BASS Marshall Stories

[AFarmerKSU]

Well I was reading all these debates about Ike's wreck this weekend. Everyone was talking about how crazy the pros are driving. I started to think. I want to hear peoples stories about being a marshal. Tell us what it was like? Something funny that happened? what you learned? Did you almost die while riding with them? Were they funny cool crazy? Just give us an inside scoop of your experience.

[LrgMouthCatcha]

Well I was reading all these debates about Ike's wreck this weekend. Everyone was talking about how crazy the pros are driving. I started to think. I want to hear peoples stories about being a marshal. Tell us what it was like? Something funny that happened? what you learned? Did you almost die while riding with them? Were they funny cool crazy? Just give us an inside scoop of your experience.

Depends on who you're riding with. Going 78MPH in thick fog (could barely see the front of the boat) with Jason Quinn scared me to death - I was just waiting to crash. Edwin Evers going 75MPH going across what seemed like 6 footers was tough. But the worst ride I had was with Britt Myers... did not let up in large waves and rain going what felt like 300MPH in that Bass Cat. I almost bounced out of the boat a couple of times and crushed the "baby makers"! I almost vomited. It was so rough the livewell lids bounced open (luckily for him, no fish flew out). On the other hand, Rick Clunn had the center console Z9 and hardly broke 60MPH - he had no Hot Foot in his boat (only the hand throttle). He even sat "Indian Style" while driving. lol

[Igore67]

Rick Clunn had the center console Z9 and hardly broke 60MPH - he had no Hot Foot in his boat (only the hand throttle). He even sat "Indian Style" while driving. lol

He's a strange cat.

[rjvana]

Depends on who you're riding with. Going 78MPH in thick fog (could barely see the front of the boat) with Jason Quinn scared me to death - I was just waiting to crash. Edwin Evers going 75MPH going across what seemed like 6 footers was tough. But the worst ride I had was with Britt Myers... did not let up in large waves and rain going what felt like 300MPH in that Bass Cat. I almost bounced out of the boat a couple of times and crushed the "baby makers"! I almost vomited. It was so rough the livewell lids bounced open (luckily for him, no fish flew out). On the other hand, Rick Clunn had the center console Z9 and hardly broke 60MPH - he had no Hot Foot in his boat (only the hand throttle). He even sat "Indian Style" while driving. lol

Jason Quinn himself would scare hell out me .

[FishnPicker]

Jason Quinn himself would scare hell out me .

Jason is local here in Lake Wylie. He's a pretty cool guy actually, always willing to talk to anyone at the ramp. This a story, I wasn't a marshall but a story none the less. Jason fished one of the local team tournaments a few years ago, came in and weighed their fish. Then he parked his boat (on the trailer) while waiting for the rest of the boats to finish weighing. As I walked past, he and his partner had their kids in the boat and they were all tearing that boat inside out; under the console, seats, etc. I stopped, asked them how they did, and then asked what they were doing. Jason replied that he had lost one of his diamond earrings in the boat and they were trying to find it. Guess they didn't call him "Hardware" for nothing.

[papap]

I talked to a couple of the marshals this weekend. They both love it. Both said they got to learn a few tricks from the pros.

[Top Water Huff]

I was riding with Chris Lane on the St Johns River when he hit something. We were doing about 80 mph. I barely felt it, just a little thump but it sheared his lower unit off. The next thing I knew we did two 360's The boat push under the water and started filling up. The boat just popped back out of the water. He grabbed his fish, we climbed into another boat and continued to the weigh-in.

Next day I was riding with KVD (I know, it's hard to believe but I did ride with Chris and KVD on the same weekend. I rode with JVD the weekend before and got one of those cookies) anyway i was riding with KVD and it was so foggy could just see the front of the boat. It was quite scary especialy after what happened the day before.

[AdamG]

I was riding with Chris Lane on the St Johns River when he hit something. We were doing about 80 mph. I barely felt it, just a little thump but it sheared his lower unit off. The next thing I knew we did two 360's The boat push under the water and started filling up. The boat just popped back out of the water. He grabbed his fish, we climbed into another boat and continued to the weigh-in.

Next day I was riding with KVD (I know, it's hard to believe but I did ride with Chris and KVD on the same weekend. I rode with JVD the weekend before and got one of those cookies) anyway i was riding with KVD and it was so foggy could just see the front of the boat. It was quite scary especialy after what happened the day before.

80mph???? I highly doubt you were going within 10mph of that...

