Co-angler Etiquette Question

[Wcarman]

If you are a co-angler and your boater is fishing narrow canals, small enough where you can reach the opposite bank that he is fishing, should your boater get upset because he wants to fish that side on the way out?

 

I thought it was questionable that he was moving forward down the center of the canal by cast lengths then power poling down, effectively fishing the entire width of the canal with moving baits before pitching to docks, but got a bit frustrated when he wasn't happy about my trying to cast to the docks on the opposite side. Longest tournament day I ever had.

[GaryH]

The only thing that upset me from a co-angler is if he cast over my line, or cross my imaginary line of the console to cast Your a co-angler not just a added weight on the boat. You had full right to fish the opposite side.

[Choporoz]

Your boater sounds familiar...

 

[InfantryMP]

I read stories like this all the time, and it really makes people who haven't fished tournaments before, think twice about being a co-angler. I know it can be a great thing especially for experience. The last thing I want one the water is tension with someone over a fishing spot. 

[J Francho]

Did you ask him where you can fish? 
 

My stock answer to these questions is always ask. If you don't like the answer, get your own boat. It stinks, but that's the way it is. 
 

Your other option is to look for team format competition where both anglers contribute to the final weight. 

[Bassattackr]

Agree with JF above.  When in doubt, ask.

 

I fished for a long time as a coangler in BFL, Costa competition and now an angler the last few years.   Having been on both sides of the fence, I expect the coangler to fish unfished water behind me.   If I am going to fish both sides, I will ask him to fish behind me. 

 

That being said, if he respects my water I will go the extra mile later in the day to get him on fish.  If I'm forced to fish defensively, it doesn't help either of us - nor does it gain you any favors as the day progresses.

[Wcarman]

Thanks for the replies. I did not ask him, I made one cast on the opposite side of the boat, behind the center console, not in front, and he did not like it. I deferred to him for the rest of the day to avoid conflict. That said, I spent the rest of the day with no water to fish. He parallelled the banks, casting out front of the boat and within seversl feet of each dock we passed. Guy was a good fisherman and covered water effectively, but I dont believe I was wrong. I have fished several BFLs before and never once has this been an issue. I must admit it caught me off guard.

11 hours ago, J Francho said:

Did you ask him where you can fish? 
 

My stock answer to these questions is always ask. If you don't like the answer, get your own boat. It stinks, but that's the way it is. 
 

Your other option is to look for team format competition where both anglers contribute to the final weight. 

I gotta disagree with this answer, I would certainly ask to cast in front of the console but feel like behind it is my water go fish. No trying to be disagreeable, but I paid to fish the tournament too. Co anglers are part of the deal and boaters know that going in. 

[Logan S]

If the canal was narrow enough to where you're pitching or making short casts to either side from the middle - It's really on the boater to fish both sides from the front and let the co fish whatever he wants behind him.  That's how I handle narrow waters.

 

If the canal/creek/cove/etc is a little wider where the boater is sticking to one side and the Co has to make a long or hail mary type cast to hit the other side (in front or behind 'the line')....Then I tend to side more with the boater there, the co should stick to the same side.  

 

Either way, the opposite side thing has tons of grey area and almost every situation is unique...So it really comes down to communication.  I always tell my co's what the plan is with things like this, but IMO a lot boaters sort of suck at communicating so as a Co it helps to speak up and just ask.  You may or may not like the answer, but it's better to know than not know.  

 

18 hours ago, Bassattackr said:

If I'm forced to fish defensively, it doesn't help either of us - nor does it gain you any favors as the day progresses.

This is spot on... It doesn't seem like that's what happened in the OP's situation but great advice in general. 

[jbsoonerfan]

I have never fished with someone other than people I knew in a team format, but after reading some of these responses, I would have to guess there has to have been a few fist fights over the years in a boat. 

[J Francho]

No fist fights that I've ever heard of.  Heavy typing, yes.

[Junk Fisherman]

15 hours ago, Wcarman said:

 

I gotta disagree with this answer, I would certainly ask to cast in front of the console but feel like behind it is my water go fish. No trying to be disagreeable, but I paid to fish the tournament too. Co anglers are part of the deal and boaters know that going in. 

