Fisherman's cheating charge makes him an outcast...

[Rod Wynn]

This is a good read..

POPLAR BLUFF, MO. — Back before he was accused of cheating in the bass fishing tournament, before police caught him in an elaborate sting, Gary Lee Jones would drop by Buck's Outboard Motors shop almost every morning. He'd grab some coffee, sit down at the green picnic table with the other regulars, and talk fishing.

Jones, 60, is an avid angler. A divorcé with no family nearby, he sometimes stayed at the shop for hours. He had friends here. So when he placed second in a fishing tournament two weeks ago, the regulars expected he would show up the next morning to crow about it, just as he did after the week before.

But his moment of triumph — his trophy plaque and $886 — was the one that got away. He left the winner's circle that day in handcuffs, facing a felony count of theft by deception. Fishermen at the boat ramp cheered his arrest. Others were moved to anger. Fishermen can forgive all kinds of transgressions, but not cheating.

"What he did, he did to every fisherman. It's like a brotherhood," said Skeeter Law, owner of the boat shop frequented by Jones. "He's done lost any kind of trust that he had."

It was not only trust. In that instant, Jones lost more than he could have imagined.
He really could fish


Those who have gone on the lake with Jones say he knows which honey holes to explore, where the big bass hide and which bait makes the fish bite. He had a job that allowed him to fish sometimes five days a week. Jones was good enough to compete in tournaments.

"He would've won a tournament eventually, if he'd done it the right way," said Don Selvidge, another regular at Law's.

Fishing is a serious part of life in this area about 150 miles south of St. Louis. A bass boat in the front yard is a common sight. Traffic backs up at the boat ramps on weekends. Local obituaries regularly mention the deceased's passion for the sport.

Competitive fishing — a race to see who brings in the greatest total weight of fish — began to catch on in the 1960s. National circuits formed. Now tournaments are broadcast on television. Professional fishermen look like NASCAR drivers, with shirts and hats covered in sponsorship patches. The top pro circuit offers $9.5 million in prizes annually. Dozens of smaller tournaments promise bass boats and up to $40,000 in prizes per tournament.

But with the competition comes cheating. Fishermen have been caught using frozen fish, fish hidden in secret compartments, fish tied to hidden lines. Last week, a Kentucky man received a suspended sentence for hiding bass in a submerged fish basket. He and his partner, who also was charged, had tried to walk away with a $30,000 bass boat at a championship on Lake Barkley, Ky.

Even the smallest tournaments are on guard. They use lie detectors to ask winners whether their catches were made that day. Jones took a lie-detector test at a competition two years ago after placing second, according to organizers. He passed. There were rumors he cheated, but his friends stood up for him.

"We wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt," Law said.

This time, authorities say, there was no doubt.


It started with a tip


A fisherman and his son told police they had seen Jones on the lake on Saturday, April 28, the day before the tournament. Many fishermen make practice runs. But Jones spent his time next to a floating duck blind, raising officers' suspicions.

Just before dusk, after the lake was clear, state conservation agent Mic Plunkett and a state water patrol officer set out in a boat to investigate. They found two live bass with red nylon cords looped through their mouths and tied to the duck blind, Plunkett said. They marked the fish, with Plunkett punching a tiny hole in one fin on each bass. They formed a plan, but they needed to hurry.

At 6 a.m. the next day, the 2007 Angler's Choice/Bass Quest Tournament kicked off.

Thirty-eight boats pushed off into Lake Wappapello, a sprawling man-made lake. Everyone fished in pairs, except for Jones. He told organizers his daughter was unable to make it.

Jones headed for the duck blind cove in his red Ranger bass boat and waited until the other competitors had cleared out, according to authorities.

Plunkett and Jeff Johnson of the water patrol, dressed in camouflage, waited on shore about 60 feet away. Plunkett lay behind a log with a video camera 9 also camouflaged — poking over the top.

They watched as Jones reached into the water, pulled up the bass, cut the line and placed the fish in his boat's aerated holding tank, according to Plunkett.

At the official weigh-in that afternoon, Jones turned in four bass for a total of 11.55 pounds — good enough for second place. He also had a single five-pound fish to take third in the Biggest Bass category. Jones was awarded a silver trophy plaque and his check. Organizers snapped his photo while authorities inspected Jones' catch. They found the marked fish.

