Walleye Tournament Champions Jake Runyan & Chase Cominsky Caught Cheating

Princeton_Man · October 01, 2022, 05:18:14 AM

These guys have been riding high and now it appears they haven't been playing straight. I guess fishing tournaments are going to need metal detectors in addition to scales.

topdsm0138 · October 01, 2022, 09:51:04 AM

I sadly agree with all the comments from the crowd in the video.

But...my question is, what was the catalyst that made this issue come up and get videoed? I couldn't hear anything on the full video except "Hey, let me see those fish." Then they cut them open.

Sent from undisclosed location. -Tiller Mafia

Princeton_Man · October 01, 2022, 10:58:43 AM

At about 11:30 in the full video, as the two cheaters walk off camera, you can hear "come here" and "F###" in the full video they then get the attention of the tournament official the the Jake Runyan is directed back in front of the camera. I suspect some experienced angler was challenging the weight of those fish.

They had 8lbs of weight plus pliers and cut up fish stuffed into those fish. No one else's fish came close to that weight.

Full video:

topdsm0138 · October 01, 2022, 12:34:05 PM

Quote from: Princeton_Man on October 01, 2022, 10:58:43 AM
At about 11:30 in the full video, as the two cheaters walk off camera, you can hear "come here" and "F###" in the full video they then get the attention of the tournament official the the Jake Runyan is directed back in front of the camera. I suspect some experienced angler was challenging the weight of those fish.

They had 8lbs of weight plus pliers and cut up fish stuffed into those fish. No one else's fish came close to that weight.

Full video:

Yeah, I saw the video, just the audio wasn't real clear on my end. But atleast there was someone who challenged the weight.

But still, NO excuse for it at all.

Sent from undisclosed location. -Tiller Mafia

Princeton_Man · October 01, 2022, 01:33:39 PM

Runyan, during an interview a week ago, was saying that he and Cominsky would be splitting about $306,000 in tournament winnings... I hope and have got to believe that won't go through. They were surely cheating in that tournament too.

Smallie_Stalker · October 01, 2022, 01:46:42 PM

Man, what is happening to so called professional fishing??? All these cheaters getting caught lately. SMH.

Could be the money. Could be that they need to feel important or need that 15 minutes of fame where they are king of the world. Or maybe they know they don't have the skills to get it done the honest way.

Whatever the reason it's a shame and reflects poorly on the entire angling community, or at least the competitive side anyway.

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BassmanRudy · October 01, 2022, 02:21:48 PM

F those guys. Like I seriously wish all the worst in the world for them. Cheating all year and had won over $400K so far...

Shoving those lead weights inside THEM would be fitting...

But yet my articles about snaggin sprague get nothing...

big g · October 01, 2022, 02:58:14 PM

WoW, that is criminal!

topdsm0138 · October 02, 2022, 09:18:12 AM

You should see how many people are defending them and their actions on social media sites, it's sickening..

Sent from undisclosed location. -Tiller Mafia

Larry Francis · October 02, 2022, 09:51:17 AM

I may be in the Minority here, but I will say it again as I have said it in the past.

I stopped tournament fishing years ago because of the cheating. Yes, the straw that broke the camel's back per se was 5 separate teams arrested at the end of a Fisher of Men Tournament. But there is a lot more cheating that happens in my opinion. From fishing during off limits times to hiring a guide and fishing with them during off limits times to Fishing in No Fishing zones, Fishing out of the boat on peoples Docks. On and on. There is more than just shoving Tungsten down their throat. Whenever there is money to be made it will have its corruption of the rules or outright cheating.

I know this is a sad opinion and a poor attitude towards it but that is what I have seen in my life that I base this off of.

bigjim5589 · October 02, 2022, 01:56:39 PM

I read a lot of comments from anglers posting on social media about the situations with various tournament trails. Some complain, there's not enough money in it.

That's probably true based on the number of anglers who would love to make a living by fishing tournaments, compared to the money that is awarded, except at possibly the highest levels. Of course there, the cost of participation is quite high.