 

I agree with you.  You are fishing behind the console and he is choosing to not fish that water.  In that situation, he should fish all of it as he goes if he is so concerned about getting the first crack at the fish.  lol- on another site I once posted about my coangler continually casting ahead of the mid point of the boat during a tournament and how it started to annoy me.  The general consensus from them was that the coangler should be able to fish anything as long as they are not crossing your line.  I definitely do not agree with that.  One time in my club a boater was upset that I cast ahead of the boat as he sat down to retie.  

[TnRiver46]

Bradley Hallman just posted a video about this, he called it “cross creekin “

[jbsoonerfan]

15 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Bradley Hallman just posted a video about this, he called it “cross creekin “

I watched that video. I like the part about the boater using live scope to fish a brush pile and giving the guy in the back not many options.

 

And the part about Tommy Biffle cutting the line and possibly stabbing the co-angler. LOL

[J._Bricker]

15 hours ago, Wcarman said:

I gotta disagree with this answer, I would certainly ask to cast in front of the console but feel like behind it is my water go fish. No trying to be disagreeable, but I paid to fish the tournament too. Co anglers are part of the deal and boaters know that going in. 

Hey @Wcarman, welcome to Bass Resource and the Forums. I just say you handled the situation as you saw fit and what you said above in my opinion is spot-on. Being a co-angler is challenging, and the water behind the console is yours to fish on either side of the boat. The boater had the first opportunity (goes without saying) to pick the side of the bank, the technique, and pace in which to fish. You were just fishing what he left you to fish.

 

I hope you continue to fish tournaments and good luck in your next derby.

[TOXIC]

Pretty easy answer.  As a co you are not required to ask your boater where you can or can’t fish.  Sure, there are some rules about fishing past the console but  last time I checked the front of the boat passed the area you fished before you got there and if he chose not to fish it then that’s on him.  If he wants to “back boat” you and feels it’s ok just because he asked.....then my response would have been the same.  You get first shot from the front.  If he wants to hit the other side, pole down and fish both sides before moving on.  I’ll gladly fish behind you.  You paid more entry and have total control of your boat and where we fish for that consideration.

[RichF]

A lot of moving parts here.  I fished on the Co side a lot over the years.  For the most part, it sucks.  I did my fair share of complaining (off the water of course).  Eventually, I finally accepted what being a Co is.  It's a way to get on the water for 8 hrs, in a high performance bass boat, with a slight chance of making a couple bucks (and hopefully a friend).  You have to get this one thing out of your head if you want to continue as a Co....you CANNOT do what you wanna do in someone else's boat, period.  I was a bit too eager in my younger days, getting frustrated when my boater went too slow, too fast, didn't position in a good spot, etc, etc.  Then I realized and accepted that it's simply out of my control and what I needed to do was just put my head down and fish.  Once I did that, I had a lot of success.  Just keep asking questions, communicate, and be polite all day.  If you do those things, both of your days should go smoothly, for the most part.  But also understand that there are some real knobs that fish tournaments and no amount of communication will make the day go well.....and you'll likely get paired up with one of them at some point.  Unfortunately, that's just part of the game.

 

That said, your particular situation is a tough one. Going strictly by rules, that side of the canal is fair game, as long as you don't cast in front of the console.  Boaters understand (or should understand) that when they parallel a bank, the only place their Co can fish is the opposite side of the boat.  They should expect and accept that.  I totally get it from the boater perspective too though.  I would want to fish the other side of that canal as well.  However, I also wouldn't prevent my Co from fishing it or get angry if he/she did.  Of course that's just my attitude and doesn't reflect that of every other angler.  Anyway, I've experienced the good, the bad, and the ugly at both ends of the boat.  Overall though, I'd say much more good than bad and ugly.  Just like everything in life, you win some, you lose some.  Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and rip some lips at the next one!

