Cell Phone use during events Spot Holding?

[calfisher71]

First Cell phones should never be called out on or answerd during tournament hours this means till you have weighed in your fish!

Unless emergency or calling in to the tournament director.

I have seen , heard of and witnessed many phone calls during events, people its the rules stop it! No different than culling your 6th-7th fish out after passing the check in guy this can get you a DQ.

I was shocked sorta this weekend when a event Director had to announce no cell phones due to possible spot holding?

So your buddy is on fish on a spot and he calls you!

Please know the rules and obide by them!


This includes no calls from your family, and NO texting!

[N.A.R]

[quote="calfisher71"]
This includes no calls from your family, quote]

Serious?

[NitroSport]

Correct. Per the TD, the ONLY reason a phone should be used is to call him or for an emergency. Heard some people pulled up on spots last week first thing in a tourney & there were boats on the spots not fishing but on the phone.

Gotta also say thanks to the two gentlemen in the Nitro fun fishing yesterday at CL. We were in the WRL, pulled up a couple hundred yards past them & as they got closer, they asked if we were in the tourney. When we said yes, they offered to let us fish through, or around them since we gave them space when we pulled up. We thanked em & said there was plenty of water for us both & we'd give em all they needed, but it was a breath of fresh air after all the stories of people being less than courteous. Like Dobyns said, we've got a great sport!

Oh and also want to "thank" the group on the house deck that cheered when I hooked our last & best fish in front of them & then proceeded to yell "don't screw up!" at us while we tried to fight & net her. Luckily we got her in the boat!

[Schneider Fishing]

Nice post Nitro.

This fishing thing can be fun or it can get out of hand.

Lately, I've been thinking it is a product of the pay outs. Serious money and some folks get too serious about winning and they start looking for ways to get the edge of other teams; head games, spot holding, texting for advise, etc.

It's making me re-think teams vs draw tournaments.

[Kevin]

No phone calls to family? I thought we did this sport for fun?

[crawdaddy]

You must be talking about the WRL on CL last weekend. I saw a couple of boats that looked like they were sitting on good points and not really fishing at launch time. I am always impressed by how close people will pinch you at that place. We had a guy get within 1/3 of a cast from us and stay there for a period of time. We cast towards him as he came up but he kept coming, then started up a conversation as if this was normal. We were a little ticked but we don't get too uptight when fishing but we were very aggressive about protecting the spots we were fishing the rest of the day. Also I was surprised to have a boat watch us catch a fish, remark that it was nice to see somebody finally catch a fish and then immediately tie on the exact same thing we were using and fish. I know it is not a rules issue but it was a unique way of making fish bite in a difficult time and we had spent time in pre-fish refining it. Oh well I guess that is how you get it done these days. Kinda sucks but at least I was fishing.

[Mr Gambler]

N.A.R., my partner is a general contractor,if he couldn"t solve problems while we are fishing, he would loose to much His crew sometimes work on the week-ends.

[massbaster]

No calls from family? Tell my Wife that.

[Buzzbommer]

NO PHONES DURING EVENTS...!!! And NO, not even to family...!!!

Some people are so bassackwards they are only happy when they are bucking the rules in one way or another. Especially in light of recent events in which a cheater was spotlighted. It seemed to me that the world of fishing was (and as far as I know, still is) ready to completely massacre any cheaters while waving the banner of sportsmanship and uphold complete tolerance of all rules in place to weed out the bad apples.

Until THEIR cell phone is involved. Then the flood of excuses flow.

You don't see KVD or Skeet on their phones during events, do you?

FOLLOW ALL OF THE RULES or get out of the competition and go talk or text your sorry worries away elsewhere...

Bitter...? no. Worried about our sport...? yes. It's only fair that we ALL follow the same guidelines together to help keep the integrity and fairness of our sport intact. While it's not a debate I'm after, who can debate that...? ChrisR

[Chaozu]

Yeah it pretty simple, no phones, you're fishing! I've seen guys answer their phones and say "I'm in a tourney, I cant talk, I'll call you back after I weigh in" That is totally OK with me. In club tourneys, I think there can be a little wiggle room as far as family, if my little girl calls me when she wakes up to tell me good luck, Im answering that call!

[DL]

You don't see KVD or Skeet on their phones during events, do you?

That's rediculous. You're comparing apples to oranges. Last time I checked there is a little bit of a difference between what KVD and Skeet are doing and what we are doing...

[Andy Giannini]

This is easy. Turn the phone off.

Done.

If you have an emergency, turn it back on.

