Back seat etiquette.

[Comfortably Numb]

So lets say I am on the bow using the trolling motor. Passenger is on back deck. Fishing a bank 20-40' out paralleling moving slowly. 

 

I was once told that the rear angler should not cast forward of the center of the boat. I'm in the front and cast slightly forward. Lets say I have a jig on so not fishing fast. Back guy constantly throw forward of the boat to get to that dock or laydown. Needless to say we tangle all day. I tell him to stop but he keeps doin it. Now I hear through a common friend he gets ticked when I "block" him. This is usually just fun fishin. Isnt the back angler supposed to "clean up" and not neccarilly fish fresh water or am i being selfish? I purposely leave him good pockets and cover and he keeps goin forward skipping those spots that I would normally cast to if alone. ty

[BuzzHudson19c]

To me, if it's your boat, it's your call. Guy in the front gets the first crack at it and the guy in the back mops up.

[LxVE Bassin]

Make sure and set the rules before u let someone on the boat. The least someone can do is abide by the rules if you are nice enough to let them on.

[visagelaid]

As someone who often fishes out of the back of the boat: the boat owner makes the rules.  Ive never had any need to cast forward of the middle of the boat because I dont want to take the same angles to spots as the front boater is taking anyway.

[fishballer06]

As a person who fishes as a co-angler, I'm in full understanding before ever getting on someone boat that I am not going to get clean water unless I fish the side of the boat that the boater isn't fishing. It's just a fact of the situation. Anyone who feels entitled to clean water from the back seat is just wrong. 

[Big Kahuna Ranch]

Another back seater here to chime in.

I always ask what the deck person is throwing. If he is throwing spinners or crank, I usually throw plastics, but I always let him have the lead and pick the best spots.

Ironically I catch more fish at least 40 percent of the time.

i think he agitates them so they end up hitting my lures.

[JG233]

I'm a back-seater going on a couple years now of fun-fishing. I never tangle with anyone.  

[Angry John]

Seems like the guy in the back needs to chill out a little.  If fun fishing then let it be fun.  Friends should should understand each other and not quibble over little crap like this.  If you are paying big money to fish the back of the boat in a tournament and being blocked the entire way then that sucks...  If fun fishing have fun and dont be a jerk...

[wdp]

Yeah, that's def a bit rude to say the least. I've never had that issue when fishing with friends, unless we were doing it to goof around & mess with one another. 

 

Sounds like it might be somebody you don't know all that well. If that's the case, I would def NOT be inviting them on another fishing trip. 

[RPreeb]

I've never owned a boat, so I've never been in control (I've only been out a couple of times in my life on a boat with a trolling motor, so position and control, front and rear, were usually a bit vague).  I've never fished competitively aside from bragging rights with my buddy, and I've never thought it to be a good idea to cross lines, or even come close.  Regardless of where I might be in the boat, I generally try to fish where the other guy ain't.  Seems to keep the peace.

 

In years past, I've fished with 2 and 3 in a canoe, working along a Wisconsin shoreline and the only issues came when a hooked fish got us crossed up before the other guy could reel in.  As in so many things, a little common sense goes a long way.

[CroakHunter]

I fish out of the front of my friends boat, it has a rear mounted trolling motor. I always leave him fresh water, even if we are just fun fishing, and sometimes I point it out to him if he doesn't see that I didn't cast to it. We have only tangled a few time and that was due to schooling fish and 25mph winds. A lot of times we will throw similar things. If he's throwing a spinnerbait I'll throw a chatterbait. Communication is key. 

[fissure_man]

Agree 100% with @Angry John that bickering with your friend over this stuff is BS.  Tangling lines is no good for either of you; figure out a system that works.  If they don’t know better, teach them.  If they’re just being a ____, take someone else next time.  A fishing partner is a special relationship (lol) – your buddy whining to a mutual friend and you whining to the internet is maybe a sign that this relationship isn’t meant to be

 

Just be happy to have the company, and work together to catch fish.  Some patterns are easier to share than others, and the OP example of pitching shoreline docks and laydowns is probably among the hardest.  If "front seat envy" is an issue, maybe try moving offshore where the playing field will be more level.  If buddy is capable of running the TM, let him have a go up front – it’s nice to take a break sometimes.

