Non-Boater Etiquitte

[Preytorien]

I'm not in a position right now in my life to own a bass boat (or really any boat for that matter). I've been fortunate enough to be able to join a friend of mine with a very nice Stratos several times this summer while he was pre-fishing for a tournament.

 

I just wondered what are some tips of etiquitte to keep in mind.

 

Some things I did each time were....

 

1. Help launch/pull out the boat (I'm not quite skilled enough yet to back it in, but I parked the truck/trailer)

2. $20 gasoline gift card

3. Brought snacks/drinks for the boat cooler

4. Brought hot breakfast sandwiches (Hardees or McD's) for early morning

5. Paid for the launch fee (except for the 1 time he beat me to it)

6. Was never late, and generally offered any assistance he needed from me

 

I was pretty careful not to cast in his direction, I kept my gear tidy. I only brought 2 rods and a small tackle bag (about the size of a shoebox). I kept pretty quiet and let him do his thing, although he was teaching me a lot of new methods and tricks throughout, but talking was pretty minimal most of the time.

 

Anything else you'd recommend?

 

What are some personal caveats or tips you'd give me? What are some things that non-boaters do that irritate the daylights out of you?

 

Thanks!

[Siebert Outdoors]

My biggest one is don't step on my seats.

[Dwight Hottle]

Offer to pull up & deploy the trolling motor while the boater warms up the motor & shuts it down.

[slonezp]

Don't smoke.

 

A couple years ago a buddy of mines non boater was backing the trailer down the ramp to load the boat. He had put the tailgate down to see better. Cut a turn to tight and the boater and his wife were waving their hands and yelling stop. I guess he didn't see or hear them and crushed the tailgate.  

[Felix77]

I'm not in a position right now in my life to own a bass boat (or really any boat for that matter). I've been fortunate enough to be able to join a friend of mine with a very nice Stratos several times this summer while he was pre-fishing for a tournament.

 

I just wondered what are some tips of etiquitte to keep in mind.

 

Some things I did each time were....

 

1. Help launch/pull out the boat (I'm not quite skilled enough yet to back it in, but I parked the truck/trailer)

2. $20 gasoline gift card

3. Brought snacks/drinks for the boat cooler

4. Brought hot breakfast sandwiches (Hardees or McD's) for early morning

5. Paid for the launch fee (except for the 1 time he beat me to it)

6. Was never late, and generally offered any assistance he needed from me

 

I was pretty careful not to cast in his direction, I kept my gear tidy. I only brought 2 rods and a small tackle bag (about the size of a shoebox). I kept pretty quiet and let him do his thing, although he was teaching me a lot of new methods and tricks throughout, but talking was pretty minimal most of the time.

 

Anything else you'd recommend?

 

What are some personal caveats or tips you'd give me? What are some things that non-boaters do that irritate the daylights out of you?

 

Thanks!

[Felix77]

Don't smoke.

 

A couple years ago a buddy of mines non boater was backing the trailer down the ramp to load the boat. He had put the tailgate down to see better. Cut a turn to tight and the boater and his wife were waving their hands and yelling stop. I guess he didn't see or hear them and crushed the tailgate.  

[Preytorien]

Yea I'm pretty transparent, which I figured he'd rather me be than to trash his $60,000 boat. He doesn't seem mind backing it in. But I'm not above saying I'm inexperienced at something, which is also how I've learned so much this year. He really has taught me a lot and showed me stuff I never could learn on-shore.

 

As for the other ideas, I don't smoke, so no issue there.

 

I have leather seats in my car, which gets baby'd (just ask my wife!) so I definitely don't step on his seats either. That'd tick me off pretty good.

 

I've never thought of the idea of deploying the trolling motor, that's a good suggestion. One more thing he wouldn't have to worry about and we could get our lines in the water faster.

 

I'm always conscious of when "he's done" with a spot and wants to bring everything in and move. So I think I usually do a pretty good job of being ready to go when he is.

