your non-boater has a list of places he wants to fish after youve already planned your morning?

I fish what I had planned out.

Plan "A" I fish mine first, and if things aren't working out I go to plan "B" and

that would be the non boaters spots.

Funny you bring this up.  I was praying at the pairing meeting last Friday that my co-angler had spots because due to boat repairs I was unable to practice.  Sometimes it can be a godsend.  Fortunately he was very experienced on the lake.  Unfortunately, we didnt get the bites.

But, if I already have a plan I'll politely thank him and execute my plan.  I'm not too proud to turn around if things arent going well and ask them if they have a plan.

B

i did what i thought most boaters would do, i fished my spots. he should be happy, he had more weight than me when it was said and done for the day.

i did what i thought most boaters would do, i fished my spots. he should be happy, he had more weight than me when it was said and done for the day.

You'll be in good shape unless he takes all of his buddies to your spots.

i did what i thought most boaters would do, i fished my spots. he should be happy, he had more weight than me when it was said and done for the day.

You'll be in good shape unless he takes all of his buddies to your spots.

What are you supposed to do?    You paid money to enter a tourney that has draw co-boaters, not give it your best shot, and fish waters that are unfamilar.

How would you approach not fishing your best water for fear of someone else using it in the future?

Matt

I also would fish my water if I was on 'em. At our state federation level the non-boater has 4 hours on his water so there are occasions where I have had to deviate but that too sometimes works out.....I've caught fish on my non-boaters water and learned something new..

Our Club has a rule that the non-boater has the option of fishing from the front of the boat and also going to some of the places he wants to fish during Club tournaments.

Now the problem.  You want to hit the wood with plastics and the boater wants to move fast and cover a lot of water with crankbaits.

Major problem if you don't get along or the boater thinks that crankbaits are the only bait to throw.

So, I call the boater if I am a non-boater and see what we are going to throw to be sure I have the same types of baits on hand.

Last tournament the boater threw a Pop-R and I threw a buzzbait.  

He then threw a bushhog and I threw a wacky rigged Senko.

Then the threw a plastic worm and I switched to a shad colored crankbait.

You just have to coordinate as best you can with the baits and where you want to fish.

And by the way, last tournament on the James River I suggested a place to fish on the Appotomax River and was turned down.  The big fish winner of the tournament fished the Appomattox right where I wanted to go.

Until you become a boater you will just have to have patience and be professional about a bad situation.

i did what i thought most boaters would do, i fished my spots. he should be happy, he had more weight than me when it was said and done for the day.

You'll be in good shape unless he takes all of his buddies to your spots.

What are you supposed to do? You paid money to enter a tourney that has draw co-boaters, not give it your best shot, and fish waters that are unfamilar.

How would you approach not fishing your best water for fear of someone else using it in the future?

Matt

Matt, I wasnt suggesting to avoid good water because I dont do that. If I am on fish, thats where I go. I dont practice for nothing. That said, its not real unusual for nonboaters to visit spots they fished with previous boaters during tournaments.

im going to bring the point up at the next meeting that draws for non-boaters be done before the morning of so that the non-boater and the boater can try to work together better.

on a side note lucky for me the club i fish in only goes to the same lake twice so i dont worry about who fishes my spots after ive beat a path through them. id like to join a different club but that club makes you have a sponcer.