I hate to say it, but 99.9% percent of people are not that important. (To need to be in phone contact at all times.)

If work needs you so bad, don't fish the tourney.

If they can't figure it out on their own, hire competent people instead.

You don't have to answer to say, "I can't talk." That is what voicemail is for.

If there is a true emergency at home, tell em to call the fire dept.

This reminds me of the pager fad awhile back.

A.G.

[DL]

If there is a true emergency at home, tell em to call the fire dept.

When the wife calls at 10 am because our 13 year old was hit by a car riding his bike I'll just tell her I will meet her at the hospital at 5 or 6 becasue my flight isn't due in until 3:00 and I need to weigh my fish because I have a shot at the $1500 check for first place...

Get over yourselves, you're fishing team tournaments. Which are nothing more than saturday poker games with your buddies....

Good god people, can you find anything more stupid to complain about??

[GKramer]

Given the climate of tournament cheating and other angler misdeeds, I would tend to lean toward strict enforcement of a no cell phone rule. Whether its torpedo weights, salting areas, sight-snagging or whatever illegal act gets too much attention, you'll find 'cheaters' forced to use other means.

Having said that, I know what cell phones have become. Some years back, I learned my father had passed away in the same duplex where I lived. But it took the family five hours to find me as I was in the hills of San Clemente on a practice hike with the Boy Scouts. There was some anguish at the time.

Maybe a flag system would work as with water skiers. Instead of hiding the cell call answered or dialed, raise the chartreuse and red stripes and keep it up, and witnesses note the time. Everyone should have their watches synchronized. And doesn't everyone have a calls dialed, calls received log? Maybe, no flag is a 2-pound penalty?

I'm just fishing for a possible solution...

gk
www.kramergonefishing.com

[mark poulson]

GK,
Sounds like a good solution to me.

[Brian D.]

George.. You're a genius! A flag to signify when someone needs to use the phone. Brilliant!

This one is quite colorful and will certainly let everyone know the tourney contestant is on the phone.

[BUCKBASS]

Cell phones dont win turnys but could help you loose them.

[some guy]

what about guys who work from their phones? As most of you know, im in produce and I work 7 days a week. Sometimes the phone rings and it 30k worth of apples im answering the phone for sure. So I cant ever fish derbies again because of my line of work? I can see where some people will abuse the priviledge, but its not fair to guys like myself.

[Roger Saraiba]

Where is the line. If you pee off your boat I am sure you are breaking the law which could be grounds for a DQ. How far are we going to push the issue.

[mark poulson]

George.. You're a genius! A flag to signify when someone needs to use the phone. Brilliant!

This one is quite colorful and will certainly let everyone know the tourney contestant is on the phone.

Brian,
That's a beautiful flag, but I think we should keep it simple so, for example, everyone will know what it means when the red flag is flying.

[buddy brown]

George.. You're a genius! A flag to signify when someone needs to use the phone. Brilliant!

This one is quite colorful and will certainly let everyone know the tourney contestant is on the phone.

[ken burk]

DL, are you having a bad day?

[DL]

DL, are you having a bad day?

I wasn't....until I got my morning dose of douchery from WB..

[BuckSnort]

If there is a true emergency at home, tell em to call the fire dept.

When the wife calls at 10 am because our 13 year old was hit by a car riding his bike I'll just tell her I will meet her at the hospital at 5 or 6 becasue my flight isn't due in until 3:00 and I need to weigh my fish because I have a shot at the $1500 check for first place...

Get over yourselves, you're fishing team tournaments. Which are nothing more than saturday poker games with your buddies....

+1...

[Andrew Jackson]

What did you whiners do before cell phones, not fish? Itsa friggin' rule. Don't fish the event, Abide by it or take your chances. The trny director can make the call if you get turned in.

[buzzfish]

I only fish club tournaments but take exception to some of these statements. I run a 24x7 answering service that answers for most of the medical in my area, critical community service organizations, etc. I am *always* on call and my cell phone never leaves my side. I fish with the understanding that I might be interrupted at any time. When I fish my people know to reach for real emergencies only. I have my cell set up so that I can remotely access my servers. It rarely happens but I must be available by phone; I can talk just about anybody that can act as my eyes and hands through a problem.

The notion that I can "train someone" to cover this is ludicrous. I can and have trained people on the systems, including a third party IT company, HOWEVER I cannot train someone to understand the systems I use in detail nor, more importantly, to understand and exercise caution when dealing with a production system. I learned that the hard way working on production systems of various sorts throughout my career.

I don't have a boat yet but this would prevent me from participating in higher level tournaments.

