I'm sure I'm not the only one who  feels much better when your the one in the front of the boat. It has always been a challenge for me to adapt when in the back of someone else's boat. My confidence drops even before we're on the water and though I might be thinking I have a better plan in my head I never critisize the front mans decisions. I do my best to to adapt yet never with consistant results. How do you overcome this?

Fish with friends.

I fish in the back of the boat all the time and it is never a disadvantage. When you fish with friends, you fish as a team and manuever the boat for the advantage of both guys. If you have a suggestion, make it! You should both be looking for the best opportunities to get on some fish.

8-)

As a non boater in tourneys, I got second in the points in my rookie year. out of 8 tourneys I got 3rd twice.  The rest were 4ths and 5ths.

half the time I outfish the boater. I watch where they cast and vary my presentation.  I downsize and fish slower than them.

In my club the boaters compete with the non boaters---not exactly fair.

They get the first cast to cover but there have been times where I caught bass they miss.  If they go left, I go right.

And halfway through the day they usually ask me if I have any suggestions on where to go next.  Its kind of a team effort to figure out a pattern.

Since I normally fish with my Boss on his bass boat, I always take the back so he'll be free to operate the trolling motor and electronics up front. I'm more comfortable with that and don't see why being in the front is an advantage to begin with. I can cover a 180 degree area of water in the back while he has the other 180 degrees in the front. As far as making the decisions as to where the boat is going and how we're going to fish a given area once there, we normally discuss that prior to heading out/moving. We also continuously talk about what the current water depth is, the bottom contour, structure, and available fish below. IMO:o)

I love taking a break and getting in the back. Now for shallow water guys, it can be a disadvantage. I fish deep most of the time and the back seat is the ticket to have. Back there all you have to do is fish!

I've kept detailed records over the years and I have found it to be almost dead even in numbers of bass caught and big bass caught. The slight advantage was to the back angler which came when we were fishing using the trolling motor a lot because the back angler had nothing to do but fish.  

Like roadwarrior said fish as a team that way you double your odds of being productive or in the case of team tournaments you double your odds of winning.    

It's all confidence because if you feel at a disadvantage before you start you will be at a disadvantage mentally.

This coming from a non-tourney fisherman.

My dad has a 17' Lowe's fishing boat.  Not exactly your Class A bass boat but it's great for what we do and runs awesome now that my dad has put in some work into it.  

He is pretty good about splitting up time as far as each of us getting the front and the back equally and actually let's me fish the front more so sometimes.  Anyway...

When I am in the back a few of the important things I like for are

A) Paying attention to the depth finder, where the drop offs occur, what depth we are at and how I can work these drop offs from my position (we do not have baitfish and structure on ours)

What visual cover is there around my casting range, what angles can I cast from without getting in the way of him or others in the boat

C) What range do the fish seem to be holding at on the depth finder?  What is the water clarity?  What lures do I normally use to catch these fish in similar situations?

It's hard until you get your first bite and get that confidence build up.  It's even harder when the other guy in the front is pulling in more fish than you and you know he has the advantage.  One thing i really try and do is concentrate on every single rod, reel movement I make and make sure I'm giving my lure the best action possible.  Every thing counts when your put in this situation.  

The only thing you can hope for is the guy guiding the boat puts you in a spot where you both have a good chance for the fish.  If your a tourney fisher I don't know how often that happens, but I'd like to think some guys are helpful in that matter as we all want to be competitive.

I love taking a break and getting in the back. Now for shallow water guys, it can be a disadvantage. I fish deep most of the time and the back seat is the ticket to have. Back there all you have to do is fish!

Well said, definately a disadv. in shallow water when fishin cover

And the back of the boat doesn't really get to fish 180 degrees.

You rarely catch fish you just ran over in 8' of water or less

90% of the time I'm a rec fisherman who fishes the various NYC Croton reservoir system in rowboats.  When I'm up front (doing all the rowing), and we're fishing shallow, I make sure that I leave enough opportunities for my partner or guest to catch fish. I will even turn the boat so that they get an equal opportunity to boat some. When I'm a guest on someone Else's boat I've never had a problem with always being out of position.  A different presentation or slowing down really helps to even the playing field.