Rodney Enderle of Jackson, Mo., stood in the crowd. He finished in 12th place. He looked around and noticed several water patrol officers and deputy sheriffs. "I guess everybody is interested in bass fishing this year," Enderle recalled thinking.

As Jones accepted congratulations, a water patrol officer stepped forward. Jones was under arrest. Word of the undercover operation quickly spilled through the crowd. Applause broke out. Several fishermen shook the officers' hands.

"I've never had that large of a crowd be that enthusiastic about someone getting arrested," Johnson said. "That was something different."

But Enderle had another thought. The previous weekend he had organized a Bassbusters of Southeast Missouri tournament on the same lake. Jones placed second in that competition, too, winning $650. Enderle felt like he had been robbed twice. "I wanted to grab him by the throat and wring him," Enderle said.


A fishing outcast


Lee is no longer welcome at Buck's shop. The folks at Dennis Outdoors down the road don't want to see him either. "I know all the dealers in town, and they say they won't sell to him," Law said. "I hate to say it, but he's been blackballed."

Jones declined, through his attorney, to comment. He seems to have moved out of his house in Poplar Bluff. When people run into him at the gas station or a restaurant, they say Jones refuses to make eye contact. He makes a quick exit through another door.

"Nobody wants to claim to even know him.," said D.J. Ellis, a regular at Buck's who has known Jones for years. "He's ashamed of himself, I guess."

Jones has a July 17 trial date. He faces two to seven years in prison, though few expect him to serve time.

"The embarrassment of it will be much worse than the eventual outcome," said Don Moore, a local attorney who stopped in at Buck's.


Seeking approval


Skeeter Law stands behind the counter at his motor shop on a recent morning. There's still coffee in the pot, still room at the picnic table.

Terry Collins, a mechanic, sits down with a ham-and-cheese sandwich and a grape soda. They consider why Jones cheated. It was not greed, they said. He was after not money, but approval. He wanted to be accepted by Skeeter, Terry, D.J. and the others.

"He just wanted to prove to them he could catch fish and he was just as good they are," Law said.

And Jones was good. Law had seen him make several big catches.

No doubt, fishermen might fib about the size of their catches or about the one that got away. But Jones crossed a sacred line that day out on the lake. It doesn't make sense to them. He was already among friends at Buck's. He had it all, or so it seemed.

"That's the tragedy of the whole thing," Collins said.

Law leaned on the counter.

"I wish he'd come in one more time," he said, "so I could tell him — I wouldn't be hateful — but to tell him he let his friends down."

[Guest]

Wow great article... thanks for sharing.

As I read stories like this I can only think to myself that imposing an off limits period on the lake from Mon-Fri for a Sat event is the only way to prevent this sort of action from happening in the first place. It's sad that Jones had to cheat to get ahead and say what you will about the situation but the people he used to call friends are doing the right thing by blackballing him.

[DeltaBound]

Off Limits won't prevent cheating.

[DVL_Local]

It was not greed, they said. He was not after money, but approval. He wanted to be accepted

"He just wanted to prove to them he could catch fish and he was just as good they are

It’s sad that he lost sight of what fishing is about and, why he probably started fishing in the first place.

Mark

[one fish wonder]

Stringing up the people that do cheat will help put a stop to cheating. BUST EM ALL! It is already hard to cash a check, the last thing we need is people cheating!

TK

[Guest]

You're right, it won't prevent cheating but it will make it harder for them to cheat in the first place.

[gt5bass]

As I read stories like this I can only think to myself that imposing an off limits period on the lake from Mon-Fri for a Sat event is the only way to prevent this sort of action from happening in the first place. It's sad that Jones had to cheat to get ahead and say what you will about the situation but the people he used to call friends are doing the right thing by blackballing him.

I beg to differ...I think it would be heck of a lot easier to cheat this way with off limits, since the lake is not closed, therefore would be next to nobody on the lake to see you do it At least with guys out prefishing, they have to be a little sneakier as somebody out prefishing might see them doing it

[Darkman]

If I have learned anything its this

when there's a will there's a way

cheaters will find a way to cheat

off limits or not, I don't claim to know what to do or have any real answers, Just keep my end of the bargain I guess.

