WON BASS tournament director Harvey Naslund issued a statement today noting that Bill Siemantel (pictured) has taken and passed a polygraph exam in the wake of the cheating incident perpetrated by Mike Hart, one of his former tournament partners, at last month's U.S. Open. The release also announced that an investigation by WON BASS staff has cleared all three of Hart's co-anglers at the Open of having any complicity in the nefarious deeds.
Hart was accused of stuffing lead weights into his fish to increase their weight. He later admitted the act to WON BASS officials and has been banned from that organization and others (to read the full story, click here). No further legal proceedings will be taken against Hart.
"This fisherman is paying the highest price anyone could ever pay for such a deed," Naslund said. "On one hand it was a day of infamy for organized bass fishing in America, but on the other hand it was a major victory for all who have long cared for, and taken steps to protect, the integrity of the bass fishing tournament sports."
Speculation naturally arose that Hart's impressive record in Southern California team events might have been compiled via other instances of cheating, and that his partners might have been involved. WON Bass said it offered the polygraphs to other anglers who'd fished with Hart, but Siemantel is the only one who has accepted.
"Could Hart have carried out such activities in these events without his team partners knowing about it?" Naslund asked in the release. "He certainly could have, but doubtful. However, whether such misdeeds were applied during these events may never be known, so any opinions expressed casting a shadow on the reputation of such partners at this point, in my opinion, is unfair and unwarranted. And in one case, it is no longer an issue."
Siemantel, a renowned big bass-chaser, author of a book on the subject and a 2009 inductee into the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame, requested a polygraph exam to clear his name, Naslund said. The test was administered on Aug. 14 by a certified, licensed examiner.
"(Siemantel) was grilled about specific tournaments, winnings and procedures," Naslund said. "The polygraph expert had been provided with Bill Siemantel’s tournament history (winnings, specific events, former partners) along with suggested questions submitted by WON BASS (this at the tester's request).
"Bill Siemantel, in the fashion of a true sportsman, dedicated family man and tournament competitor, came through with flying colors. Said the polygraph expert in his report: 'There is no doubt that this man is without any complicity whatsoever in the cheating issue.''
Said BASS founder Ray Scott: "WON BASS has handled this matter very professionally, and this guy Bill Siemantel has proved that the polygraph tests can and should be used by all bass organizations to protect the innocent and, in some cases, provide cause for suspension/disqualification."
