co angler

[josh colley]

hey yall so i fish a small bass club its not very competitive but a good way to get my feet wet in the tournament fishing world. recently i fished a tournament and my boater seemed to be passing up some good spots or not going back to spots that we had previous luck on. seeing as we randomly draw and most of the time its the first time meeting someone how to do you bring up to someone that we should move spots or try a certain area without causing tension? thanks in advance!

[Skeeter Dan]

Josh . If you  have so good spots on the lake your going to fish, You can tell him about them before blast off. If the boater is a jerk about you will find out real quick. Just remember unless you are friends you are a passenger on his boat. If I have a co angler I'm always willing to try the spots out . I might even let you run the front but that's just me . Most won't !!!! . The best thing to do is buy your own boat.

[Felix77]

Skeeter Dan is spot on sadly.  As the co angler you are awarded only so much credit for your knowledge.  The boater has a lot invested in the boat and wants to fish what they are confident in.   In 5 years of random draw tournament fishing I can count on one hand the amount of times my suggestion was even asked for let alone acknowledged.

[Bass Turd]

I don't fish draw tournaments... yet... but I have put a lot of thought into this question and others. In my mind the best thing to do is think of it as a game within the game. He is going to present you with only certain types of targets. Never try to fish with the same technique that he is using. Use something totally different. He will usually have the first shot at the fish but that doesn't mean you can't clean up after him. Catch the fish he isn't targeting with a totally different technique. When you start beating the boat owners they might just ask you your opinion about something. As I said earlier this is only my opinion. Here is website that might help http://fishingtheback.com

[BrianinMD]

Depends on the boater, I have fished with some who do not want the co speaking up, to ones who specifically ask their co to speak up with they have some ideas. You should have some idea of their personality from spending some time in the boat with them, if they seem like they would be open about it ask if its ok to make suggestions. Offer them kindly if the answer is yes, if they say no just keep fishing.

 

[J Francho]

Find a club that is a team format, and much of the stigma of being a "non-boater" disappears, and you become a true "co-angler."

[BrianinMD]

A team tourney is okay every now and then but part of what tourney fishing is for me is pitting my skills against others in a little competition. A team removes that by making it about another persons skill also. Much prefer a co vs co, boater vs boater tourney.

[Logan S]

It all depends on your credibility.  I've had good co-anglers offer up some solid stuff sometimes... But more often than not, the 'advice' I get is something along the lines of, "My buddy told me about this spot where we can catch 20 lbs guaranteed!"  

Whether or not you cause tension with your suggestions depends entirely on the personalities in the boat.  I personally would recommend letting it ride for while and focus on learning from your boaters...Whether that's learning what to do or what NOT to do.  You did admit that you are just getting started after all .  

["hamma"]

I fished a draw club for a few years and they had a rule that the co-angler was to be allowed half the day on his "spots". Beit running the trolling motor or not.,..... If the co-angler didnt get their "due" time. They could speak up at weigh-in and the boater would be automaticly disqualified from that days tourney. Even losing the days weight from the aoy. 

I think this was the result of many co-anglers being left high and dry at tournies over the years.

[SWVABass]

So I fish from the back as well in a club that just likes to fish, that said some folks take it pretty serious. I am lucky we don't have enough non boaters for a draw so I can ask the guys I want to fish with if they want a non boater. That said two of the guys I fish I never offer up any ideas unless they ask, they usually have time to pre fish( I have a 3 year old and 1 year old and a full time job). If they do ask I don't offer a spot but a feature depending on time of year and success from the past. I primarilily fish with one guy. We have developed a great relationship on the water to the point in about half the tourneys he allows me the front deck and my choice of spots and he fishes how ever he wants behind me. My best opinion for you is the same as some above, but if you are getting to pre fish bring up a conversation about it and compare what your boater has to say vs what you found and it might give you a chance to weigh in on the days game plan.

[scaleface]

On 9/12/2016 at 4:09 PM, josh colley said:

hey yall so i fish a small bass club its not very competitive but a good way to get my feet wet in the tournament fishing world. recently i fished a tournament and my boater seemed to be passing up some good spots or not going back to spots that we had previous luck on. seeing as we randomly draw and most of the time its the first time meeting someone how to do you bring up to someone that we should move spots or try a certain area without causing tension? thanks in advance!

I've been there . Its a good learning experience . More  times than not  the co-angler and I were not the same type of angler . Anticipate your best cast and wait for it , Make your presentation and repeat . You can even throw a t rig and jig like that   .  I won a couple of small club tourneys  from the stern with the boat operator burning down the bank  ,  hogging all the good spots . 

[gim]

The best advice was presented earlier in this thread.  Get your own boat and then you can do whatever you want.  Until then, the co angler is always going to be limited to the back deck and their opinion will be secondary.  Some boat owners are nicer and more willing to listen than others.