Strange event at the Kentucky Lake FLW. The first and second place guys were fishing the Exact spot. One didn't like it and went home. Guess he didn't need the money.
http://www.bassfan.com/docktalk_article/19174/leader-haynes-pulls-out-at-ky-lake-flw-tour#.WwFlrkxFxZU
Like he said, that is what the sport has evolved to ... unfortunately in this Me Now Lie Narcisist world we have now, this may become the norm. I for one, will not.
I think you're too close if I can hit you with a long cast. If the leader got to the spot last, shouldn't he have moved on? They both fished that spot during the tourney, so neither could claim the spot "theirs". And, really, can you ever claim a spot? I am surprised that this doesn't happen more often in the big leagues. It will be interesting to see how they will address these situations in the future...
Let's say a driver earns pole position at Indy but, they decide to "randomly'"draw numbers 1 to 33 to see who goes off in pole position (first). Is that fair?
The guy who gets lucky and draws a lower number should be able to get first crack at the leader's "spot"?? Just ask Larry Nixon and Jay Yelas what they think about the way "professional" bass fishing has changed. They won't say it's better in terms of etiquette towards fellow anglers.
More relatable scenario, let's say you're out on Erie or LSC fishing a "spot" catching fish. You OK with a boat getting on top of you or running up and hitting a waypoint for future use? Too many guys with no sense of respect, for themselves or anyone else, out on the water.
There are people who think that is perfectly reasonable and okay.
Of course, to be accurate, it is okay when THEY do it to someone else, not when someone else does it to THEM. Not much you can do or say when someone like that explains their 'rationale' to you other than look at them and shake your head... maybe then walk away.
I have to also say that I'm not a big fan of 'the leader after day X gets whatever he/she wants' and everyone else comes after. There are similar ideas like this even for people in the top so many places too.
I think there are scenarios where the leader should not expect to get some kind of special treatment because he/she is leading. It sounds like 2nd place was actually at the spot FIRST and in my mind has every right to try to get their first and then it's HIS spot until he leaves. To me, that is true sportsmanship by the other person admitting that the other angler fished it first and has as much right as him to be there.
I've been on the side of this before where I was in the lead or a very high spot and someone who didn't belong in my spot came right in anyway so I know how that feels but if someone beats me to the spot that was also fishing it and I know he/she was - not because they knew I caught them good there before or they saw me there (as has happened even to me a number of times) - but because they're a good angler who knows as much or more about spots than me - if they beat me there and I know they aren't spot-stealing or spot-jumping them's the breaks.
NO ONE OWNS a spot. True sportsmanship should always come into play too though - primarily do unto others as you'd have done to you. That is the first and most commonly broken 'code' I saw in bass tournaments when I was fishing a bunch. Some people are just scum bags, and there's not much you can do about that that doesn't involve a felony...