Many of us have a steady fishing partner. Many of you know my best friend, Dirk_Jig-Lure (Eric).

I found that fishing with Eric over the years, we have developed a strong "team" presence. Our natural styles could not be more different. This makes for a very complimentary team.

When we fished the clear water challenge in '03 and '04, we did very well, based on this team dynamic. Eric was always the guy going for that 1 fish. A "FishChris" of the east if you will. I, on the other hand, was the master of getting high numbers of smaller fish. So this is how we often attack any tourny we fished. I would be trying to get the 5 and he would go for the kicker. As soon as there are 5 in the boat, I switch to kicker fishing also.

Now, sometimes, opposite results would occur and we would modify or adapt as neccessary. I learned alot from Eric, and can adapt to his style easily enough. He had mastered my styles, years before when I was out playing saltwater guy.

In short, just noticing, that as a team, we are very capable. I'm watching the redfish tourny on TV and it got me to wondering. It seems many of these folks are attacking their challenge as 2 seperate anglers,..not as a "team". (Aside from the netting part) To me, a teammate is more than a net guy. The two of you should function as a well oiled machine on deck of course but there should also be a gameplan that utilizes every tool you have between the both of you to achieve a team result that is positive.

Anyone else have a steady partner that they attack the lake with? Not just a person to go with each time, but a teammate?

If you were watching the same Redfish tourney I was your partner also better be prepared to fork over large sums of cash for boat gas.  900 miles total boat time?!!!  

I used to have a partner.  We somewhat complimented each other.  We had each mastered lure presentations we felt good about individually which often worked out well.  He was a crankbait/spinnerbait meister while I was better with soft plastics and jigs.  At some point or the other the fishing slanted towards one of our strengths. It worked out well.

Over the years, mairrage, kids and other commitments broke up the partnership. He now has a permanent back problem that wouldn't allow him to spend much more than an hour or two in the boat.  I'm still looking for that partner.

If you were watching the same Redfish tourney I was your partner also better be prepared to fork over large sums of cash for boat gas.  900 miles total boat time?!!!  

Same one,...150 mile to the scale!!  YUK!

I used to have a partner. We somewhat complimented each other. We had each mastered lure presentations we felt good about individually which often worked out well. He was a crankbait/spinnerbait meister while I was better with soft plastics and jigs. At some point or the other the fishing slanted towards one of our strengths. It worked out well.

That's exactly what I'm talking about. Even your forte's are similar to ours.

My best friend is also my fishing partner; we have worked and fished together for some 30+ years.

Our strength is we both fish the same, so regardless of who's in the front of the boat it's like one person with two baits in the water. We do fish different baits but it's more like one throwing a Texas Rig while the other throws a Jig, one throws Spinner Bait the other a Rat-L-Trap ECT. After we establish a pattern it's usually game over for the other teams.

What's also helpful is when one of us is off his game; we're close enough to take criticism from the other with getting mad. It doesn't matter if it's loading the boat, launching, locating an area, or catching the fish.

There is no better feeling than knowing some one dependable has you back.   ;D

What me and my partner usualy do i start out using difrent stuff and sometimes if one of us finds a good pattern we switch

My best freind, orey10m, is my teammate.  Even though he can't fish all the tournies with me, when he does I do way better.  We both fish real similar and work together for the limit then the kicker.  More importantly, I trust him with a net, I trust his abilities, and most important I trust him.  The whole day we will talk on what to do next and I trust him enough to know he's right and he is the same way about me.  If im fishing a point that he doesn't feel good about, then I'll leave and go to his spot.  The other awesome thing is that even if he isn't having a good day, I do because I know he's there and the same goes for him.

If you watch some of the accomplished "teams" fish, there are no words.  When it comes to Tuna fishing, my first mate back in the day, Capt. kevin D. , and I didn't have to use words.  We would just flow.

The one time we weren't in synch, we had a fire drill on deck.  Things were hectic and we had a hot fish tail wrapped far too soon for a boat that small.  This created a dangerous situation.  we learned alot together that day and were that meuch better together from then on once we realized the importance of working together.

Had the fish tied to the boat and it was nowhere ready to be landed yet.  Did some rib damage.  Learned that a tuna hass to be tired out first but not too much or you risk "burning" the meat.

Senko77

What LBH means is the what, when, & where of fishing's?

Pat and I will talk on the way to the lake about what to use or when to be where, but once we hit the water it's Get in, Sit down, Shut up, & Hold on. We can be flying down the lake nearing a spot, glance at each other and the boat slows then turns. I can tell if he's gonna stick a fish cause he kinda goes on point like an old hound dog. He knows if I need the net by the why I move right after setting hook.

When we do talk it goes like this

Pat: some one needs to be throwing a jig

Tommy: been throwing one for 15 minutes

We work the same way I'll turn to reach for some thing and Pat's handing it to me.

MY BROTHER USED TO BE MY PARTNER UNTIL HE GOT MARRIED. THEN HE BECAME THE MOST UNDEPENDABLE PERSON ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH. HE WAS NEVER ON TIME AND ALWAYS HAD A DOZEN EXCUSES WHY I SHOULDN'T BE SO UPSET.

