Co-Angler Advice

[719BassFishing]

I will be fishing the 2014 FLW Rayovac series this year as a co-angler. Ive fished  a lot of local state tournaments but never fished as a coangler on the back of a pro's boat. Any advice would help. Thanks!

[aharris]

Don't try to match him. Try to throw something similar to what he's throwing, but different. For example, if he's skipping docks with a jig, throw a senko or a shaky head. If he's throwing a spinnerbait down the banks, throw a square bill. Ask him the night before what kind of stuff yall will be fishing so you won't have to take everything in the world with you.

[WIGuide]

Solid advice from aharris! A few other words of wisdom, respect his water. Draw a mental line sideways across the boat somewhere near the console and don't cast in front of that. It should be common sense to people who fish a lot, but as they say... common sense isn't always common. You'd be surprised how many times I've had a partner in the back of the boat launch one straight over my head, or right in front of the tm as we're turning. Also remember to drop the guy some cash at the end of the day. Gas and oil aren't cheap these days and they're forking over a lot of money to get there boat to the lake and then to keep it running once they get there plus the wear and tear on their equipment.

[KC5TTC]

I have been fishing different circuits as a co-angler for 5 or 6 years now. The main thing is to respect the boater and his boat. You do this and he will respect you. Keep things clean in your area. Do have your gear scattered out. Most of the time, the boater will have a compartment behind your seat open for you to use to stow any unnecessary gear.

The main thing is to have fun and fish hard.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Have a C-rig ready to go. If you're not getting any good targets, dragging that can get you some bites. Lean to cast back handed. If you can hit the back side of targets as you pass you can pick up a few fish. The respect for the boater & boat should be a given. Feel him out a little to see if he's chatty or quiet and concentrating and go with whatever mood he sets.

[Mike L]

Good for you, I'm thinking about moving up too.

The best advise I can give that hasn't already been given is to not forget what you already know, and not lose any confidence you have in your abilities when things dont go as planned.

Since you already enter into state competition, you know that conditions will change.

Dont depend on the boater to put you on fish.

If he's catching, you know they're there and just because he's hooking up from the front doesn't mean he cleaned everything out before you get a chance.

To me fishing from the back seat is more challenging, which also makes it more important to make the right adjustment at the right time. Sometimes you will and sometimes you won't.

Of course you already know everything I just said.

Sometimes we just need to be reminded, especially at that level.

At least I do.

You may not control where you're going, but you do control you.

Relax, think it through, and have fun.

Good Luck

Mike