He likewise knew the fishermen crowding around one of the lake's better-known hot spots north of the ramp. Spring is Marshall's favorite time to fish for crappie. He likes to wade, jigging Roadrunner jigs with a rod and reel that he designed. Marshall has won several tournaments by Wally-socking, which requires a deft touch to catch fish that are spawning in water as shallow as two feet. In fact, he was Wally-socking when he won the first crappie tournament he entered, a 1987 Crappiethon USA tournament at Cedar Creek Lake.
Crappie tournaments are two-angler, team events.
Since 1992, Marshall's regular tournament partner has been Jeff Heuman of Oak Point. They've qualified 19 times for various crappie classics. Wally Marshall or his line of fishing equipment is nearby. The problem with crappie tournaments is that circuits tend to come and go. Industry support for crappie tournaments is not on a par with bass tournaments, and prize money is a fraction of what anglers win in a big bass tournament.