I TRIED TO GET MY WIFE TO BE MY PARTNER BUT SHE WOULD RATHER FISH FOR FUN.

NOW, AFTER SIX SPINE SURGERIES, I CAN'T FISH TOURNAMENTS ANYMORE SO I JUST FISH FOR RELAXATION.

My fishing partner is my best friend and we are in our sixth year fishing together. Unfortunately, he has taken up guiding with a group of men with a large following. His partners have lost a lot of enthusiam for guiding as they are getting older and most are retired. As a result, he has had the opportunity to step in and guide nearly everyday. His son has recently joined his construction business, so he has really hopped on the guiding business. As a result, we haven't fished in six weeks and it looks like I'm going to have to pony up and buy a boat if I want to chase those brown footballs around the Tennessee River.

On a happier note, when we do fish together we compliment each other perfectly. He is as possessed as I am, it's not unusual for us to fish from first light to black dark. We both focus on big fish, have comparable equipment and share all our tricks. I have learned a lot from this man and I have introduced him to a whole new world of "structure fishing" and extended his fishing season throughout the year. (My buddy had never fished for smallmouth in January and February. Now, those are two of our best months!). I really miss being on the river this time of year.

Partner???

Different every time I go.

I usually go with a different person all the time.  With the excpetion of tournaments, my brother was my partner in "most" of my tournaments because he has the boat.  He is the only person on earth I will trust with a net, but we are often yelling and screaming at each other about random stuff.  I look foward to next year, I will have my own boat, and I will have a new partner. I will be the boat opperator.

I am one of the lucky ones, and don't I know it.

I've got a long-term, reliable fishing partner, a teammate with the same burning compassion for the sport.

My partner accompanies me in freshwater, saltwater, bank fishing and boat-fishing.

Ah, who am I kidding, everyone knows it's my wife Lois, and my fishing partner of 43 years

Roger

RoLo , you are a lucky man!!!!!

ROLO,

Today is my 29th anniversary. I wish my wife fished...Nah...That's not going to happen.

ROLO,

Today is my 29th anniversary. I wish my wife fished...Nah...That's not going to happen.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY ROADWARRIOR!

God bless you and may you have 29 more!

Ronnie

my best freind is jake on the board his name is huh and we talk were in synch also we work like a machine when we fish togethjer if i could i would fish with him every day if i could but i cant

Just got off the lake, 38 degrees,......wait till you see what my partner and I did!!

VIDEO COMING

I don't know...

I've seen pictures of a couple of your "partners". Remember,  this is a "G" rated, "family friendly" forum!

Yessir.  Sorry.

Ok,.no video coming....

                                                                                     

ROLO,

Today is my 29th anniversary. I wish my wife fished...Nah...That's not going to happen.

Happy Anniversary Roadwarrior and congratulations on a successful marriage

Seems like last year was our 29th anniversary :'( DO IT NOW!

Roger

My buddy and I fish together all our lives. We would cut each other up all the time. But when the fish was on it was all team work. He started getting into bass fishing and I was relucktent at first

but got hooked bad. Then he just gave it up. Stopped fishing almost intierly. Talks about its too much work. So now I fish alown or with my older brother and my kids

a true fishing buddy is a preciuos gift

being alone together for long hours on a small craft, you have to feel completely at ease with yhe person

i had a fishing buddy for about 12 years

it's like a marriage, seriously.  you have to work at it, for awhile before it becomes natural.

OK, now i am completely jealous of you guys with your fishing partners..... My best friend and I were that way back in the Pacific Northwest, when it came to salmon fishing, we were like mind readers.  As soon as one hooked up, the anchor rope was tossed by the other(if we were anchored) and the boat started, and the fight was on...  all that would ever be said was boat left, or boat right, if it was needed.

We could be talking about work or whatever, and then out of nowhere, both of us would say, ummmmmm need to change color, or think we should go a bit deeper?  

As for netting fish.  I still can not believe that people who fish from boats still do not know how to net a fish.  When I took people out salmon fishing, I gave them the 5 min. speech and demo on netting fish.  Told them if they stabbed at a fish and knocked it off my hook, they would have to go swimming after it  ;D ;D.

My favorite fishing buddy is my best friend, best man, and godfather of my first born (and vice versa). We've been fishing together for 23 years. Today we live 3 hours apart, but there's plenty of water in between. He's got a boat for big lakes, I've got a boat for small ones. We seldom throw the same bait, until one of us finds something that works. Talking in the boat? Yeah, he never shuts up and I never stop laughing. And there is no courtesy given, or asked for. If he sees a fish strike short at my topwater, he'll quickly throw to the exact spot. If I see a spot that looks promising, I'll cast right over his line.

On our last trip he pulled a handful of persimmons off a tree that he had accidentally cast his lure into, then proceeded to pelt me with them whenever I turned my back.

This picture is my way of getting him back. ;D