Snag Proof response

[mikegutierrez]

My name is Mike Gutierrez and my partner is Juan Acosta. We won the snag proof tournament this past weekend and I don't know where some of you are getting your information from but we did not use a chatter bait with a snag proof worm to catch our fish. We caught all of our fish on snag proof baits. We used the tournament frog in the yellow headed black bird color and also in white/black, we used bobbys's perfect frog in the cicaida color, and we caught a few fish on the brown crawdad. These are the same baits that we used to win the event last year as well. We followed all the rules of the event and would never do anything cheat or twist the rules in an unsportsmanship kind of way. It's really a let down when you're proud of an accomplishment and people you don't know come in and start spreading rumors that have no merit what so ever.

On another note, I want to thank Gene and Bobby and the whole Snag Proof staff for a great show.

[Steve]

Hey Mike, congrats to you and your partner for a great win. I have to tell you that every year after this tournament is over the rumors start flying. And I mean every year. I get sick of it, and I especially hate when people come onto this forum and repeat "what theyve heard" instead of what they "know as fact". People should not open their mouths and spill negativity until they are certain that what they say is fact. What people say in public can be very damaging, whether its true or not; I just wish more people understood this before regurgitating rumors.

If it helps, I never for one second believed that the "winners" cheated, and most of my friends feel the same way.

[Sean Graf]

Congrats Mike to you and your partner!

I can understand how you're feeling about the rumors, some people just can't stand losing and will sometimes go out of their way to make someone look bad.

Keep your head up and congrats again!

Sean Graf
www.motherlodelakes.com

[sTony]

Couldn't have said it any better Steve!

Rumor mongers absolutely suck and they need to be confronted when they spread such talk. Lord knows we have a ton of it on the Delta and it's really off putting to almost everyone. It's had an impact on our tournament draws here on the Delta so when someone gives you that sort of information its in everyone's best interest to confront the people with where they heard it from so we can track down the scumbags that keep spreading this bogus information.

Some people just can't suck it up and admit that there are other folks out there that flat out catch better fish then them. A concept that's lost on me as I have to face that reality almost every time I wet a line, hahaha.

sTony

[Phil]

GLAD TO HEAR THE RESPONSE !!
THATS ALL BECAUSE THE FUN WENT OUT OF IT A FEW YEARS AGO, AND IT HAS BECOME ALL ABOUT MONEY . IT IS FOR THE MOST PART THE REASON WE QUIT FISHING MOST TOURNAMENTS . WHEN THE FUN COMES BACK INTO IT AND THE RUMOR SPREADORS AND FUN HATORS ALL QUIT FISHING AND LEAVE THE WONDERFUL SPORT WE USED TO HAVE, WE WILL THEN RETURN TO IT .

I HAVE YET TO MEET A "WINNER" WHO IS A CHEATER, JUST ALOT OF WANNA BEES. CONGRADS TO YOU WINNERS, SOMEDAY WOULD LIKE TO FISH ONE.

NO NEED FOR RESPONSE, JUST MY .02

JIGS

[gman20475]

Mike, I didnt fish the event, but have been hearing all this BS rumors and such on the net, well, i Wouldnt worry about that as long as you and your partner know whole heartedly that you were honest in catching the fish by the rules.. On another i know you got em fair and square because you mentioned you used that Cicada frog, hell i have been killing them on that frog, its an awesome color, one of my favorites. I caught 2 8's on back to back weekends on that bait and was on some solid 15-18 pounds for 5 on that frog.. I chose not to fish the event because i had to make it up to my fiancé, since i missed her birthday on the last tournament i fished..been in the dog house but its all good now, I have a free pass for this weekend..LOL..
congrats..

[NelsonG]

Hey Mike .
Glad you spoke up,it was irritating me, to hear RUMORS like that, knowing that you and Juan would not cheat for a win.
For you guys who don't know these two, they really know their stuff out on these waters. They have put in alot of time on the Delta and have learned what it takes.
I was able to fish with Mike earlier this year and it was fun just to sit and watch him catch fifteen to my five.
These guys don't have to cheat. They are a great team.
CONGRATULATIONS you two!
Nelson

[JRS71]

Contrats Mike and Juan!!! Don't let all the haters get you guys down. Enjoy the win. Tell Willie I said hello.

