How does BFL work?

[ffmedic147]

I am currently planning for my first season of bfl in 2008. How does BFL work and what do i need to do to get prepared?

Please include all details of what happens so i can become prepared and aware.

Thanks

[R520dvx]

First are you planing on going as a boater or a co-angler?

[ffmedic147]

Co angler. Hope to start here and learn as much as i can and then move up to angler.

[squid]

You only want about 3-5 rods with you. Bring a soft pack style fishing box, using the 3500 plano boxes. Fill the sides and front with your soft plastics. Bring sunglasses, pliers, scissors, suntan lotion(spf 45 or higher). Bring your rain gear, and proper clothes for the weather conditions(hot/cold). Hat, snack foods or something light to bring with you. Water, or gatorade.

Just try not to over do it with weight. Remember you have to lug it around until your boater picks you up.

Sign up with a boater to gaurantee your entree into the event. More times they are looking to find boaters, cause to many Co-anglers. So sign up early too if not signed up with a boater.

Did I leave anything out?

Oh yeah, they have a meeting the night before. This is where you meet your boater. They will inform you of how you will be fishing, and what time to meet at the ramp, unless they are staying at the same hotel you are in.

My rule of thumb for giving the boater gas money. $20-30 to go for a ride. Remember...they were going there with or without anyways. If you catch some fish....$30-40. If you get paid....$40-45. If in the top 5....$50(same with big bass). I call it my boater incentive program....lol

If you are not that good...ask questions...most will help you out. If you bring a laptop with internet access you can look up your boater to see how well they have done in the past.....doesn't mean anything...but you will learn if first time boater over experienced boater...know what I mean?

[ffmedic147]

So its okay to coverse with your boater if they are ok with that.  I am sure there are some out there that are probably stuck up. What is the chances of me getting someone like that? Thanks for the money hints. Will the boater help me out with anything. If so to what extent. I am not saying hold my hand but maybe with ideas exc.?

[squid]

The boater wont give up too much info, but will let you know how you will be fishing. They don't want you to give up any info they have to your buddies, cause they think all co-anglers talk. You might get someone that will not help you, but you will learn that first 20 minutes into the tournament. Chances of that happening are 1 in 200 per tournament.

The boaters, unless bed fishing, will help you out as much as possible.

I have heard horror stories about boaters, but also ignorant co-anglers.

Be quick with the net, but don't stab at the fish. You do not want to be the co-angler they will talk about the rest of the season. Last year, my boater stabbed at my fish twice, lost one...my biggest one...would have been over 5. I didn't let it bother me since he was in his 70's. Sometimes you need to over look the little things. It did cost me a check though, but I was there to learn and have fun. And that old guy was a very good teacher and fun to talk to.

[GeorgiaSpotSticker]

Where do you get paired up with a boater? Do you need to find a boater before you sign up? Or do you go ahead and sign up and find one at the pre-tournament meeting...?

[ffmedic147]

I am new to the BFL but it seems to be like all other big tournaments (not your usually tuesday nighters). And please anyone correct me if i am wrong! You find ( if you can) a boater and have him as your partner. The only time you will fish with this individual is practice and i believe at the regional tournament if you make it. Now the boater you are with during the tournament is drawn on friday before the tournament. At the end of all the regular tournaments you and your boaters scores are totaled and if your in the top 20 (for example) you get to go to the regional tournament. And again if anyone sees something wrong please correct me!

[motocross269]

In BFL you have absolutely nothing to do with your dedicated boater as far as scoring.

Just like squid said as a Co angler you try to find a Boater before the priority entry deadline. This gaurantees that you will be able to fish in case there is an odd number of boaters and co-anglers. Once you register with his number at the FLW you don't really have to have anything to do with him.  Alot of Boaters and Cos do buddy up to save money and have someone to pre-fish with.

If you wait to sign up the night before the tournament you will pay a hefty fee unless maybe they are short of Co-Anglers. I am not sure when the sign up deadline is, I always sign up for all 5 at once in December.

The night before the tourney you go to a meeting and draw your boater.  You fish from the back of the boat the next day.  Your scores are counted totally seperate from your boater.  It is Boater vs Boater and Co-angler vs Co-angler as far as soring and money.  