[NY Trooper]

I drew Mike Iaconelli at Sabine last week. We hit this little ol' ditch canal not quite wide enough for two boats to pass each other without touching. Mike comes off pad to pass this pretty little gal sitting there taking pictures. Soon as we pass her he is back into it. On pad and going balls to the wall. Gotta get to them little green water devils ya' know. Well we get's down this creek a little ways' and there is this little ol' hanging branch out over the water ya' see. Mike swerves to the left a bit to miss it. Well don't he hit something and I mean hit it hard. Done spun the boat out and next we knows is we his headed towards the bank. Good lord blessed us though. There was this little patch of ramp material that made for a real soft landing up on shore. That would be 20 plus feet up on shore! Took some time but we got pulled off and kept right on a going. I'll admit I soiled myself a bit but that dumb sum bisquit keep mumbling something about seeing a dog.

[esdbass]

I drew Mike Iaconelli at Sabine last week. We hit this little ol' ditch canal not quite wide enough for two boats to pass each other without touching. Mike comes off pad to pass this pretty little gal sitting there taking pictures. Soon as we pass her he is back into it. On pad and going balls to the wall. Gotta get to them little green water devils ya' know. Well we get's down this creek a little ways' and there is this little ol' hanging branch out over the water ya' see. Mike swerves to the left a bit to miss it. Well don't he hit something and I mean hit it hard. Done spun the boat out and next we knows is we his headed towards the bank. Good lord blessed us though. There was this little patch of ramp material that made for a real soft landing up on shore. That would be 20 plus feet up on shore! Took some time but we got pulled off and kept right on a going. I'll admit I soiled myself a bit but that dumb sum bisquit keep mumbling something about seeing a dog.

You just won't give it a rest will you ?

[NY Trooper]

You just won't give it a rest will you ?

Not a chance in hell!

[Wild Heethen]

Not a chance in hell!

Keep it going Trooper. I wish the dog had jumped in the boat and bit him. Would have been GREAT footage.

[bonecollector1]

Is the marshal program worth spending $125 for? I'm thinking about signing up for the West Point T.

[Tone357]

Is the marshal program worth spending $125 for? I'm thinking about signing up for the West Point T.

My guess is you are way to late. The spots fill up fast.

[bonecollector1]

My guess is you are way to late. The spots fill up fast.

Nope, there still spots open. I checked a few minutes ago. I have to call B.A.S.S. to register since I'm 16

[Waterfowlmagnet]

Is the marshal program worth spending $125 for? I'm thinking about signing up for the West Point T.

Nope, unless you like to spend 8 or so hours sitting in a boat watching someone else fish. You do get free stuff but it doesn't compensate for the feeling of being a "tag along girlfriend".

[newwguy]

I think it would really depend on which pro you draw. Some of them are pretty cool guys at least the ones I have had a chance to meet. I met Matt Reed last year at the local tackle shop I stop at every weekend to sit around and shoot the breeze. We were just sitting there and he walks in and starts talking to all of us and sat down and was telling stories about guiding on Lake Falcon. He pulled his phone out and was showing us pictures of some of these south Texas giants. He wasn't trying to sell us any BS and was a down to earth guy. I met Casey Ashley this weekend and he was really nice and talked to me and a friend after the weigh in about nothing for almost an hour. Now if you ended up with a guy who just wanted you to sit there, keep your mouth shut, and act like a statue then yeah that would be miserable.

[AllyFishing]

Nope, unless you like to spend 8 or so hours sitting in a boat watching someone else fish. You do get free stuff but it doesn't compensate for the feeling of being a "tag along girlfriend".

My sentiments exactly. Especially if the Pro you are paired with has no personality

[Legend LE-195]

My sentiments exactly. Especially if the Pro you are paired with has no personality

You expect them to entertain you? Really this whole Marshall deal should be a free lottery for BASS members who want to throw their name in the hat IMO, it would have much greater demand I know they are having problems filling the marshall field at most events. They're never gonna pay guys to marshall because you are there to make sure no rules are broken so in a way you are a referee. I know some say they do this to learn but all your gonna learn most of the time is these guys are better at getting baits in impossible places, more efficient and better an finding fish than any of us could ever imagine to be...

[Cabela10]

Is the marshal program worth spending $125 for? I'm thinking about signing up for the West Point T.

I marshalled the Kentucky tournament in 2008 and won't do it again. For me, it was a one and done thing, didn't enjoy it much.