Bullet Tourney on Barkley 7/24/10

[bullmerc]

Anybody heard what happened down there?? I have recieved a couple calls from guys who were there that said that even though it was advertised that a new Bullet bass boat would be given away and all you had to do was pay $150.00 and you didn't even have to fish the tourney because the boat would be given away in a raffle style drawing. I actually thought about entering the raffle even though I had no desire to fish the tourney but I decided against it.

From what I gathered the guy putting on the tournament said not enough entries was recieved and the boat WOULD NOT be given away. I saw no such disclaimer on the form I had which I am glad I didn't turn in if this event actually happened.

Anybody have any more info on this tourney????? Surely a company such as Bullet Boats would not allow someone such as this guy who organized the tourney to use their name in defrauding the people who had purchased a chance to win a new boat.

[Bass_King2007]

The bullet tournament used to be held here on lake cumberland where i am from, and the person that runs the tournament is a boat saleman, and all of us know how a salesman is!! He didnt hold the bullet tournament over here this year because of the low entry of fisherman, and from the sounds of it he didnt have very many boat at ky lake either!!

[Jbyrd]

No the reason it was moved was last year they had a really bad accident because they let 90 BOATS at a time loose in the fog !!!!! AND THAT WAS JUST THE FIRST FLIGHT !!!!!!! Yes they had 181 entries and it was REALLY foggy. The guy realeasing them stood up and said 1-90 GO. I couldn't believe it. Just shortly after takeing off an idiot flying up the lake running by gps didn't see a boat that had slowed and ran over the top of it pinning one of the gentlemen between the boats. It took 7 or 8 guys to lift the boat off of him and he was air lifted. The salesman that was mentioned was worried he would be sued.
It was funny that every year he would say that event was for the customers he had around lake cumberland. Then after the incident it was moved ????

How many customers have you got in western Ky JOHN ????

No need for last names we all know who he is.



Jeff Byrd
somerset , Ky

305-8972

[fishinchef]

Maybe it's a "He said "She said" second hand information in regards to the events at the said tourny.
"a new Bullet bass boat would be given away and all you had to do was pay $150.00 and you didn't even have to fish the tourney because the boat would be given away in a raffle style drawing."

here is a copy from... http://www.bbcboards.net/zerothread?...postid=5601061

here is the page in text you will find.

Seen this on another board and thought I would pass it on here. You don't even have to fish the tournament to have a chance to win the 21xrd bullet they are giving away, you can buy a raffle ticket for a chance. Here is the information. Just thought some of you would like to know.
"I am now selling raffle tickets for an opportunity to win the 2011 Bullet Boat that we are drawing for at our tourney on July 24th. If you are interested in puchasing a raffle ticket-please feel free to contact me 859-748-6180 or 859-509-6660. Raffle tickets are $150.00 per ticket. Needless to say- IT'S INCREDIBLE"


I have heard of such a Tourny that used to be fished at Connley Bottom. One that held a "raffle draw" for a new "Bullet Boat". A tourny sure of drawing large numbers of entries.
I also heard of the boat crash and sent my prayers, as I'm sure the rest of you'll did.
I heard that this tourn. was also moved to Ky lake. Bigger lake, more entries right? makes sense.
I also know the salesman who promotes these bullet tourny's. Maybe that is why I have only "Heard of" but yet to fish one.
If above story is true about a boat not being raffled off due to "lack of entries" maybe there was a fine print somewhere. Maybe there is a fine print to come? Maybe there is false advertisment? Maybe there is truth to the old saying "First time shame on you, second time shame on me" Knowing this salesman, he wont get the time of day from me.

[bullmerc]

This is the same guy who had the Bullet tournament on Cumberland. He decided to move west for some reason. At the end of the tournament he tells everyone that he didn't have enough entrants so he was not giving the boat away. He doesn't offer any money back to those who registered just for a chance on the boat and gives them no explanation as to why he kept their money.

The flyers and registration form he was giving out said absolutely nothing about a certain number of entries were needed in order to give the boat away. All it said was that at the end of the tournament the boat would be given away in a draw.

