Frustrated From The Back Of The Boat

[Wsdv135]

I am getting really frustrated. I have only a couple years experience bass fishing, but I've been teaching myself quite a bit over this past year and doing OK for myself. When I fish from the shore or in my jon boat alone, I do pretty well. I recently joined a bass club as a non-boater and do awful. I pre-fished a tournament lake in my jon boat and bagged 5-6 keepers, then when i go out with my partner for the tournament, i got 0 fish. it's been this way all season, my partner will be culling by noon-time and ive only caught 1-2. Is there something I am missing about the dynamics of fishing from the back? my partner is pretty experienced but not the type of guy to completely box me out from a spot. I was wondering if there are any experienced non-boaters out there who could give me some tips so that I stop embarrassing myself in front of my new fishing buddies!!!!

[Fun4Me]

[scaleface]

Dont feel too bad.I remember a tournament when I was in the back and the guy in the front was culling a ten fish limit two days in a row and I had 1 fish .All he was doing was chucking spinnerbaits. . Charteuse with chartreuse blades. I didnt have one .

[A-Jay]

 

Fantastic Advice.

 

A-Jay

[Wsdv135]

Thanks for the video link fellas!

[Bankbeater]

Thanks for the video! Some good info right there.

[Canyon explorer]

The boater doesn't sing Cumbia either.

[gulfcaptain]

First, you can't fish his way. You're going to have to find fish he's passing or missing.  May be a different angle on the weed line.  It happens.  Don't throw the same bait, throw a variation of something either bigger, or slighty smaller.  I've fished behind someone throwing a chatterbait and a spinnerbait and while he was struggling I was killing it on a rat-l-trap. But fishing behind someone and out of the back of the boat will make you a better fisherman simply because you have to be and make you fish out of the box and comfort zone and become more successful with other presentations.  Now if you start catching fish and he positions the boat to cut you off or mess up what you're doing then that's another story.  I'll still fish tournaments from the back, but prefer to fish a team format where two people can work off each others strenghts and weaknesses.  Don't let yourself loose the mental game or you're going to take yourself out of the tournament before you ever start.

[bigbill]

Do you use a scent?

If he's not using plastics I would. Worm, brushogs, grub. etc.

Try jigging a jointed countdown rapala straight down. Let it hit the bottom, reel it up a tad and twitch it.

Get into the zone don't talk. Focus

[BaitMonkey1984]

That video is good. I would say you have two different schools of thought. First, take time to learn from the boater if they are catching fish time and time again. I would initially try to duplicate what he is doing and throwing the same as him. If that doesn't produce than you have to mix it up. I would then go to simple baits that produce, senko, spinner bait, grub, and ned rig. You can hit all levels of the water column and as IKE has said many times, and I agree the spinnerbait and the grub are dummy proof and they flat out produce. I think the ned rig is as bulletproof a fish catcher too. You should be able to get a limit using these lures and then you can throw on different lures in an attempt to upgrade your catch. Good luck. 

[WRB]

When you are backseating you have no control where the boat is going, the pace (speed) or depth the boater wants to fish....you are along for the ride.

What is important is using lures and presentations that are effective where you are fishing regardless of what the front seat is doing. Backs seaters need to be versatile anglers. The 3 pro's agreed that a drop shot works good, you can't fish a drop shot rig effectively if the boater is covering water fast using a spinnerbait or crankbaits. Drop shot works if the pace is slower and the cover is light.

The simple answer to your problem is communication.....talk to your boater and ask what he wants you to use, then do that.

Tom

[Basseditor]

Many times, not much you can do. I try to do the opposite of the boater for a change (not all fish are doing the same thing). If he is fishing heavy weights, I go lighter and vice versa.

But he has the advantage to throw out in front of the boat. Mostly the back seater has used water. Or areas already spooked by the boat.

Watch for places he misses or passes up. That is your best bet.

Lastly, try out on the deep side. Carolina rig off the back corner on the deep side.

[Ski213]

When you are backseating you have no control where the boat is going, the pace (speed) or depth the boater wants to fish....you are along for the ride.

What is important is using lures and presentations that are effective where you are fishing regardless of what the front seat is doing. Backs seaters need to be versatile anglers. The 3 pro's agreed that a drop shot works good, you can't fish a drop shot rig effectively if the boater is covering water fast using a spinnerbait or crankbaits. Drop shot works if the pace is slower and the cover is light.

The simple answer to your problem is communication.....talk to your boater and ask what he wants you to use, then do that.

Tom

This is perfect advice in my opinion. You have to adapt. It has alot to to with who is on the front. Sounds like you're not getting blocked so communicate with him and he will probably help you expand on your fishing skills. You don't have to throw exactly what he's throwing but you will have to pick something that is compatible with his speed and approach. There will come a time where your boaters approach is not working, if there is good communication he will give your way a shot. I have learned alot from the guy up front when I was in the back and I've also learned alot from the guy in back when I was in the front.

