How Can I Prevent Cheating In Fishing Tournaments?
The temptation to cheat during fishing tournaments can be too much for participants, when money and pride are on the line. A designated Polygraph Examiner is the answer to both questions.
How Far Do Participants Travel?
When sport fishers travel hundreds of miles to compete, one of the single most effective ways to discourage cheating is to have the presence of a qualified Polygraph Examiner. Cash prizes of $10,000 dollars and even tens of thousands of dollars, can create a temptation to cheat. Advising participants that winners are required to take a lie detector test to prevent cheating, usually keeps the participants honest. Click for more information on Fishing tournaments in Wisconsin. You can find upcoming Fishing Tournaments in Wisconsin at https://wisconsin.fishnetics.com/fishing-tournaments/ or https://www.americanfishingcontests.com/find-contests/wisconsin/ as well.
How Often is a Polygraph Test Required?
The majority of fishing tournaments will require a polygraph test to all winners, so be prepared for that. It’s sad but true that participants have and will cheat for even a $15 cash prize. You would be surprised at all the different ways participants have cheated in the past, and some get very creative. From using scuba gear, and manually hooking previously caught fish under water, to storing previously caught fish under water in cages. Advising participants that all winners will take a lie detection test to verify truthful participation, will help weed out the cheaters.
A great article by NewYorkUpstate shares a great story, “If we didn’t demand polygraphs, people would cheat,” he said. “Everyone knows, if you win you must show up with your fish and at the awards ceremony and take a polygraph if it’s required. If you fail to show or refuse to take the test, you forfeit.” – David Chilson runs the big LOC Derby on Lake Ontario, which offers more than $139,000 in prize money for the three, tournament series — including a $25,000 check for the winner of his fall tournament.
Colin Morehouse, 86, has run the National Lake Trout Derby on Seneca Lake for the past 50 years. About 25 years ago, the tournament began demanding polygraphs of the tournament’s grand prize winner for the biggest fish ($5,000), and often another division winner.. The polygraph tests are administered at the tournament’s award ceremony before the checks are handed out.
Has a Lie Detector Test Tainted Fishing Tournaments?
Many have argued that the use of Polygraph testing have tainted the tournaments, but it is the single most effective way to prevent cheating. The participants know if they have cheated, and it may be something minor in their own minds, but deep down inside know if it was a violation of tournament rules. It could be that their lines were dropped in the water earlier than the start time, or maybe a participant on the team didn’t have a license to fish that day, and their mates had knowledge of that. The AP had a great article on that as well.
Bottom Line
How accurate are polygraph or “lie detector” results? How much time does the average polygraph exam take? How does a Polygraph Examination work? Click for More FAQs
According to the Wisconsin Alliance of Bass Tournament Anglers, All competitors are subject to a polygraph testing. Failure to submit to a test, failure of the test in the polygraph examiner’s opinion , or failure to follow the instructions of the polygraph examiner is grounds for disqualification and forfeiture of any and all prize money. Any competitor who has failed a polygraph test for cheating in a bass tournament or whose results are found to be inconclusive shall not be eligible to compete in WABTA tournaments. The ordering of a polygraph test is at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
Which is pretty standard anywhere in the country. Please contact us to discuss your upcoming tournament, we would be happy to assist in verifying the Truth.