 

Great ideas guys thanks.

 

Any more?
 

[Glenn]

Well...don't be afraid of the boater.  Yes, it's his boat, but you don't have to be a mouse .... you're a guest.  I'd say ask him how many rods and how much tackle he suggests you bring.  Each boat is different, and each boater's tolerance is different.  So there are no hard rules.  Chipping in for gas is almost mandatory - although I never accept it.  And don't let anyone convince you that you need to chip in for "other" expenses such as oil and insurance.

 

Other than that, don't make a mess (eating crackers, peanuts, etc).

 

Here's some additional information you might find helpful:

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/co-angler_clinic.html

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/guide_to_tournament_fishing.html

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/tournament-etiquette.html

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/tournament_etiquette.html

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/Tournament_Tips.html

[J Francho]

I don't know about other boaters, but I'm perfectly willing to teach non boaters in my club how to back a trailer down.  You can read all the articles you want, know all the tricks, but really it comes down to seat time.  I've hear the crushed tailgait story too many times to count.  Neither of my trailers would ever do this - the side rails would hit the bumper before hitting the tailgait.  Maybe it's the hitch I use, since it sticks out about 8" from the receiver.  My main advice to learning how to back down is to go slow, but not so slow you can't tell how the trailer reacts to steering inputs.  That, and don't make any sharp cuts.  Many times, I'll line the trailer up on the ramp, then hop in, and let my partner back it straight down and park it.  My girlfriend can even do this, and she won't drive my truck any other time.

 

Non boater tips?  Keep your stuff neat and tidy, out of the way, and be ready to roll at a moment's notice.  Some gear that I use as a non boater: Save Phace mask, Bac Rac, packable rain gear, inflatable PFD worn all the time, belt clip for tools, and a pocket full of those tarp bungees - just in case.  Tell your boater to give you an idea when he thinks he'll move, and you'll be ready for him. I generally bring 4-8 rods (the Bac Rac really lets you bring more than you need), and a 4x3700 tackle bag.

[BrianinMD]

Don't take anything into the boat which could stain, such as colored drinks, liquid scents, and such.

 

Always talk to you boater in advance, so you are prepared for what they are going to do.

 

Be prepared for weather.

 

Don't bring to much stuff.

 

Be honest about what you are comfortable doing, whether its backing up trailers, running trolling motor if necessary. Boaters are happier knowing this info rather than someone not saying something then damaging things.

 

If you need to pee off the boat, make sure to pee OFF the boat.

 

Don't get irritated if they prefer to do things themselves. Such as I always try to help cleanup and prepare the boat for the road once the day is done. Some boaters don't want help, they have a method which they prefer to do without disruption.

 

if you prefish don't go blabbing to anyone else what you found out.

 

bring along some type of hook guards especially for trembles

 

find out before you leave the ramp what their netting thoughts are, some what it immediately others only when called for.

[Felix77]

One very overlooked thing is your attitude.  Nothing brings down a day of fishing more than a negative guest.  Just try to be positive and stay positive throughout your day.  Fishing is hard enough without negative vibes.

 

Remember you are fishing and there are a lot of people out there who would trade everything they have to be in your shoes.

[ww2farmer]

When I fish a tournament with someone and we use there boat instead of mine, I try to do the following:

 

Launch and retrieve the boat

 

throw the boater some gas money............the amount depends, and if were going out of town to another lake, I give him some gas money for the truck too.

 

Pay 1/2 the entry fee

 

Try not to bring too much stuff, but I usually fail in this area LOL

 

That is for team type open tournaments............the only kind I fish. And I expect the same in reverse if we use my boat.

 

Now if were out fun fishing, and I invite you to join me............it's free, your a guest, and I am going fishing anyways, no need to pay me.

[tomustang]

Don't be afraid to ask him what he expects from you.

