Contrary to his remarks, I doubt HotHead Swindle would be happy if someone went by him on plane at a distance of less than 20 yards.

Heck, he was less than 10 feet from the camera boat.

I don't know about Bama, but in Mich. if a boat is within 100 feet of another boat, they must be at no wake speed.  For him to do that is just plain wrong and stupid.  

I really can't see any  interpretation that would allow for such actions to take place and be o.k. with it.  (IrishJig)

He is lucky he didn't get his hind end kicked by the spectators for such a stupid act.  $500K or not, if someone rides by me or my family like that in a boat the s*** is gonna hit the fan!

He is a jerk and an Ike wanna be.  I have lost all (what little I had) respect for him.  

I think it is time to hijack this thread and talk about KVD and his abilities!  He can beat the field and not have to jeopardize lives or act like a fool.  Class act all the way!

Not to go off topic, but the thing I really like about KVD is that he just goes about things so quietly.

I would like to believe that Swindle will come away from this a humble and considerate man.   ;D ;D  Yeah, right.  He has always thought he was above the law and he could get by with anything if only he made the appropriate wise crack to explain himself.  I say good riddance.  He is the most overrated fisherman on the BASS tour simply because he's a big jerk and makes for good TV.

As a side note:  I bet Zell slept really well last night with a big smile on his face.

First off Gerald had permission from Howell to make the move so from that stand point it was a legal move. As for the camera crew they don't need to be that close anyway, they were impeding Gerald's path. Camera views can make the distance look closer than it really is. These camera crews and bystanders need to learn to stay out of the angler's way; this is becoming a major problem over the last few years. These crews are getting to be like all others chasing Brittany Spears or someone. This is why I prefer Fox Sports coverage of anything, ESPN can cover any thing.

You guys think that was dangerous y'all wouldn't want to be on Toledo Bend for the next couple of months, at least I would trust Gerald boat handling skills. I mean come on guys these camera boats have drivers that should be looking out for anglers who are starting to make a move and crank the big motor and get out of the way.

I'm alittle torn. I feel he was in the wrong in hindsight, but in the heat of battle I don't think he thought he was doing anything wrong, and I think the DQ was questionable.

To play devil's advocate a little:

When there is 500 thousand dollars on the line, there needs to be a more specific set of rules as to what constitutes a violation and subsequent DQ. The rules are very vague and open to interpretation. Someone may feel that something is safe and gets DQ'd for something they do all the time that somebody else takes offense to.

If it was a questionable distance, maybe but....I'm with JNamo, someone does a fly by THAT close to my boat, I'm going to start the engine and go put my anchor through his motor cover. Do it at full speed and I might just aim the whole boat right at you.

DQ- ABSOLUTELY

Should be fined too as far as I'm concerned.

He was saying "I gotta go, I gotta go",....ok Swindle, finally somthing we agree on.

Catt- I only know what I've experienced.  I understand I've never fished these big lakes consistently.  I fish primarily smaller places.  The Bay I live on,  we have bluefish boils where we chase rising schools and even then, with 10-12 boats on a school, we don't operate THAT close or THAT fast.  I fished Fork during the spawn last year when the locals said the place was a mad hose and I didn't experience ANYTHING like that.

Also.  Howell waved him on but Howell wasn't the one he buzzed.  If it wasn't a marked channel or boat lane, the camera boat was not in the wrong to be there and was not impeding his path.  The boat under power is required to navigate.

Not fighting at all, just my .02  

As for the camera crew they don't need to be that close anyway, they were impeding Gerald's path. These camera crews and bystanders need to learn to stay out of the angler's way;

The fact you are neglecting to recognize here is that the lake is not closed to the public during the tournament. Any extra privileges enjoyed by the anglers are at the discretion of those granting or denying the privileges (whether they are fellow anglers, media or public).

I mean come on guys these camera boats have drivers that should be looking out for anglers who are starting to make a move and crank the big motor and get out of the way.

This sounds like a serious safety problem. Now you have two boats in motion both of which are trying to anticipate the other's next move. Never mind that this is just silly. If there were a flotilla of camera boats forming a blockade, then one of the boats should move and allow passage, but a single camera boat should pose no great obstacle to a great pilot like the G-Man (he said with dripping sarcasm).

