my latest article

[FishingwithRusty]

would like to hear your thoughts on the sublect:

In the name of “Safety” – Fishing With Rusty

 

[billyc]

I feel like somewhere men have lost their ability to be responsible and logical somewhere in the last ten years or so. Obviously the tournaments I think you are referring to are big tournaments that also come with big entry fees and big commitments to fish in. We have had some bad tornados in the last ten years that have left some with ptsd. Then we have some tournaments like the cba here locally who would fish in a nuclear Armageddon disregarding safety all together. It would be nice if somehow some of these men who run these tournaments would use some common sense when making weather decisions. It can't be pretty perfect weather conditions all the time. Thats what separates good anglers from mediocre ones, the ability to adjust. If your going to be in charge of something use your common sense and if you don't feel like you can do that then take a seat and let someone else run the show. Or don't take money up and be shitty when these guys want some of it back.

 

[Rangerman]

There are 2 thoughts that came to mind while reading your article. 1) I agree that we are adults and should make our own decisions regarding whether we should fish or not due to the weather, don't tell me what to do as I am an adult. If you don't feel safe don't go!
2) Liability to the tournament organization especially for the televised pro tournaments. People are to sue happy!

 

[miket55]

I'd be willing to bet tournament organizers are a bit gun shy since the Pickwick incident in 2020, and the resulting $10 million lawsuit..
We as a society, have become loath to accept responsibility for our bad decisions, and play the blame game..

 

[ChooChooSnakeMan]

I believe in personal and corporate responsibility. The facts are that yes our society has become lawsuit happy, people will sue at the drop of a hat and they will drop the hat! I do think we have to look at the tournament organizers viewpoint for at least a second. Because litigation is rampant and no one can predict what a judge or jury will decide the tournament organizers are faced with this scenario: Imagine that there is a forecast for "possible" severe weather the day of the event. The organizers decide they don't want to take a chance (maybe their motivation is really safety or maybe it is financial liability or maybe both) and cancel the event. The weather forecast is wrong (imagine that!) and now all the participants are mad as you know what. Second outcome: The organizers say, we have these signed waivers and it is only "possible" severe weather. They hold the event and the worst happens. A titantic storm hits right in the middle of the event. You have lots of people out on the water. You have someone get struck by lightning or a boat gets capsized and someone drowns. Now you have grieving loved ones of those people who are hurting and mad as you know what. They don't care that a waiver was signed, they hold the event organizer responsible for terrible decision making. They get a high powered attorney and sue the event organizers and win millions. This can and does happen. I'm not saying it is right but I am saying it is what it is. Now I have never entered a big time tournament that costs a lot of money to enter (I am nowhere near a good enough fisherman and I'm too cheap to pay the big bucks fee) so I don't know how it works. It seems there should be an agreed amount of refund if the event is cancelled, after all the event organizers costs should be somewhat less. It doesn't seem fair that the anglers carry all the risk for a legitimate cancellation. This is an interesting subject, thanks Rusty for your post.

 

[FishingwithRusty]

thanks guys for your feedback and responses, i was doubting that anyone even read it

 

[FishingwithRusty]

the lack of personal responsibility certainly contributing to this circumstance