Hopefully those who were affected by this guy will look into filing criminal and civil complaints against this him. This type of behavior gives all tournament organizers a black eye because we only have their word that they will stand good for the prizes/payout when we enter their events and in this situation "their" word was worthless.

Theft by deception in excess of $10,000 is a Class C Felony with a penalty of 5 to 10 years in prison if convicted. In this case there were 99 entries at $150.00 per entry. That comes to $14,850 if my math is correct.

I believe if I were him I would be calling everyone who registered and beg them to let me give one of them a new Bullet boat and they could choose who they wanted to draw out the winner.

[SuperSprint007]

i wonder if out of the 99 boats was there at least one lawyer fishing??? I am sure the people who placed in the money were thrilled no boat was given away since it did seem to pay out multiple places. Wonder if he had just enough entries to cover the boat would there be no payout of cash?

[Jbyrd]

If the same guy was running the one on Barkley that ran it on cumberland? If he was not involed I apologize to him ( but I am sure he ws)
Me and my partner have had dealings with this guy for years (or we used to)ALMOST every one who knows him if you mention his name the next word they use to discribe him is VERY colorful lol. He has lied and used people until I am surprised he has not been shot. Heck around pulaski county Ky he is known as lying John. The above mentioned tournament was held on cumberland for the past 5 -10 years and it seems funny it was moved after the accident. I fished it every year and the info about the wreck and the number of entries is not second hand info. The ads for the event always read you don't even have to fish . Several people did not fish they would buy a ticket and then show up after the weigh in to be a part of the food and the" RAFFLE " If I had bought a entry with no intention to fish and then the boat wasn't given away I would be getting my money back one way or another.....

Jeff Byrd
somerset ky
606-305-8972

[kent]

Ok, so far this thread is nothing but guesses, opinions, questions, and slander. So far not one person in this thread was there and fished or had a raffle ticket. I understand ther are a lot of people out there who do not like or care for John, fine to each his own. I happen to like him a consider him a good friend, so i'm gonna defend him here a little and give you all some FACTS since I was there.
FACT- There were a total of 99 entries in the tourney. 95 were actual entries and 4 raffle tickets sold.
FACT- It takes 115 entries to cover the cost of the boat to be given away. Bullet does not give this boat to John or Marinewoks, however it is discounted to them for this event. But nevertheless, it still takes 115 entries to cover the cost.
FACT- On the flyer it says $2000 guarannteed based on a 150 boat field. It was "supposed" to have a disclaimer about need 115 to pay for the boat, but whoever printed it left it out.
FACT- Fri. night during pre-registration John told a bunch of peple toward the end of registration about the 115 and covering the boat issue because of low turnout. After it was over John, myself, and Ron Critchelowe and Wayne Winter of The Cabin Bait and Tackle had a discussion about not getting the needed # of boats and how to handle it. It was agrred upon to not give away the boat and pay back ALL of the money to the field, Minus refunding the people who bought a raffle ticket.
FACT- John was also telling people that signed in the morning of the tourney about not giving the boat away if we did not get the # of entries, because they were coming down to the dock where I was doing livewell checks asking me about it.
FACT- ALL of the money from 95 entries was paid back out to the field, plus $500 dollars for Big Bass that was donated, plus around $4000 dollars worth of door prizes. The other 4 raffle entries WERE refunded.
Now, yes some people were mad about the situation, understandably so. But in that situation, you have to do what you think is right and that is what was agreed upon and done. NONE of the money taken in went anywhere else. Hopefully this sheds some light on the situation and helps people understand what happened and why. Yes, some mistakes were made, particularly the omit on the flyer, but hopefully lesson have been learned. I'm sure there will be Bullet tournies in the future and hope this helps some of you feel at ease about participating.
Kent Florence
Lexington, Ky

[Bass_King2007]

How bout a bullet tourney coming back to cumberland??

