I plan on fishing the BFL next year as a co-angler.  I was wondering if anyone here has ever fished it as a co-angler.  Did you ever pre-fish to try and see how the fish were acting or since you wouldn't have control of the boat/spots skip pre-fishing?  If you did pre-fish how did you go about finding a ride to pre-fish out of?  Thanks

I have fished the BFL's as a co-angler.  The best advise I can give is fish the best you can out of the back of the boat.  This season I had one boater that back boated me all day. Then I had another who went out of his way to make sure I caught a limit.

It all depends on the draw, then even if they back boat you, you can still make it a productive day.  Fish something different than your boater, you maybe fishing "used" water but it only takes something different to get the fishes attention.  

As far as pre-fishing goes I know the boaters I was fishing with had been on the body of water up to a week.  

But basically its worthless for you to try and pre-fish it since your boater is going to have complete control over the boat.

prefishing a tourney whether boater or nonboater is never worthless.  it gives you a leg up on someone who hasnt. you could find a color, or a specific lure that could produce for you.     saying its worthless to prefish is absurd

You have a point.  But my main question is how does a person that is fishing as a co-angler go about trying to find a boat to pre-fish out of?  Also from my understanding is that your not allowed to wear any patches/logo's of company's that aren't sponsoring the FLW is that correct?  Thanks

You have a point. But my main question is how does a person that is fishing as a co-angler go about trying to find a boat to pre-fish out of? Also from my understanding is that your not allowed to wear any patches/logo's of company's that aren't sponsoring the FLW is that correct? Thanks

If just fishing the BFL's...you can wear anything.  If fishing the Stren or FLW you must wear items that have their sponsors on them.

I would pre fish with a buddy of mine, who owns a boat.  This way, if your boaters spots dry up...you have some knowledge of the lake.

Also consider posting on the FLW discussion boards to try to find someone to pre-fish with. A lot of boaters like to have someone prefish with them to help with gas money.

As a BFL co-angler you will learn alot and have a great time.

I fish as a co-angler in BFL's, Strens, and some Series events. You can wear whatever you want in the BFL's, Stren and Series up until you make the cut's of the bigger tournaments. That is when you are not allowed to wear your own logos. As far as fishing, Do you have a guaranteed boater to lock up your spot for the year? If so, ask if if you could pre-fish with him. I have, and have not prefished for events.

Good luck to you out there.

No such thing as being locked out of water, CAST RIGHT OVER THE GUYS HEAD!!! He will get the hint! We have equal rights to the water you know!

if your getting front ended, you can remind your boater that you have to sign for him at weigh-in

I fish as a co-angler in BFL's, Strens, and some Series events. You can wear whatever you want in the BFL's, Stren and Series up until you make the cut's of the bigger tournaments. That is when you are not allowed to wear your own logos. As far as fishing, Do you have a guaranteed boater to lock up your spot for the year? If so, ask if if you could pre-fish with him. I have, and have not prefished for events.

Good luck to you out there.

No such thing as being locked out of water, CAST RIGHT OVER THE GUYS HEAD!!! He will get the hint! We have equal rights to the water you know!

Just out of curiosity what is the reasoning behind them not allowing anglers to wear their own logos after the cut?  I wonder if that has an affect on the possible sponsors that are looking to sponsor these anglers?

The reasoning for after the cut is to promote the sponsors that sponsor the tour, they do, however put money into it.

In a co-angler situation such as the BFL, your luck will depend on the knowledge of your boater, his knowledge of the lake and his ability to adapt or switch up areas should his main pattern crash. Alot of co-anglers (especially in BFL) learn what NOT to do as much as things they should do. Its a win-win situation either way.

I fish as a co-angler in BFL's, Strens, and some Series events. You can wear whatever you want in the BFL's, Stren and Series up until you make the cut's of the bigger tournaments. That is when you are not allowed to wear your own logos. As far as fishing, Do you have a guaranteed boater to lock up your spot for the year? If so, ask if if you could pre-fish with him. I have, and have not prefished for events.

Good luck to you out there.

No such thing as being locked out of water, CAST RIGHT OVER THE GUYS HEAD!!! He will get the hint! We have equal rights to the water you know!

I'm sure you've made alot of friends as a Co with that attitude. You would not be in my boat very long. And, no, you dont have equal rights. You have the back half, nothing more.  If you dont make an a** of yourself and are easy to get along with I generally will do my best to get you into good water and get a limit.  However, if you come out with that kind of attitude and you actually did start casting over my head you would end up having a very long day - ending with a counselling session with the tournament director.

I can't imagine you've really fished the Stren and the Series and be serious about that last comment.

I just hope no future co-anglers get influenced by that post.

B

I fish as a co-angler in BFL's, Strens, and some Series events. You can wear whatever you want in the BFL's, Stren and Series up until you make the cut's of the bigger tournaments. That is when you are not allowed to wear your own logos. As far as fishing, Do you have a guaranteed boater to lock up your spot for the year? If so, ask if if you could pre-fish with him. I have, and have not prefished for events.

Good luck to you out there.

No such thing as being locked out of water, CAST RIGHT OVER THE GUYS HEAD!!! He will get the hint! We have equal rights to the water you know!

I'm sure you've made alot of friends as a Co with that attitude. You would not be in my boat very long. And, no, you dont have equal rights. You have the back half, nothing more. If you dont make an a** of yourself and are easy to get along with I generally will do my best to get you into good water and get a limit. However, if you come out with that kind of attitude and you actually did start casting over my head you would end up having a very long day - ending with a counselling session with the tournament director.

I can't imagine you've really fished the Stren and the Series and be serious about that last comment.

I just hope no future co-anglers get influenced by that post.

