I am going to be fishing my first ever BFL Event on Saturday as a co-angler on my home lake.

Any advice?

I would chip some money for the boater, pack light, and offer to wipe down the boat. Try to keep your things organized, because when boaters want to move they want to move. Good luck, and have a blast man!

Give the boater gas money.  Respect the boat and clean your trash out at the end of the day.  Respect his fishing area and "personal space".

Most of all---have fun!!!  You can be competitive and still have a good time!!

Thanks for all the advice.  I feel pretty confident in what I have planned to tie on.  The etiquette lessons are most appreciated.  

Up to this point, I have been mostly a team fisherman in local tournaments, with excursions into larger team events.  This is my first event "going it alone" without my regular partner.  

Thanks again.

Results are in.  I finished tied for 38th out of 132 co-anglers today.  

Thanks for the advice dealing with a boater that I haven't fished with before.  That advice made the day much more enjoyable for both of us.

Congrats!  38th is very good for your first one.  How did your boater do?

My boater had 2 fish for 4 lbs 12 oz and finished 67th.  He was a super nice guy and that made the day so enjoyable.

Glad to see you did well, me on the other hand I bombed out nothing but short fish all day but my co stuck one about 3 pounds . Were you guys bed fishing ?

We did mostly bed fish.  We also hit docks quite a bit.

Yeah that was a tough event.  I fished on the boater side and it was a grind all day!  Good job!  If you are fishing all of them then you got great points.

I am going to be fishing all events.

It was a grind from the back of the boat also.  I have happy to have the fish.