I like fishing out of the back as well as the front. I will let my guess take controll of the trolling motor if he wants too but thats me. In your case I would try to talk to them if nothing change, then find new friends.

I usually fish with my son who is a lefty and I'm right handed. I run a tiller in the back and trolling up front. We have electronics in the front and back with side by side transducers so we're seeing essentially the same thing. Neither one of particularly likes to screw around with boat control but I usually end up in the front because then neither of us is competing for the real estate over the boat while casting. Since I fish saltwater a bit I like to use a push pole even when fishing slop 'up nort' so I take the back. But we don't change position on the water since we both go 230 and 6'2" in a 14' boat. If you get stuck in the back and you don't like what the front is doing - fire up the main and trump that dude!

I have a transom mount trolling motor and almost 100% of the time i am in the back. I fish mostly with Bruce and we know how to stay out of each others casting area. It has come to the point when we get to a spot we both thorw our first cast in 2 different zones without even thinking about it

  Zel and Long Mike put me in front of his boat and I was in the back of Flues boat and the same held true. After a while you just know how to respect eachothers throwing area, no big deal

This is why I enjoy taking out the newbies. It's taught me to always be aware of the guy or gal in the back. It wouldn't be much fun for them if I'm banging fish all day while they're twiddling their thumbs,it's all about them and the long lasting memories of that day. Ther's not much more satisfaction then making a suggestion to a newbie like take this lure and cast it right there and getting to see unbriddled jubilation as they set the hook! The two friends I speak of are the only boats I've fished from the back of, other then a few other occassions when I was asked to fill in as a partner for two other members of their club who at the time were in last and next to last place. Both times we whoopped-em for 1st place and lunker. One of which we came in with over 20+lbs and the next closest were these two friends I speak of w/9lbs. Then the chater started about not allowing outside members to be a stand in! ;D

Both are very stuck in thier ways with out room for experimentation. I will make suggestions if the pattern they chose isn't producing yet they can't bring themselves to think out of the box or try different locations,patterns and or depths. You would think they would not be so hard to convince considering I've got more lunkers then both combined. I think compromise is the word here and I'm not sure either one knows the definition! ;D They are both very good friends but not as fishing partners,yet they do well when teamed up with one another, just not with me. We now are all members of a new club, hopefully I will shine enabling them see the light.

This is why I enjoy taking out the newbies. It's taught me to always be aware of the guy or gal in the back. It wouldn't be much fun for them if I'm banging fish all day while they're twiddling their thumbs,it's all about them and the long lasting memories of that day. Ther's not much more satisfaction then making a suggestion to a newbie like take this lure and cast it right there and getting to see unbriddled jubilation as they set the hook! The two friends I speak of are the only boats I've fished from the back of, other then  a few other occassions when I was asked to fill in as a partner for two other members of their club who at the time were in last and next to last place. Both times we whoopped-em for 1st place and lunker. One of which we came in with over 20+lbs and the next closest were these two friends I speak of w/9lbs. Then the chater started about not allowing outside members to be a stand in! ;D

Both are very stuck in thier ways with out room for experimentation. I will make suggestions if the pattern they chose isn't producing yet they can't bring themselves to think out of the box or try different locations,patterns and or depths. You would think they would not be so hard to convince considering I've got more lunkers then both combined. I think compromise is the word here and I'm not sure either one knows the definition! ;D They are both very good friends but not as fishing partners,yet they do well when teamed up with one another, just not with me. We now are all members of a new club, hopefully I will shine enabling them see the light.

I think you'd enjoy fishing with our gang.  In our world, it's US against them (the fish) not the other guy.....We'd rather have an adventure than a competition,.....We'll make a plan this summer

This is why I enjoy taking out the newbies. It's taught me to always be aware of the guy or gal in the back. It wouldn't be much fun for them if I'm banging fish all day while they're twiddling their thumbs,it's all about them and the long lasting memories of that day. Ther's not much more satisfaction then making a suggestion to a newbie like take this lure and cast it right there and getting to see unbriddled jubilation as they set the hook! The two friends I speak of are the only boats I've fished from the back of, other then a few other occassions when I was asked to fill in as a partner for two other members of their club who at the time were in last and next to last place. Both times we whoopped-em for 1st place and lunker. One of which we came in with over 20+lbs and the next closest were these two friends I speak of w/9lbs. Then the chater started about not allowing outside members to be a stand in! ;D

Both are very stuck in thier ways with out room for experimentation. I will make suggestions if the pattern they chose isn't producing yet they can't bring themselves to think out of the box or try different locations,patterns and or depths. You would think they would not be so hard to convince considering I've got more lunkers then both combined. I think compromise is the word here and I'm not sure either one knows the definition! ;D They are both very good friends but not as fishing partners,yet they do well when teamed up with one another, just not with me. We now are all members of a new club, hopefully I will shine enabling them see the light.

I think you'd enjoy fishing with our gang. In our world, it's US against them (the fish) not the other guy.....We'd rather have an adventure than a competition,.....We'll make a plan this summer

Sonuds good! There are five of us that get together every year and head to Cobbosseecontee Lake in ME for three days and some of the best smallie fishing I've ever done. This year I  think the dates are 6-8-08 to 6-11-08. We used to stay at Lakeside Motel but last year I found a great place called Yukon cottages. Huge houses with wood burning stoves or fireplaces right on the water with your own dock. It's like $125 per night split between 5 guys you can't beat $75 a piece for the trip compared to a tiny room or a one room cottage for that same price. On our first night there we returned from fishing,walked in the door and the owners had come by and had the wood stove already burning. Extremely nice hosts! If ever your down that way don't pass up Yukon cottages

I don't mean this in a negative way, but it seems like those "friends" are trying to make it to the Elite Series. Here I go with golf again....

You can learn alot about someone playing golf with them. Same with fishing. Competive nature aside, what someone shows you "raw" on the course or the lake is a good window into what they are REALLY like. I can't wait to fish this year. Not for the tournaments, but more for fishing with new people, learning, and having fun. If  any of the guys I know, and that are am STARTING to know got put in a great position (Elite series???lol) I know we'd be behind each other...and not with a knife in the back, front or back of the boat.

Goood luck,

ajr

I would like to add one comment to this subject.  I fish with my partner out of his boat, and on windy days, I actually have the advantage because boat control becomes very difficult.  I usually always fish beside him on the front deck of the boat, which makes it easier for him from a boat control standpoint.  He no longer has to worry about the back of the boat swinging around in the wind.  It is also beneficial when landing fish, unsnagging lures, and flipping cover.

One warning - good communication and awareness is essential when fishing side by side.  It only takes one jerkbait to the head to ruin the day.