1St Tournament As Coangler

[soopd]

I am fishing my first Flw BFL series as a coangler. I am excited. I have never fished any big tournaments before. We are fishing Pickwick out of JP Coleman.

I have read all the articles about coangler etiquette. But I was wondering if any of you have any personal tips to add.

Any tips from people that has done this before?

Thanks

[Felix77]

I fish as a co-angler on my local league.  When I was looking for more information I came across this from the FLW.  Actually some of the best information on co-angling.  Read and re-read the etiquette post.  

 

Good luck

 

http://www.flwoutdoors.com/fishing-articles/co-angler-clinic/

[jhoffman]

Offer your boater some money

 

He paid for

 

The ...

 

boat

boat maintence

boat insurance

trailer

trailer maintence

tow vehicle

registration for the trailer and boat

 

 

When the pump breaks, he fixes it, when it needs bearings in a trailer, he fixes it, when both vehicles need tires... he fixes it

[Felix77]

If you and the boater are partners fishing a lot of tournament together then you should discuss money.  JHOFFMAN is right and you should be considerate of that stuff.

 

In our league we fish with different people every tournament.  If they end up with a co-angler in one tourney they are put into a pool to go solo next time.  In addition our league set some rules regarding offering money.  It's customary in our league to provide $20 for the gas spent on the lake.  

 

If you ride up with the boater then splitting the gas is also the right thing to do.  That one should be common sense.

 

Another way to think about it ... If you were to charter a bass boat it could run you in excess of $200 - $500+ for a day of fishing.

[gripnrip]

If you and the boater are partners fishing a lot of tournament together then you should discuss money.  JHOFFMAN is right and you should be considerate of that stuff.

 

In our league we fish with different people every tournament.  If they end up with a co-angler in one tourney they are put into a pool to go solo next time.  In addition our league set some rules regarding offering money.  It's customary in our league to provide $20 for the gas spent on the lake.  

 

If you ride up with the boater then splitting the gas is also the right thing to do.  That one should be common sense.

 

Another way to think about it ... If you were to charter a bass boat it could run you in excess of $200 - $500+ for a day of fishing.

x2

[scbassman28]

^{Split the cost for the gas used on the water on tournament day.  Other than that, just respect there boat and equipment.  Try not to step in the seats, or leave trash around there boat.  The rest of the boaters expenses have nothing to do with you.  Just respect there stuff is the main thing.  And the most important thing is have fun.} 

[jhoffman]

Hence the reason more and more tournaments are going to no co-angler. Sharing a boat with your buddy who invited you is not sharing your boat with a total stranger you have never met.

[JimmyMack814]

I fish as a co-angler in my club events and American Bass Anglers.  SCBassman is right that the other maintenance and expenses of a boat have nothing to do with you.  I usually give my boater $40 for boat gas and everyone is different with their own personalities, but co-angler are great to the sport

 

It is important to remember and do these things:

 

1) Your boater is there to win, so be sure to help him whenever he asks you or calls for the net.  That respect factor must be established.  Help him win and he will help you win.

 

2) Don't take a big tackle box.  I have a Tackle Warehouse angler's backpack.  Too much stuff in a boat will get in the way and cause disruptions.

 

3) Only take 4 or 5 rods.  I usually take 4.

 

4). Be don't have your stuff all over the back of the boat.  Be organized and packed, because when the boater is ready to move, you also be better ready to move.

 

5) Don't cast in any direction towards the front.  Co-anglers have the back of the boat, so there is a good number of quality fish to be caught behind the boat and co-anglers have alot of water to fish behind.

 

6) If you don't know how to back a trailer into the water, be honest with the boater.  I don't, but my bass club is going to be teaching me this year.  Most of the time, boaters will have you try and back up during practice, because the only way to get good at it is to try it.

[J Francho]

Offer your boater some money

 

He paid for

 

The ...

 

boat

boat maintence

boat insurance

trailer

trailer maintence

tow vehicle

registration for the trailer and boat

 

 

When the pump breaks, he fixes it, when it needs bearings in a trailer, he fixes it, when both vehicles need tires... he fixes it

I hear this a lot, and to an extent, I agree - I mean, I own two boats. But to me, I would be there, co angler/non-boater or not. If someone offers me a few bucks, or even lunch, that's cool. I just think it's a little low rent to demand cash. If you can't afford, then why did you buy it?

If it's a team format, and my partner will share in the decisions to make runs, where to fish, etc., then we split the gas and tournament fees.

