Solo Runs Have Been The Biggest Drawback

Editor's note: This is part 2 of a 2-part story that looks at the Bassmaster Elite Series marshal program, which replaced co-anglers this year. To read part 1, click here.)

A BASS communications official told BassFan recently that the organization has had no trouble selling its Elite Series marshal slots for $100 a pop. There have been a significant number of no-shows, however, as the early part of the season has been plagued by stormy weather and 2 competition days have been canceled over the first three events.

The no-show issue is expected to subside with the mellower weather that should be forthcoming, and BASS said that all of the marshalling opportunities have been purchased for the remaining five tournaments of 2009. But to this point, a substantial number of anglers have had days when they went out by themselves because there weren't enough marshals to go around. A few anglers have flown solo more than once.

On the days when there's been an insufficient number of marshals, the anglers who've fished without one have been selected by random draw. On one such day at the recent tournament at Alabama's Lake Wheeler, Kevin VanDam, Rick Clunn and Denny Brauer all went out sans an observer – no doubt to the dismay of many marshals who'd ponied up with the hope of getting an up-close view of one of those luminaries in action.

When BASS announced last fall that marshals would replace co-anglers in 2009, four-time Bassmaster Classic champion Clunn was one of the few pros who was against the move. His feelings haven't changed.

Conservative Calls?

Clunn is one of several Elite anglers who think BASS has been quicker to call off competition days due to weather this year than in years past, and he thinks the presence of marshals in place of the generally more-experienced co-anglers might have something to do with it.

"We've seen an inordinate amount of days canceled in weather (in which) none of them should've been canceled, and the one at Wheeler was an all-time low," he said. "Those days would've been uncomfortable, but not dangerous.

"But a lot of guys don't want to go out in that weather, and if you cancel a day because of that, to me, you're screwing with the integrity of the sport. I don't know if that's happening or not, but in any sport, if you take days away, you take wins away from the best players."

The BASS communications official said the organization is not taking extra precautions for the sake of the marshals, and that all weather calls are made with the safety of everyone involved at the forefront.

"Marshals play no role in weather decisions," he said. "If a marshal does not feel safe, we will not make them go out."

That, however, plunges headfirst into Clunn's other primary concern – competitors fishing without on-board witnesses.

"Too many guys are fishing by themselves – I've already done it twice in three events – and that's the part that worries me the most," Clunn said. "You need to have that witness in the boat with you. As I explained before, it's not actual cheating that I'm worried about, but the perception that there could be cheating. That can be every bit as bad as the actual cheating itself."

In his opinion, there's too much of a gray area that's exposed anytime an Elite Series angler takes to the water without a passenger.

"You never know who's watching or who's going to say what. Some joker might come up and say, 'I saw Rick Clunn hook a wire trap, and when he pulled it up he pulled a bunch of fish out of it.' Well, I might in fact (accidentally) hook a wire trap, and if I don't have that witness who can testify that it was totally innocent, it could become an embarrassing situation.

"That witness can confirm or deny any accusations by a spectator or another competitor – that's his most important function."

Too Much to Lose?

Other Elite anglers aren't as fearful of nefarious incidents – either actual or imagined – involving anglers on the water by themselves. They point to BASS tournament director Trip Weldon's promise to use polygraph exams liberally in any questionable situation, their own knowledge that any cheating conviction would be a career-ender and their vigilance in policing themselves.

They hold up Elton Luce Jr.'s recent self-reported violation of a no-wake zone as evidence to that effect. Luce's admission forced him to launch from the tail end of the field the following day.

"The guys out here are professionals and we know we have to play fair," said Dean Rojas. "If we get caught doing something illegal, we're done, and there's a lot of that weighing on us. If somebody does get busted, the consequences of their actions will be severe."

Terry Scroggins has fished 1 day by himself and came back with a paltry 8-pound bag.

"I like to have somebody to talk to during the course of the day, but guys going out by themselves doesn't really bother me," he said. "Trip has said he'll be quick to pull the trigger on the polygraph, and they can give me one anytime they want. I try to keep it professional and never break a rule no matter what."

Added Scott Rook: "I've probably taken 40 or 50 polygraphs just here locally (in Arkansas). Giving a few of those will deter just about anything. I don't see a big problem."

Notable

> Alton Jones said that having marshals on board instead of co-anglers has dramatically increased a pro's ability to manage his fish. "If I've got a good area and I want to crank through it on the first pass and try to catch the active fish, I don't have to worry about a guy plucking one behind me on a Dinger. Then I can come back and fish it slow again later. It's changed the way we, as pros, can approach our jobs."

> Mark Tucker hasn't had a day when he's fished solo and hopes that doesn't occur. "I really need somebody in the boat to put on a little show for them," he said. "If you're out by yourself and you're not catching them, you end up talking to yourself, and that's not good."

> The BASS communications official said that 14 states were represented among the marshals who worked the Wheeler event.

– End of part 2 (of 2) –