[DL]

Here are the rules from some of the orgs that run events in California. The names of the orgs were left off intentionally as to not single out any one organization.

Org #1:
23. Cellular telephones – Cell phones or other communication devices, including all forms of text messaging are allowed in boats as an emergency tool only; boat-to-boat communication is prohibited except for emergency purposes. Anglers who communicate with others during tournament hours for the purposes of bettering their fishing circumstances will be disqualified by the tournament authority.

Org #2:
RADIO OR PHONE TRANSMITTING: Information concerning any aspect of fishing during a tournament is prohibited. Communication between contestants and/or land lines may, however, be used for breakdowns, emergencies, business, or personal reasons.

INFORMATION SHARING: Once an event has started it is against the rules for any contestant to receive help or information about how/where to catch fish from someone else outside of their own boat. This includes help from another contestant.

Org #3
Does not have a specific rule concerning Cell phones

Org #4
Does not have a specific rule concerning Cell phones

Org #5
Does not have a specific rule concerning Cell phones

Org #6
Does not have a specific rule concerning Cell phones, but does have a rule regarding the solicitation of information from other anglers and/or the public.


As you can see, only one org has a specific clause in their rule book about using cell phones. And the one that spells it out, says: "Anglers who communicate with others during tournament hours for the purposes of bettering their fishing circumstances will be disqualified by the tournament authority." So the text you get about where the is the key for the side gate you get from your wife or son during the tournament won't get you DQ'd. Or in Someguy's case, where does the 12,000 lbs of lettuce need to go and when does it need to get there? question won't get him in trouble...especially if he fished Org #2

So, text away boys.....just don't communicate with others during tournament hours for the purposes of bettering your fishing circumstances, or you will be disqualified by the tournament authority!!!!

Good day...

[Kevin Evans - Kap]

So you start a circuit where all of you who must need or have your phone to fish can do it then.
Sheeez alot of folks are on call to but does that make them the exception to the rule... NO... abide by the rules or start bowling..

my rant...
Kap

[Fish'n'Fool]

Well said DL!
+1

[jletsinger]

Turn it off, nobody is that important that it can't wait or be directed to someone else. I fish because it is peaceful and quiet, there's nothing worse than having a chatterbox in the boat.

[Andy Giannini]

If there is a true emergency at home, tell em to call the fire dept.

When the wife calls at 10 am because our 13 year old was hit by a car riding his bike I'll just tell her I will meet her at the hospital at 5 or 6 becasue my flight isn't due in until 3:00 and I need to weigh my fish because I have a shot at the $1500 check for first place...

Get over yourselves, you're fishing team tournaments. Which are nothing more than saturday poker games with your buddies....

Good god people, can you find anything more stupid to complain about??

I am not complaining.

But I am curious, just what were you going to do about a 13 year old hit by a car? Are you some kind of EMT or something, or do work in trama center? Did the doctors need your help specifically? And if you were on the water, and she knew this would it not make more sense to call someone who can respond quicker?

What exactly were you expected to do that your wife cannot get done in this instance? She can call for help, or drive the victim if need be can't she?

Get over your own self. The world will go on, even if your cell doesn't get good reception.



A.G.

[BuckSnort]

If there is a true emergency at home, tell em to call the fire dept.

When the wife calls at 10 am because our 13 year old was hit by a car riding his bike I'll just tell her I will meet her at the hospital at 5 or 6 becasue my flight isn't due in until 3:00 and I need to weigh my fish because I have a shot at the $1500 check for first place...

Get over yourselves, you're fishing team tournaments. Which are nothing more than saturday poker games with your buddies....

Good god people, can you find anything more stupid to complain about??

I am not complaining.



But I am curious, just what were you going to do about a 13 year old hit by a car? Are you some kind of EMT or something, or do work in trama center? Did the doctors need your help specifically? And if you were on the water, and she knew this would it not make more sense to call someone who can respond quicker?

What exactly were you expected to do that your wife cannot get done in this instance? She can call for help, or drive the victim if need be can't she?

Get over your own self. The world will go on, even if your cell doesn't get good reception.



A.G.

Well personally if there was a family or friend emergency I would like to know so I could stop what I'm doing and haul *** to be there with/for them...Half of the time my phone is off or I have no service but you can bet your *** if someone is blowing up my phone with emergency phone calls/texts..I'm gonna answer them... piss on a silly bass tourney.....

