BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - For
the first time, B.A.S.S. members will be offered the exclusive opportunity to
ride along with a 2013 Bassmaster Classic angler during actual competition,
B.A.S.S. LLC announced Thursday - just in time for the Bassmaster Classic
Marshal Program to take top ranking on any angler's ultimate holiday wish list.
Modeled after the Bassmaster Elite Series Marshal program, the new Classic
version will launch in Tulsa, Okla., Feb. 22-24. Those are the dates of the
43rd Bassmaster Classic during which 53 anglers will vie for a first-place
prize of $500,000 and the most coveted crown of pro bass fishing.
"B.A.S.S. is pleased to offer the marshal experience at the highest level
of professional bass fishing. Classic week is as exciting as it gets in this
great sport of ours," said B.A.S.S. Tournament Director Trip Weldon.
As a thank you to the host state of Oklahoma, B.A.S.S. will provide priority
marshal registration to members of the Oklahoma B.A.S.S. Nation from Dec.
11-13. Then, on Bassmaster.com at 9 a.m. on Dec. 18, registration will open to
all B.A.S.S. members. The cost is $350, which includes a special Bassmaster
Classic marshal uniform, as well as a minimum of two days on the water having
fun and learning from the techniques and tactics of a Classic qualifier.
But marshals do more than sit and watch. They actually become part of the event
(although, of course, they aren't allowed to fish or to offer a competitor any
type of help or advice). A marshal's first assignment is to be the angler's
official observer. That fact alone gives the marshal a view of the action and a
perspective on the competition that a fan could not find in any other way.
Not to mention that a marshal gets to climb aboard what, in all probability,
will be a state-of-the-art bass boat and meet a Classic competitor. Then the
marshal can get into the excitement of waiting for the start of competition, of
being next to the Classic angler as he lines up for his take-off time - all the
while being close enough to other Classic anglers to observe them, too. When
the fishing starts, marshals can expect a front-row seat for what could turn
out to be a game-changing hookup (or missed fish).
A marshal also serves as the crucial link in BASSTrakk,
Bassmaster's electronic catch-reporting system that
tells fans on shore what's happening on the water. Every time a Classic angler
boats a fish, his marshal will log the catch on the pre-programmed device
that's been issued to him. A few minutes of training are all it takes to learn
how to operate the unit, which is much like a cell phone.
Marshals can sign up for the first two days of competition, Friday and
Saturday, Feb. 22-23. On the third and final day (Sunday, Feb. 23), when the
field is cut in half, marshal opportunities will be offered for available
marshal openings on a first-come, first-served basis to those registered
marshals.
For more information, go to Bassmaster.com.
About B.A.S.S.
For more than 40 years, B.A.S.S. has served as the authority on bass fishing.
The organization advances the sport through advocacy, outreach and an expansive
tournament structure while connecting directly with the passionate community of
bass anglers through its Bassmaster media vehicles.
The Bassmaster brand and its multimedia platforms are guided by a mission to
serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications - Bassmaster
Magazine and B.A.S.S. Times - comprehensive website Bassmaster.com and ESPN2
and Outdoor Channel television programming, Bassmaster provides rich,
leading-edge content true to the lifestyle.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro
Shops Bassmaster Open Series, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series, Cabela's
B.A.S.S. Nation events and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the
Bassmaster Classic.
B.A.S.S. offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members and
remains focused on issues related to conservation and water access. The
organization is headquartered in Birmingham, Ala.
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