Reginald Crews, Tournament Angler

Wow! Excellant! Super! Fabulous! The Bomb!

You could choose any of these words to describe the time I had being a marshal during the 2011 Carolina Clash on Lake Murray. I started hot right off the bat by drawing The Master Angler Rick Clunn! I watched Rick work a rod, reel, and lure like a surgeon works a scapel. The man is The Man!

I learned so much from watching him that I didn't know. He was a silent teacher. Just like my grandma used to tell me "If you just be quiet and watch you'll learn before you ask." I was truly blessed to be on the boat that day.

On day 2 I was paired with Steve Kennedy who was coming off an Elite win on West Point Lake the week before. Steve was an interesting individual. We started the morning off by pulling into acove that had a pontoon boat burning by a homeowner's dock. That was unfortunately a precursor of Steve's day to come. This day he didn't have his finest hour and most of what he was doing was crashing and burning. I still had a good time though.

Now day 3 was informative, exciting, and hilarious. I got paired with Legendary Tommy Biffle. Tommy is a master in accuracy, pitching, and flipping. He is also a character. He had me laughing so hard that my sides were hurting at one point. He's about business on the water but he still can get a good laugh going also. Tommy threw lures into places that I just knew he would lose them but he always go them out of there. Tommy could probably pitch an inflated balloon into the center of a briar patch and not burst it. Tommy is a great angler and guy but if you ever see him with a wild animal in his hands and a smile on his face lock up all your stuff.

I highly suggest that anyone that loves bass angling become a marshal at some point. It's a great experience. But let me give you a few pointers. Being a marshal is not like a fishing show. These guys are not out there to entertain you, be your companion, give you a fishing lesson, or talk about the news. These guys are in their "office" working. They are trying to pay the bills, pay for another semester of college for their kids, pay for gas for the upcoming west coast or northest swing of the tour, pay for the new baby on the way, pay for their family's health care, or trying to afford next year's tour. Some of them may talk to you the whole day and some may not say but a few words. Give them time to formulate and execute their plans, especially first thing in the morning. Sit back and learn and don't come with expectations or preconcieved notions. Maybe you'll have a  "Wow!" kind of day too.