[senkoskipper]

There is an exception to every rule. Anyone that knows me knows my system. If I don't answer the first time and its important, just call right back and I will answer if i see the same name calling back twice. What if a plane crashed near me and I had other buddies that were fishing in the tournament that i wanted to call to help with emergency rescue efforts while authorities are on the way. Or are you guys suggesting that we don't answer the phone, let people drown all because we didn't want to violate the "no phones" rule.

It was just a month ago some kid got sent home for violating school weapon policy. The kid had one of those small plastic army soldiers on his hat but the school suspended him because the toy was depicted holding a rifle and it violates the weapon zero tolerance policy and that anything with a weapon on it violates this rule. Well guess what, the presidential seal depicts an eagle holding a bunch of arrows, which is also on our money and coins. So basically, if you are walking into a school with cash, its the same thing as walking into a school with deadly weapons.

[Topwater Terry]

my dad had emergency quadruple bypass three years ago. If I got a call at 8 am during a tournament that he was on the way to the hospital, I don't give a damn what my wife or girlfriend or mom or neighbor was doing, I would leave those fishies in the lake and head to the hospital. Nothing wrong with cell phone usage during emergency situations, and yes, I got over myself a long time ago...

[Nunyo Bizness]

Andy, I would like to ask if you have children? Not being a smart *** here, just saying if I was fishing an event and something happened with one of my children. I would stop and go to them, but thats just me. I'm sure there are those who would see that as being weak or a loss of money but nothing in life is more important then my kids and their well being. Can I do anything from the lake....nope, thats why I would leave. My family and friends know not to call unless its an emergency and I always have the option not to answer, but if its my kids....I will suffer DQ and not be shamed!

John Younce

[Brian]

Nice Home Work DL!

I guess your post kind of makes the rest of this thread a mute point............. And Andy, give me a break........

[massbaster]

Tell them to call the fire Department? If your kid is hurt you dont want to know? I think you should be able to receive calls from family at home ,what does that have to do with the tournament?

[macinckirk]

DL, are you having a bad day?

I wasn't....until I got my morning dose of douchery from WB..

Got to say I'm with you on this 1

Here is my 2 cents worth on this, If my phone rings and its ANY of my Family calling I'm going to answer it and I don't care what the rules say because the rules in so cal don't apply anyways

Also If I was working still I would be answering it also

If someone is going to cheat they will find a way n I don't really think the phone is the problem

[Nunyo Bizness]

Well personally if there was a family or friend emergency I would like to know so I could stop what I'm doing and haul *** to be there with/for them...Half of the time my phone is off or I have no service but you can bet your *** if someone is blowing up my phone with emergency phone calls/texts..I'm gonna answer them... piss on a silly bass tourney.....[/quote]


Well said!

[ASD]

Well personally if there was a family or friend emergency I would like to know so I could stop what I'm doing and haul *** to be there with/for them...Half of the time my phone is off or I have no service but you can bet your *** if someone is blowing up my phone with emergency phone calls/texts..I'm gonna answer them... piss on a silly bass tourney.....

Well said![/quote]

+2

[Rich reeser]

Holy bad connection BASSMAN just hang up and drive

[Andy Giannini]

Andy, I would like to ask if you have children? Not being a smart *** here, just saying if I was fishing an event and something happened with one of my children. I would stop and go to them, but thats just me. I'm sure there are those who would see that as being weak or a loss of money but nothing in life is more important then my kids and their well being. Can I do anything from the lake....nope, thats why I would leave. My family and friends know not to call unless its an emergency and I always have the option not to answer, but if its my kids....I will suffer DQ and not be shamed!

John Younce

Yes, I have kids and other family members.

And yes, I have bowed out of big tournaments, where I had big fish going to attend to family emergencies.

And that is fine. I whole heartedly agree with that concept.

But, I did not answer my phone or even check it until my fish were weighed.

No shame in choosing a dq or attending to family matters.

It is just the baloney of people saying they need to be in touch all the time. They take phone calls in the movies, yell on nextel 2 way in eateries, (So everybody can hear) and so forth. People still feel the need to talk while driving, and text! People attend meetings, take calls, and start texting. So they are physically there, but the mind is elsewhere.

There is nothing wrong with being "unavailible" for a few hours.

Tournaments or otherwise.

But keep in mind, when fishing a tourney if someone sees you on the phone the first thing they are going to think is you are cheating in some way.

And if you don't care, that's fine. And if you do have something important to get off the water for, by all means do so.

A.G.

[GKramer]

You know, this was/is a very good topic and it was started with good intentions and real concern. Individuals have to make their own judgment decisions on lots of matters, family, work, religious commitments, and likewise, sensible tournament directors can use their judgment as well.