[jhoffman]

Im with ya, me personally, id rather have my boat to myself unless its a close friend because I feel obligated to put my parter in a position to catch fish. Ive never asked anyone whos stepped in my boat for money. BUT... maintanence aint free. If I can in buddy tournaments, I buy the boat and fish alone. I have no problem paying the entire entry fee because we arent talking elites in my game, Im simply not that good.

 

I can say this... if I invite you to fish my boat a couple times and every time you show up you dont ever offer I will eventually stop calling you to fish.

 

The guy owns the boat because hes pationate about fishing. With that said you have no clue of his circumstances, maybe its all he has to pay the payments. I dont think thats a wise decision but I am certain theres guys driving $40,000 boats who cant afford the gas.

[Dinky]

Im with ya, me personally, id rather have my boat to myself unless its a close friend because I feel obligated to put my parter in a position to catch fish. Ive never asked anyone whos stepped in my boat for money. BUT... maintanence aint free. If I can in buddy tournaments, I buy the boat and fish alone. I have no problem paying the entire entry fee because we arent talking elites in my game, Im simply not that good.

 

I can say this... if I invite you to fish my boat a couple times and every time you show up you dont ever offer I will eventually stop calling you to fish.

 

The guy owns the boat because hes pationate about fishing. With that said you have no clue of his circumstances, maybe its all he has to pay the payments. I dont think thats a wise decision but I am certain theres guys driving $40,000 boats who cant afford the gas.

I agree. If they at least offer, and they are sincere, then to me that is usually enough; but sometimes the offer seems grudging, or at least a bit hopeful it will be turned down.

 

Plus, failure to offer to get the boat ready to fish or disappearing as soon as it is pulled out and parked at the parking area and/or leaving it full of trash is especially irritating-especially when not fishing in a tournament and just fishing for fun.

[Fishes in trees]

I am not a tournament co-angler this year for a number of reasons.  I have fish co-angler both in local club tournaments and BFL level.  The whole notion of co-anglers sharing expenses, each club or tournament has roughly defined standards that you learn over time.   I think some money for gas is totally fair.

 

I have an issue with statement "If you were to charter a bass boat for a day of fishing it could cost you $200 to $500 per day."

 

Operative word is could - different lakes have different standards as to what guides are getting for a day trip.   Anyway, if you did do that, you would fish out of the front of the boat and get first crack at fishable water.

 

To use that statement as a justification  for why you should give a boater money is ridiculous.  No boater is going to give his co-angler first crack at fishable water, unless he has a MAJOR sack already in the boat.

 

When you enter a tournament as a co-angler, you aren't buying a guided fishing trip.  You are fishing a tournament as a co-angler.  I don't know about every tournament organization, but in BFL there are two different pots - one for boaters the other for co-anglers.

 

Just saying, should one fish a tournament as a co-angler, the polite thing to do is to offer some money for gas.  When you practice fish for a tournament , the polite thing to do is to offer some money for gas.  As a co-angler, I don't believe that one isn't obligated to share traveling expenses, boat insurance, and the multitudes of other expenses associated with boat ownership.

 

One of the most irksome things that happened to me as a co-angler was being a nice guy, giving the boater gas money up front, at the evening tournament meeting and then getting consciously back boated the next day during the tournament.  I know that in a tournament, occasional back boating cannot be avoided, buy to consciously do it to a co-angler the whole day is just wrong.

 

This guy would have finished up there - not a winner but top 8 for sure, if only his co-angler would have signed his weigh slip.  I couldn't do it, I couldn't let a guy back boat me all day and then expect me to sign his weigh slip.   He was ticked - so what - the rule don't be an ******* works both ways.

[Goose21]

I'm curious what is "back boating" ?

[OkeechobeeAngler]

Co-angler sits or stays in the back of the boat. The boat owner stays in the front. His boat, his rules. If it's a tournament where everyone is competing against each other I see no problem with it. That's how it was when I fished tournaments as a teen, 

[Fishes in trees]

To clarify what I mean by "back boating", it is when the angler consistently and deliberately positions and moves the boat so as to minimize the co-anglers chances of catching fish.

[SDoolittle]

If you're going to use Spike It or JJ's Magic, hang off the side of the boat when you're dipping it.

[Shoop05]

Just be polite, and things will go well. Offer up some gas money. Most of us are good guys and there won't be any issue. Every once in awhile you will get a jerk, that's just the nature of the beast.

 

Most important, be organized! Don't trash your tacklebox or bookbag looking for something.

 

Have fun and remember why you're there........ to win a tournament. So stay focused and get it done!

 

Good luck!

Edited March 11, 2013 by J Francho
No cussing!