PAA Looking for Observers

If you’re a fan of professional golf it would be cool to walk the course with Phil Mickelson and his caddy to listen to their comments about club selection and shot distances during a tournament round.

If you’re a baseball fan, how interesting would it be to sit beside the manager in the dugout during a game and hear the strategy being discussed during a game? NASCAR fans can get a taste of the chatter between drivers and crew chiefs during races by listening in through radio frequencies, lending more insight during a race.

Bass fishing fans can actually do these things by serving as official Observers during the 2010 PAA Bass Pro Shops Tournament Series presented by Carrot Stix. Observers will have up to 12 tournament days during the four Series events to join the anglers in their boats.

As an Observer, you can see first-hand how some of the best bass fishermen in the world plot their strategy, select specific lures and make decisions throughout the day. There is no better way to learn than to be right there in the boat from blast-off to the final cast. Tournament Series events will be televised and promoted throughout the fishing industry, so the competition will be intense.

Observer entry fees are $50 per tournament, which allows the Observer to participate up to all three days of the event. Observers must be at least a General Member of the PAA. In addition to the experience, observers also are registered in a shared-weight competition for Bass Pro Shops gift cards worth $100. To be eligible for the shared-weight competition, observers must participate both Days 1 and 2.

Observers will be paired with their partners for both days at the Wednesday night registration meeting at Bass Pro Shops. On Day 1, the observer will earn the same weight as their Day 2 Pro. On Day 2, the observer will earn the same weight as their Day 1 Pro. At the conclusion of Friday’s weigh-in, the Top 20 observers, based on their Pros’ combined weight, will win $100 Bass Pro Shops gift cards and other special merchandise prizes.

Although official Observers cannot fish in the Tournament Series, a special PAA Pro-Am tournament will be a small event open to amateur anglers who will be paired with a pro on a nearby lake on Saturday. Those wishing to participate in the Pro-Am will not be able to observe on Saturday. Observers who participate on Days 1 and 2 will receive priority entry into the Pro-Am.

Single-day opportunities also will be available but Observers won’t be eligible for the competition and prizes if they sign up for a single day. The $50 entry fee and membership requirements are the same, regardless of the number of days selected.

The final day of Tournament Series competition, Saturday, will consist of 30 Pros and 30 Observers. Any observers who participate in Days 1 and 2 will receive priority placement on Day 3. In addition to two days of participation, priority consideration will be given to the order of Observer registration for the event. Those who sign up earliest and for Days 1 and 2 will have the highest priority for entry into Day 3.

All Observers are required to check-in at registration on Wednesday of competition week at tournament headquarters, which will be the local Bass Pro Shops store, between the hours of 3-5 p.m. All paperwork must be received and completed no later than 5 p.m. to participate.

Observers should bring their own life jackets each day of the event that they are participating. Observers should also be prepared for any type of weather and wear appropriate clothing for a full eight hours on the water. Observers may not bring any tackle or fishing equipment, nor may they fish with the Pro’s equipment during the tournament hours. Observers need to be sure to bring an appropriate amount of food and water, while being conscious of storage space.

Observer registration will begin March 22 via telephone call-in to the PAA headquarters. Credit cards will be accepted for PAA membership and entry fees for all tournament days or single days for as many tournaments as Observers wish to participate in during the season.