(Capt. Steve Chaconas has been covering pro bass fishing for 20 years. Currently he writes for BoatUS Angler, Woods & Waters USA, The Sportsman's Magazine and other titles. He provides radio coverage of pro events and is also the BoatUS.com "fishing expert.")

Penalty flags are not often thrown in top-level bass fishing tournaments. In fact, anglers often report their own infractions. Most offenses are dealt with in a timely and effective manner with disqualifications, fines and more.



Not the case with the 5-yarder thrown at Elite Series angler Nate Wellman at a Bassmaster Open event at Lake Erie. The bottom line is a co-angler claims he was asked to sell one of his fish to the “pro." Wellman claims he was only joking. While many have attacked the co-angler and the pro alike, it's the system that is broken.

First, other co-anglers might not have had as much moral courage as the guy in this case and might have taken the money and kept quiet or just ignored the situation. Could this have been the first time this angler bargained for fish? Were other co-anglers more receptive to cash offers?

This is another reason to drop co-anglers and replace them with non-fishing observers. As long as the opportunity to bribe exists, it creates ugly opportunities. For those around the game for a while, not many were surprised, while all were very disappointed.

But an even stronger argument that the Bassmaster trail is off track remains. The case is made for only Elite Series anglers to qualify for the Bassmaster Classic. Allowing anglers to qualify for the sport's biggest championship from lower-level competitions only opens the door for desperation and dishonesty.

No winners of the Opens, no collegiate champion, no Federation Nation anglers, no Bassmaster Weekend Series champion. Only Elite Series anglers should be in the “Big Game."

Fishing the Elite Series, anglers have made the commitment in time and money to compete against the best to qualify for the Classic. Giving Elites another chance to win an Open event to qualify for the Classic puts a lot of pressure on an Elite angler to pull out all stops and even lower his morals to make or break his career.

But even more important is the appearance of the sport to those outside looking in. Will the media cut the sport a break by not reporting or exploiting this indiscretion? Will the tournament organization spin this situation as another step in the right direction to grow the sport? It's all over the Internet, with many finding fault in the B.A.S.S. decision to levy a $2,500 fine and a one-year probation.

But true outsiders who already are wary of the “sport” of bass fishing just have another reason to tune out their viewership and withdraw potential advertising dollars. Competing tournament organizer FLW Outdoors has already banned Wellman from its events.

The Rodney Dangerfield defense offered by the offending angler and B.A.S.S. is a joke worthy of no respect. Allegedly, this B.A.S.S. Elite angler would have paid $1,000 to qualify for the Classic. B.A.S.S.'s decision to charge admission to the Classic, in the way of a $2,500 fine, is the punch line.