 

If you’re worried about losing the front seat advantage, just go on your own.  lol  Guaranteed you can have all the fish and spots to yourself.

[WRB]

3 hours ago, Comfortably Numb said:

So lets say I am on the bow using the trolling motor. Passenger is on back deck. Fishing a bank 20-40' out paralleling moving slowly. 

 

I was once told that the rear angler should not cast forward of the center of the boat. I'm in the front and cast slightly forward. Lets say I have a jig on so not fishing fast. Back guy constantly throw forward of the boat to get to that dock or laydown. Needless to say we tangle all day. I tell him to stop but he keeps doin it. Now I hear through a common friend he gets ticked when I "block" him. This is usually just fun fishin. Isnt the back angler supposed to "clean up" and not neccarilly fish fresh water or am i being selfish? I purposely leave him good pockets and cover and he keeps goin forward skipping those spots that I would normally cast to if alone. ty

You are the Captian of your boat and make the rules. Make sure your backseater understands your rules regardless of how he feels about them. If you don't want your backseater casting beyond the bow of your boat and he does, offer to take him back to the dock or he needs to stop fishing. 

Tom

 

 

[RoLo]

On 6/19/2017 at 6:57 PM, WRB said:

You are the Captian of your boat and make the rules. Make sure your backseater understands your rules regardless of how he feels about them. If you don't want your backseater casting beyond the bow of your boat and he does, offer to take him back to the dock or he needs to stop fishing. 

Tom

 

 

A co-angler who has a problem with guest protocol,

can rectify his woes by purchasing his own boat.

Only then will he realize the long list of boat-owner expenses & captain liabilities 

 

Roger

[CroakHunter]

41 minutes ago, RoLo said:

 

Any co-angler who has a problem dealing with guest protocol,

should be in the market for his own boat.

Only then will he be awakened to the long list of captain expenses & captain liabilities.

 

Roger

Exactly! When I am co-angler, I pay all the entry fees(only 50 bucks), buy breakfast and lunch and drinks. And offer to pull the boat with my truck. I feel like that is an even trade for the captain being nice enough to let me in his boat and to fish some of his spots.

[frogflogger]

The rule for me is - whether front or back - treat the other as you want to be treated - if this doesn't work out - fish alone or with someone else

[RoLo]

2 hours ago, frogflogger said:

The rule for me is - whether front or back - treat the other as you want to be treated - if this doesn't work out - fish alone or with someone else

 

 

It's not a matter of Front or Back, it's a matter of Owner or Guest

 

 

[Comfortably Numb]

See for me its not about him catching more fish than me. I feel that when I take someone out I enjoy seeing them catch fish. I am retired and can fish alone when ever I want and catch all the fish I want. 

 

I take others out and they wait till I cast and cast behind me. I do the same if i am in the back seat. This one guy is a very experienced older gentleman who actually has a Ranger that has been down a couple years. I thought we had good times fishing together despite the tangles. Hearing behind my back that he is disappointed fishing with me is why I am asking as I thought maybe I was wrong.

 

I even ask him every so often is this distance, placement, spot,etc good for you?.

 

Oh well...his loss. Ty all

 

 

[BassGirl71]

It sounds to me like this "fun" fishing isn't very much fun for either of you.  Maybe you should both find other people to fish with.  I agree the guy in the back shouldn't throw toward the front - neither angler should throw over another angler's line.  As someone else said, as the "guy in the back" for years, I would throw something the guy in the front wasn't - if he had on a search bait, I'd throw a jig or soft plastic and often times get more bites. I do have to say it's not a very fun day when the guy in the front hoovers every spot before you get a chance at it... but it is what it is.