[Fishes in trees]

When I was doing BFLs as a co-angler there was a learning curve.  All of the advice posted above is good advice.  There is a line between being a good co-angler and being a door mat.  Everyone has to find out for themselves where that line is.  For me, it was a tournament on Bull Shoals where the fishing was tough and there were only a couple of patterns that were working.  Boater had plenty of fish early ( would have finished 3rd ) and continued the rest of the day to position the boat to where I had no chance to cast at the available fish.  That kind of got me steamed, but I stayed quiet, tried to fish available water, that sort of thing.

 

When we got back to the dock, I packed up all my stuff and said "bye".  I refused to sign his weigh in slip.  He got angry and threatened me.  I walked away, let him put his own boat back on his own trailer.  He got an expensive lesson about  the results of co-angler abuse.  I'm not totally proud of what I did, but guys have their limits and I hit mine.   I fished BFL a couple more years after that incident and it was never brought up to me again, except in the motel parking lot where a couple of other co-anglers said "way to go".    99% of the boaters I drew during BFL tournaments were good guys - I say in contact with 5 or 6 of them.   All I'm saying is be ready to stand up for yourself when you run into that one genuine jerk.

[MarkH024]

My biggest one is don't step on my seats.

[martintheduck]

It already sounds like you'd be an ideal tag-along fisherman in my book... gas money and bring hardly any gear? You get an A++ in my book.

 

A few things I'll add (and I don't know if everyone buys into these ideas):

 

- Don't question what spots we are fishing. If we are fishing a spot, it's for a reason -- If I want your opinion, I'll ask for it.

 

- Try to joke around a little (on my boat at least). It gets kind of stressful being 100% serious. Can get kind of tense when it's totally quiet.

 

- Be prepared for weather -- My buddy and I went out a few weeks ago after a cold front and it was 45 degrees -- he showed up wearing jeans and a hoodie. He was shivering cold all morning ESPECIALLY when we were running 60mph and he wasn't behind a console! Made me feel terrible for him all day.

 

- DON'T YOU DARE BRING A BANANA ON MY FRIGGIN' BOAT!!!!! NOT EVEN BANANA BOAT SUNSCREEN!!!!

[BassnChris]

My biggest one is don't step on my seats.

[BassnChris]

Almost all of the advice I agree with totally. And in part with every tip......with following deviations.

That kind of got me steamed, but I stayed quiet, tried to fish available water, that sort of thing.

When we got back to the dock, I packed up all my stuff and said "bye". I refused to sign his weigh in slip. He got angry and threatened me. All I'm saying is be ready to stand up for yourself when you run into that one genuine jerk.

[martintheduck]

A+ in my book too. And do not question where/what we are doing in a confrontational way. But you should be able to ask 'why' or 'how' they picked the spot or technique.

 

[BassnChris]

Absolutely -- ask why or how at any point in time -- This is how I learned quite a bit about choosing spots, reading points, reading graphs/maps, and why I should be casting off the port side and not the starboard side, etc.. etc.. ---- but, when we are at a spot don't complain like a two year old about the spot we are fishing. Have a buddy who has a knack for doing this often and it chaps my butt really bad. Told him to can it quite a few times.

[Boomer_bassin]

- DON'T YOU DARE BRING A BANANA ON MY FRIGGIN' BOAT!!!!! NOT EVEN BANANA BOAT SUNSCREEN!!!!

[Long Mike]

Wow!  No bananas it the boat?  I've heard of superstitions, but that one really takes the cake!  I have a superstition. I will not allow anyone with a bazooka in my boat.

[BassnChris]

Wow!  No bananas it the boat?  I've heard of superstitions, but that one really takes the cake!  I have a superstition. I will not allow anyone with a bazooka in my boat.

[martintheduck]

Wow!  No bananas it the boat?  I've heard of superstitions, but that one really takes the cake!  I have a superstition. I will not allow anyone with a bazooka in my boat.

[PotomacBassin]

Don't play music on the radio or radio unless he asks you to.