42 replies to this topic

[BassIdiot]

Fry,

I fish the BFL's as a co-angler. In the past 7 yrs, I have fished 13 divisions (I fish Bama and Bulldog every year), I have qualified for every regional, WON a regional and qualified for two All-Americans.

Disregard what ZIP said.

1) the easiest way to get in is to find a boater to register for the tournaments with. They have what they call "guaranteed boater/co-angler". If you register with a boater by the deadline, you are in the tournament. If you wait till after the deadline, you go on a waiting list and may not get in. Use the bass fishing forums to look for boaters or at the first tournament, tell the tournament director you are looking for a boater for the rest of the tournaments. He will make an announcement and help you find a boater.

2) Rods - I carry 5, sometimes 6. It all depends on where you are fishing, time of year and what your boater tells you that you will be fishing. When you draw your partner, don't be afraid to ask him how you will be fishing the next day. Find out technique and depth. EX: does he plan on flipping all day, will he fish deep (carolina rig, big crankbait, pig and jig), will he stop early and throw top water first then go deep. This will let you know how many rods you need, what size line on each and what type of baits you need to tie on. I always have a spinning rod with a shakeyhead on it.

3) Hard baits. I don't know where Zippy fishes, but I don't know of many guys that will willing give you a $14 crankbait to throw. Get a tacklebox that has 3 or 4 of the medium size plastic boxes in it. In one, put hooks (3/0,4/0, 5/0, drop shot hooks, flipping hooks) and weights. In another, put crankbaits (shallow to deep), If you are fishing shallow all day, you can always take out the deep ones and add shallow ones the night before. In another, have topwater and jerk baits. In the top of the box and pockets, carry your plastics. I also carry an extra reel. When you backlash one, it is easier to swap reels than to lose that rod or spend 30 minutes getting out the backlash.

4) GAS - It depends on how much your boater runs. If he drops the trolling motor and stays on it all day, I would give him $20, if you run a bunch, $40 is good. If my guys runs a ton and I catch fish, I have no problem with $50. I always feel good giving gas if my boater was a joy to fish with.

5) Snacks - bring your own. Most of the guys will have something but better to bring your own than to eat theirs. Bring a few waters and throw in the cooler and bring some snacks or a sandwich.

6) Lifevest - Most guys have an extra but it is expected that you have your own. I have run into a few that didn't have an extra in their boat. If you bring your own, let the boater know so he can remove his and give you extra room. In the BFL's, the compartment behind the passenger seat is supposed to be empty and storage for the co-angler.

7) Other stuff - If it looks like it will rain, bring your rainsuit. Figure out if your boater likes to talk or not. Some will talk your ears off and others want to concentrate on fishing and will only talk while idleing or running down the lake. Find out how your boater wants you to work the net. Some want to do it themelsves, some want you to put the net in the water and not move it so they can bring the fish to it and others want you to reach out and get the fish. Nothing worse than knocking a fish off the line with the net.

It sounds like a lot but the more you find out when you first meet your boater will make it a better day on the lake. Most boaters are great guys and if you have an questions, ask them. They will be glad to offer advice and help you out. You are not fishing against them, you are only fishing against the other co-anglers. Most of the boaters would love to see you win the co-angler side.

I hope this helps some. Good luck and hope to see you at one of the BFL's.

[zip pow]

Ill let anybody have any lure that's catching fish even some of my 90$ custom crankbaits. Most of the guy if not all of them will do the same evidently you have had some bad anglers

[ChiCityBasser]

Fry,

I fish the BFL's as a co-angler. In the past 7 yrs, I have fished 13 divisions (I fish Bama and Bulldog every year), I have qualified for every regional, WON a regional and qualified for two All-Americans.

Disregard what ZIP said.

1) the easiest way to get in is to find a boater to register for the tournaments with. They have what they call "guaranteed boater/co-angler". If you register with a boater by the deadline, you are in the tournament. If you wait till after the deadline, you go on a waiting list and may not get in. Use the bass fishing forums to look for boaters or at the first tournament, tell the tournament director you are looking for a boater for the rest of the tournaments. He will make an announcement and help you find a boater.

2) Rods - I carry 5, sometimes 6. It all depends on where you are fishing, time of year and what your boater tells you that you will be fishing. When you draw your partner, don't be afraid to ask him how you will be fishing the next day. Find out technique and depth. EX: does he plan on flipping all day, will he fish deep (carolina rig, big crankbait, pig and jig), will he stop early and throw top water first then go deep. This will let you know how many rods you need, what size line on each and what type of baits you need to tie on. I always have a spinning rod with a shakeyhead on it.

3) Hard baits. I don't know where Zippy fishes, but I don't know of many guys that will willing give you a $14 crankbait to throw. Get a tacklebox that has 3 or 4 of the medium size plastic boxes in it. In one, put hooks (3/0,4/0, 5/0, drop shot hooks, flipping hooks) and weights. In another, put crankbaits (shallow to deep), If you are fishing shallow all day, you can always take out the deep ones and add shallow ones the night before. In another, have topwater and jerk baits. In the top of the box and pockets, carry your plastics. I also carry an extra reel. When you backlash one, it is easier to swap reels than to lose that rod or spend 30 minutes getting out the backlash.

