When this whole competitive bass fishing deal started back in the late 60s, cheating and rigged tournaments were some of the biggest obstacles that Ray Scott faced. In order to alleviate those dark shadows, Scott decided on a tournament format where anglers would be paired together, different pairings for each day. This would not only significantly decrease the chances that two anglers would go into cahoots with each other but also provided policing from within.
For nearly 30 years after that first Beaver Lake event, pros would be paired with pros on the Bassmaster and other trails throughout the country. The format had its benefits but also had its downfalls.
While talking to Shaw Grigsby Jr. at ICAST 2014, we got on the subject of the old pro-on-pro format versus todays format where the pros fish alone. Shaw, probably like many other professional anglers who experienced the old days, is happy for the Marshall program but there are some things he really misses. Click on the Bass Fishing Archives You Tube link below to hear what he had to say.