With today's modern cameras and zoom lens there is no reason for a camera crew to be any place near the anglers. Swindle and Howell had been fishing the same area all morning so the camera crew should have been aware of the fact at some point and time one of the anglers was going to make a move and have a plan in place to avoid such situations.

As for bystander to many times they have the attitude this is my lake and I can go where I want but they are the same ones who complain if some one gets near them.

My point is these extra boats in the area are becoming a major problem that no one wants to address until some one gets hurt. It has been problem on this lake in peculiar during every tournament held there.

Yea some of the blame is the G-Man's but I don't think it's his alone; this is a problem that has to be addressed.

Catt, This is the problem with our society and now we are seeing it in Bass Fishing. G tried to justify what He did instead of just saying I was wrong. It always someone else that has done something wrong. The rules that were applied to this offense are the same rules that we have in every tourney that we fish. I live on a big lake with several 100 plus boat tourney's every weekend and this situation is without  excuse regardless if there is 10 boats or 100's. It's just wrong. Just because you can do it doesn't make it right. He got what he deserved and now needs to OWN IT. Period.

It's also kind of funny that this is the same guy that was told not to wear jeans to a suit and tie event(AOY Year Dinner) but broke stride and went against what was asked and then said he really didn't care what anyone thought. Sounds to me that He has some issues with authority and it is reflected in his fishing and driving style. I like G Man but this was just dumb.

I'm not trying to justify what Gerald done but by the same token these camera crews act like they have one responsibility filming. I just think there are better ways of putting on a production than the way ESPN is doing it, I've been to and fished in major B.A.S.S. tournaments since ESPN took over it's went down hill quickly.

I'm not trying to justify what Gerald done but by the same token these camera crews act like they have one responsibility filming. I just think there are better ways of putting on a production than the way ESPN is doing it, I've been to and fished in major B.A.S.S. tournaments since ESPN took over it's went down hill quickly.

This years terrible coverage is proof of THAT!!

SO let down.

Local word is that the reason he was coming through there to begin with was because he had just spot jumped down river of Howell, fishing the water Howell has been in for 2 days and was working towards, with the current.

Howell was pretty bent that Swindle spot jumped him, visibly enough so where Swindle picked up and left. Hmmmmm

Even today, he's busy justifying it instead of owning it. This goes back to my original comment on this incident. How he handles this will speak volumes for his character.

Not looking too good in my eyes, so far.  If the fishing industry doesn't show him the love, there's always NASCAR!!

The way most of them handle themself and the respect most people show each other is one reason I love Bass fishing if he doesn't change his tune he is going to turn off alot of people.

swindle really gets on my nerves.....i think he tries to act like iaconelli too hard with the screaming & yelling when he boats a fish...im watching him be interviewed right now & hes comparing what he did to  nascar racing.....

    he made a mistake,but  he should have known better..........

For any sporting event Fox blows ESPN out of the water; it's getting to where I hate to watch any thing on ESPN. Fox caters to the fans while ESPN says we're the bigger and here all you get. In 2001 I fish the B.A.S.S. Top 150 on Toledo Bend and ESPN's coverage on the radio was over powered by a tiny local AM station.

Any who back to the G-man my point was he should have never been put in a situation where he had to make that decision.    

Any who back to the G-man my point was he should have never been put in a situation where he had to make that decision.

If he went and found his own water,......wouldn't even be an issue. :-/

Don't get me wrong, I understand that sometimes, the fish are stacked in certain places, like that tourny in Fla one yr when EVERYONE was fishing the "monkey box" or whatever it was called, because it was the only clean water.  This is different.  Great bite, Great conditions, fish are everywhere,...just not neccessary.

found his own water

It's G-man's home lake so who's water is it?

Those commits will get some response

I don't have a problem with G-man's attitude; I've got 4 sons who all played football and each one's attitude was different. The oldest and youngest were quite laid back business like while the middle two were like G-man and Ike.

