A Southern California angler has been banned from all Western Outdoor News tournaments for life after he was caught bringing salted bass to the scales of the 2010 U.S. Open at Lake Mead, Nevada.

Mike Hart of Winnetka, California, was one of a handful of pros who had three dead fish to their name after the second day of competition. All were under suspicion the third day because when the dead fish were cleaned in order to be donated to charity, lead weights commonly known as ring or torpedo sinkers rigged with a single hook to keep them in place were found in the bellies of three dead bass.

Hart was the only one on the list who had moved into the money and when he brought his fish to the scales today (Wednesday, July 21) tournament directors John Cassidy and Billy Egan felt what seemed to indicate weights. Hart's fish were taken immediately to be inspected in front of law enforcement and Nevada Fish and Wildlife officials and lead weights were found in all of the fish Hart presented. When confronted, Hart immediately left the scene at Callville Bay.

Mike Hart is banned for life for presenting fish to the scales that had unnatural objects in their stomachs, said WON BASS Tournament Director. We plan on pressing charges against Mr. Hart and we will void any victories he has had in any past WON BASS events.

Not bad old timer, only a month late  ;D

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1279797471/33#33

And they decided not to prosecute. what a joke.

Hey Fourbizz,  ;D    ;D    ;D    ;D    ;D    ;D

Love it!!!!!!

I have a question.... I recently caught a bass that had fishing line sticking out of its anus or whatever the term is for it, which tells me it had a hook and most likely a weight inside of it. My question is..... if you catch a fish and it dies.... they inspect the fish after cleaning it and find a hook line and weight do you automatically get penolized even if you are positive that you did not cheat and the fish broke someone off. Do you get the chance to take a lie detector test? Just curious

I have a question.... I recently caught a bass that had fishing line sticking out of its anus or whatever the term is for it, which tells me it had a hook and most likely a weight inside of it. My question is..... if you catch a fish and it dies.... they inspect the fish after cleaning it and find a hook line and weight do you automatically get penolized even if you are positive that you did not cheat and the fish broke someone off. Do you get the chance to take a lie detector test? Just curious

Is it possible that the hook and line in the bass you caught could have been the result of a break-off?

I have a question.... I recently caught a bass that had fishing line sticking out of its anus or whatever the term is for it, which tells me it had a hook and most likely a weight inside of it. My question is..... if you catch a fish and it dies.... they inspect the fish after cleaning it and find a hook line and weight do you automatically get penolized even if you are positive that you did not cheat and the fish broke someone off. Do you get the chance to take a lie detector test? Just curious

Is it possible that the hook and line in the bass you caught could have been the result of a break-off?

This is my point....

this guy deserves it, but will you be penalized if your line does happen to break off (weight and everything) and is swallowed by the fish?

if they do find it?