Preytorien Posted February 6, 2015 Posted February 6, 2015 I fish with a buddy of mine who has a really nice Stratos boat. I don't get to go out with him as often as I'd like, but I'm a bit hooked on fishing from his sweet ride. I wondered though, what's the etiquette for WHERE I stand in the boat as a co-angler? I usually stand on the back casting deck, but I've seen videos of guys standing on the front casting deck, albeit several feet from the boat-owner. While that might be uncomfortable for me initially, if it's considered "allowed" based on unspoken rules I could get used to it to be able to get my lure into some premium areas. Keep in mind I'm not talking tournament time, just basic fishing, or sometimes he'll take me out while he's pre-fishing. What's your take on it? Quote
Zach Dunham Posted February 6, 2015 Posted February 6, 2015 Normally you fish from the back of the boat. In the bigger tournaments you are actually required to do so. If you are fishing a buddy tournament or something and it is your friend's boat, well then it is just whatever your buddy wants. When I fish with my good friends we usually both stand up front. That should cover all situations! haha Quote
Super User fishballer06 Posted February 6, 2015 Super User Posted February 6, 2015 If it's a tournament and you're paired with a random guy, stay on your back end. If he's your good buddy (or relative), fish where you'd like that is comfortable for both of you. I know whenever I fish with my father, we'll both be up on the front deck whenever its necessary. Or if we're vertical jigging and we both need to be on the back deck, we'll do so as well. Quote
Trent Wilson Posted February 6, 2015 Posted February 6, 2015 That all depends. 95% of the time you'll be in the back. However, when me and the old man run the Hiawassee river, you're almost required to fish from the front seeing as almost all bites from cranks come from parallel to the bank. It really just depends. Quote
Super User Way2slow Posted February 7, 2015 Super User Posted February 7, 2015 It's very easy to tell when you crossed the line. You start wondering why he doesn't invite you anymore. I personally would never get on the front deck or try to make long cast beyond the center of the boat, unless invited and was told there was no problems with it. Other than maybe when fishing for schooling fish breaking the water. Then you only have a short time to get a bait in front of them and you are not cutting the other person out. What is just as important is offering some gas money. It can cost big bucks hauling a large boat and feeding a big outboard. Quote
Trent Wilson Posted February 7, 2015 Posted February 7, 2015 It's very easy to tell when you crossed the line. You start wondering why he doesn't invite you anymore. I personally would never get on the front deck or try to make long cast beyond the center of the boat, unless invited and was told there was no problems with it. Other than maybe when fishing for schooling fish breaking the water. Then you only have a short time to get a bait in front of them and you are not cutting the other person out. What is just as important is offering some gas money. It can cost big bucks hauling a large boat and feeding a big outboard. x2. If my second doesn't offer gas or lunch, I'm going solo. How's the saying go? Gas,grass, or.....ya'll know. Quote
Brian6428 Posted February 7, 2015 Posted February 7, 2015 Just ask him. I fish with my brother almost all the time an normally I drive and he's on the back deck. Sometimes if it's windy he'll move up front with me so I don't have to kill myself keeping the boat parallel to whatever we're fishing. Sometimes he just moves up front cause it's easier for whatever lures we're throwing. It isn't a big deal with my brother cause we fished out of a 10' pond prowler for a year and totally trust eachother, know when to cast, not hook eachother, etc. Some of the guys I fish with I wouldn't trust enough to fish up front for fear of getting hooked. After all, my boat is only 18'6" so the front deck isn't massive. Good luck! Remember the best way to get invited back is to pitch in money, treat his boat as if it were yours (don't step on seats, slam lockers closed, have dirty shoes, etc), offer to drive the TM if it's windy and he's retying, and so on. 2 Quote
BigSkyBasser Posted February 8, 2015 Posted February 8, 2015 It's all about the rules and the boater's preference. Casually fishing and pre fishing may be different but usually you will be stuck in the back of the boat. Quick tip for back boating: If there's a seat, NEVER sit down! This is how the boater will get you comfortable and distract you from the bites so he can get his limit and cull easier with you there. Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted February 9, 2015 Global Moderator Posted February 9, 2015 Just ask him. I fish with my brother almost all the time an normally I drive and he's on the back deck. Sometimes if it's windy he'll move up front with me so I don't have to kill myself keeping the boat parallel to whatever we're fishing. Sometimes he just moves up front cause it's easier for whatever lures we're throwing. It isn't a big deal with my brother cause we fished out of a 10' pond prowler for a year and totally trust eachother, know when to cast, not hook eachother, etc. Some of the guys I fish with I wouldn't trust enough to fish up front for fear of getting hooked. After all, my boat is only 18'6" so the front deck isn't massive. Good luck! Remember the best way to get invited back is to pitch in money, treat his boat as if it were yours (don't step on seats, slam lockers closed, have dirty shoes, etc), offer to drive the TM if it's windy and he's retying, and so on. Could have stopped right there . He's your buddy right? ask him and I'm sure he'll tell you. Personally, I didn't buy a bigger boat so I could fish shoulder to shoulder with someone. If the situation dictates, that's different, but most of the time there's no real reason to stand next to each other anyways. 4 Quote
Super User gardnerjigman Posted February 9, 2015 Super User Posted February 9, 2015 Could have stopped right there . He's your buddy right? ask him and I'm sure he'll tell you. Personally, I didn't buy a bigger boat so I could fish shoulder to shoulder with someone. If the situation dictates, that's different, but most of the time there's no real reason to stand next to each other anyways. This. I've been in situations (team type formats) where you are both at the front of the boat working a school of fish, or doing a follow up of a different bait. BUT, for the most part, common courtesy says from the windshields to the bow is the boaters. anything behind the windshield is the co-angler. Quote
Super User Dwight Hottle Posted February 9, 2015 Super User Posted February 9, 2015 When I fish with certain buddies in their boat we often fish shoulder to shoulder from the front of the boat when targeting banks or a weed line. Its no big deal. Just fish off the guys left side if he casts right handed. Otherwise I fish from the back. Non tournament just fishing for fun. When I'm fishing from my own boat on Erie I always fish the starboard side so I can see the finder & work the kicker if its being used. My guest gets the port side of the boat. We predominately fish from the back of the boat. Quote
Super User Felix77 Posted February 9, 2015 Super User Posted February 9, 2015 Just ask him. x2. If he's a friend then ask him. I have a friend who will start off strong from the front but when he's tired we end up switching. He just chills in the backseat casting away while I run the show. He can sit back and just relax. We both win. With buddies it should be about having fun and being comfortable. Don't be afraid to ask. Quote
Super User WIGuide Posted February 9, 2015 Super User Posted February 9, 2015 There are very few situations where you need to both be on the front deck. If you're fishing a narrow canal or trying to parallel a bank then it's probably beneficial to do so, or maybe as others have said when fish are schooling and you can't reach them from where you are. Other than that keep your around the consoles unless he's consistently fishing out in front of the boat, then you should be able to cast roughly the same angle that he is. If it's a tournament I'd still recommend against that and keep the console rule in play. I really don't feel you're at much of a disadvantage fishing out of the back. You're presented with different angles than the guy in front, and most of the time there's plenty of targets to keep you both happy. He is your friend though, so it's more than ok to ask him as well. Quote
Super User rippin-lips Posted February 9, 2015 Super User Posted February 9, 2015 If you guys are just out for fun then I don't see him having an issue with it. Pre fishing for a tournament would be different. When I take a friend I wouldn't mind as long as they aren't casting over me or I'm in fear of getting hooked. When fishing a tournament I get the deck and they get the back. Quote
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