[Catt]

The video address a co-angler fishing behind a Professional Angler, the OP is 2 anglers who are supposedly friends.

I've never understood why 2 anglers who are supposedly friends do not understand the benefits of fishing as a "team". When done in unison both anglers can cover water quickly & thoroughly, allowing a greater opportunity to establish patterns faster.

Y'all must fish as a "team" not two "individuals" out for a day on the water.

[windjinx]

I have out fished my friends many a time out of the back of their boats, and its not because they are bad fisherman, in fact I have learned a lot from these individuals. Fishing from the back seat does require a different mind set. Your mind set is to catch the fish that the person in the front of the boat over looks. Especially, if the person in the front of the boat is a skilled fisherman. A skilled fisherman is going to hit the high percentage spots correctly, the first time, every time. It is your responsibility to pay attention to their choices and study the next best spot that they did not choose to fish. Many anglers fishing from the front of the boat have patterns themselves. For example, some may only fish the right hand side the trees as they move down the bank, so make some of your offerings to the left side or behind the trees. Some guys flip to the target jig once or twice reel in and make another cast, maybe you fish your presentations out a little further. If the guy in the front hops his bait on the bottom drag yours instead or dead stick it a little longer. The person in the back of the boat actually has a lot of advantages that easily get over looked. By not being in the front of the boat you have a different set of opportunities. You don't have to deal with running the boat in the wind, you can take the time to change baits, or tweak your tackle a bit without worrying where the boat going. You have different angles to present your baits that the guy in the front can't.You have the opportunity to study your surroundings and key in on things a little more. Especially, being able to study the guy in the front of the boat if he is catching fish. A lot of times it's not the bait catching the fish it's the way the bait is being presented that does.

 

One of the most important things to remember is to have confidence in what your doing and the choices that you make. Not chasing the other persons fish. They have already caught those! Learn to present your baits properly and effectively as your fish are more likely on guard already. But the down fall to being a good back seat fisherman in non team tournaments is the guy up front can get more frustrated with you catching fish behind them and really lock down your opportunities. Good luck and don't get discouraged.

[StinkyBass]

I agree with a lot of the advice given above. When I fish a tournament from the back (which is always for now), I bring the basics for the lake I'm fishing. I never leave without  jigs, worms, spinner baits, a few reliable crank baits, all in proven colors for my area (green pumpkins, black/blues and a few others). if he's burning a spinner bait or crank bait, I always have a senko tied on incase he misses a fish I can mop up. if he's fishing the upper water column, I'll start bumping the bottom. Usually a pattern will establish after awhile and you can go from there. Buuuut, I'm not gonna lie, sometimes nothing is working and I go back to the basics and try to keep my head in the game. I feel that is the most important, keep your head in the game! I know it gets tough, but I feel the back of the boat has forced me to strengthen my weaknesses and learn to "shut up and fish!" Your first year is tough, good luck, you'll figure it out just by doing.

[Scorchx1245]

I fished two years as a non boater, love hate relationship. I had one guy flipping docks literally would pull up, drop the poles, hit every single piece of the dock and rush to next spot. I got one fish I flipped a senko, opened the bail, let about 40 yards of line out so it could bake, and caught a 4lbser. It was rainy mud stained and cold water. He won the tourney with 19 lbs. I tried everything bit I learned so much I fished a tourney this year and now I know how to fish that type of water and learned from him. One thing I hate is docks and isolated rock pikes and the boat is pointed directly at the spot so I can't fish. Then they turn they're screen off on the electronics so I don't even know the depth, bottom contours, or of there's grass till I bury a crank or drop shot in it. I'm going boater next year. My best tourney as non boater I placed 3rd over all against the boaters and it's because my boater worked with me. He got 2nd i got 3rd. My club format puts boaters against non boaters so I'm basically paying to fish in someone's boat....

[Ratherbfishing]

I fished two years as a non boater, love hate relationship. I had one guy flipping docks literally would pull up, drop the poles, hit every single piece of the dock and rush to next spot. I got one fish I flipped a senko, opened the bail, let about 40 yards of line out so it could bake, and caught a 4lbser. It was rainy mud stained and cold water. He won the tourney with 19 lbs. I tried everything bit I learned so much I fished a tourney this year and now I know how to fish that type of water and learned from him. One thing I hate is docks and isolated rock pikes and the boat is pointed directly at the spot so I can't fish. Then they turn they're screen off on the electronics so I don't even know the depth, bottom contours, or of there's grass till I bury a crank or drop shot in it. I'm going boater next year. My best tourney as non boater I placed 3rd over all against the boaters and it's because my boater worked with me. He got 2nd i got 3rd. My club format puts boaters against non boaters so I'm basically paying to fish in someone's boat....