[Guest]

Gary,

In this case the article makes it sound as though a non-competitor caught Jones in the act. For the most part if there was an off limits 4-5 days prior to the event tying up a fish or putting a fish in a cage wouldn't be viable. Most likely the fish would be dead by the time the tournament started. Of course this doesn't prevent people from catching fish at other lakes then hidden in a secret compartment, having someone else tie up the fish for you or meeting up with someone in another boat or dock and handing you the fish.

As weird as all these sound I continue to hear rumors of all sorts of things at tournaments from the peanut gallery. I think Darkman said it best...

If I have learned anything its this

when there's a will there's a way

cheaters will find a way to cheat

off limits or not, I don't claim to know what to do or have any real answers, Just keep my end of the bargain I guess.

[John Barron]

If they are going to cheat they like the offlimits because there is less chance of being seen. There are so many ways to cheat I can't believe it.

[DeltaBound]

Well all that sounds good but with the advent of GPS all they would have to do is have their buddy or family member catch fish during the week put the cage in an unsuspecting place and give the waypoint. Hence...Offlimits doesn't stop cheating.

[Lance]

I dont think Off-Limits was ever intended to stop cheating, you cant stop intent. Off-Limits was to level the playing feild.

[Schneider Fishing]

Off limits has been used for both trying to level the playing fied and to stop cheating. A few years back AB had no off limits, a team was caught using caged bass and the first thing AB did was put back the off limits.

[DougH]

for cheating to a 3rd place or so.....$650

For cheating to to a second place.... $800 ish

Loosing the respect and friendship of a lifetime of friends....Priceless!

[Chris N]

I hate hearing this stuff- but it happens, glad this guy got the Scarlet A tattooed to his forehead. If there's ever a movie about bass fishing, probably starring Will Ferrell, he should be named "Skeeter Law".

"He's done lost any kind of trust that he had." Well said, Skeeter!

Next time you see him sneaking out the side door, give him a Skeeterfied beating!

[Scott Robertson]

I have fished tournaments where there was suspected cheating involved I hope he does time and a lot of it, though it probably wont happen. I might not be the best on the lake but i"m honest. Scott

[JKitz]

So whatever happened to those 2 cheaters from SD a few years back (out of respect, we all know their names, but I am not saying it). Are they blackballed or are they still fishing tourneys?

It just cracks me up how serious people take fishing for just a couple thousand dollars (or $650 in this case)..

Fishing is priceless to me and I will always treat it that way...


Since we are on the subject of off-limits. That is a joke.. A lot of tourney guys have friends fish it during these times, so its not really effective... You should just set dates for tourneys and then on Thursday or Friday tell the anglers what lake its going to be at. Now that would be cool. Then again I don't fish tourneys anymore, so there is no off-limits for me!!

[John Barron]

Hopefully you're not with holding their name out of respect for them. They cheated every tournament angler in Southern California and do not deserve any respect whatsoever and yes they are banned for life from all circuits.
jb

[JKitz]

Hopefully you're not with holding their name out of respect for them. They cheated every tournament angler in Southern California and do not deserve any respect whatsoever and yes they are banned for life from all circuits.
jb

yeah respect is the wrong word.. More like "Out of Old News".. Trust me, we all have a term for snagging these days, so their names are mentioned..

Banned for Life!!! NICE!!

[Brian D.]

If you want to eliminate the thought of or possible act of cheating the org should institute random lie detector tests. Much like a job screening urine test, by not knowing when or where the test will occur will keep competitors from thinking about cheating. This in itself will be the end-all be-all deterrent. And, this sends a strong message that the org is serious about maintaining its integrity.

[Kelly Ripa]

That's what I think also but they tell me the cost is prohibitive. I think it would square the field whatever the costs and the anglers could get back to angling.

[joe fish]

here in az, the MBC teams tournments first place and big fish gets tested every tournement.

[joe fish]

If you want to eliminate the thought of or possible act of cheating the org should institute random lie detector tests. Much like a job screening urine test, by not knowing when or where the test will occur will keep competitors from thinking about cheating. This in itself will be the end-all be-all deterrent. And, this sends a strong message that the org is serious about maintaining its integrity.

we pay an extra 10.00 per team for our test. 10.00 is worth the peace of mind knowing that some one is looking out for us.