Marshall takes down Strike King co-angler win at Clear Lake
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Quality and quantity usually win bass fishing tournaments, but at a fishery like Clear Lake, sometimes it just takes quality.
That certainly was the case for Strike King co-angler Kirk Marshall on Day 3 of the Western Division Presented by Tackle Warehouse season opener, who brought just three keepers to the scales but weighed in 13 pounds, 1 ounce for a 52-2 three-day total. He edged out Jonathan Green by 1 pound, 11 ounces.
With just three fish in his bag, standing at the bump tanks amongst his fellow co-anglers, Marshall was sure his day’s work wasn’t going to be enough. He’s had a few close calls in his four-plus years fishing the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats (including two third-place finishes last season), and Marshall assumed this was going to be another to add to the list.
“I’ve had a lot of close ones in the past, and my M.O. seems to be that I do very well in the beginning and then I drop off,” he said. “I just can’t seal the deal, and I thought that happened again today.
“I always say, ‘when it’s your time it’s your time.’ I honestly didn’t think it was my time. Everything seemed to go wrong today.”
Everything except a 7-pound kicker and an almost literal last-minute catch that proved to be the winning fish.
“Literally at 2:45 (15 minutes before check-in), we were coming around the corner and (boater John Pearl) said, ‘We’ve got two casts, dude,’” he said. “I cast out and I got a fish. We threw it in the livewell, put the rods down and went. That’s what did it.”
That fish came on a shaky head, which wasn’t necessarily what Marshall expected. He had broken off a drop-shot rig a couple casts prior and needed to be quick about his final cast.
When it’s your time…
Marshall retired a couple years ago and decided to spend his retirement on the golf course and on the water. He bought a new truck, a new boat (and now has another – a Phoenix 819 Pro with a Mercury outboard thanks to the win) and a new house on the water. His retirement plan? Enjoy life.
“I’m grateful and I’m thankful and I’m going to enjoy this ride while I can,” he said. “My whole philosophy is enjoy. I go out with this attitude that regardless I’m going to have a good time and I’m going to enjoy what I do.”
And Marshall is really going to enjoy this season now that he’s taken some pressure off himself. With the win, he automatically qualifies for the Toyota Series Championship at Wheeler Lake in November and can fish the remaining Western Division schedule however he chooses.
And, of course, Marshall has now gotten over the hump. He knows what it takes to win, to taste victory, and he’s ready for more.
“You try your best and it works out one way or another; it obviously takes a whole lot,” he said. “This one here is definitely going to light the fire.”
Top 10 Strike King co-anglers
- Kirk Marshall – 52 – 2 (13) – $33,500
- Jonathan Green – 50 – 7 (13) – $3,396
- Blaine Christiansen – 49 – 12 (12) – $2,716
- David Zavvar – 44 – 12 (13) – $2,377
- Jerimiah Valador – 44 – 5 (10) – $2,187
- Mike Walsh – 42 – 13 (10) – $1,848
- Troy Diatte – 42 – 1 (12) – $1,358
- Jose Juarez Jr. – 41 – 0 (11) – $1,188
- Paul Buccola – 40 – 10 (12) – $1,019
- Mike Alvarez – 40 – 4 (11) – $849