Written by Vivian Leopold, for Lone Star Outdoor News
The first annual Lake Fork Lures/Sealy Outdoors bass tournament on Lake Fork March 7 and 8 had 564 anglers registered to fish. But only one angler was taken to the Wood County Jail on charges of cheating a competition for money, a third-degree felony per Texas law.
In the final hour of the two-day tournament, two Wood County Game Wardens rushed to the weigh-in area after tournament staff used a hand-held metal detector device that alerted them to the presence of foreign objects. After a necropsy, Willow Park angler Curtis Lee Daniels’ 3-plus pound fish had three ¾-ounce weights stuffed inside. Game wardens searched his boat and found more similar weights.
Since the prize for the tournament was more than $10,000, in addition to a third-degree felony charge, Daniels faces 2 to 10 years in state prison, fines up to $10,000, revocation of his fishing/hunting license and civil restitution. Daniels was free the next day with a $20,000 bond. Tournament cheating is serious business.
William McDaniel of Fetus, MO, took top home top honors and $11,500 with a 10.22 pound over-the-slot fish caught the morning of the first day. He had fished a few tournaments on Lake Fork, but this was the only time he has brought in an over (the slot limit on Lake Fork is 16 to 24 inches). McDaniel was fishing in less than 2 feet of water using a jointed, smoked pearl color Magic Shad lure. As this tournament was sponsored by Lake Fork Lures, all anglers had to use that brand.
Brian Thaut just moved to Emory in the Lake Fork area a month ago from Dickinson. He caught his 2.79-pound under in the north end of the lake in shallow water. He was fishing with a Hyper Stick lure. Thaut shared that he had caught 18 fish that first day, but this was the only one that qualified for measuring and weighing.
It is important to stress that anglers need to thoroughly read the rules of the lake and tournament, as multiple anglers were disqualified. Pulling up alongside Lake Fork Sportsman’s Association live-release-boat, the crew witnessed one angler disqualified for the day when the boat check revealed a registration six months past renewal.
A second fisherman pulled up in his 10-day old Phoenix boat. He was disqualified for not having a fire extinguisher on board. He was upset that for what he paid for the boat, it didn’t come with a fire extinguisher. Yet another angler was disqualified for not having a lifesaver/throw cushion in his boat.
More than $100,000 total prize money was awarded at the two-day tourney.
