Is the novelty of being a marshal wearing off ?

I personally cannot see me ever wanting ride around in another man's boat and watch him fish.
Oh and to pay BASS to do so.

I guess it's cool to some people to be able to say, "I rode with so and so".

I'd love to do it, but I wouldn't pay one dime for the privilege.

It's most likely a combo of these factors: the body of water they're on and it's late in the season and the marshals have fizzled out.

I was not aware you had to pay to be a Marshall

I assumed they paid them, maybe they need to look into that...........

I got to be a marshall before they started charging to ride. It just happened to be the classic on the red river and it was a great experience seeing all the excitiement at the classic. But I can say that was my first and last time.... talk about a long miserable day. It was freezing cold and the fishing was really slow. So even though it looks good on tv it sucks behind the scenes. Nothing worse then watching someone else fish for 8 hours why you do nothing.

Ya, somedays while I'm fishing are real long days. Can't imagine how long of a day it would be if I was only watching someone else fishing.

How much does it cost to be a marshal?

The body of water.
The end of the trail season.
The time of year. People have less funds as its time to send kids back to school. The cost if that plus fall sports taking off etc.

I know people that have paid guides far more money and all they learned was how to catch a few bass from a spot that only the guide knows about. Haha.
I'd think being a Marshall would be a good learning experience. You get to ride along, shoulder to shoulder, with some of the best in the world. Watch them FIND fish. And watch their mental game play out. I would think it's invaluable experience if you want to be a better tournament fishing dude.

My wife would make a great marshall. Reading books and doing crossword puzzles all day. But I would not.

Its like college. Ur not getting paid, but if u pay attention u might learn something.

Hmmmm, so you can go out with a guy named Fred on Lake Fork and maybe catch them or maybe not for $450. Or you can take a shot at spending the day with KVD, Reese or Martens for $100. Seems like a no brainer to me.

Of course if you could ride around with Dale Earnhart in a race for $100 you guys probably wouldn't do that either!

Says the guy that put in for being a Judge last year in the TTBC....lmao. Anyways....it is an awesome experience. You get to see their thought processes and what exactly it is that makes them better than most. I don't think you should ever have to pay....not even sure if they do in BASS.

Sounds like simple supply and demand. They could charge $100 because there were plenty of applicants. Now there aren't. Personally I would do it but not for that much money.

I was a Marshall in the classic in Tulsa a few years and was able to spend three days with three great anglers. Marty Robinson, Ott Defoe and Tracy Adams. Learned more in those three days than 15 guide trips. Don't dog it unless you have done it. Honestly worth every penny!

are you able to talk and ask questions or is that pretty much a no no?? im assuming no no butttt i had to ask.

I would love to be a marshal as long as I didn't have to pay. That and I need to be able to be one my phone. Other than that I'm good to go.

Sounds like a bargain to me.

Id do it, be fun, I don't care if I'm just watching and it's only $100

For 100 bucks I would do it in a minute, or all day.

I have been a BASS marshal 4 times (Amistad, Falcon, Toledo Bend and Havasu). Each time I brought my own boat to the event. I spent 3 days with the Pro's learning techniques, lures, spots, methods and tackle. I can ask all the questions I want, I just can't help them in any way. After the 3 days, I go out in my boat and use what I have learned. Usually pays off very well. For the $100 or so bucks, plus travel expenses, I find it very worthwhile. Basically a 3 day guided trip on a lake by some of the best anglers in the world. Plus, hanging out in the evenings at the campgrounds or motels with the Pro's is pretty fun too.

I was a marshal at the Toledo Bend event a few years ago. I think its worth it.

Great Lakes likely makes it tougher as the Marshall can take a long run beating. I have done the TTBC 7 Years. 5 On Conroe and 2 on Fork. Its a great experience but I would have to think about it on a body of water where you could have long runs and get beat up.

I've done it twice; Onieda Lake 2012 and the Chesapeake Bay two weeks ago. I think it is a lot of fun and I plan on doing it again. I've been paired with JVD, Dustin Wilks, Cliff Prince, Ish Monroe, and Chad Morgenthaler. It is what it is guys.....you sit in these dudes' boats while they fish for eight hours. If that doesn't sound fun to you, then you shouldn't sign up. However, you get to be a part of the BASS event, which is pretty cool. I'm not the guy that walks up to KVD, Aaron Martens, and Greg Hackney and starts trying to talk to them like we are buds and asking for selfies with them, but it is cool to be a part of this event with the anglers we see on internet videos, commercials, MLF, etc.