[bullmerc]

Ok, so far this thread is nothing but guesses, opinions, questions, and slander. So far not one person in this thread was there and fished or had a raffle ticket. I understand ther are a lot of people out there who do not like or care for John, fine to each his own. I happen to like him a consider him a good friend, so i'm gonna defend him here a little and give you all some FACTS since I was there.
FACT- There were a total of 99 entries in the tourney. 95 were actual entries and 4 raffle tickets sold.
FACT- It takes 115 entries to cover the cost of the boat to be given away. Bullet does not give this boat to John or Marinewoks, however it is discounted to them for this event. But nevertheless, it still takes 115 entries to cover the cost.
FACT- On the flyer it says $2000 guarannteed based on a 150 boat field. It was "supposed" to have a disclaimer about need 115 to pay for the boat, but whoever printed it left it out.
FACT- Fri. night during pre-registration John told a bunch of peple toward the end of registration about the 115 and covering the boat issue because of low turnout. After it was over John, myself, and Ron Critchelowe and Wayne Winter of The Cabin Bait and Tackle had a discussion about not getting the needed # of boats and how to handle it. It was agrred upon to not give away the boat and pay back ALL of the money to the field, Minus refunding the people who bought a raffle ticket.
FACT- John was also telling people that signed in the morning of the tourney about not giving the boat away if we did not get the # of entries, because they were coming down to the dock where I was doing livewell checks asking me about it.
FACT- ALL of the money from 95 entries was paid back out to the field, plus $500 dollars for Big Bass that was donated, plus around $4000 dollars worth of door prizes. The other 4 raffle entries WERE refunded.
Now, yes some people were mad about the situation, understandably so. But in that situation, you have to do what you think is right and that is what was agreed upon and done. NONE of the money taken in went anywhere else. Hopefully this sheds some light on the situation and helps people understand what happened and why. Yes, some mistakes were made, particularly the omit on the flyer, but hopefully lesson have been learned. I'm sure there will be Bullet tournies in the future and hope this helps some of you feel at ease about participating.
Kent Florence
Lexington, Ky

After reading your post I dug through my paperwork and found 3 registration forms/flyers from Bullet tourneys I have fished in the past that John sponsored. Two were on Cumberland and one was on Herrington. None of the 3 registration forms/flyers contained a disclaimer about a magical number of entrants needed before the boat could be given away. They all said that the boat would be given away at the end of the tourney in a drawing. Guess the "typo" thing has been on-going for many years??????????????

I don't know about the extra money awarded but I do know that he should have made an announcement the morning of the tourney when he KNEW that he didn't have the magical number of entrants to cover the boat that he would refund the entry fee for those who were entered primarily for a chance to win the boat at the drawing. He had everyone's phone number who was registered, he could have called those not present on the morning of the tourney and offered their moeny back as well. He could have then based the tourney pay back on the remaining money from those who chose to remain and fish the tourney. Would have probably had to change the name of the tourney and deleted the Bullet Boat name.

If he got 99 entries with a chance to win a new boat, he would have been lucky to get 1/2 that many with no new boat in the mix. The big lakes in the middle of July on a Saturday with a heat index of 115 degrees is about as close to being in hell as I would care to be plus from the guys who fished it they said he run it form 8am to 4pm. No morning bite possibility would also have reduced the entries.

[bassmaster]

How bout a bullet tourney coming back to cumberland??

You are serious? You would go? No just kidding, I'm sure he would have 150-200 boats easily? Just the day and time we live in.

Good luck, God bless and good fishing,

Tim
bassmaster

[Jbyrd]

Yes it was held the first weekend in november and always had 150 - 200 boats. BUT JOHN said to me I'll show these people around cumberland how to draw boats . I'll have 400 easy if I move it to ky lake WRONG
Kent you claim to know John well then you must have heard all his "lines"
And the Next time you see him ask him if he ever found my partners $600 prop that miracuosly disappeared between the time we called and he said yes it is sitting here in my office and we drove 95 miles and poof it was gone. Oh yea when we pulled in he was jumping in his truck and pulling out the back gate. Then wouldn't answer his calls for a week..... Never did get the prop and it was PAID FOR !!!!! along with 200 dollars worth of crank bait ups lost ....


JEFF BYRD
somerset

YES JOHN WE NEVER FORGET !!!!!!!!