[SKTR 20i]

Where are the results posted for that event???

John.

[Gene Buchholz]

Congratulations Mike and Juan on a great win! I agree with many of the people that have called me about the rumors, and that is please get all your facts before rumors are started and posted on a forum like this. I've known Mike and Juan for a long time and they are straight up people.

To answer another question regarding the charter bait and jigs and so on, we held a pre tournament meeting on Saturday at 9:00 o'clock which everyone was informed of at registration. For those of you that didn't come to the meeting your missed a lot of information and for those of you that didn't fish the tournament you missed it all. At that time all rules were reviewed in detail, the adding of weight or subtracting of weight as well as changing of hooks. It was ruled at that time if the skirts were taken off of baits they were legal. This may or may not have been the right decision. I want everyone to know if there were people using chatter baits like that they were not cheating.
The pay back per cent ages were the same as last year.

After being in this industry for as long as i have I have realized you can't please all the people all the time and all you can do is your best. I hope I have not offended anybody and hope you will join us next year for a FROG ONLY TOURNAMENT

[MIKE TREMONT]

Congratulations to you and your partner Mike.

Last week I stated some of my observations from past Snag Proof events and hoped it wouldn't be an issue, but... as you can see it's a never dying story.

I hope you or anyone else don't group me in with the crybabies that start this crap, just because I said that I heard the rumors. Hearing them and accusing someone of cheating are worlds apart.

Another observation gentleman, is this not a public forum in a somewhat free country. I agree that rumors are damaging and if some did cheat this is not the place to make your accusations. That needs to be done at the event before the scales are closed. But if I can't share my observations and concerns here, then I might have to spend my lunch hour somewhere else.

[blkdog812]

Congrats on ur win guys and thank for telling us how you did it.
this using a worm on a chatterbait rumor started prior to the start of the event and should have been squashed at the rules meeting, but for some, apparently they didnt listen or they didnt show up when it was addressed.
As usual there are poor sports, those who cant catch the fish to win and those who bend rules how ever they can to win. I cant wait for next year when it will be the FROG only tourny. no more bs with everyone fishing the same thing. kinda wish they would pass out all the same frogs, in the package, to everyone and let everyone fish'um straight from the box. that would really cut down on the crap and really show whos the top dog.

[Hawg Hunter]

Mike is anything but a cheater, I had the pleasure of fishing with Mike at the FLW Stren. He told me at the tourny exactly what he used, as he posted on here! It's to bad that some people start running their mouth and spreading rumors about great "Fisherman". I back him 100%. Mike is just flat out a great stick, so all you haters should really just shut your mouth and start catchin some sacks! As there is sadly cheaters out there, Mike is not one of them. So zip the lips, and please get your facts straight.

Mike Congrats to you and your partner! Get your butt back up here for the Persuader Tourny I want a rematch! And you better bring your A game cause Woody and I are in it to win it! And don't let these fellas get under your skin, jealousy is a stinky cologne!

[Bill Cook]

I'll throw in my 2 cents here. Mike and Juan have fished my tournaments on a number of occasions and I have had the pleasure of fishing against them (and getting beat pretty good) on a number of other occasions. They are as classy and professional as you could ask for. To sully their name in any way is uncalled for. They put in the time and they get the results from it. Congrats Mike and Juan.

Bill Cook

[SKTR 20i]

How do I find the results of the tournament????

[hunterdave]

Congrats on the win guys. I don't believe the rumors myself. It really sucks that you have to defend yourselves about it too. I guess people are quick to talk smack about things they know absolutely nothing about. Forget the "he said she said" crap and enjoy the win!!

Dave

[ken]

So why wasn't the results published and the winners shown? It did make it look like there was something to the rumor. Next time if possible post timely results. my .02 Ken

[Jason Wood]

Senor Hawg Hunter speaks!!! Thanks Adam, fer clearin' that up about Mike and backin' him up on here...

And yes, i'll be back on Wednesday prefishin' the rest of the week!!!