By Randall Tharp
These are not words that I look forward to hearing. I made a mistake, and for the next 2 minutes, I sit motionless, not allowed to fix my bait, or get a sip of water, while my competitors are casting, catching, and scoring bass.
Being a Bass Pro Tour boat official is not an easy task. As an angler, I get up early every day, but my official gets up earlier and is waiting long before I arrive to the ramp. The boat official carries a large bag with calibrated scales, scorecards, an I-Pad, rain suit, and a heavy piece of equipment called a stat unit. He/ she has been through an extensive training process and knows every rule set forth by the league. They are not allowed to show emotion or favoritism. I get a few days off during the 6 day long, marathon of an event, the boat official does not. I have yelled at my official, argued, disagreed, and told them they needed to get their eyes checked. Yet, day after day, the boat official shows up for work. It may surprise some of you, but the boat official does not get paid a dime for this effort other than a hotel room, some gas money, and a food allowance.
We have been through a lot in 4 years and a large majority of boat officials have been here since day 1. We have endured the heat as well as arctic-cold. There has been rain, snow, ice, lightning, and we navigated giant waves together. They were there when I was the hero but also when I zeroed. You cannot possibly go through the emotional rollercoaster that is tournament fishing with someone in your boat without making some type of connection.
The officials are as different as the anglers they officiate for but the common denominator we have is our love for the outdoors and tournament fishing. I have always made a point to thank each boat official for taking valuable time out of their life to do this job. I also ask each one, at some point during the day, “Why do you do this?” The most common answer is, “I love fishing and believe in catch, weigh, and release.” These boat officials are not just good, they have been great!
I also believe “catch, weigh, and release” is the future of this sport regardless of how many fish you score. I feel it is the most positive thing about the Bass Pro Tour. In my opinion, there are no bigger fans of Major League Fishing and the anglers that choose to compete there, than the boat officials that have been in our boats for the last 4 years. These boat officials are the foundation to build this into something bigger.
Long before I owned a boat or fished a bass tournament, I had a contracting business. I learned without a good, solid foundation, it did not matter what you put on top of it, it would never be right. I always spent the money necessary to ensure that this was done the best it could be. I want to personally thank each and every boat official again for their hard work and dedication. I hope our paths cross again one day.
Randall
