Pro Tournament Marshell?

[eyedabassman]

I was thinking of trying to become a marshell. I have never done this before so,how do I get started? Does the FLW,BASS,BFL,PAA all have the marshelll program? How much does it cost me?

[plumworm]

Don't do it if you don't like going 70 plus MPH for 10-20-30-50 miles. I did and would never do it again.These guys are nuts.

[Zach Dunham]

It is usually around $100 for the Elite Series tournaments. I'm not sure about any other tournament trail having marshals. It was an amazing three-day experience last year at Lake Oneida. I would recommend doing this if you want to learn some things and meet a bunch of pros. You can learn a lot just by watching how they work.

 

As the poster above me said, they do drive at 70+ mph, sometimes for long distances (depends which tournament you marshal). The distances were never too bad at Oneida. The speed doesn't bother me though, I find it fun.

 

I'm pretty sure all of the marshal spots are filled for the Elite Series for this year, but you can always sign up for one and be an alternate if you are close by.

[jhoffman]

$100 to go sit in someones boat and work. Funny concept

[Zach Dunham]

$100 to go sit in someones boat and work. Funny concept

 

You don't work at all. I mean, if a pro tried to cheat you are supposed to say something, and I would. But these guys know that and they are being followed by spectator boats. For the most part they are good sportsman too. Chances are you will never have to do any "work".

 

When I marshalled I got to sit there in peace and watch for 8 hours each of the three days. I had Terry Butcher, Bill Lowen, and Fletcher Shryock for my three days at Oneida. Not once did I feel like I was working.

[jhoffman]

Regardless of the term work... I would never pay $100 plus travel expenses to go sit in a boat for 8 hours. I would be bursting at the seams to fish. I dont care if KVD is at the motor, 8 hours of simply watching someone fish is like watching paint dry.

[eyedabassman]

I think it would be cool to do one time. So who do I contact to get a form to sign up? Do I call BASS HQ or the FLW HQ?

[PotomacBassin]

If you want to do it, don't let anyone tell you otherwise.  You might learn something for that $100 and you can always go back and fish those spots after the pros are gone and apply some of the techniques they were using.  You'll get to see what they're fishing and how they're fishing it which could be a great dollar spent.  You will also get a feel for how the tournaments work.  Have fun man. 

[Zach Dunham]

I think it would be cool to do one time. So who do I contact to get a form to sign up? Do I call BASS HQ or the FLW HQ?

 

You can sign up on the Bassmaster website. You need to be a BASS member.

 

https://ssl.palmcoastd.com/ows-img/57000/marshal.html

 

The only ones that are still open are West Point Lake, Alabama River, and Detroit River. St. Lawrence River may still be open, I cannot tell since I'm already registered for it.

[eyedabassman]

I would like to be a marshell on Table Rock because I will be moving there late this year. I would think they are booked up this year! A day late and a doller short!!!!

[BillyBob]

Just an idea, sign up as a co-angler on the P.A.A. tournament on Table Rock, Sept. 5-7. $250.entry and you get to fish 2 days and observe the other.. The chances of drawing an elite or flw pro are great, not to mention a chance at winning $6000  Its the last qualifier for the TTBC and only the ones in the running will be fishing it. It'll be an experience of a lifetime, and a memory you wont forget.

[Dinky]

you can fish the B A S S OPENS as a co angler and have a chance to fish with  an Elite pro-of course you might draw a wannabe pro - there are a lot of them.

the PAA is cheaper to enter --not sure how deep the pay out is though.

[Dinky]

Regardless of the term work... I would never pay $100 plus travel expenses to go sit in a boat for 8 hours. I would be bursting at the seams to fish. I dont care if KVD is at the motor, 8 hours of simply watching someone fish is like watching paint dry.

There really is more to it if you want to become a little bit more involved. Most of the time the pros are glad to answer questions about what they are doing and why they are doing it a certain way and what equipment etc, they are using and why. 

For my 8 hours with KVD I got a few lures, some autographed, some to use; some  very good cookies his wife made; a lot of interesting insight into his strategy; a free dinner; as many photos and autographs as I wanted from any of them; I got to meet and talk to several of them from my home state; an inside look at how the tournament is run; a chance to see the latest (and most expensive!) bass boats, tackle and electronics available;and some great photos on the water. the only 'downside' was the 45 minutes it took us to get from the weigh in back to loading his boat--seems everyone wanted his autograph and picture.

 

I feel I definitely got my money's worth. Plus, I took my boat and stayed after the tournament and fished Monday-I knew a few places that I felt sure held some fish.

 

But if a person already knows all that stuff or isn't interested in anything except fishing the same one or two lakes all the time, then I can see how it would not appeal to them to Marshal a tournament.