But real emergencies are not cloaked in mystery, in hourly texts nor culminated with a 25-pound sacks 40 minutes after the last phone call. I think that all that was asked in the beginning of this sword fight, er thread was, how do we adjust to technology that can be both helpful and also unethical, depending on the use?

Remember, there is nothing inherently wrong with a torpedo sinker.... That is, unless today we find it when we inspect your boat in the morning.

[Nunyo Bizness]

Andy, thank you for clarifying. I'm sure your kids are first in your life, but I also agree you need to be free of things too. I do have a off button and use it. Thanks for the response.
John

[bryanmc]

But keep in mind, when fishing a tourney if someone sees you on the phone the first thing they are going to think is you are cheating in some way.

Wow... Is that what we've come to? The first thing they will think? Things are worse than I thought, I always assume there's a legitimate reason.

[Marc]

Well, just to muddy the waters a little more even a torpedo sinker had its place in bass fishing until now. Some use them for weights on their marker buoys with the dual purpose of inserting it into a bass' mouth to return it to deep water in lieu of using a needle to deflate the swim bladder.

They are also made with a barbless hook attached (and line tied to the bend of the hook) to place in the bottom lip so it pulls the bass to the required depth where a tug on the line removes the hook.

Another tool that now has to be removed from the boat to avoid suspicion.

Yea, it isn't the method or tools but rather the individual that defines a cheater.

ciao,
Marc Marcantonio

[DL]

I am not complaining.

But I am curious, just what were you going to do about a 13 year old hit by a car? Are you some kind of EMT or something, or do work in trama center? Did the doctors need your help specifically? And if you were on the water, and she knew this would it not make more sense to call someone who can respond quicker?
What exactly were you expected to do that your wife cannot get done in this instance? She can call for help, or drive the victim if need be can't she?

Get over your own self. The world will go on, even if your cell doesn't get good reception.



A.G.

Just for the record Andy, the 13 year old getting hit by a car was hypothetical. Do you really expect my wife to call me instead of calling someone closer? Did you really just ask that question?

[DL]

DL, are you having a bad day?

I wasn't....until I got my morning dose of douchery from WB..

Got to say I'm with you on this 1

Here is my 2 cents worth on this, If my phone rings and its ANY of my Family calling I'm going to answer it and I don't care what the rules say because the rules in so cal don't apply anyways

Also If I was working still I would be answering it also

If someone is going to cheat they will find a way n I don't really think the phone is the problem

+1

[j10b]

I wasn't....until I got my morning dose of douchery from WB..

Got to say I'm with you on this 1

Here is my 2 cents worth on this, If my phone rings and its ANY of my Family calling I'm going to answer it and I don't care what the rules say because the rules in so cal don't apply anyways

Also If I was working still I would be answering it also

If someone is going to cheat they will find a way n I don't really think the phone is the problem

+1

Andy if you are a dad...I dont want you as my dad. That is pathetic. So you really think everyone can sit down and fish while their phone rings and rings, IN CASE!!! some moron thinks they are cheating?

Gk said it best if the guy is coming in with 50lb bags after a call. Yeah say something.
In my job if I dont answer my Fing phone people come looking. Oh and try telling your commander you missed the deployment because " You were FISHING"

Lemme guess you are going to say that I shouldnt be fishing? yeah because on 9/11 i was on leave and Well the F aware someone was crashing a plane in the the WTC.


So the rest of us that have lives besides thinking everyone on the phone is a cheater, need to sit at home while you hardcore heros fish?

Yup UMHUM! sounds fun to me.

I tell the TD in every tourny I enter that if my phone rings I WILL answer it. I will put it on Speaker if my Co angler cant deal with it.

See what you can't grasp is INTENT is the deal. If a guy is flinging a swimbait answers the phone, talks, hangs up and continues flinging the bait the rest of the hours. Then leaves for weigh in... he ISNT CHEATING. Its the guy that is getting texts or calls and bailing out.
Hell I have seen more cheating on the water with a bro out there catching fish that motors up to his buddy and tells him what to do.

Let me guess you want to ban all on water contact too????
Again NOTHING is worth even 1 million bucks, especially a few fish.

Yeah I am a girl because I answer a phone and leave a tournament so I can jump on a jet and go get shot at so some knucklehead doesnt drive his explosive laden bomb into someones school. Piss on me

[keithcant]

HART phone service_ - - - Emergencies only when you just gotta pay back a loan w/ $$you don't got; shove two or three phones down the fish's gullett and weigh in. Then respond: "

What phone?, search the boat .....I don't got no stinkin' phone!"