I share the same sentiment. Rely on personal integrity. At the highest level, I simply can't believe a professional angler would knowingly risk their career, profession, and tarnish their name. If so, then so be it. Seems to be mixed messages regarding the purpose and evolving role of the coangler/Marshall.
I'd like to see the professionals fish alone unless they were assigned a camera person (or Marshall) for live reporting. A camera persons only role being to film/document the professional. Cameras should primarily be earned. My thoughts:
First Tournament
On Day 1, assign them to the top #% based on prior AOY performance; prior Rookie of the Year; title sponsor recommendation; local host venue recommendation; and perhaps a couple of fan favorites. On the remaining days, assign them to the tournament leaders; prior AOY; prior Rookie of the Year; yesterdays moving day leader; title sponsor recommendation; local host venue recommendation; and perhaps a couple fan favorites?
Remaining tournaments
On Day 1, assign them to the current AOY points leader; current Rookie of the Year points leader; prior AOY; prior Rookie of the Year; title sponsor recommendation; local host venue recommendation; and perhaps a couple of fan favorites. On the remaining days, assign them to the tournament leaders; current AOY points leader; current Rookie of the Year points leader; prior AOY; prior Rookie of the Year; yesterday's moving day leader; title sponsor recommendation; local host venue recommendation; and perhaps a couple fan favorites?
I believe this would provide a tremendous amount of coverage and drama while benefiting the fans, competitors, sponsors, venue and tours...
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I agree 100%!! Boaters all across the country whine like little girls about Co's not helping to pay for fuel and it's bs. If you can't afford gas for your ride then you shouldn't be trying to fish tournaments, save the entry fee and fun fish or keep your broke ass on the couch.
I don't know the whole story behind it, and I am sure this doesn't apply to most of the Pro's on tour, but Nate Wellman comes to mind with regards to this topic. Every tour at all levels will have people or bend or deliberately break the rules in pursuit of the almighty dollar. Marshall's and Co's may or may not be the answer, but unless someone has a better idea it's currently the best option we have to police it.
Tournament Fishermen are a cross section of society even though at the Elite level they are often elevated to a highly exalted status and not even considered as regular people by some. However just like society in general there will always be a percentage of them that will compromise their ethics and integrity so put a Marshal in their boat then be done with it.
It's not a personal insult to have a Marshal riding along to keep things honest
Familiar with the reported story but it couldn’t have occurred based on my recommendation...
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There will always be the opportunity to cheat anytime money is involved. Guys from BASS could easily tell their marshal "hey ill hook you up if I place high". FLW marshals could easily want to help due to the incentives etc etc.
Don't they do random lie detector tests etc ? Or always to the guy who wins ?
Don’t need no marshal either, if someone gets caught cheating they will be prosecuted and shamed for life in the fishing world!! The only reason the trails have non boaters is for money, we all know that. Less people involved less money coming in. But can’t hide the liability factor no matter what you do. Most boaters frown on having to get drawn with someone
Building on my prior post, I'd also recommend they maximize and double-down on the "Live" coverage aspect via derivative media products as technology evolves creating multiple revenue streams including commercial marketing research and advertising opportunities. Create an extensive and comprehensive edited BASS/FLW media library by: year, season, lake, tournament, angler, AOY, Rookie of the Year, technique, general bait type, specific bait, etc. for a reasonable price. I could foresee various market segments paying to advertise and view:
A particular season: Spring
A particular angler: Thrift
A particular lake: Kentucky Lake
A particular condition: high water
a particular technique: dropshot
A general bait: swim jig
A specific bait: Senko
Last edited by Neverest; 07-22-2018 at 08:51 AM.
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Bass fishermen are human. Humans make dumb decisions.
Guys will cheat just to win a $50 club fruit jar tournament. Guys get caught seemingly yearly in events with medium to large paybacks. When Santee Cooper dropped during the drought 12 years ago I walked around a little and found two fish baskets tied to stumps right next to a cypress tree. FLW had issues with "Angler X" years ago, the guy won a bunch of money before he was banned. Even with the "no info" rule in BASS this year, multiple tournaments have had 5,8,10 guys fishing the exact same spots.. including on a lake none of them had ever been to.
You get guys paying $100,000 yearly in expenses and entry fees go through a rough patch, human nature makes you wonder what they'd do to stay on tour. I would hope they wouldn't cheat....but when you haven't cashed a check in months, the mortgage is overdue, and the credit cards are maxed out desperate people do desperate things.