Advice for Co-Anglers

[NC_Basser]

As a new entrant into the Co-Angler tournament scene I need a little help. I really don't know how much equipment to take with me. What is a normal, or appropriate, amount of cash to give your boating partner for gas etc. Any other help in this area would really be appreciated.

Thanks

[johnnie crain outdoors]

Good question. Now is the time to get it worked out before you show up at an event.
When I go no boat, I carry only five rod and reel combinations. Three baitcast-two spinning. That way I'm covered no matter where we fish or what style of fishing we do. More than 5 rods can take up space, are easily tripped over and creates a lot of clutter, you can use only one at a time.
I also like to carry soft sided tackle packs instead of a big ole possum belly tackle box. In these sift packs I carry a few proven spinnerbaits, gold-silver-chartreuse blades, white, chartreuse-Ch/blue/green- and salt and pepper skirts. A handful of various size and color jigs. A couple of bags of plastic jig trailers. Two buzzbaits if in season. Crankbaits, from very shallow runners to deep divers to fifteen feet. An asortment of plastic worms and or craeture baits, various size sinkers, 2/0 3/0 4/0 hooks. Two Zara spook type baits and two jigging spoons. Two scum fishing frog type baits.
I carry a lite weight rainsuit-bring my own life jacket-a very small six pack cooler-& thermos-(coffee drinker).
The gas money may have to be figured out that morning or during the day, depending on how much gas is actually burned. I'd hate to pay $50 for gas and only go a couple miles.
Be sure to discuss who's going to net the fish-or not! Do this prior to take-off.
Be helpful in any way you can without being over-bearing or getting in the way. Have yourself and your tackle ready for a blast-off at all times. I hate it when I've raised the trolling motor and started the engine then find may partner is trying to find his life jacket and stow rods and tackle.
Hope this helps, others should jump in here and fill in what I've left out. Best of luck to you this year, Johnnie-Iowa Staff

[carl]

My number one pet peeve, above all else, is an impolite partner. The guy in the back of the boat who fishes in front of the guy up front. There are two clowns in my bass club who do this, so I didn't fish with the club very often. This year I will make it perfectly clear that if they continue this pactice they can, and will get out of the boat no matter where we are. Sorry, get a little carried away aover this. Good luck. Johnnie's got it right. My New Years resolution is to stop taking too much tackle with me, a bad habit I'm going to brake. Good fishing this year, Carl.

[johnnie crain outdoors]

Carl's right, if your boarter is castinga jig or plastic worm and you cast out a crankbait ahead of him or her, well-you know what happens. Be polite and courteous, don't talk too much and be attentive to what your partner is doing. You'll get your shots, just be ready when it comes.

[NC_Basser]

This is the kind of information I need. Just 6 weeks to the first tournament on Santee Cooper in South Carolina. I've never fished there so it will be a new experience in more ways that one.

I thought I was doing good getting my tackle down to five 3700 trays and a small spinnerbait box plus bags of plastics. All of this fits in a soft sided tackle box. Do you think that is too much.

On the rods, I had expected to take six. one is a spinning/finese rod, one flipping stick, two cranking rods, a worm rod and a spinnerbait rod.

I did put a lifejacket and rain wear on the menu along with a fish hedz mask. But here are some other questionable items. Should I take my culling system and measuring board?

You know, it's really hard to get a boat load of equipment down to a carry-on luggage size. I know there are going to be many items I WISH I had taken with me.

The courtesy thing is part of what I worry about also. I don't want to get in the boaters way but I also don't want to be pushed into fishing just the back of the boat in the wake. Boaters only pay twice as much as I will be paying.

I should be able to talk with the boater the night before the tournament to get an idea of what he expects from me. Also plan to ask him his plan of attack for the next morning. I know all plans change after getting on the lake but at least I can find out how to rig rods for the start. I don't plan on using the same baits but I do plan on using something complimentary. i.e. If he is using a slow presentation I will use a different lure with a slow presentation. This can only benefit both of us in determining what the fish want that day.

Don't be bashful in saying I am thinking wrong. That is why I am here. TO LEARN.