By the way good morning LBH  ;D

I am not a fan of the G-Man at all. Never was. I am going to be like Sweden and stay neutral on this one. I do have some questions though. Put yourself in his shoes. Its the Bassmasters Classic, you are pumped up to the max, the pressure of your sponsors in over your head and your showing can change monetary values for the next season. I can see where a possible brain fart is in order. I agree that what he did was unsafe, a bad call on his part and yada,yada but, he was waved through so, should that have been added to the equation? Was a DQ justified or, should he have had points taken off or, put last on the next day flights? To the point, did the time fit the crime?

Mornin' Catt!   ;D ;D  The coffee is kickin' in, not much more of this,lol

By "his own water", I mean he doesn't have to fish in Howell's lap.  I would bet money that if swindle was boating nice fish, all alone in an area he hunted out, for 2 days, and then Howell came and started fishing down current from him, same bank, football field or so apart,....swindle would erupt.

Just no need for that at this event with these conditions.

IMO

I am not a fan of the G-Man at all. Never was. I am going to be like Sweden and stay neutral on this one. I do have some questions though. Put yourself in his shoes. Its the Bassmasters Classic, you are pumped up to the max, the pressure of your sponsors in over your head and your showing can change monetary values for the next season. I can see where a possible brain fart is in order. I agree that what he did was unsafe, a bad call on his part and yada,yada but, he was waved through so, should that have been added to the equation? Was a DQ justified or, should he have had points taken off or, put last on the next day flights? To the point, did the time fit the crime?

Howell waved him on,...not the boats he threaded through. Is it a marked channel? No. They have every right to be where they were. As Trip said, he should have idled through that whole area.

Did the time fit the crime? Barely. A fitting add on would be for him to attend a boating safety course. Humble his azz.

As a side note:  I bet Zell slept really well last night with a big smile on his face.

Now that was funny ;D. As they say on the 70' s show---burn !!!, lol.

I do not do as much Bass fishing as most members of this site, however I am going to say this if Swindle had came that close to another boat in King Mackeral Tournament, it would not even have to be that close just close enough to cut a line or a down rigger ball, the guys around here would probably make shark bait out of him. I mean to move that close to another boat at that speed is just ludicris and rude. I would be willing to bet that you would never see Rick Clunn pull a stunt like that. That is just my opinion though.

Big T

Howell waved him on,...not the boats he threaded through.  Is it a marked channel? No.  They have every right to be where they were.  As Trip said, he should have idled through that whole area.

Did the time fit the crime?  Barely.  A fitting add on would be for him to attend a boating safety course.  Humble his azz.

That was a tough call for Trip but, he is the T director, bottom line. You have to keep a command over these guys or they would probably run over you, no pun intended.

Just because he was waived through does not mean he could go fast and place the others in jeaporady.

I saw him blast through the area at almost full throttle which is wrong.

I applaud the tournament director for DQing him.

When Ike went bonkers last year his actions did not place people and assets in peril.

I think what Gerald did was far more dangerous than what Ike did last year.

Now, as I have asked this question on another thread...will Gerald lose his sponsors like Ike?

Will Ranger pull the plug on any endorsements for Gerald like they did for Ike?

What goes around comes around!

And on a positive note, KVD is amazing. Just amazing. I can't wait to read the articles on how he fished Lay Lake. Kevin is simply outstanding.

And remember, he was DQed in a tournament, too, but never lost any sponsors.

AMEN!! You can DQ with honor,....or with excuses.

If Swindle loses sponsors, maybe Rousch Racing will pick him up :

I served in Viet Nam and am a very strong military supporter.

However, Ike's tantrum when he kicked the alumniumn pole that had the American Flag on it had nothing to do with the American Flag.

It had to do with a temper tantrum that included our flag being on the pole by coincidence.

I don't think what Ike did had any anger towards the flag or our country.  He took out his frustration on what was close by, the pole.

What Gerald did was far more serious.

Putting people and assets in peril on the water, especially cold water, is a much more serious action than kicking a pole.

I wonder if Triton Boats will pull their sponsorship?

I also think Ranger Boats over reacted to Ike's tirade and acted too fast to pull his sponsorship.

I have written letters to both Ranger and Triton asking if they are going to continue with any sponsorships for Gerald in the future. I will let you know if I hear back and what they say.

Now to sit back and see if KVD can pull off another win.