BlakeInOH Posted December 19, 2006 Posted December 19, 2006 Hey Guys, I'm thinking about joining a club up here in NE Ohio this coming season and had a couple questions. First of all, I don't own a boat so I'd have to enter as a non-boater. Does anyone have experience in tourneys as a non-boater? Is it worth it to join if I have to do this? Do most people seem to be accepting of this? For instance, they're going to pair me up with someone I don't know, which is fine with me, but will the boat owner usually be cool with that or is it like "God, here we go again."? I just don't want to get into something if it's not going to be a good investment for me. Thanks! Quote
Garnet Posted December 19, 2006 Posted December 19, 2006 It's a no lose deal even if you don't draw the local hotshot you will see diffeent boats, tackle, different tech. it's even good to draw guys that a stuggling learning what not to do is bigger than what to do. After 25 years in tourneys I wish I'd spend more time as non boater. Garnet Quote
BlakeInOH Posted December 19, 2006 Author Posted December 19, 2006 I appreciate that advice. I definitely want to do it! Quote
Thefishy1 Posted December 19, 2006 Posted December 19, 2006 I just joined a club as a non-boater a few months ago and we fish all around the state of SC and it has been one of the best experiances of my fishing life. I have learned so much from my fellow club members it is insane. Also all of the guys in the club are extremely helpful and nice to each other lending rods, reels, lures to the others who dont have them. We are all competing against one another but we are all trying to help each other learn at the same time. Quote
Hillbilly_Hooker Posted December 20, 2006 Posted December 20, 2006 I think fishing as a non-boater is great! I'm getting ready to spend my 2nd year as a non-boater before I start fishing my own boat. I have a boat, but I enjoy the time spent with my partner and I hate to give him up just yet. Most boaters are very accepting of non-boaters, just show them some respect for their boat, equipment, and the expense they have invested in being a boater and you'll do fine. Treat them like you would like to be treated and everyone will have a great time. Hillbilly Quote
BlakeInOH Posted December 20, 2006 Author Posted December 20, 2006 Thanks for all the advice, I'm for sure going to go for it. You know, I figured I was looking a little too much into it. I'm a very respectful person and don't think I'll have any problems respecting others' belongings and property. Hell I can't wait to get back on a bass boat, nothin' beats it! Thanks again guys. Quote
Shad_Master Posted December 20, 2006 Posted December 20, 2006 Even though I own a boat, because of big motor problems and other issues, I have fished with my club for 4 years as a non-boater and will probably stick with it this year. Boaters are like bass, each one is different. Our club has a rule that says the non-boater can have control of the water for 1/2 of the fishing day -- in other words if I am fishing with a boater who is keying on brush piles in the middle of the lake, I can request that we move to the dam or fish the shore line for at least 1/2 of the tournament day. Some boaters even insist that the non-boater run the trolling motor for at least part of the day. After 4 years, I have only felt that I was "back boated" once and this was in my first year with the club when my boater was sight fishing -- that was a frustrating day. Last year, I came in runner up for big bass of the year and had a third place finish with big bass for that tournament and ended the year in 10th place as a non-boater. Out of the top 10 for the club, 4 were non-boaters. So don't shy away from fishing from the back deck, but talk things over with your partner ahead of time so you know what to expect and adapt and learn from what is going on. Quote
BlakeInOH Posted December 20, 2006 Author Posted December 20, 2006 Thanks a lot Shad. Lots of good stuff there! I had no idea that was how some clubs worked. I think that's great that they would let the non-boater call the shots for 1/2 the day. I don't know if this club would be like that or not, but it's a nice thing to know. And I hear ya on the sight fishing thing. I better get some polarized sunglasses if that happens. Thanks again! Quote
cabela10 Posted December 20, 2006 Posted December 20, 2006 I would be all for the non-boater to tell me where to go and I'll fish his spots for half the day, but no way in h*ll would I let him run the trolling motor. There is just to many expenses for somebody that I don't know to run a unit that costs over $800. If my non-boater broke or dings up my trolling motor, would he pay for it? Probably not, he would just brush it off and say it's part of fishing. So I agree that it's good to have a non-boater, but bad if he thinks he should run the trolling motor. Quote
cravenfish Posted December 20, 2006 Posted December 20, 2006 cabela, I'v had some of the best non-boaters do stupid stuff in my boat. I'v had them spill a bottel of Spike-It on the seat, had one step on a bottel of Lunker Sauce, had two that when they went to net fish, got it caught up in my rods and knocked one over( one was recovered) and the most recent was my non-boater had to bump a fish and two seconds later I hherd a splash and there that went. He was a nice guy and called Ranger from the boat ramp and had a new one sent to my house the next day. All in all I enjoy having a non-boater, but they will not take control of the boat. I will go and fish their water if they want to and I will let them fish first but thats as far as it goes. Quote
cabela10 Posted December 20, 2006 Posted December 20, 2006 cravenfish, we agree. It's too bad not everyone will replace items that they ruin that isn't there own. There feeling is, "If it's not there own, then who cares" and moves on. Personally, when I was a non-boater for 2 or 3 years, I would treat that boat like it was my own. I didn't take a wrong step and made sure I knew what was going on around me, like not having spike-it bottles laying around to step on or not be careful when working with that product. I know of a few instances that turned me off of a few non-boaters. Like if they get skunked, they literally get out of the boat, run to there cars and burn out of the parking lot, leaving the boater high and dry on the gas expenses and anything else that may of happened that day. Just some non-boaters are very very rude. Then again, some boaters are very rude also. Quote
BlakeInOH Posted December 20, 2006 Author Posted December 20, 2006 Hey I completely agree with you guys. I would definitely not want to take over the trolling motor on a brand new bass boat that isn't even mine. And I'm a pretty easy going guy so I doubt I would even say anything to my partner telling him where to go. Wherever we are, I'm sure he'll be the more knowledable of the two of us, I think I'll just listen, watch, and learn. That suits me just fine. Quote
Shad_Master Posted December 20, 2006 Posted December 20, 2006 If you go back and read my post carefully you will see that offering the non-boater the chance to run the trolling motor is a decision that "some boaters" make -- it is not a requirement. As to having to put up with us non-boaters, if you really feel that way maybe you should consider not joining a club where you get paired up for tournaments. After all we are a pesky bunch and more interested in trashing your boat than in catching the fish : There are some etiquitte rules that all non-boaters should follow and I believe there are some articles on this site that talk about that. Maybe somebody can link to them. Quote
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