What would be a good technique for me to fish when I'm in a tournament fishing deep water points, drop offs, and other structure as a non-boater. My boater will most likely be using a Carolina rig with a large worm or lizard. Deep diving crankbaits are only a possibilty part of the time for me because of lots of brush and trees.

i personally would try wackey riged worms or t-rigged  and maybe a smaller size then your partner. they bothe fish about the same as carolina rig.

Try a heavy jig in those brush piles.

Don't let the cover keep you away with cranks.   If they are feeding on bait, either cranks or some various soft plastics would or should do the trick.   I just hope you get a shot at the cover as a non-boater.

Sneak a peak at the graph or ask how the fish are relating to cover or structure....ie.... suspended, and how far off bottom, on bottom.

Once you have an ideal of where the fish are positioned, you can access how to approach them.  A c-rig may be the wise choice, a jig is always dangerous, drop shotting, Texas rig.

My three favorite rigs for that scenario:

* a one oz. (or larger depending on depth) single silver colorado spinner bait in white or shad color

* a 1/2 ounce G jig with a Zoom Fat Albert grub in salt/pepper or watermelon

* a blade bait like a Silver Buddy- my favarite is the 5/8 oz. XPS version made by BPS because of the colors available though I change out the hooks for red Mustad triple grips.

My preference of the three is the blade bait but you can't use it in heavy grass or lots of brush though it is suprising how much wood/rock cover you can pull it through without snagging.  You can just rip it through sparse weeds.  It is something the fish don't see everday too.  Another advantage is that you can throw it very far which helps sometimes when you are chunkin' it from the back of the boat, especailly in deep open water.

Another idea is to throw the same C-rig as your boater in a different color, if he's catching fish that is and you aren't.  Sometimes the subtle difference is enough to entice fish that didn't fall for the boater's offering.  I've had that work before as a non-boater.  If he's throwing a bright color throw a natural color or vice versa.

If I wasn't C-riggin it I would slow roll a spinnerbait, jig, drop shot, shaky head, and maybe a senko around some brush. Like Matt said don't let the cover keep you away from some cranks.

Recently i've been slow rolling a chatterbait tipped with a super fluke and been doing really good with it.  If you have a chatterbait i'd give it a try, i've been fishing lakes around my house that i haven't had much success catching keepers till i started slow rolling a chatterbait and i've been consistently catching keepers.

Don't be afraid to use a split shot rig. Close to a carolina but mini. A 1/4 ounce split shot crimped on the line about 18 inches above the plastic bait, and lots of smelly jelly.

I'm more inclined to jump in the lake after a crankbait than I am trying to protect it now.  Cranking heavy cover is worth it.  A good bet is get a Rapala DT bait.  They dive to specified depths (which can allow you to keep the bait right over the nasty stuff)

Don't let the cover keep you away with cranks.

I agree.  Your in the front of the boat.  Your in control.  Go for those active fish.

Crank em out of that brush.  Next would be a jig.