Lead Weights Sink Bass Champ Mike Hart

(Aug. 5) -- Meet leadbelly. The fish, not the bluesman.

A champion bass fisherman from Southern California has been banned for life from Western Outdoor News bass fishing tournaments after officials say he was caught stuffing his catches with lead weights. Winners of the events are determined by the total weight of their catch, and a few ounces can make a difference.

The angler, Mike Hart of Los Angeles, was caught as officials for the WON-sponsored U.S. Open bass tournament at Lake Mead, Nevada, filleted catches for delivery to a charity, circuit director Harvey Naslund told Grindtv.com.

Competitive angler Mike Hart of Los Angeles holds a fish at the WON-sponsored U.S. Open bass tournament at Lake Mead, Nevada in July.

Bill Mays, WON

Competitive angler Mike Hart of Los Angeles holds a fish at the Western Outdoor News-sponsored U.S. Open bass tournament at Lake Mead, Nev., in July.

Hart had turned in five fish during the tournament last month, and two-ounce lead sinkers were found in each of them. Some held more than one weight. Officials found nine weights in all.

Hart reportedly has won more than $200,000 in fishing tournaments. Efforts to reach him for comment were unsuccessful.

Billy Egan, director of operations for WON Bass, declined to discuss the incident, saying Nevada fish and game officials were investigating.

"We are cooperating with them and giving them all the information they have requested," Egan said. "We at this point are not pressing charges because we feel we have handed down a just sentence by banning him for life from our organization."

Egan earlier posted a detailed account on a WesternBass.com forum describing how officials first came to suspect Hart and then caught him on the tournament's last day.

Read more at WesternBass.com and Grindtv.com.