Hot Shots: Marshals of Bull Shoals

<p>The Bassmaster Elite Series Marshal Program offers B.A.S.S. Members an opportunity to spend 2 â 3 days learning tips and techniques while on the water with Elite Series pros. However, Marshals do have responsibilities, like operating the BASSTrakk scoring system and being familiar with tournament rules. At the most recent Elite event at Bull Shoals, Marshals showed B.A.S.S. Staffers (and the world!) their ability to be impromptu photojournalists, as well! Here, our favorite Marshal photos from the Live Blog at Bull Shoals!</p>
<p>Photo: Fred Roumbanis on Day Four, submitted by Troy Krodinger </p>

The Bassmaster Elite Series Marshal Program offers B.A.S.S. Members an opportunity to spend 2 â 3 days learning tips and techniques while on the water with Elite Series pros. However, Marshals do have responsibilities, like operating the BASSTrakk scoring system and being familiar with tournament rules. At the most recent Elite event at Bull Shoals, Marshals showed B.A.S.S. Staffers (and the world!) their ability to be impromptu photojournalists, as well! Here, our favorite Marshal photos from the Live Blog at Bull Shoals!
Photo: Fred Roumbanis on Day Four, submitted by Troy Krodinger

<p>Marshal Lance Roe sent in this casual-looking photo of Kevin VanDam with a nice smallie early on the first day. It appears more like buddies taking photos of each other's catches on a relaxed, recreational fishing outing than a four-time Bassmaster Classic champion competing for another Classic berth and a cool hundred grand.</p>

Marshal Lance Roe sent in this casual-looking photo of Kevin VanDam with a nice smallie early on the first day. It appears more like buddies taking photos of each other’s catches on a relaxed, recreational fishing outing than a four-time Bassmaster Classic champion competing for another Classic berth and a cool hundred grand.

<p>It was early on Day One, and Michael Iaconelli was already up to his usual antics. Thankfully his Marshal, Richard Kiblinger, explained that Ike had snapped his rod landing this keeper. Otherwise, this was either a billiards lesson or a new take on sushi.</p>

It was early on Day One, and Michael Iaconelli was already up to his usual antics. Thankfully his Marshal, Richard Kiblinger, explained that Ike had snapped his rod landing this keeper. Otherwise, this was either a billiards lesson or a new take on sushi.

<p>Perry Johnson caught a playful Skeet Reese with a squirming, 4-plus-pound bundle of joy. At Bull Shoals, a bass this size was something to celebrate â the anglers all agreed there were tons of small keepers to be had, but the bigger bite remained elusive for most.</p>

Perry Johnson caught a playful Skeet Reese with a squirming, 4-plus-pound bundle of joy. At Bull Shoals, a bass this size was something to celebrate â the anglers all agreed there were tons of small keepers to be had, but the bigger bite remained elusive for most.

<p>Make that the <em>right</em> bigger bite. This image by Troy Krodinger got a good number of Likes and Tweets. His caption:<br />
"James Elam is unfortunately not in a walleye tournament."</p>

Make that the right bigger bite. This image by Troy Krodinger got a good number of Likes and Tweets. His caption:
“James Elam is unfortunately not in a walleye tournament.”

<p>Some photos, like the first one, made the cut because they're just <em>pretty</em>. Marshal Drew Dawson snapped this great fish catch by Cliff Pirch, and the scenery beyond the bass was almost as pleasing to the eye as the slippery subject of the photo.</p>

Some photos, like the first one, made the cut because they’re just pretty. Marshal Drew Dawson snapped this great fish catch by Cliff Pirch, and the scenery beyond the bass was almost as pleasing to the eye as the slippery subject of the photo.

<p>Marshal Tim Dail caught the essence of the first two days at Bull Shoals in one photo: Greg Vinson charged into the lead and stubbornly held on to it, well, like a bull.</p>

Marshal Tim Dail caught the essence of the first two days at Bull Shoals in one photo: Greg Vinson charged into the lead and stubbornly held on to it, well, like a bull.