 

Seems like you are (or were) paying to watch someone else fish.  I wouldn't do that to save my life.  One can make a reasonably good arguement that the non-boater hasn't really any room to complain but I have (finally) accrued enough wisdom and awareness about myself to not put myself into situations where I ultimately want to kick someones arse-especially if I'm expected to share gas, launching fees, etc.

[scaleface]

Small time tourneys, there is no reason for the guy in the back to be at a major disadvantage,  These tourneys are suppose to be fun . I always went out of the way to make sure the guy in back had as much opportunity to catch fish as me . And every time I fished in back I was treated the same way .

[aldalo]

On 8/25/2015 at 7:08 PM, BaitMonkey1984 said:

That video is good. I would say you have two different schools of thought. First, take time to learn from the boater if they are catching fish time and time again. I would initially try to duplicate what he is doing and throwing the same as him. If that doesn't produce than you have to mix it up. I would then go to simple baits that produce, senko, spinner bait, grub, and ned rig. You can hit all levels of the water column and as IKE has said many times, and I agree the spinnerbait and the grub are dummy proof and they flat out produce. I think the ned rig is as bulletproof a fish catcher too. You should be able to get a limit using these lures and then you can throw on different lures in an attempt to upgrade your catch. Good luck. 

I just got back into fishing after a 10 year hiatus. Great advice and info on this site.

 I didn't know what a ned rig was, so i searched it and found it right here on BassResource - http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/ned-rig.html

 

 Thanks Everyone

   Alan

[zell_pop1]

I have had my own boat for 4 years now but the previous 4 I was a Co angler and I got really good in the back of the boat, often the boater would resort to what I was throwing. Basically the key is to throw something different than the boater. If a guy is hitting all the docks and won't let you have a turn at them turn towards deep water and cast something that covets alot of water-rattle bait, walking bait, hollow belly, spinnerbait. If the bass are finicky try a grub or tube.

[Matthew2000]

Heres advice from Bryan New. He placed 2nd in this years FWC and 1st in last years, on the co angler side. 

GO FINESSE! 

[Mike L]

I have out fished my friends many a time out of the back of their boats, and its not because they are bad fisherman, in fact I have learned a lot from these individuals. Fishing from the back seat does require a different mind set. Your mind set is to catch the fish that the person in the front of the boat over looks. Especially, if the person in the front of the boat is a skilled fisherman. A skilled fisherman is going to hit the high percentage spots correctly, the first time, every time. It is your responsibility to pay attention to their choices and study the next best spot that they did not choose to fish. Many anglers fishing from the front of the boat have patterns themselves. For example, some may only fish the right hand side the trees as they move down the bank, so make some of your offerings to the left side or behind the trees. Some guys flip to the target jig once or twice reel in and make another cast, maybe you fish your presentations out a little further. If the guy in the front hops his bait on the bottom drag yours instead or dead stick it a little longer. The person in the back of the boat actually has a lot of advantages that easily get over looked. By not being in the front of the boat you have a different set of opportunities. You don't have to deal with running the boat in the wind, you can take the time to change baits, or tweak your tackle a bit without worrying where the boat going. You have different angles to present your baits that the guy in the front can't.You have the opportunity to study your surroundings and key in on things a little more. Especially, being able to study the guy in the front of the boat if he is catching fish. A lot of times it's not the bait catching the fish it's the way the bait is being presented that does.

 

One of the most important things to remember is to have confidence in what your doing and the choices that you make. Not chasing the other persons fish. They have already caught those! Learn to present your baits properly and effectively as your fish are more likely on guard already. But the down fall to being a good back seat fisherman in non team tournaments is the guy up front can get more frustrated with you catching fish behind them and really lock down your opportunities. Good luck and don't get discouraged.

Well Said..

Mike

[Adkfishing]

Dude I feel for ya! I fish as a co-angler in my local bass club, so I have some experience fighting for bites and trying to find a limit all day. My best advice is to be super observant of your boater and how he is catching his fish. If for example he is throwing a 3/4 once football jig offshore, than you could pick up a big worm or swim bait. Don't throw the same bait as him, just fish the same water zone. I also try to scale down my presentation to catch more bass, or the more finicky fish he might of missed. Like I said, be observant and try to find something or catch on to a pattern he hasn't figured out yet, and you'll always be successful out of the back of the boat. 

[Jaderose]

Just had my first experience on the back of the boat.  Got totally smoked on my home lake.  I felt like it was first time fishing and felt like a fool.  Was a completely different experience that I know will make a better fisherman out of me.  Just wish it wasn't so d**n humiliating...lol