Tommy Biffle's win last Saturday at the Arkansas River Bassmaster Central Open drew some criticism and questions from both competitors and readers. Their beef? Biffle put his boat at a buoy line and fished over the buoys below the Ft. Gibson Dam.
According to Biffle, he asked about the area the morning of day 1, prior to blast-off, and B.A.S.S. tournament manager Chris Bowes gave him permission to fish there. Biffle was one of several boats that made a skinny run upriver, but he was the only one who fished at and casted beyond the buoy line.
Biffle told BassFan: "It's just a cable that keeps the boats from going to the dam – it's not a no-fishing area and you've always been able to fish there. I've fished there ever since I was a kid. I asked Chris prior to blast-off and he said no problem."
Bowes confirmed that fishing is allowed in the area beyond the buoys – he checked with the Oklahoma Marine Patrol – and said he gave Biffle the okay to fish there and stands by his call. But if B.A.S.S. returns to the venue, he might place the area off-limits to avoid confusion.
Bowes also noted:
For reference, Bassmaster Opens Rule 13 reads: "Tournament waters shall be established by the tournament director for each tournament. Each competitor must obtain this information from the B.A.S.S. tournament department. Any water within these boundaries posted 'Off-Limits' or 'No Fishing' by state or federal agencies, as well as the live- bass-release area established by the tournament director, will be OFF-LIMITS and will be announced at the tournament briefing. Only that water open to ALL public fishing will be considered tournament waters. All angling must be done from the boat. During official practice and competition, competitors wishing to change fish habitat by placing any object in the tournament waters may do so, if such action does not violate state or federal regulations."
> A few letters to BassFan noted the fact that 10th-place Janet Parker – another angler who ran far upriver – mounted a 250-horsepower motor on an aluminum boat, and readers wondered whether the boat was rated for such a large motor. The U.S. Coast Guard does not rate boats 20 feet and greater. Hence, Parker was legal, Bowes said.
