the bass bear that just keeps on winning
W hat do an oversized Teddy bear and four MLF pros have in common ? They ’ re winners , apparently .
Followers of tournament bass fishing and fans of Jacob Wheeler , Dustin Connell , Mark Daniels Jr . and Adrian Avena ( who all room and travel together ) have likely noticed the presence of a sizable stuffed bear occasionally perched on the back decks of their boats during Bass Pro Tour competition . The bear – “ Little Marshall ” – is the subject of a running bet among the four housemates that started as a booby prize but has evolved into a reward for excellent performance .
Little Marshall initially rode along on Day 2 with whichever of the four anglers performed the worst on Day 1 of a competition , but that changed in 2019 when the oversized bear started to ride along with whomever performed the best . And Little Marshall had a dandy season in 2021 : He was on board Connell ’ s boat when DC won REDCREST ; he accompanied Wheeler on all three of the Tennessee pro ’ s Bass Pro Tour wins ; and he was in the middle of the action when Wheeler banked a $ 50,000 big-bass check at Heavy Hitters .
That performance ( and Little Marshall ’ s apparent good-luck mojo ) guaranteed the bear ’ s return to the Bass Pro Tour in 2022 .
“ We typically go with a new bear every year , but we ’ re not going to give Little Marshall away this year – we all agreed he ’ s too good luck and we have to run him back out there ( in 2022 ),” Wheeler laughed .
PHOTO BY GARRICK DIXON
FEBRUARY-MARCH 2022 | MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM 75