If he can't seem to work with you, maybe it's time to get him out of the back of your boat.  Whether you're fishing with or against the other person in the boat, you kind of have to approach it as a team where you both know the rules and help each other out (or at least have some common decency).  JMO

[Toad Master]

On the other hand I fish as a non-boater in my club, and I compete with the boater. So since I pay half the launch fee and half the cost of gas to the lake and back home I feel as long as I don't cross his line or interfere with his cast and retrieve, I should and have cast forward of the center line. And don't get any complaints from any of the boaters I've fished with. Maybe I just belong to a great club.

[Bucky205]

I enjoy having people to fish with, my boats paid for and we usually split expenses down the middle.  I fish pretty regularly with the same people. I fish out of their boats as much as they do mine.  If we are flipping or pitching were usually on the front deck side by side, and trying to hit every hole  the other guy misses.  If they are on the back deck and were cranking something.I tend to throw forward into the 10 to 2 oclock areas.  I've never really had an issue with the person in the back constantly tangling wih me, happens occasionaly but not enough to be a concern.  If I need to retie or change baits, they can run the trolling motor for awhile and I'm happy for the break.  The guy on the trolling motor really has a lot of control over where the back deck is able to fish. LOL, we pick at each other if you get put where you can't fish "Boats outta control".  Fishing for fun with kids or people that don't fish a lot I just try to be patient.  If it's your boat and you don't like the way the person in the back is fishing, don't invite them again.

[NHBull]

What ever works for the owner is fine......but what starts out as fine can become a pain in the *ss.

Especially given the cost of owning a boat.

 

Just because the rear may pay 1/2 the cost of the day, he doesn't pay the monthly payment, insurance, and maintenance.

 

I don't like most people, so am content fishing alone or with good friends.

[FrogFreak]

My son and I take turns running the boat. It's harder for me to be in the back after being in the front for so long. We have our occasional arguments but nothing to bad (mostly me still treating my 25 year old like he's still 12). I have to admit he has taught me some things about finding bass in different ways than I'm used to doing.

 

The other day we got into a great rhythm when I was throwing a frog and he would follow up with a Senko. It can be a positive experience with the right boat partner for sure!

[Angry John]

I am a back of the boat guy a lot or in my yak.  I always fish the same and me and my partner have a lot of fun.  We communicate and we even talk threw castovers.  I am fishing a swimbait or swim jig and he is fishing the bottom we cast over each other all the time.  Guess if your having fun and working together even the crap things are fun.  We give each other a ton of crap about getting hung up and we both keep score.  Only had to untangle once in 6 tourneys so far.  If your not happy change the situation.

[NorthwestBasser]

I've been a co-angler for a while, fun fishing, draw tournaments and opens (team) tournaments. My brother in law and I are in the same Bass club. We both have had great experiences with the boaters we've fished with, and some not so great. I've been with boaters who all but re-tie my lures for me. They offer advice and wisdom beyond my years, serve up awesome opportunities at prime targets, always provide angles for me. 

I've had plenty of days where I felt like slinging a 1/2oz. jig right past my boaters head because I can tell he is purposely shafting me, cutting the angle, casting back then wworking the water forward leaving me nothing but used targets. I swallow hard, fish harder and thank him for the ride at the end of the day.

I bought my own 18 and a half foot boat and now I'm captain. My brother in law fishes with me most of the time. I try my hardest to accommodate him while he is on the back deck. We don't have any "rules", just respect. I leave him targets and try to give him angles. I like to offer him half the day fishing water of his choice, even if I hate the bay or point, docks or rocks he chooses. We have fun with it no matter what. I'll be fishing my first tourney as a boater this weekend. Luckily, with my brother in law. But in future club draw tourneys, I won't be setting any rules for my nonboater, other than this. You respect me, I'll respect you. We are competitors today, but respect can still be given. And at the end of the day, I want him to have enjoyed the experience and vice versa. Those few guys that have treated me poorly while on their boat, won't be getting any invites from me though, he can burn his own gas being a jerk. And any non boater that complains about my boat, tactics or techniques, well he can fall free to buy his own boat, or beat the banks from shore. Either way, I'll be having fun.