This is truly an outrage. The city of Ludington and the tournament committee has to crack down on this to avoid similar situations in the future. We have the opportunity to do the right thing here and to set an example that this type of activity is not condoned. These tournaments should be about participation, fun and honest competition. To allow an act like this to go unpunished is just not fair to all who played by the rules. Its time to take tournament fishing away from those who seek to monopolize and capitalize from it.

Sounds to me like a bunch of cryin. I find it interesting how so many people judge others by an article in the paper...I for one did not see anything that said GUILTY OF CHEATING or SHOWN ON CAMERA BY FISHING COMMITTEE. All i did read was that the incident is being investigated... Silly David - it this such an "outrage"? Or would it be more of an outrage to know the real facts? I was not there, I was not involved in the event, but I guess like most people, I wait to see the TRUTH in what really happened or if it is just another case of who didn't win whinning....

I've always wondered why some of the "BIG GUYS"rarely have any shakers in thier coolers!! I wonder how many other tournaments have been won this way!!Better yet,how many spotters have been paid off in the right situations!!!!Tough economic times bring out the criminal in just about every materialistic Americans Values and pride!!!!!SSSOOOOOSSSSSSAAAADDDDDD!!!!!!!

wild women on wheels ,cheating on fishing contest,accidental shootings, my next vacation is going to be some place safe in mi. - maybe detroit

No fishing tournament is perfect, and neither are the participants. A thorough investigation is warranted, and is underway. Let's see what ALL the facts and TRUTHS are before we judge this one boat. With something like 200 boats in the tourney, and about 1.000 fishermen registered, and only one crew maybe guilty, bespeaks of a very fair and honest group of anglers that should be applauded for their efforts. People need to chill and be patient now.

This was the first time we've done the Ludington tournament, and it is probably the last. We have been participating in the Western Michigan tournaments for the last five years. I have suspected that the big boys might be penning up their big fish and paying off the observers for quite sometime. I think Best Chance II withdrew from the tournament, because there is a much bigger scandal laying just under the surface. Snapping off the shakers is one thing, but penning up fish is another. Best Chance II needs to be made an example and barred from local tournaments for the next two years. Let them lose their sponsors. It will serve to other cheating fishermen to think twice before you cheat and win the little guys' money.

I'm pretty sure the observers have been intimidated to some degree!!The arrogant boys of best chance would'nt possibly act this way??? With their track record and ego's,who would question thier ethics!!!