Thanks Johnnie and Carl

[johnnie crain outdoors]

Basser, looks like you're on your way. That shouldn't be too much tackle, I probably wouldn't take the measuring board or culling system. The boater should have a board and I'd worry about culling later on. Most boaters that plan on flippin' or pitchin' will most likely just have you get up front with them so its fair. Other styles of casting you shouldn't have many problems. Just be a nice guy and your partner will be too-hopefully. Johnnie

[RNE]

Johnnie and Carl both made very good points, as one who has fished out of both ends of the boat I’d like to add my 2 cents here.

This is for Draw Tourneys, if you fish a Partner system, it would be a lot different.

The advice about tackle is spot on, I’ll add this, a small gear-bag with your rain gear, odds n ends you need, including a small first aid kit. (Something I never leave behind! I tend to get excruciating tension headaches if I don’t get enough sleep, which I never do before a tourney. Thank goodness for Ibuprofen. ... Not to mention most people tend to forget that little item.)

No more than six rods, period, end of discussion. I do take one or two back-up reels in the small gear bag.

Expense sharing, you’ll know who you drew out the night before during the meeting, talk to them about it right up front. I’ve heard, and endured some pretty sad stories about this over the years. Get it over with as soon as possible.

Fishing time, if you fish a draw tourney, customarily you have the choice of location/pattern/speed for half the day. Another small detail that you must settle as soon as you know who you’re fishing with. I give a draw partner the front deck and trolling motor for their time, but I drive the boat. Another non-negotiable point with me. I could tell you nightmarish stories about letting someone else run the big motor. Some of which cost me several thousand dollars.

The touchiest part, sharing the boat with someone you’re competing with, this means staying in your ‘zone’. Not casting past the other guy, unless they ask you too if you’re working a ‘clean up bait’.

Conversely, when you do have the trolling motor, not ‘front ending’ the back deck. I.E. cutting them completely off from productive water. Which has been done to me, after a while I will say something about it. Quite strongly if it continues after I bring it up. Learning the finer points of sharing a day with a draw-partner will come along after a few events fishing with competitors in the same boat.

Lastly, I’ll add my “be polite!” to the others, having a stranger that close to you all day is hard enough. No reason to make it worse by getting off to a bad start.

[NC_Basser]

All of the tournaments I will be fishing are draw tournaments. Separate payouts for boater and co-angler. I hear BASS is using the shared weight method. I don't know that I would like that too much. Instead of fishing against a potential 199 other co-anglers I would be fishing against 398 other anglers.

No chance of the co-angler controlling the boat in these tournaments. It is specifically against the rules. No boat driving, trolling motor use and must fish from the back of the boat. All are grounds for disqualification.

Found a good series of articles on www.flwoutdoors.com http://www.flwoutdoors.com/article.cfm?id=140564 that were directed to the co-anglers. Lots of good information there. web page

[RNE]

You're fishing what is termed a Pro-Am series hereabouts. I am well aware of the rules for this particular format.

That changes some of what I said.

I would approach sharing expenses exactly the same, most of the time.

(Spare me the comments about Pro's, sponsers,ETC, fellers. I still think it the right thing to do. I filled up a Stratos 201 Pro Elite yesterday, 42 gallons of gas, over a hundred bucks. And it isn't all that hard to burn every last ounce of it up during a tourney. Most of the 'Pros' are on a stringent budget just like we are. Not to add, if you make the offer, even if it's refused? The guy will think a lot more kindly toward you. Which could get you some good tips and tactics advice. And a rep with the Pro side as a stand up partner.)

The rest of my comments would still apply though.

The most important thing you can do once you are drawn, no matter the format, is talk to your boater!. Get the ground rules straight immediately! From expenses to who's bringing the cold drinks, what about the net when a fish is on? As you go through the season you'll know which questions to ask.


Once you're on the water you don't want to spend time wrangling out minor details. I learned about a lot of this the hard way. Lot easier if you are aware of it before you set foot in the boat.

Richard

[NC_Basser]

Thanks RNE for the good info. I like to be a little knowledgable BEFORE I get there on these types of things.

I did find a good informational site on Bassfan for co-anglers. It is kind of hidden if you don't look closely. It can be found at web page . Lots of good information there for co-anglers. Need something like that here. hint hint.