4) GAS - It depends on how much your boater runs. If he drops the trolling motor and stays on it all day, I would give him $20, if you run a bunch, $40 is good. If my guys runs a ton and I catch fish, I have no problem with $50. I always feel good giving gas if my boater was a joy to fish with.

5) Snacks - bring your own. Most of the guys will have something but better to bring your own than to eat theirs. Bring a few waters and throw in the cooler and bring some snacks or a sandwich.

6) Lifevest - Most guys have an extra but it is expected that you have your own. I have run into a few that didn't have an extra in their boat. If you bring your own, let the boater know so he can remove his and give you extra room. In the BFL's, the compartment behind the passenger seat is supposed to be empty and storage for the co-angler.

7) Other stuff - If it looks like it will rain, bring your rainsuit. Figure out if your boater likes to talk or not. Some will talk your ears off and others want to concentrate on fishing and will only talk while idleing or running down the lake. Find out how your boater wants you to work the net. Some want to do it themelsves, some want you to put the net in the water and not move it so they can bring the fish to it and others want you to reach out and get the fish. Nothing worse than knocking a fish off the line with the net.

It sounds like a lot but the more you find out when you first meet your boater will make it a better day on the lake. Most boaters are great guys and if you have an questions, ask them. They will be glad to offer advice and help you out. You are not fishing against them, you are only fishing against the other co-anglers. Most of the boaters would love to see you win the co-angler side.

I hope this helps some. Good luck and hope to see you at one of the BFL's.

Thanks for the great info and tips as I just found a boater for the illini division and this info really helped and gave me some things to go over with the boater before we even get ready to start fishing.

[JIGFISHERMAN.]

Thanks for the great info and tips as I just found a boater for the illini division and this info really helped and gave me some things to go over with the boater before we even get ready to start fishing.

Don't forget, that boater is just a way to gaurantee your spot. Chances are you won't actually fish with him.

[ChiCityBasser]

Don't forget, that boater is just a way to gaurantee your spot. Chances are you won't actually fish with him.

No I didn't know that I wouldn't fish with the boater I register with and thanks for that info also.

[JIGFISHERMAN.]

No I didn't know that I wouldn't fish with the boater I register with and thanks for that info also.

Ya, it's still luck of the draw, when it comes to who you fish with.

They want you to sign up like that so they have a set number of boaters/non boaters.

[Nick]

In any BFL, co's only fish from the back...period.

I accept money for gas no problem, but only half of what was burned.

The only bad co's I ever had were the ones who tried to cast ahead of me, I mean way ahead of the boat. Please do not cast ahead of the pro's position. FIsh your water as you come to it.
I do not hug the bank even though that is often more effective in a shallow bite. I leave room for my co to cast and expect him to not fish in front of me.

One more point for all co's is not to try to mimic the pro's lures esp. if he is picking apart bank very thoroughly. Change the presentation, cast angle or even cast to the other side of the boat. Complement, don't mimic a slow moving pro.

For young anglers, there is no better way to become a better angler than spending lots of tournament days in the back of a pro's boat. Even if you don't win a thing, you will learn to become a much better angler. If your pro is pretty tight lipped about the why's and wherefores of the day, he may open up a little more around weigh in time. Be a good listener, an offer to help him clean his boat if possible.

[TimJ]

BassIdiot, I could not have written that any better. Nick, good points.
No matter the skill of your pro, treat them with the same respect and professionalism that you would expect. Good luck to you all and enjoy your experiences.

[james 14]

This is great information as I'm considering my options for more serious tournaments in the future. My first inclination is to jump in as a boater because I like control but the last thing I want to do is drag some poor non-boater around without catching fish. One caveat to that is I wouldn't move into this process without first knowing I can hit fish in nearly every situation presented to me. Not quite there yet but I HAVE had the taste of victory a few times in my first year seriously fishing tourneys.
I'm glad to hear you guys only pay/expect around $40 because I was imagining something quite a bit higher than that.

[aumdb487]

Just a quick update... I fished this last weekend in my first tournament. Finished 30 out of 189 with 4 fish at 10 pounds 7 ounces. Thanks for all the advice, I was lucky enough to draw an awesome boater and had NO issues at all.

[TimJ]

congratulations. it was good of everyone here to help you out and good luck for you to draw a good boater. just remember that it may not always be that good a situation. Also, it may be a better one. you never know. the only thing that you can control is that you fish your a** off! go get 'em.

[TINK]

Don't pee on the carpet! Just FYI! Don't fall out of the boat!!

[aumdb487]

Three tournaments down, two more left in the season. First one I came in 30th, second one I zeroed ( bad day ), this last one I came in 9th. Jumped me up to 44th in points, so two more good tournaments and I have a chance at make regional tournament.

[zip pow]

You fishing weiss this weekend?

[zip pow]

Sorry thats an ABA not FLW.my mistake. I was going to hunt you up if you were.