"Where does one start?"
This question looming in my mind FRIDAY THE 13th at 4:00pm after two practicing anglers for the Portage Powerhouse event managed to contact me at work with their angling responsibilities.
Any good civil servant knows that Friday's past 4pm, is where you turn it all off, and plug into the weekend plans.
My moment in time was concentrated in efficiently registering and managing nearly 200 anglers during predicted rain, sleet and snow. That soon changed...
Up to this point I had overcome my tournament directing "enemies" for the weekend: two broken scales, a death in my family, changing event times and all the work/planning associated with two days of accurately weighing fish, in 30 mph winds, while representing the invested sponsors in the fashion they deserve.
The words then hit me. "...I pulled up a basket of five bass hanging on a rope tied off to a cleat..."
Every emotion contained within the first thirty or so thoughts associated with such a comment, sat me flat down as I opened the Ohio Revised Code on the corner of my desk. Twenty seconds later I found it.
2915.05 Cheating, corrupting sports ~ FELONY 5
I proceeded to impose on every government employee (before they too left for home!) with jurisdictional boundaries of Portage Lakes... and I got bit.
To keep things short at this point, let's just say that if you as a bass angler have EVER said anything negative about Ohio's Department of Natural Resources/Division of Wildlife...take it ALL back now. From the very top on down, the concern to properly address this delicate matter was handled with the most professional response a bass tournament director who's real life is spent working in a courtroom could ever desire.
By 9pm Friday, Matt Leibengood,the ODNR Summit County Wildlife Officer, along with ODNR Wildlife Investigators, had obtained the needed approval and equipment to begin conducting a formal investigation.
After the fish were verified by law enforcement, multiple techniques were implemented to account for those fish, and placed back in the basket that was found in West Reservoir, alive and well.
Seventy-seven man hours, videotape surveillance and the use of Passive Integrated Transponders (PIT tags) were implemented to insure a valid contest of bass angling skills occurred during the April 14th and 15th weekend.
Officer Leibengood and his investigative team remained in constant contact with my efforts as a tournament director up to the scales opening both days, as they remained in position to acquire any evidence that could be presented for formal arrest and prosecution of a FELONY level criminal offense.
Powerhouse rule #16 was taking new meaning, as well was my constant reminders to others..."it's a green fish".
By day two of this weekend event, ODNR was as energetic with their game plan as I, after my much needed...and now famous... quadruple shot of espresso before weigh-in.
As the final hour of day two approached, there had been a total of SEVEN separate teams videotaped and identified fishing within a pitchn' distance of a probable 13+ pound bag, alive in a basket, waiting to beep for Division of Wildlife Officer's right past my scales.
It was game time. Your director and your team were prepared with food, smiles, and a wind blown rockn'show that still allowed the scales to sit tare on each and every bag.
Authorities felt similarly as all preparation was complete to impound and tow away any $40,000 bass rigs and it's occupants from my scales-and onward to the Summit County Jail for processing.
"Smile...and think big basses" my mind raced. Each one...one by one, went through. The cold wind HOWLED. The team smiled. Nearly complete, two bags remained at the day two weigh-in AND IT HAPPENED!
My battery went dead on my first set of scales.
"Plan for the worst, and hope for the best..." is the motto of most probation officer's that have managed more than a decade working with delinquents. Not a problem, I thought of this happening a long time ago.
After announcing to the spectators sucking down Italian Sausages, that rule #13 was occurring, my team pulled a set of identical and calibrated scales (the ones second day aired by Friday) from the trailer with a new battery. We got the weight called...and the next weight called...and that was it...we made it. Powerhouse was complete... COMPLETELY LEGAL...and in the books!
Wildlife Investigators later came and shook hands as they reviewed the videotape with me from the day.
Their response at one point was they couldn't believe how many anglers, looking right at a fish basket, hanging partially out of the water, never was approached for at least an angler inspection during the two days.
Now I know as a tournament fisherman, we could argue that "angler policing" scenerio 'till were blue in the face with no resolve. As well, any other scenerios this entire matter presents.
But my response back,"...you oughta' try making sure they know their flight times..."
Guys...I love ya all. I really, really do. But if you jack around this season with me or my team, the rules will remove our enemies.
The RULES are where I start, and where this ENDS.
Peace to all- Rory Franks and the dobass.com team.
