If I am in the back of a boat and I snag, am I expected to break off and lose my lure so as to not disturb the primary angler when:

 

1, fishing as a guest on someone elses boat?

2, as co-angler in small tournaments?

3, as co-angler in large tournamnets?

 

In scenario 1, let's assume that I don't know the person but they have offered to take me out. If it were a friend, I would assume that we would do what we could to retreive each other's lures.

You are never expected to break off.  While not required, it's just common courtesy and good sportsmanship for the boater to give you an opportunity to unsnag your lure and vice versa.

 

Any angler, front or back seat, tournament or not, that doesn't do that is just a jerk and gives the sport a black eye.

Thanks Glenn!

Courtesy goes both ways. 

If you’re backseating with me, we’re going to get you unsnagged - just tell me when you’re hung up. I’ve had a couple guys that broke off without saying a word, and then blamed me for it after the fact. 
 

 

 

Plenty of situations where I won't (or simply can't) make an attempt to get a Co's bait back....I don't think I'm a jerk and most people seem to enjoy fishing with me.  There's a good amount of nuance to it.  You shouldn't just assume you can go in after everything.  

 

If it's just a soft plastic, just pop it and retie IMO, easier and faster for both of us (and it's what I usually do).  Good chance the line and/or hook point is trashed... So even if we went and got it, you should probably be retying anyway.  This is why we buy multiple packs of hooks and baits, for when we lose them. 

 

Otherwise, most of the time it's not an issue to make an attempt... But there are legitimate reasons a boater wouldn't want to that don't involve him being a jerk. 

@Logan S Could you extrapolate on the circumstances that it would not be appropriate for the primary angler to try to retrieve the lure? Or, appropriate for the co-angler to ask?

 

I can certainly see that with a soft plastic.

I have been fishing Co-Angler in my club for 6 years now and having allot of fun with it.

Not only fishing 1 Tourney a month but also catching rides several other times to either practice, or for the fun of it. Not one time after I have gotten snagged did the boater ignore my predicament and tell me to just break it off. On every occasion they try to get the boat into the skinny water and help me retrieve even during a Tourney.

First of all in that case I want the rod The guy upfront on the trolling motor has a much better chance of getting it loose than standing in the back of the boat..

I will banjo it a few times and give it a try as long as it’s not 15 feet up a tree or so shallow that boat/ trolling motor would drag.

 

 

 

 

7 hours ago, Bazoo said:

@Logan S Could you extrapolate on the circumstances that it would not be appropriate for the primary angler to try to retrieve the lure? Or, appropriate for the co-angler to ask?

 

I can certainly see that with a soft plastic.

30' up in a tree....Up on a rocky bank....In heavy current or waves....Any other similar situation where getting there is going to put my gear at risk.  

 

If I'm in a specific position that's difficult to maintain I'll avoid it.... If I think going in will ruin what we're trying to fish I'll avoid it.... If there's any other scenario where I think going in will be detrimental to both of us catching or continuing to catch fish I'll avoid it...

 

If it's the 5th straight cast directly into tree I'll say enough is enough (assuming it's a fellow adult angler and not a kid)... If it's 100' behind the boat... If there's any situation where I feel like I'm being treated like more of a free guide or concierge than a friendly fishing partner, I'll avoid it (again assuming it's a fellow adult tournament angler that signed up for this)...

 

Anyone that says that they ALWAYS go in after a co's bait without fail are either embellishing, being too idealistic, or haven't fished enough.  I break off my own baits more often then not.  None of it is negative or derogatory, it's just reality....If the Co is that hard up for bait they have to break off I'll tell them to open my tackle compartment and take their pick of what I've got to use for the rest of the day. 

 

Like almost every boater/co-angler topic....It sounds way more dramatic online than it is in real life.  You also don't have to consider it as "primary" and "secondary" anglers...You're both anglers that signed up for the tournament and both deserve the same respect, but the boater owns the boat and can operate it how he sees fit.  Sometimes you draw a jerk, but most people are just normal guys like you.  

Couple of factors for me.  When guiding, I quickly determined my clients casting prowess.  That determined where and what we fished as well as boat placement.  I’ve had clients throw baits over power lines and boathouses.  If they can’t skip, I’m not going to fish docks.  If they are throwing weighted baits in wood or rip rap, I will determine if it’s worth the risk of me banging up my my boat, motor or troller to attempt a retrieve.  When I am in the backseat, I make the decision myself and more often than not, I will just break off.  Factor in the super high cost of some of the newer glide and swim baits and it could cause a real conflict. 

I’ve fished co for a little more than a season and my thoughts follow this pattern. 
 

1. How expensive is it? Less than five bucks break off and don’t complain to anyone. It’s fishing not catching and sometimes bad luck happens. 

2. Will an attempt to retrieve the bait pull us off location or into the target? If the answer is yes break off. That 10 dollar top water won’t make up for possibly missing a 6lber hiding in the pads. 

3. Are we in crunch time looking for a limit or a big cull? Break off. 
 

You can see the pattern there. Tourney fishing is flat out expensive. From the cost of a boat, gas, gear, and time there are few hobbies that get this pricey.
 

My entire thought process is how quickly can I get the next cast out, and when time is limited during a tournament 99.9% I’m going to break off and retie. Is it the most cost effective way to fish? Hell no. Does it let me be the most efficient I can from the back of a boat? Definitely. 
 

 

Now I am a backseater and don’t fish often so my casting skills are not accurate at 1st. My advice avoid casting to a target that you can snag the lure easily. If you snag the bottom tell your boater to give a chance to jiggle the lure free or change the angle to free it. If the lure doesn’t come free easily break it off.

Don’t try to cast lures you are unfamiliar with while backseating in a tournament. Use lure you have skill using and can cast accurately. 
Stay within you skill level. Practice, practice casting and netting bass. Nothing chases more resentment then knocking off a bass with the net!

Tom

 

I always make an attempt to get it back unless it is a dangerous situation 

Communication is something I always do when fishing a tournament with a back seaters. Just talk to your partner before and discuss different situations that can occur. There will be times when going in to get a snag out is good and there’s times when it not feasible. If it’s a partner new to tournament fishing you’ll be better off to discuss basic things. Like I’ve said before common courtesy goes both ways.

 

 

 

 

I'll take my co in to get a snagged lure 95% of the time. The biggest thing I want my co to do is tell me immediately when they're hung so I don't get us even further away.

 

I'm with @Logan S that not everything deserves to be recovered. The main reasons I won't go back for a lure is if it'll ruin a spot, we don't have the time (tournament is about to end and we need to get back NOW), if it will pose a risk to my equipment, or if they keep doing it.

 

I've fished with a new co this year who is remarkably good at getting a weightless texas rigged senko hung up. It's usually because he forgets to check his hook point is buried before a cast. After I've reminded him a dozen times and he keeps getting stuck, I stop going back for all of them. Gotta teach him to pay attention somehow.