determined to create what ever we have to to keep the integrity of our sporty alive. It is now 1:30 AM on the day after... and I need to call it quits for today. I am sure this is not the last of this, and we will keep you posted as more information is available.

see more details at www.wonbass.com
_________________
Bill Egan
WON Bass Director of Operations
billy@wonews.com
949-366-0030 x40
 
#6 ·
I know Mike Hart and his local team partner John Viazanko, the team of Hart and Zank have dominated the local tournaments.
Both are excellent bass fisherman and good people. The question is why would a good tournament fisherman resort to cheating? What a horrible choice! He not only ruins his own reputation, his actions bring up questions about his team success with (Zank).
Was it the pressure to be an elite tournament angler that pushed this good man over the cliff? Mike Hart has the skills to win the US Open without cheating...why did he cheat? Hart will be banned, fined and face legal issues, his bass fishing career is over.
Tom
 
#7 ·
Kind of makes ya wonder what he's been doing in other tourny's???? Hopefully they will make a example of him so others will think twice before attempting anything of this nature.
 
#8 ·
As you have read in our Blog.... Mike hart has been banned for life from all WON Bass tournaments, and is facing criminal charges. It is a sad day in angling history once again. I am sorry that this had to happen and take any of the deserved emotion of winning the US Open away from Clifford Pirch. He deserves everything, for winning this years event, and he does not deserve to have his moment taken away.


He should be ban from all tourney`s.How many tourney`s did he cheat at ? I would say all of them !!!!
If he is a sponsored fisherman,people should email the sponsors and tell them if they keep sponsoring him you will not purchase their products.
His US title should be striped along with any other title he has !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
#9 ·
he had the audacity to slip heavy sinkers into all of the bass he caught, at least 2 days in a row. He did this by shoving them down the gullet of the fish. He did this while he had innocent co anglers in the boat. You don't get brave enough to try something like that with another angler in the boat on a whim. He has evidently done this before and felt comfortable enough to do it without fear while another person was a mere few yards away. This just goes to show that no mater how well you know someone or how likeable they are, anyone can be consumed with greed and do a great job of hiding what they are capable of.
 
#10 ·
Horrible, sponsored or not his fishing carrer is over no doubt about it! Last year here in Texas a man by the name of Robbie Rose was caught doing the same thing. He served jail time and was hit with a hefty fine, and I believe he is not able to get another fishing license for a long time! It is a sad day in the fishing world, but I am stoked these punks are getting caught!!! If you cant have fun fishing and have to cheat, then you belong somewhere else.
 
#12 ·
I know times are tough for everyone but to cheat is just immoral. This may or may not been his first time cheating but if it was, then he just threw his entire reputation out the window. Everyone will question how long has he been doing it and only he knows the truth. Its a shame what money does to people....
 
#13 ·
The reason this is big news out west is Mike Hart was a good tournament fisherman; won over $190K and a few boats, entered in over 110 events and was in the money over 75% of the time.
His team partners are well known in SoCal; Seimental, Vizanko and Chandler; they are all guilty by association, which is unfair, so Mike has cheated them of the reputations.
This situation has become a mess out west.
Tom
 
#14 ·
oldschool for sure just hope his ex partners can weather the storm Hart started :dunno: :dunno: :dunno: :dunno: :dunno:
 
#15 ·
This a total disgrace of tournament ethics. Mike got his just reward and will pay for it the rest of his life. Cheaters never win they only disgrace themselves and their partners. Too bad it makes all tournament anglers look bad to the public.
 
#17 ·
the worst part is that as long as tournaments keep offering more and more winnings, there will be people trying to get ahead by cheating. Money will make you do the damndest things. :sad2:
 
#18 ·
After last weeks event, all everyone was talking about was the cheating incident. I just interviewed Clifford Pirch and it is up on my blog. The link is in my signature if you are interested. I really feel bad for him, the cheater took away from his great win.
 
#19 ·
oldschool said:
I know Mike Hart and his local team partner John Viazanko, the team of Hart and Zank have dominated the local tournaments.
Both are excellent bass fisherman and good people. The question is why would a good tournament fisherman resort to cheating? What a horrible choice! He not only ruins his own reputation, his actions bring up questions about his team success with (Zank).
Was it the pressure to be an elite tournament angler that pushed this good man over the cliff? Mike Hart has the skills to win the US Open without cheating...why did he cheat? Hart will be banned, fined and face legal issues, his bass fishing career is over.
Tom
I think greed probably had a lot to do with it. As we all know there is usually big gaps in the paybacks between the first few places. You would also think having a reputation as a great fisherman would play into the ego, but I don't know how that can hold water when you know you are cheating. Sure everybody else might think the world, but it's only because your fooling them. Maybe the guy got off on that or maybe the adreniline rush of the thrill of taking the risk was part of it.

With this guys record as a fishermen there is no doubt in my mind that he has been cheating for a while.

As far as innocent until proven guilty. When you are caught red handed like he was I don't think you should get any presumption of innocence.
 
#21 ·
:cussin: It would be a cold day in hell before this guy would ever get another fishing license. A cheater is just another name for Stealing!! The organizations I belong to do not weigh dead fish you are peanalized for it. I don't know how another guy in the boat could not have noticed something was weird after three days. Not to say that fish don't die in the livewell it happens all the time. But to purposely misshandle fish is insane. If his sponsers don't drop him shame on them! Tiger woods can cheat on his wife but never on the golf course. That is an unforgivable sin!!! What you do off the feild is your problem what you do on the feild is everyones problem....
 
#22 ·
The US Open is blind draw team event with a different amateur partner drawn for each pro, each day; 3 different pairings. 2 ounce penalty is accessed for each dead bass brought to the scales and you can't cull a dead or dieing bass.
None of Harts bass were dead the last day until examined and 3 of his live bass had hooked weights. This was a very skilled cheater and none of his team partners suspected any wrong doing.
Tom
 
#23 ·
:sad2: Well if he had a different partner each day he might be able to get away with it. It's just too damn sneaky to put a weight in with a hook to make it look like the fish swallowed it. But to try and get away with it on all of your fish? come on really!? It's just ashame that the bad choices of one hurts and entire industry. I take it personally because to the general public we are already thought of as beer drinking hill jacks. And all they will see is some one cheated at fishing.
 
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