B

I have to agree with bshaner on this one.  I was told by my boaters that if they are fishing in the other direction....I can cast towards the front.  But, how do you go about throwing over the shoulder?  

With me, fishing big lake waters like Erie and St Clair, I am kinda allowed the opportunity to fish where ever I would like.  When drop shotting or draging a tube, and the boat constantlly moving, you need to be able to get to an area where your bait will hit the bottom as soon as possible.  But again with permission from the boater.  I have never just thrown in front of my boater.

When fishing as a Co it is critical that you start the day out right with your boater...If you cast over his head trust me you are going to be screwed the rest of the day..

Pay your boater his gas money up front at the tournament meeting.

Limit your tackle.

Offer to help him with loading and unloading the boat

help to clean out and wipe down the rig after the tourney

pay the ramp fee

respect his water...The boater paid a higher entry fee and you are fishing in his areas he deserves the first cast to any targets in front of the boat

Don't go blabbing about the areas the boater took you to.  Especially in multi day tourneys.

Remember you are fishing out of someones 40-50 thousand dollar bass rig.  No matter what you pay in gas or ramp fees it is still a heck of a deal to fish out of it for 40 dollars worth of gas money.

There are a few more, but trust me if you treat your boater and equipment with respect and pay him gas money up front you will have a great day

I have only fished the BFL twice as a co-angler.  Both times I fished with nice guys who wanted my opinion and asked if I knew any spots we could try.  On the other hand, that was the louisiana division and 99% of the guys down here are true sportsman.  I do prefish the events because of one word, and every bass fisherman says it: Confidence.  What differance does it make if you are fishing in the back of the boat?  If a person goes in to a tournament with a mindset of back of the boat equals defeat, then the tourney is lost before the blast off.  One final thought, if you happen to get a jerk of a boater, not only do you have to sign in his weigh in ticket, but switch to flipping stick w/ 65# braid and get hung on ever cast, he will get tired of having his boat pulled off to the side hehe.

When fishing as a Co it is critical that you start the day out right with your boater...If you cast over his head trust me you are going to be screwed the rest of the day..

Pay your boater his gas money up front at the tournament meeting.

Limit your tackle.

Offer to help him with loading and unloading the boat

help to clean out and wipe down the rig after the tourney

pay the ramp fee

respect his water...The boater paid a higher entry fee and you are fishing in his areas he deserves the first cast to any targets in front of the boat

Don't go blabbing about the areas the boater took you to. Especially in multi day tourneys.

Remember you are fishing out of someones 40-50 thousand dollar bass rig. No matter what you pay in gas or ramp fees it is still a heck of a deal to fish out of it for 40 dollars worth of gas money.

There are a few more, but trust me if you treat your boater and equipment with respect and pay him gas money up front you will have a great day

Moto knows how to respect the boater and the boat.  Pay attention to his advice.  He's fished out of the back of my boat a couple of times.  Class act.  I took him out on a practice day once and he tried to pay me for gas before we even got to the ramp.  I tried to refuse the money but he wouldnt even put his gear in the boat until I accepted his money.

Now that I recall it, he helped me change the tire on my trailer too!  Not because I couldnt but because he was that quick to help.

I still havent put that spare back on the carrier, Moto.  That was crazy!!  Who thought that up??

That's a model co-angler right there.  

B

One of my old fishing partners (Tim Ambler) just won the Co-Angler side of the James River BFL last month. He had 4 fish for 13-1....his boater had 0 bass for 0-00  

if your getting front ended, you can remind your boater that you have to sign for him at weigh-in

thats right you certianly do    ;D

I fish as a co-angler in BFL's, Strens, and some Series events. You can wear whatever you want in the BFL's, Stren and Series up until you make the cut's of the bigger tournaments. That is when you are not allowed to wear your own logos. As far as fishing, Do you have a guaranteed boater to lock up your spot for the year? If so, ask if if you could pre-fish with him. I have, and have not prefished for events.

Good luck to you out there.

No such thing as being locked out of water, CAST RIGHT OVER THE GUYS HEAD!!! He will get the hint! We have equal rights to the water you know!

I'm sure you've made alot of friends as a Co with that attitude. You would not be in my boat very long. And, no, you dont have equal rights. You have the back half, nothing more. If you dont make an a** of yourself and are easy to get along with I generally will do my best to get you into good water and get a limit. However, if you come out with that kind of attitude and you actually did start casting over my head you would end up having a very long day - ending with a counselling session with the tournament director.

I can't imagine you've really fished the Stren and the Series and be serious about that last comment.

I just hope no future co-anglers get influenced by that post.

B

i like this lil post here because its right casting over the guys head is a no no, thats not the attitude to take especially if you might get some boat owner as nice as bshaner here. you get a rep pretty quick with boaters as a co angler, as to how you conduct yourself on the boat

Me and a partner both have our own boats and both fish BFL Ozark as co anglers. We prefish together and never feel like we have enough days to prefish. It has everything to do with being versital, but if you can prefish it can only help. It gives you an idea of what pattern the lake or different parts of the lake are on, so when tourney day comes your not figuring out a pattern, your throwing a lure you are absolutely confident in. I have had several different boaters. Some have been really nice, some really late, some really knowledgable..most have always tought me something. I haven't gotten one that has back seated me yet though. Most have helped to try a let me get one keeper, after that I'm not too concerned about the boater helping me, but think it's a team effort. If one of us does well that what counts. I always give him gas money, help him load/unload, net what ever it takes. It's a good step to learning and getting into tournament fishing from our own boat eventually. I fish just because my boat is too small and wouldn't feel fair about taking a co angler in a lil 17ft/100hp bass boat with one live well. I would try to mate up with a boater looking for a partner wanting a lil help with gas etc.