A lot of good advice and very much appreciated! Though, it seems I should find some new friends ;D They're not worrying whether I have an opportunity to cast or setting the boat up so we both have more then one option. I spent one tourny having to fish 4" of water hours on end becuase of the way he positioned the boat. There have been many,many times where my jig is just hitting the water and low and behold the trolling motor gets kicked on high dragging me out of structure and or the stike zone. Two of these life long friends would rather hide in a protected area out of the wind w/o production being a factor just as long as it's out of the wind. Where as I consider the wind my friend under most circumstances. These guys are also pounding the shoreline doing circles around the lake. Where then again I like fishing deeper water,drop offs and structure. When the shoe is on the other foot and I'm at the helm, I'm sure to postition the boat to benifit both and prior to engaging the trolling motor I try to make sure my passanger is at the end of his retrieve. I learned to do this because I spend a good amount of time teaching newbies and converting live bait fisherman over to artificial. I guess I need to try fishing in the back w/some different people to get over my lack of confidence when fishing out of the back of the boat.

Thanks once again for all the input!

my small boat has the elec. motor in the back, hand control.

try that out . :-?. its a big disadvantage to be in the back and run a motor..

but we try to do as said above..

put the boat where its good for both fisherman,..

I have 1 buddy that has the motor in the rear. so he goes backwards all day.. even though you are in the front seat you end up in the back.

we are good friends so I can get on him about his driving..but before  the end of the fishing trip he always say !!!

DO YOU WANT TO DRIVE !!! ;D

and some times I say yup !!!

;D

I agree with fishizzle last year was my first year fishing in a club and I went no boat all year for I could learn from the boaters who have more experience.  At the begining of the year I found I was catching less fish then the boat but by the end of the year I was catching just as many.  The reason is I learned to watch the boater and see where he cast and cast in different places.  I also learned to downside and fish slower.  The disadvantage I have now is that I usually catch a little smaller fish than the boater I don't know if this is from the downsize of baits buts at least I'm catch just as many.

Bassectomy,

It is unsportsmanlike to prevent a nonboater from having fair fishable water.

A boater can get disqualified from a tourney or kicked out of a club for doing that.

I have had conversations with my club members about that.

You CANNOT use boat positioning to prevent a nonboater from catching fish.

As for your style not matching theirs--sorry.  its their boat and you have to follow

And if they are powerfishing and you want to throw a jig- sorry

You must learn to adapt.

Sorry if this was too harsh.  lol

I always take the back so he'll be free to operate the trolling motor.

Yep, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

BTW, Move us out about ten yards and square up the front...

:

A lot of good advice and very much appreciated! Though, it seems I should find some new friends ;D They're not worrying whether I have an opportunity to cast or setting the boat up so we both have more then one option. I spent one tourny having to fish 4" of water hours on end becuase of the way he positioned the boat. There have been many,many times where my jig is just hitting the water and low and behold the trolling motor gets kicked on high dragging me out of structure and or the stike zone. Two of these life long friends would rather hide in a protected area out of the wind w/o production being a factor just as long as it's out of the wind. Where as I consider the wind my friend under most circumstances. These guys are also pounding the shoreline doing circles around the lake. Where then again I like fishing deeper water,drop offs and structure. When the shoe is on the other foot and I'm at the helm, I'm sure to postition the boat to benifit both and prior to engaging the trolling motor I try to make sure my passanger is at the end of his retrieve. I learned to do this because I spend a good amount of time teaching newbies and converting live bait fisherman over to artificial. I guess I need to try fishing in the back w/some different people to get over my lack of confidence when fishing out of the back of the boat.

Thanks once again for all the input!

Not a pretty picture you have painted.  Have you discussed this with both of your friends?  Most likely they aren't even aware of it.  If they don't care one way or the other, then as you said, you need to find and make new friends.