I was involved in a discussion awhile ago, about this, and from my perspective, part of the problem is getting sponsors involved. It's essentially advertising, and frankly, most forms of advertising don't have a risk involved such as a cheating scandal. There's a risk that the investment won't produce a good return, but add cheating into the process and that might make potential sponsors think twice about getting involved at all. Cheating does seem to be a major issue with various sports.

With an incident like this of alleged cheating, and I do believe it should be called that, even though the evidence doesn't look good. Those two are still allowed due process and considered innocent until proven guilty in court. They potentially could face a long list of charges.

I doubt this will get to court, because lengthy court cases do have high costs, but have to wonder, how this might affect current or future sponsors from becoming involved with tournament fishing, if such cheating is always possible.

Also, for anyone who is fishing tournaments, and does follow all the rules and stays honest, should they consistently win, or ever have an unusually good day compared to the rest of the field, that's going to really create suspicions about possible cheating.

That to me is very sad and a real shame, because not everyone is dishonest.

If those guys are prosecuted and found guilty, or plead guilty, they should not only be barred from any future tournaments, they should lose all fishing or hunting privileges too, and then any jail time & restitution will be up to the judge. To me losing those privileges should be automatic in a cheating case or poaching.

Very sad situation for sure.

topdsm0138 · October 02, 2022, 04:45:12 PM

Ok, how about a little humor to laugh at these two idiots stupidity.

Sent from undisclosed location. -Tiller Mafia

bigjim5589 · October 02, 2022, 05:18:48 PM

I've read today that Runyan has hired an attorney, claiming he knew nothing about this happening and had no involvement in the cheating.

BassmanRudy · October 02, 2022, 06:34:33 PM

BS he didn't... f him worse than the other guy for lawyering up first!!

apenland01 · October 02, 2022, 09:50:33 PM

With the economy turning down a bit, this type of news will keep a few more people out of tournament fishing for the near future I believe...

TechAdmin · October 03, 2022, 06:34:56 AM

Didn't know people could find ways to be scumbags at these kind of things, damn. Humanity at a very low level right there.

bigjim5589 · October 03, 2022, 08:09:37 AM

Quote from: TechAdmin on October 03, 2022, 06:34:56 AM
Didn't know people could find ways to be scumbags at these kind of things, damn. Humanity at a very low level right there.

A lot of money involved & huge egos and it does happen. I've read various numbers, but the most stated has been $300,000 that these guys would have been splitting. That's a decent years salary for a lot of folks, and not many make that kind of money fishing. Plus, the potential for tackle company endorsements adds to that number. There's no excuse for cheating, but it does happen.

In an different article I had read, it's been alleged that a young fellow cheated in a chess tournament, because he beat a Chess Master, and a women in a Poker tournament where she beat out a professional Poker player. Both involved amateurs beating professionals, and substantial amounts of money. This is not to say, they did cheat, but the allegations have been made.

BassmanRudy · October 03, 2022, 09:37:21 AM

I've read quite a bit about the chess thing. That guy had already been banned from several online chess sites and other tourneys. He's def using something and the reigning chess master refused to play a full game after seeing his opening moves.

loomisguy · October 03, 2022, 09:56:43 AM

I doubt anything can be done about past tournaments. I did hear they failed a polygraph earlier this year.
Hopefully they get what's coming to them. Can't get any lower.

Hobious · October 03, 2022, 11:03:28 AM

i dont even follow tournements. names? i dont know many.

i know these two. but i will eventually forget. since i dont follow tournements.

how exactly do you stuff a sinker of that size into the stomach of a fish. that is animal cruelty...i cant even swallow a fish oil pill dry!!

this story? i am not even gonna follow it. i will check in on the punishment, but i am not holding my breath.

BassmanRudy · October 03, 2022, 11:21:53 AM

Didn't even think of that hobious- animal cruelty! Those fish sure weren't going to live... Could make a call to peta and drop their names!!

