Angler Charged with Felony for Stuffing Bass with Weights During Fishing Tournament

The alleged cheating occurred at the Lake Fork Lure Company Tournament in Wood County, Texas.

Mar. 10, 2026 at 6:18pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A man named Curtis Lee Daniels of Willow Park, Texas has been charged with a third-degree felony for allegedly stuffing a bass with weights during a fishing tournament with a total prize value exceeding $10,000. Tournament staff discovered the foreign object in the fish during the weigh-in process, leading to an investigation and the discovery of additional weights in Daniels' boat.

Why it matters

Fishing tournaments rely on the integrity of the participants, and any allegations of cheating can undermine public trust in the sport. This case highlights the importance of tournament organizers having robust safeguards in place to detect and address potential rule violations.

The details

According to the Texas Game Wardens, Daniels was arrested and charged with violating fishing tournament law after the Lake Fork Lure Company Tournament in Wood County on March 8. Tournament staff used a metal detecting wand during the weigh-in process and discovered a foreign object in one of the bass. A subsequent necropsy revealed that the fish had three weights in its stomach that showed no signs of erosion, and wardens also found weights of the same style and size in Daniels' boat.

  • The Lake Fork Lure Company Tournament took place on March 8, 2026.
  • Daniels was arrested and charged following the tournament.

The players

Curtis Lee Daniels

A man from Willow Park, Texas who was arrested and charged with a third-degree felony for allegedly stuffing a bass with weights during a fishing tournament.

William McDaniel

The winner of the tournament's grand prize, who caught a bass weighing 10.22 pounds.

Scott Flannery

The president of Lake Fork Lure Co., the organizers of the tournament where the alleged cheating incident occurred.

Texas Game Wardens

The law enforcement agency that investigated the alleged cheating incident and charged Daniels with a felony.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“For many years, anglers have asked Lake Fork Lure Co. to host a tournament on what many consider the greatest bass lake in Texas. Despite the challenging weather, the event featured great competition and strong catches throughout the weekend.”

— Scott Flannery, President, Lake Fork Lure Co.

“Late in the event, a situation arose involving an individual who allegedly violated tournament rules and applicable law. Thanks to the oversight and safeguards in place, the issue was identified and addressed. Maintaining the integrity of the sport and ensuring a fair competition for all anglers is extremely important to us.”

— Scott Flannery, President, Lake Fork Lure Co.

What’s next

The judge will decide on Tuesday whether to allow Daniels to be released on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of tournament organizers having robust measures in place to detect and address potential cheating, in order to maintain the integrity of the sport and ensure fair competition for all participants.