Co-Angler Advice...advice For The Back Of The Boat

[bucketmouthbeatdown]

I am joining a Bass club this year. I am entering as a co-angler so that I can learn and up my game. I am looking for advice on do's and don'ts and catching fish behind someone else.

[smallieking]

ive fished for years out of the backs of boats. still do for flw and federation tournaments. Its a much cheaper way to fish. The biggest piece of advice is you always gota fish just a fast or faster than your partner. if hes burning up the trolling motor cranking or spinnerbaiting. well you wont be able to flip or throw something slow. so pick something different than what hes throwing to give the bass a different look and pay attention to areas or targets he might have missed and fish them thoroughly. and also if hes going slow your entire tacklebox is open. one great tip that has helped me when fishing behind a flipper, especially a good one is try a square bill or spinnerbait around the same cover he is flipping. I get so many reaction bites from bass that turned down a jig or plastic. and don't be afraid to throw on the opposite side of the boat with a jig crankbait or Carolina rig.... two biggest keys to being a good co angler is to pay attention to what the boater is doing. be different in your retrieve and bait selection as well as casting to targets he might have over looked. and if hes really catching them, well copy him... co angling in a small club is the best way to develop your skills and knowledge of your local lakes...

[jhoffman]

I think co-angling is great on one hand and terrible in another. Especially if you dont own a boat and have your own style. Its far to easy to get locked into tactics that others use and get this sense its the end all be all. How many times you gonna fish with guys who throw the shakey right of the bat before you start believing you miles well never even try a swimbait? This isnt as bad if you do fish alone but I have seen where that exact thing happens. Finesse baits to me are the saving grace for tough days, Im not starting my day with it every day.

 

One other thing, dont cast in front of the guy running the trolling motor.

[Oregon Native]

I would mention not to cast back down the bank from where you came.  I find it frustrating when back seater snags and doesn't say anything for a few minutes and then you have to turn around and backtrack a number of yards! 

[Mike L]

You got some good advise there.....

If I may add...

Fish your fish, dont worry about what he's doing.

It'll be tough not to try to match him, but believe me when I tell you, if you start doing that you wont stop and any confidence you had in your self or your abilities will be gone.

You have a line in the boat, the area from the seats to the motor is yours.

DON'T cast over, or next to him.

Be ready with the net if you boater hooks up. However, before you leave its always a good idea to ask him how he wants you to do it . Some will want you to be still and he swims the fish to you, and some will want you to go get it. Its always a good idea to ask before you leave.

Keep your bag out of his way. When running keep it between your legs if he doesn't give you a compartment.

When you're fishing put the bag on your seat.

Keep your rods either on the deck or next to your seat along the gunell, NOT between the seats.

Dont step on either seat getting to the rear deck if posssible

Offer to bring lunch, drinks, snacks etc.

Always buy the ice.

If you smoke make sure you dont burn a hole in the carpet.

If you use dye, make sure you dont spill any, that stuff is hard to get out of the carpet.

Offer to help pay for fuel, some will take it some will not, but be ready. It's my opinion the co angler should share in the cost especially for a 9 hr tournament day.

Dont forget who's boat it is.. Respect his equipment

A lot of stuff?? Yes it is but if you think about it just makes sense, but thats me.

Above all have fun, don't put any added pressure on yourself just because its a tournament.

Just go Fishin.

Good luck to you

Mike

[smallieking]

• and don't hit your partner with the lure you are throwing. This just happened to me this past weekend. my co angler nailed me in the back with a jerkbait putting 4 holes in my rain jacket. I was more than mad

[jbsoonerfan]

 

• and don't hit your partner with the lure you are throwing. This just happened to me this past weekend. my co angler nailed me in the back with a jerkbait putting 4 holes in my rain jacket. I was more than mad

 

 

Better than the back of your head.  

[roadwarrior]

Alternative strategy: Troll a Rage Tail Eeliminator C-rigged, especially if you are being front-ended.

 If you get hung up, break it off nd retie rather than holding up the boater. An alternative bait I like

is the Rage Lizard, also C-rigged.

 

 

 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

If he'll leave the console unit on for you watch for targets you pass over. I've caught a few good ones right off the back end even though we just floated over top of them.

[Dave P]

All excellent advice. As a team fisherman, I would add this, watch how they hit the cover as they move down a bank (if that's what you're doing) because I will guarantee you that there will be angles, pockets, areas and pieces of cover that they can't or don't hit. These are your goldmines. Also keep an eye on what's on the other side of the boat. I have several spots on one of the local lakes that I can usually pick up a few on the opposite side while he's beating the bank. In this particular situation I usually use a squarebill or a spinnerbait. The only time I'll throw slow plastic or drag bottom is if the front seater is doing something comparable otherwise you just get frustrated because they'll hit the motor before you have time to do anything with it.