[J._Bricker]

37 minutes ago, RichF said:

A lot of moving parts here.  I fished on the Co side a lot over the years.  For the most part, it sucks.  I did my fair share of complaining (off the water of course).  Eventually, I finally accepted what being a Co is.  It's a way to get on the water for 8 hrs, in a high performance bass boat, with a slight chance of making a couple bucks (and hopefully a friend).  You have to get this one thing out of your head if you want to continue as a Co....you CANNOT do what you wanna do in someone else's boat, period.  I was a bit too eager in my younger days, getting frustrated when my boater went too slow, too fast, didn't position in a good spot, etc, etc.  Then I realized and accepted that it's simply out of my control and what I needed to do was just put my head down and fish.  Once I did that, I had a lot of success.  Just keep asking questions, communicate, and be polite all day.  If you do those things, both of your days should go smoothly, for the most part.  But also understand that there are some real knobs that fish tournaments and no amount of communication will make the day go well.....and you'll likely get paired up with one of them at some point.  Unfortunately, that's just part of the game.

 

That said, your particular situation is a tough one. Going strictly by rules, that side of the canal is fair game, as long as you don't cast in front of the console.  Boaters understand (or should understand) that when they parallel a bank, the only place their Co can fish is the opposite side of the boat.  They should expect and accept that.  I totally get it from the boater perspective too though.  I would want to fish the other side of that canal as well.  However, I also wouldn't prevent my Co from fishing it or get angry if he/she did.  Of course that's just my attitude and doesn't reflect that of every other angler.  Anyway, I've experienced the good, the bad, and the ugly at both ends of the boat.  Overall though, I'd say much more good than bad and ugly.  Just like everything in life, you win some, you lose some.  Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and rip some lips at the next one!

Well said @RichF

[Chance_Taker4]

On 2/1/2021 at 6:21 PM, Choporoz said:

Your boater sounds familiar...

 

Yep, had the same situation. What I have learned in my Co career is the higher the competition the better the experience. I fished in local clubs, BFL, Costa, ABA and BASS. Almost all of my "conflicts" came in local clubs and BFLs. I find that their egos are bigger than their skills and once a Co gets on fish you're the reason they aren't catching fish. 

 

As for this situation I still stand by my beliefs that if the boater doesn't vocalize his intentions once the spot passes the center console its fair game to me. I also believe their needs to be give and take from both ends. Yes its probably good to ask but at the same time the Co paid to fish to and as a boater you willingly opened your boat up therefore the Co shouldn't have to ask permission to fish water (behind the center console). On the flip side as a boater if you have a specific game plan for a creek just vocalize so everyone is on the same page.

[Wcarman]

On 2/3/2021 at 12:24 PM, TnRiver46 said:

Bradley Hallman just posted a video about this, he called it “cross creekin “

I'm trying to find this video. I am subscribed to his channel but can't find it????

[jbsoonerfan]

1 hour ago, Wcarman said:

I'm trying to find this video. I am subscribed to his channel but can't find it????

Here ya go

 

 

[whitwolf]

I was a coangler for exactly one season in my local club. As others have said, there were some really great guys to fish with and there were some jerks.

 

The jerks made for a long day. It was an easy decision to get a boat. I was in that club for 10 years and always made sure the guy in the back of the boat had water to fish. It mystifies me that some people feel like treating another human being like "the help" is ok. It's not.

 

I left that scene a few years ago and only fish two tournaments a year now. Both are for charity and the goodwill is amazing.

[Wcarman]

18 hours ago, jbsoonerfan said:

Here ya go

 

 

Thank you very much.

[ajschn06]

On 2/1/2021 at 3:33 PM, Wcarman said:

If you are a co-angler and your boater is fishing narrow canals, small enough where you can reach the opposite bank that he is fishing, should your boater get upset because he wants to fish that side on the way out?

 

I thought it was questionable that he was moving forward down the center of the canal by cast lengths then power poling down, effectively fishing the entire width of the canal with moving baits before pitching to docks, but got a bit frustrated when he wasn't happy about my trying to cast to the docks on the opposite side. Longest tournament day I ever had.

Lol I’m fishing that side for sure. And if he said something about it I’d tell him to buzz off