Here are some funnies-

Hobious · October 03, 2022, 03:31:57 PM

Quote from: BassmanRudy on October 03, 2022, 11:21:53 AM
Didn't even think of that hobious- animal cruelty! Those fish sure weren't going to live... Could make a call to peta and drop their names!!

Here are some funnies-

i think. walleye tourneys need to keep fish alive in livewells right?. i am not a PETA type at all, but that doenst mean i approve of any extraneouse BS on the animals i affect. i have never looked into the mouth of a fish and seen into a stomach. they had to force something opened, right? cant be a good time. ugly.

i dont even take questionable arrow shots at big game. i want the best possible outcome when i take an animal. i'll gill a fish i plan to eat, right there..quick. BUT having said that..i dont think i could still call PETA. they would use the event against all fishing. they dont need anymore ammo. :D

BassmanRudy · October 03, 2022, 04:28:04 PM

Quote from: Hobious on October 03, 2022, 03:31:57 PM
Quote from: BassmanRudy on October 03, 2022, 11:21:53 AM
Didn't even think of that hobious- animal cruelty! Those fish sure weren't going to live... Could make a call to peta and drop their names!!

Here are some funnies-

i think. walleye tourneys need to keep fish alive in livewells right?. i am not a PETA type at all, but that doenst mean i approve of any extraneouse BS on the animals i affect. i have never looked into the mouth of a fish and seen into a stomach. they had to force something opened, right? cant be a good time. ugly.

i dont even take questionable arrow shots at big game. i want the best possible outcome when i take an animal. i'll gill a fish i plan to eat, right there..quick. BUT having said that..i dont think i could still call PETA. they would use the event against all fishing. they dont need anymore ammo. :D

Walleyes are supposed to be weighed in "alive". Makes more sense in the video how those fish never even "twitched" when picked up for the photo...

I'm like you when hunting with wanting to make the most ethical/quick kill. Hate to see a deer run off and it takes hours to find em. I utterly detest peta but in this one case I would like to see "what" kind of lawsuits/animal cruelty charges they could come up with! Cus imo those guys AREN'T FISHERMEN they are DISGUSTING WORTHLESS SCUMBAGS WHO DESERVE TO HAVE THEIR LIVES FINANCIALLY RUINED!

big g · October 04, 2022, 08:01:55 AM

Life time ban from any organized tournaments and posters put up at all events as a reminder to others! Criminal charges by state officials. These guys deserve what they get!

Hobious · October 04, 2022, 09:24:48 AM

Quote from: BassmanRudy on October 03, 2022, 04:28:04 PM
Quote from: Hobious on October 03, 2022, 03:31:57 PM
Quote from: BassmanRudy on October 03, 2022, 11:21:53 AM
Didn't even think of that hobious- animal cruelty! Those fish sure weren't going to live... Could make a call to peta and drop their names!!

Here are some funnies-

i think. walleye tourneys need to keep fish alive in livewells right?. i am not a PETA type at all, but that doenst mean i approve of any extraneouse BS on the animals i affect. i have never looked into the mouth of a fish and seen into a stomach. they had to force something opened, right? cant be a good time. ugly.

i dont even take questionable arrow shots at big game. i want the best possible outcome when i take an animal. i'll gill a fish i plan to eat, right there..quick. BUT having said that..i dont think i could still call PETA. they would use the event against all fishing. they dont need anymore ammo. :D

Walleyes are supposed to be weighed in "alive". Makes more sense in the video how those fish never even "twitched" when picked up for the photo...

I'm like you when hunting with wanting to make the most ethical/quick kill. Hate to see a deer run off and it takes hours to find em. I utterly detest peta but in this one case I would like to see "what" kind of lawsuits/animal cruelty charges they could come up with! Cus imo those guys AREN'T FISHERMEN they are DISGUSTING WORTHLESS SCUMBAGS WHO DESERVE TO HAVE THEIR LIVES FINANCIALLY RUINED!

i agree on all points. that guy got a slightly red blush on that video, but in general he didnt react much. man's got issues. he has no remorse.