[pennix5]

[Pmoss1]

Pretty much what everyone else has said. Be respectful and don't be obnoxious. Try to learn something new and have fun doing it.

[gripnrip]

I have fished my club for 3 years from the back.  I read an article once about co-angling on Flw's website.  The article stated to have a good selection of terminal tackle.  So I stocked a box of just about everything.  More than one occasion my boater offered a soft plastic bait I didn't have with me or one I've never used.  When they offered I had the stuff to rig the bait.  I have gotten compliments on my terminal tackle box.  

 

So with having a stocked terminal box, the boater offering the bait to me didn't have to dig out and set me up with everything.  They would toss me the bag and keep fishing.  A couple of minutes I was ready to go.

[smallieking]

I have fished my club for 3 years from the back.  I read an article once about co-angling on Flw's website.  The article stated to have a good selection of terminal tackle.  So I stocked a box of just about everything.  More than one occasion my boater offered a soft plastic bait I didn't have with me or one I've never used.  When they offered I had the stuff to rig the bait.  I have gotten compliments on my terminal tackle box.  

 

So with having a stocked terminal box, the boater offering the bait to me didn't have to dig out and set me up with everything.  They would toss me the bag and keep fishing.  A couple of minutes I was ready to go.

Great piece of advice.

[slimshad]

I am sure there are alot of really great guys that are boaters.  I have just heard way too many horror stories.  I got a guy into fishing last year and he decided to "learn" from doing some BFL tournys.  His first one was the last one for him.  He drew a complete jerk.  I told him that there was a chance of this and was hoping for the best.  The dude made fun of him and screamed at him when the net wasn't in the right place.  He said he did everything the guy asked.  I could go on and on about this guy.  If it was me I would have went to the tournament director as soon as I got off the boat.  Guess thats the chance you take.  Gripanrip's story was a good one to read.  I hope to read more like that, so I can get this bad taste out of my mouth.  I have just fished club tournys because of that drama.  My advice would be to down size your offering and throw a senko when possible.  If you get a boater that is a jerk, just boat flip your 5 pounder and say, I don't need a net!

[gripnrip]

I am sure there are alot of really great guys that are boaters.  I have just heard way too many horror stories.  I got a guy into fishing last year and he decided to "learn" from doing some BFL tournys.  His first one was the last one for him.  He drew a complete jerk.  I told him that there was a chance of this and was hoping for the best.  The dude made fun of him and screamed at him when the net wasn't in the right place.  He said he did everything the guy asked.  I could go on and on about this guy.  If it was me I would have went to the tournament director as soon as I got off the boat.  Guess thats the chance you take.  Gripanrip's story was a good one to read.  I hope to read more like that, so I can get this bad taste out of my mouth.  I have just fished club tournys because of that drama.  My advice would be to down size your offering and throw a senko when possible.  If you get a boater that is a jerk, just boat flip your 5 pounder and say, I don't need a net!

I haven't fished anything other than my local club.  I have heard some good stories from the BFL's and horror stories.  I have thought about fishing some of them.  

 

I can promise one thing.  The boater acts like you stated above, I can promise his day with me won't be fun.  I'll never pick up the net.  He'll get no cash from me and I'll do my best to kick his tale back boated or not.

[catchin'em]

ive fished for years out of the backs of boats. still do for flw and federation tournaments. Its a much cheaper way to fish. The biggest piece of advice is you always gota fish just a fast or faster than your partner. if hes burning up the trolling motor cranking or spinnerbaiting. well you wont be able to flip or throw something slow. so pick something different than what hes throwing to give the bass a different look and pay attention to areas or targets he might have missed and fish them thoroughly. and also if hes going slow your entire tacklebox is open. one great tip that has helped me when fishing behind a flipper, especially a good one is try a square bill or spinnerbait around the same cover he is flipping. I get so many reaction bites from bass that turned down a jig or plastic. and don't be afraid to throw on the opposite side of the boat with a jig crankbait or Carolina rig.... two biggest keys to being a good co angler is to pay attention to what the boater is doing. be different in your retrieve and bait selection as well as casting to targets he might have over looked. and if hes really catching them, well copy him... co angling in a small club is the best way to develop your skills and knowledge of your local lakes...

this guys got it so right!! you NEED to be fishing faster. too many times guys fish worm behind a guy thats power fishing and your already done. if you plan on fishing co angler for a while, become a proficient power fisherman its almost always the best bet from behind the boat and its good for when your running the troll. but spot on smallieking

[BuckMaxx]

If you wanna make friends out of the boaters in the club learn how to back a boat in the water. if you all ready know how.. do multiple boats. Run back down to the dock and start grabbing keys!