Co Angler Jitters

[blackmax135]

I am wanting so bad to start tournament fishing.  I want to stay local and i found the american bass anglers series has tournaments almost everymonth between spring and fall right down the road.  The entry fee is $70 bucks to fish the tournament and you get a chance at making it to fish bigger events.  I have always fished alone when i bass fish in my boat and i am self taught and beeing reading up on here witch is were ive learned almost everything.  So i don't know how to react with fishing with others.  I am set on beeing a co angler or whatever they call it in the ABA.  I want to learn more and become a competitor.  I can hold my own usually then sometimes i wonder about my fishing abilities.  My worries are going into this and not fitting in or not having the boaters wanting others in there boat and also beeing in the boat and the boater catching fish when im catching nothing.  I know not every boater will be the same some guys will be cool and some jerks.  Should i go for it?

[BrianinMD]

Short answer, yes!!

 

Longer answer....it can be a great experience and a chance to learn a lot from different boaters who will fish different. Some will be great to fish with, others will be jerks but that is how it is with everything in live. Cannot let the chance of getting a jerk or two keep you from something you want to try. I have found that if you treat the boaters with respect and treat their boat with respect things turn out just fine. Go do it for a year and re-evaluate with the experience. If you don't try it you will always wonder about what it would have been like.

[BuckMaxx]

 Absolutely yes you should try if that's what you want to do! As far as jitters go just go have fun and fish! Fish your strengths and don't worry about what the guy on the front is doing.

[WIGuide]

I say go for it! There's no reason not to. There might be a few jerks out there no doubt but don't let that spoil it. Also, if the guy in the front is catching, there's a great opportunity to learn. Watch him and what he is doing differently than you to catch them. Make sure you pitch in for gas/oil/wear & tear/etc. You also want to treat his boat with respect. Don't leave line clippings everywhere and soft plastics thrown all over. Give it a year or two and if you feel you have what it takes, become a boater. Then you only have to worry about those in the back of your boat that will most likely be going through the same thing you are now. 

[BuckMaxx]

Might I add youll make many friends if you just know how to back a boat!!

[blackmax135]

I guess ill make alot of friends cause i can back a trailer into anything. lol Thanks for the advice.  Im definatly going for it. Never know i make end up beeing better than i thought.

[CDMeyer]

Yes definitely go for it.  What you will learn co-angler jerk or not will only make you better

[FishNFire]

Interesting topic for sure since I am sitting in almost exactly the same spot myself experience wise and all. I do have a question though as it relates to the "Link" with a boater. What does it mean to have a link and if you get one does it mean you fish with that person or does it just guarantee that you get in the tourney? is it something I need to be concerned with finding or will just registering be good enough.  I was thinking of doing some low level FLW events to test the waters with I have fished for years just not for bass exclusively until the past year and a half. Sorry to kind of jump in but this thread caught my eye.

[KC5TTC]

By linking with someone, it guarantees that the boater gets to use his boat in the tournament and that you get to fish.  If there are more co-anglers than boaters, a non-linked co-angler could go home without fishing.  You don't necessarily get to fish with your link.  It is a computer draw.  You might however.  I have been fishing this way for several years and have drawn my link a couple of times but not normally.

[Felix77]

Hell YES!  Learned a ton fishing tournaments.  You won't regret it.

[Bruce424]

Yep. And Just remember...fishing is fishing doesn't matter who your with.

[Mike L]

To echo everyone else...Absolutely!!

Like you, I had reservations when I wanted to start also.

There are many threads on here that will give you many tips on the ediquite a co angler should follow while fishing in someone else's boat, many of which are no different than what you would expect as a boat owner yourself.

Read them when you can. If you have a question or want clarification of something post it.

I started entering tournaments late in my life and I regret I waited so long. And now I enter all I can afford.

Don't let the unknown influence your decision.

You have the desire to compete and learn...That's all you need.

The ABA, TBF, BFL, B.A.S.S. Nations are all national organization's that have local affiliations, fishing local waters. Im sure you'll find one close to you.

I remember what my wife and son told me when I first started and had the same reservation's as you...If not now when? What are waiting for? DO IT!

Friend, I'll tell you the same.

Good Luck and let us know how you do.

Mike