Bill,

I've objected to running since it was first brought up in our club years ago not since May. In fact three or four meetings ago John specifically asked me not to bring it up for discussion. My objections were based on the legality of tansporting live fish. Have I run? Yes. Often? No. Why did I when I knew it was illegal? I was getting my butt kicked at Clear Lake by people who were running. Not that running helped THAT situation. I'm no angel but I do try not to break laws.

Do I care if SCBBC allows running? Nope, it's your club. Do I like it? Nope, for a lot of reasons. Discussing these objections is outside the scope of the topic John posted. Will the fact that SCBBC allows running affect my decision to fish or not fish one of your tournaments? It is something that I consider but it hasn't been a deciding point and I doubt it will.

So about the law: Why is it illegal to transport live fish? I understand that this is to prevent the spread of species that are not native to a body of water. It is also to stop the spread of parasites and disease. There has already been at least one incident where an angler weighed in fish caught at one lake and released at the lake where the tournament was held. When someone shows up at weigh in with a limit of fish in their livewell, how do you know where they came from?

Running over land opens up the possiblity that someone will move fish from one body of water to another; running in a boat eliminates this possibility.

More than my $0.02 worth.

Buzzfish