Dennis Tietje isn’t deterred by a little fog, as Bob King showed us. King reported Tietje had a limit of smallmouth by noon on Day Two.

<p>Meanwhile, Ott DeFoe keeps Marshal Frank Untalan's trigger finger busy with a succession of foggy fish catches to start the second day. This was only the first.</p>

Meanwhile, Ott DeFoe keeps Marshal Frank Untalan’s trigger finger busy with a succession of foggy fish catches to start the second day. This was only the first.

<p>There was plenty of talk about the crystal-clear water at Bull Shoals, and Bill McNutt â paired on Day Two with Chip Porche â knew that seeing was believing, adding this image to the blog so those at home would know what all the fuss was about.</p>

There was plenty of talk about the crystal-clear water at Bull Shoals, and Bill McNutt â paired on Day Two with Chip Porche â knew that seeing was believing, adding this image to the blog so those at home would know what all the fuss was about.

<p>With calm, clear water like this, if you were lucky enough to see them before they saw you, that in itself warranted a thumbs-up. Marshal Perry Johnson sent in this photo of a 2-pounder that Kurt Dove snuck up on from behind.</p>

With calm, clear water like this, if you were lucky enough to see them before they saw you, that in itself warranted a thumbs-up. Marshal Perry Johnson sent in this photo of a 2-pounder that Kurt Dove snuck up on from behind.

<p>While everyone else was looking down at Bull Shoals, Charlie Hartley's Day Two Marshal Robert Sanabria had a chance to sit back and keep an eye on the sky to catch the action.</p>

While everyone else was looking down at Bull Shoals, Charlie Hartley’s Day Two Marshal Robert Sanabria had a chance to sit back and keep an eye on the sky to catch the action.

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<p>Marshal Jeff Hamilton sent in a great photo of a smiling Elite Series pro Morizo Shimizu early on Day Three. Shimizu, whose fans travel from his home country of Japan to see him compete, finished the Ramada Quest in 22nd and took home $10,000.</p>

Marshal Jeff Hamilton sent in a great photo of a smiling Elite Series pro Morizo Shimizu early on Day Three. Shimizu, whose fans travel from his home country of Japan to see him compete, finished the Ramada Quest in 22nd and took home $10,000.

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<p>There's a reason for Edwin Evers' glee, captured by Marshal Mark Woods. Making the Top 50 cut to fish on Day Three put him at the top of the AOY points race and earned him a $1,000 bonus check from Toyota; every bass after that was just sweetness. Greg Vinson had a more disappointing day, losing his lead to Casey Scanlon and, like Evers, failing to make the Top 12</p>

There’s a reason for Edwin Evers’ glee, captured by Marshal Mark Woods. Making the Top 50 cut to fish on Day Three put him at the top of the AOY points race and earned him a $1,000 bonus check from Toyota; every bass after that was just sweetness. Greg Vinson had a more disappointing day, losing his lead to Casey Scanlon and, like Evers, failing to make the Top 12

Kudos to Scott Zarinelli for being ready for the action shot and earning Cliff Prince a new nickname – “Gumby.”

Tim Dail put on his own big show, sending in photos and video at Bull Shoals, and capturing Terry Scroggins’ famous grin over his fat new friend.

<p>This photo of Jason Christie's 6th cull of Day Four from Bassmaster Marshal Mikel Wyatt tells the biggest story out of Bull Shoals - the biggest of comebacks. Christie started the day in 11th place, but then someone lit a match under him. He rocketed into first place, and Dail's updates kept the rest of us close enough to feel the heat. For more information on how you can get in on the action, visit <a href=

This photo of Jason Christie’s 6th cull of Day Four from Bassmaster Marshal Mikel Wyatt tells the biggest story out of Bull Shoals – the biggest of comebacks. Christie started the day in 11th place, but then someone lit a match under him. He rocketed into first place, and Dail’s updates kept the rest of us close enough to feel the heat. For more information on how you can get in on the action, visit Bassmaster.com/Marshal.