Bassectomy,

It is unsportsmanlike to prevent a nonboater from having fair fishable water.

A boater can get disqualified from a tourney or kicked out of a club for doing that.

I have had conversations with my club members about that.

You CANNOT use boat positioning to prevent a nonboater from catching fish.

As for your style not matching theirs--sorry. its their boat and you have to follow

And if they are powerfishing and you want to throw a jig- sorry

You must learn to adapt.

Sorry if this was too harsh. lol

Not at all! No apology needed And yes very stubborn friends :

Never fished with/nor been a non-boater so I don't know what that's like - I imagine it's probably a little frustrating for the non-boater.

Me and my fishing partner have been fishing together for years and we run all over the boat - whereever the best cast is. A lot of times we anchor up and fish the briney deep so we're both on the back the boat casting with the wind.  

I've noticed when I take a newbie fishing, they're always worried about where they are in the boat thinking they might tick me off if they walk up to the front, but it doesn't bother me. I just want them to catch fish.

I never get to fish from the back of the boat very often.I'm usually in my own boat with my son.When we take my buudy's boat he makes me run the troller.

Fish with friends.

I fish in the back of the boat all the time and it is never a disadvantage. When you fish with friends, you fish as a team and manuever the boat for the advantage of both guys. If you have a suggestion, make it! You should both be looking for the best opportunities to get on some fish.

100% correct: If you are with someone that constantly puts you in a negative position than find another fishing partner.

8-)

Fish with friends.

I fish in the back of the boat all the time and it is never a disadvantage. When you fish with friends, you fish as a team and manuever the boat for the advantage of both guys. If you have a suggestion, make it! You should both be looking for the best opportunities to get on some fish.

100% correct: If you are with someone that constantly puts you in a negative position than find another fishing partner.

8-)

Absolutely!

Fish with friends.

I fish in the back of the boat all the time and it is never a disadvantage. When you fish with friends, you fish as a team and manuever the boat for the advantage of both guys. If you have a suggestion, make it! You should both be looking for the best opportunities to get on some fish.

8-)

Exactly.  I fish all electric and drive from the stern.  I am always either putting my guest nose first into the good stuff or setting up so we both have equal access.  I don't tend to see any pattern of one end doing better or worse than the other, but again, we are attacking as a team often with complimenting baits, methods and presentations.

Tell your partners about the problems that you have with the situation.  If they don't give you fishing options from the back or concider your opinion, find new partners.  My partner didn't concider me in the begining and I told I him what problems I had.  He has also told me about the issues that he has had with me in the back of the boat.  After about 6 years of fishing together in the front and back of his and my boat we work well together.

This is a great question...

I think it depends on the relationship between the "boater" and "non-boater". I like the front of the boat but feel at home in the back as well. If I see any area I want to hit and my buddy is on the TM, he heads over, no big deal and vice versa. I think this is becasue we co-own the boat and take turns being up front. I feel this makes us more versatile fisherman. Confidence is the same in the front or back of the boat.

bassnajr

one other problem with being a back boater (not a regular tx partner in my case) is that I've had a hard time figuring out where to put my extra rods and tackle bag.  I limit myself to just 4 of my usual 6 or 7 setups and have down sized my 6 box tackle bag to either a 5 or a 4 box bag. The bag isn't the problem, it's where to put the setups so that they're not always under foot.

My boat is a 14' V jon boat so there are only two positions, front and back. I am having good luck with the TR on the back and fishing backwards.

I have a good friend that wants to come up and fish on my lake. I have been aggravating him by sending daily fishing reports and a few pic's until he gets free from work. When he does get here, probably over Spring Break, he will get the front seat and I will put him on the hot spots I have found since I have the advantage on this lake.

On a public lake, I would position the boat parallel to the shore and move it about two boat lengths at a time so we could both fan cast.

I saw a crappie show this morning and three guys were standing on the front platform...CROWDED!