January 31, 2011 9:06 AM
- Text
Something Fishy At Fishing Tournaments
(CBS)
For as long have their have been fisherman, there have been fish tales.
Outrageous stories are part of country folklore, but the lies told on some lakes have led to felony charges, CBS News correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi reports.
At a tournament last month, officials in Missouri used surveillance video to catch a contestant hiding fish in this blind.
In Kentucky, these two were caught submerging bins full of Bass at a lake — then claiming they caught them at a charity tournament.
Why would someone cheat at fishing, of all things?
"Dollar bill, honey! Dollar bill, that's all there is to it," said Richard Predmore, organizes the Buddy Bass tournament in Bainbridge, Ga.
"When you cast for cash, it's money! Some people think they can get away with it," Predmore said.
After all they are only a few eyes watching, on big lakes, with big money at stake. Last year, pro fisherman took home more than $9 million in prize money.
But even at Predmore's small tournament, amateurs — like Mike Webster — can net big prizes.
"You start getting up there, a $50,000 boat, $100,000 cash, like today you're talking $2,000, but you work for a living, that's a bunch of money," Predmore said.
So, on the lake, they focus on bringing in a big bass.
On shore, they're concentrating on catching cheaters. Every fisherman at this tournament is subject to a lie-detector test.
"We'd prosecute them, personally, I would," Predmore said.
Everyone loves to talk about the "one that got away."
But with the law lakeside, a cheating fisherman won't be one of them.
Outrageous stories are part of country folklore, but the lies told on some lakes have led to felony charges, CBS News correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi reports.
At a tournament last month, officials in Missouri used surveillance video to catch a contestant hiding fish in this blind.
In Kentucky, these two were caught submerging bins full of Bass at a lake — then claiming they caught them at a charity tournament.
Why would someone cheat at fishing, of all things?
"Dollar bill, honey! Dollar bill, that's all there is to it," said Richard Predmore, organizes the Buddy Bass tournament in Bainbridge, Ga.
"When you cast for cash, it's money! Some people think they can get away with it," Predmore said.
After all they are only a few eyes watching, on big lakes, with big money at stake. Last year, pro fisherman took home more than $9 million in prize money.
But even at Predmore's small tournament, amateurs — like Mike Webster — can net big prizes.
"You start getting up there, a $50,000 boat, $100,000 cash, like today you're talking $2,000, but you work for a living, that's a bunch of money," Predmore said.
So, on the lake, they focus on bringing in a big bass.
On shore, they're concentrating on catching cheaters. Every fisherman at this tournament is subject to a lie-detector test.
"We'd prosecute them, personally, I would," Predmore said.
Everyone loves to talk about the "one that got away."
But with the law lakeside, a cheating fisherman won't be one of them.
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