B.A.S.S. issued a press release today announcing that Keith Poche's disqualification at last month's Bassmaster Open on Toledo Bend Reservoir will stand. The entirety of the release is reprinted below in italics.
B.A.S.S. officials announced today that, after an extensive investigation and appeals process, Keith Poche's Day-1 catch disqualification from last month's Bassmaster Open at Toledo Bend has been upheld.
The disqualification was handed down based on a violation of Rule 15 of the Bassmaster Opens Series rules, which reads in part: "Boats must remain in tournament waters during tournament days. Competitors must leave from and return to official checkpoints by boat. Anglers must remain in the boat at all times except in case of dire emergency or with permission from the Tournament Director."
Poche’s appeal was heard today by a three-person panel that included a Bassmaster College Series angler and Bassmaster Opens angler – neither of whom competed in the Toledo Bend Open – and a B.A.S.S. employee who is not part of the Tournament Department.
The part about boats being required to remain in tournament waters seems to be the applicable portion of the rule. Poche, who runs an aluminum Gator Trax rig, crossed an earthen barrier that appears to be slightly wider than the length of his boat to access a backwater area.
Poche, who's fishing both the Bassmaster Elite Series and MLF Bass Pro Tour this year and won the BPT event at Douglas and Cherokee lakes, will compete in the Elite Series derby at Lay Lake beginning Thursday.
