I read a lot of the posts of first time tournament anglers wanting to know what to expect out of your first experience. The do's and don'ts and the like.

 

 I only bring this up because I had a experience today with a Co that has been in the club for many years, but, Still he does not know how to back a trailer, One of the first lessons one should learn before becoming a tournament fisherman, is how to back a trailer. This can be very easily done in your off time with any trailer. It doesn't have to even be a boat or at the lake. I can not express how much this ability is appreciated by your boater. Typically it is customary as a non boater to pay the boater to help with gas. For instance in any of the club I fish...it's $15. If I get a non boater that  has the ability to drop me in and pull me out. I don't accept the $15. It is well worth the headaches and scratches on the boat having to do it yourself.

 

If you want to make a good name for yourself within the new club...It could be as simple as learning to back a trailer.

 

Hope this helps someone.

Backing a trailer should be an optional class you can take.

 

I agree, it makes life so much easier. One middle ground I have found(wife cant back up the boat trailer) is that I back the trailer to the water, get out, get in the boat and then have her pull the trailer to the parking spot or off the ramp.

 

A lot of boat owners dont know how to do it, so my expectations for a co are pretty low on backing a trailer.

Funny you should mention this. 3 weeks ago my son had his first tourney as a coangler/buddy without me as his partner. His boater is a friend of his and made mention to him he needs to learn how to back up a trailer. For the last 10 years, I've been backing up the trailer while he mans the boat, and never really thought to let him learn.

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A lot of boat owners dont know how to do it, so my expectations for a co are pretty low on backing a trailer.

A friend of mine had his coangler/buddy back up his trailer once. He crushed the tailgate on the F150. They are no longer partners.

So whats difficult about backing a trailer?

Jason, show up at any busy boat landing and ask that question. Hope you escape with your life.LOL

So whats difficult about backing a trailer?

Everything if you've never done it before.  I had a buddy several years ago who had just gotten his first boat.  He had me back it in the first 5 or 6 times we fished, I didn't think anything of it.  I found out later that the first time he went out alone, he actually left the crowded ramp without launching because he was unsure if he could quickly back his boat up.  He's since learned how to do it.

One thing I like about the club I fish in that most can put the trailer in the water blindfolded!

what can I say most of us have at somepoint worked on a farm or with farm equipment where I am from lol