They fish tournaments for a living so Canadians Jeff Gustafson and Chris Johnston arenB次元官网网址檛 surprised by the public backlash created by the disqualification of two anglers from an Ohio walleye event after lead weight and fillets were discovered in their catch.

On Friday, Jacob Runyan and Chase Cominsky were disqualified from a Lake Erie Walleye Trail tournament when egg-shaped lead sinkers and fish fillets were found in the fish theyB次元官网网址檇 brought to the final weigh-in Friday.

Had Runyon and Cominsky won the tournament B次元官网网址� they were considered the team to beat B次元官网网址� they wouldB次元官网网址檝e received almost US$30,000 in prizes. TheyB次元官网网址檇 also won several other competitions in recent years, the disqualification now bringing those previous victories into serious question.

B次元官网网址 of the discovery B次元官网网址� along with a group of competitors heckling and verbally lambasting a stoic Runyon B次元官网网址� quickly went viral on social media over the weekend. The incident made headlines across North America B次元官网网址� including in the New York Times and Washington Post B次元官网网址� and prompted many to not only question the legitimacy of fishing tournaments in general but speculate about the amount of cheating that goes on in events.

Gustafson, of Kenora, Ont., learned of the scandal while competing in a tournament in northern Ontario.

B次元官网网址淲e were headed back to where we were staying and got cell service so I saw the videos and stuff and it was pretty crazy,B次元官网网址� Gustafson said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not good, not good at all, thatB次元官网网址檚 for sure.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e seen posts from some people who believe this stuff happens at every tournament but I donB次元官网网址檛 believe it does. Anyone listening to the people in the background of that video, I donB次元官网网址檛 know what better deterrent there is than that. Most people do it (fish tournaments) because they love it and love competitive fishing. Most donB次元官网网址檛 get to do it for a living, IB次元官网网址檓 very lucky. ItB次元官网网址檚 very hard to believe, it really is.B次元官网网址�

Gustafson and Johnston, of Peterborough, Ont., and JohnstonB次元官网网址檚 brother, Cory, of Cavan, Ont., are the lone Canadians competing on the Bassmaster Elite Series, the top professional bass fishing circuit in the U.S. In 2020, Chris Johnston became the first Canadian to win an Elite Series event before Gustafson followed suit in 2021.

All three Canadians have competed in the US$1-million Bassmaster Classic B次元官网网址� the circuitB次元官网网址檚 top event B次元官网网址� the last three years and qualified to do so in 2023.

On the Elite Series, anglers fish from their own boats during tournaments. But the only time theyB次元官网网址檙e alone is during practice sessions as marshals sit in each competitorB次元官网网址檚 boat once the events formally begin.

Elite Series tournaments are also broadcast on television (FOX), with many of the top competitors often also having a cameraman in their boat.

WhatB次元官网网址檚 more, Elite Series competitors not only agree to submit to a B次元官网网址渢ruth verification testB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� a polygraph B次元官网网址� but also abide by its conclusion. Tests are conducted at every tournament and a failing result canB次元官网网址檛 be appealed.

B次元官网网址淏ut it (Ohio scandal) just tarnishes the image of tournament fishing, be it bass or walleye,B次元官网网址� Johnston said. B次元官网网址淧eople spend a lot of money to get into these tournaments and have a lot invested into it with equipment and stuff like that.

B次元官网网址淢any book their holidays around going into a tournament, they might only get three or four weekends off and theyB次元官网网址檙e using them for tournaments. They see people are cheating and itB次元官网网址檚 like, B次元官网网址榃hy would I waste my time and money if this can happen?B次元官网网址� You like to think it doesnB次元官网网址檛 but B次元官网网址�B次元官网网址�

Force-feeding fish lead weight and fillets isnB次元官网网址檛 the only underhanded approach some have taken to in order to boost their chances of success. There have been incidents of caging, where fish are caught before the start of a tournament and kept in underwater cages until the anglers come for them once competition begins.

There have also been instances of anglers force-feeding fish ice cubes to make them heavier at weigh-in, with the evidence of tampering quickly melting away. There have been some competitors offering to buy other anglersB次元官网网址� fish.

Gustafson said the adoption of a polygraph test could be a possible avenue for tournament officials to explore.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been polygraphed several times for tournaments weB次元官网网址檝e won and itB次元官网网址檚 never been an issue,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 expensive to get them done but maybe more events have to go back to polygraphing the winners.B次元官网网址�

Neither Gustafson nor Johnston believe cheating is widespread in fishing tournaments.

B次元官网网址淥bviously you must respect the rules and I believe the vast majority (of tournament anglers) do that,B次元官网网址� Gustafson said.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think it will tarnish the top level of tournament fishing,B次元官网网址� added Johnston. B次元官网网址淏ut the majority of people who are weekend anglers, thatB次元官网网址檚 where itB次元官网网址檚 probably going to hit (hardest).B次元官网网址�

According to the Post, Ohio tournament organizers contacted the Ohio Department of Natural Resources afterwards and a report is being prepared for the Cuyahoga County prosecutorB次元官网网址檚 office.

B次元官网网址淭hey (Runyan and Cominsky) wonB次元官网网址檛 be able to fish tournaments anymore, obviously,B次元官网网址� Gustafson said. B次元官网网址淎s far as what law enforcement does, IB次元官网网址檓 sure theyB次元官网网址檙e going to do whatever theyB次元官网网址檙e able to do.B次元官网网址�

Added Johnston: B次元官网网址淚 hope theyB次元官网网址檙e made an example.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址擠an Ralph, The Canadian Press