In general it favors the captain. 
 

That being said, in cases of an unskilled or inexperienced captain that’s a team player this may not be true. For someone who is trying to position the boat for both anglers but is still struggling with that skill, it may take quite a bit of every from the fishing and redirect it to the navigating. In this case, the back seater will likely have the advantage.

As always.....It depends.  
 

If we are fishing a draw tournament and I am on the front of the boat, if I wanted to, I could make it very difficult for you to catch anything from the back.  As a guide, I operate the boat from the front and am very skilled at putting the back deck in a position to catch fish.  It’s my job.

 

Fun fishing, I prefer the rear of the boat.  I can concentrate solely on fishing with no distractions.  I can watch where you fish (and with what) from the front and hit all the spots you miss.  

On 12/3/2020 at 7:33 PM, A-Jay said:

 

A-Jay

It’s tempting to look at this photo and judge but we really don’t know who had the right of way,  the boat or the dock?  ?

Some guys can't catch when all the decisions that come with captaining have to made. They are better at the back, focused on the catching. I know I did much better with a good stick at the front of the boat than when I first started. Took a couple seasons to figure things out, despite early tournament successes. 

I drive most of the time, but still prefer the backseat.

It's not uncommon for my partner and I to both be fishing from the back of the boat. When the wind is blowing into some choice cover I will set the GPS anchor with the bow of the boat into the wind and we're both pitching behind the boat from the back into the cover. 

1 hour ago, Tennessee Boy said:

It’s tempting to look at this photo and judge but we really don’t know who had the right of way,  the boat or the dock?  ?

Docks are the undisputed champions of boat chicken.

1 hour ago, TOXIC said:

As always.....It depends.  
 

If we are fishing a draw tournament and I am on the front of the boat, if I wanted to, I could make it very difficult for you to catch anything from the back.  As a guide, I operate the boat from the front and am very skilled at putting the back deck in a position to catch fish.  It’s my job.

 

Fun fishing, I prefer the rear of the boat.  I can concentrate solely on fishing with no distractions.  I can watch where you fish (and with what) from the front and hit all the spots you miss.  

Spot on. If I'm fishing to win the front is definitely the way to go. But if the wife,kids or friends are on the back I make every effort to put them in the best position. 

Back when my dad was still living, I went every other weekend just so I could take him, he loved to fish.  As for numbers of fish caught and the biggest fish caught, it was usually pretty equal because I always considered him being able to fish.  I was a better angler but I also tried the keep the boat positioned so he could have first shot a plenty of good spots.

Now, with a front seat guy operating the boat and not giving a hoot about what the back seat guy can do, then by far, the front seat is best because the front seat guy can keep the back seat guy in dead water most of the time.

On 12/3/2020 at 10:04 PM, TcRoc said:

I don’t mind the back.. gives me ample opportunity to mess with my buddy which I thoroughly get a kick out of 

Yeh my co-angler thinks it’s hilarious casting into my back once a tournament. 

1 hour ago, Big JD said:

Yeh my co-angler thinks it’s hilarious casting into my back once a tournament. 

Not like that at all... but welcome to the forums.