In 2012 it was $100 and it's now $125. The purpose of the money is to make sure you show up. If it was free, people would say they were coming and then blow it off. At the Chesapeake Bay event, in addition to the standard BASS hat and shirt, we all got a long sleeve HUK shirt, which was cool. I think those shirts are like $50, so it was awesome of the HUK guys to give them to the marshalls.

I think it's cool, but yeah, you sit in a guys boat and watch him fish for eight hours.

Being a "judge" is a whole different deal in the TTBC, it's free and you are involved somewhat.

they should pay you to be a judge,..dumbest thing I ever heard,..

It's not for everyone....as stated, a lot of sitting and watching....but a young person can learn a lot watching these pros. I have mixed feelings about the $125 cost.....I paid and spent 3 days taking long rides....maybe learned a couple things, but certainly understand both sides. Don't plan to do it again, but understand someone trying it like I did. They were on my home waters so felt the urge....they never made a cast on my home waters....took long rides to other water ways.

What happens when you draw grumpy guss who doesn't want to hear a peep out of you all day? That or you get paired with guys consistently finishing below 70th place. I never liked the marshal program, go back to what a tournament should be, with a coangler.

Evidently the draw for marshalls is not enticing enough, for they are not standing in line waiting to climb aboard. The negatives far out weigh the positives for most people, as evidenced by lack of interest.

I was an Observer in the PAA tournaments on Tawakoni and Ray Hubbard a few years ago. It wasn't as much money as a Marshall gig, but basically the same thing. I truly enjoyed the experience. I got to spend a day in the boat with Tommy Biffle, Brian Clark, Fred Roumbanis, Terry Butcher and Dave Lefebre. I was able to get to know these guys a bit over an 8 hour day and none of them were shy about answering questions or dispensing information. I also got to hear some great stories (Tommy Biffle) that I'm not sure the average fan gets to hear. I would do it again in a minute.

I can't drive by a lake without feeling antsy 8 hours on a lake without a cast may as well be Chinese water torture.

Tom, Doug will let you ride around with him and listen to stories all day for a piece of smoked chicken.

That smoked chicken is awesome

At Falcon they were short Marshalls as well. The evening prior to the event I was able to find three volunteers including myself to help out the tournament director and fill some of the openings. All rode for free and all had a great time. After fishing for Bass the past 50+ years it was still a valuable learning experience and exciting way to spend some time around a place like Zapata. Anyone who has lived there can relate to that.

If I'm going to ride around and not fish with Doug for 8 hours I want ear plugs and he as to pay me 100 bucks!

Where do you sign up to be a Marshall?

I don't think so. It's still a good deal for the more inexperienced fisherman or those with their egos in check that realize there's more to learn. It's definitely not for everyone.... Some days are long and you don't learn but most days you do. These guys are the best for a reason.

Each year there seems to be an event or two that isn't a big draw for the marshals. That can be the time of year or the lake. For those of you that feel $42 a day to ride with these guys is too much money to watch them in action, you sure chose an interesting hobby to have such a tight grip on your wallet. But that's how some of us operate I guess. There are those that just can't sit still for that long and boy do I get that. It isn't easy.

Watch what happens when the classic rolls around or when the Elites come to TB. There will be a waiting list a mile long, just like two years ago.

I would imagine that the thought of getting the [censored] beat out of you on the Great Lakes had something to do with the turnout for marshals as well. I would never pay to ride with the Elite's but I get to the opportunity to fish with some of the greatest anglers in the nation as an FLW Co-Angler. If I was not fishing FLW then I would consider/recommend getting in the boat with some of these guys and see what you are missing.

Lol. I thought the same thing. It isn't very much money and it is a good opportunity to learn something. Shocked at the amount of negativity in this thread.

Eh. some just wouldn't admit to REALLY wanting to ride along. They are way to good at it themselves. Lol.

If the purpose of the $ was to make sure you show up, why wouldn't they give you a refund after the day is over?

I wouldn't pay $100+ to sit in a boat and watch someone else fish unless I knew it was going to be a big name (I probably only know the top 5-10 guys anyway). Getting to fish all day with a guide who I picked on Lake Fork sounds a lot better than watching a guy I didn't pick fish for 8 hours while I sit there.