 

[squid]

See...I knew I missed something...trying to work and BR...might get me in trouble.....if I get caught...lmao ;D ;D

[Banor]

The most important conversation must happen before you even get out on the water, and preferably the night before after you meet up with your boater.

Feel them out. Ask them the questions. Especially ask them about equipment limits on what you should bring. Second most important is find out before hand how they want you to handle the netting/landing of their fish. I personally do not use a net but always have one incase the co-angler wants it. Do not just show up on the boat and start stabbing at their fish with a net. If you've never used a net before or arent comfortable netting... dont be afraid to tell them that. They need to know.

As for the discussing of lake information, it's not as big of a deal on a one day tournament. There's not much danger of giving away secret spots since you arent going out with a different boater the next day. 2 day super tournaments that might come into play.

My co-anglers will get one of the back compartments for tackle and they get the rear rod holder to put their rods on by the console. 3-5 rods is realistic. I've made the mistake of letting a co-angler bring as much gear as they wanted and that didnt work out well. I will tell them if they have too much gear.

If you are fishing a body of water that requires multi state licenses make sure you have the required licenses. You will tick a boater off if they have to deal with you not having the licenses for the state they want to fish in. This is a big deal in michigan where we fish Clair and Erie that you could need 3 licenses in any given tournament.

Treat their boat like it was the queen. If you tear up my boat or start banging my cowling with lures you might find yourself back at the launch.

Dont bring beverages and food that are going to stain up the carpet or make a mess. I wouldnt suggest candy bars on hot days.

Some boaters have a problem with nasty scents/attractants. Ask first before spraying/globbing the scent all over their boat.

Just a few things that come to mind...

Do not be afraid to ask the questions... check that... MAKE SURE you ask the questions prior to even launching.

Above all, with gas prices soaring out of control dont show up to the ramp with 5 bucks for your boater for gas. That is just an insult. I've heard stories of co-anglers offering a couple bucks which is just about enough to get you a mile away from the launch.

B

[squid]

And this is coming from the boater side.  

As a co-angler...I bring what little I need, and I always forget that newbies have not a clue as to how much stuff to bring with them.  

Lets put it this way on how much to bring as a co-angler.  If you can't carry it all by yourself :o....then you have WAY TO MUCH crap with you.  If it is cooler in the morning...wear your gear before you get to the boat.  Also, that back compartment is not always that big, so you have to remember, you need room(in that back compartment) to store your extra clothing when the heat turns up later in the day..

OH YEAH...sometimes the boater will love you for this....always offer, and if accepted, to buy a bag or 2 of ice...even if it is not a hot day out.

[ffmedic147]

Thanks for all the input. This brings up another question. I have read the flw rules and this could be in there but i dont remember reading it. I know some tournaments the coangler cant cast past the center of the boat. I understand its ridiculious to cast all the way a head of the boater and it would be frustrating for the boater. But how should i follow this rule or rule of thumb? I guess for me its just good ethics.

[carySE406]

I think the rules state that the boater fishes from the front and the co-angler fishes from the back.  Thats it.  I just fished my first BFL last weekend and my only advice would be to try to stay calm.  I was all nervous and it really affected my fishing.  Other than that, dont get lost on the way to the ramp in the morning, and you should have a blast.

[Banor]

There's no actual "rule" and I dont want to come off as a jerk because I'm the nicest guy you'll run into out in the boat, but if you cast in front of me or over my head, it's going to be a long day on the lake for one of us.

Generally I'll position the boat so that the co-angler has a good cast angle to the structure.  One of the best techniques for a co-angler is to c-rig off the back of the boat especially if you've got a boater who likes to stay on the move.  Spinner baits and fast movers are a good idea too.  If you are holding on a spot then keep an eye on the sonar at the console of the boat.  I leave mine on for the co-angler.  This will keep you informed of the depth.  If your boater is bank beating or fishing flats you should concentrate on fishing the next depth change behind the boat.  Find the ledges behind you.

This is what I would do anyway.

Let your boater dictate how relaxed your afternoon is going to be and how casual.  He may even tell you "hey cast over here this is a good area" or something like that.  You just wont know how he's going to be until you are out there.

B

[ffmedic147]

I agree if i was a boater and someone did that to me i would be ticked to. But like you all said it all depends on the baoter and his attitude. But i will surely keep it as a rule of thumb.

[WBFishing]

I will do this in 2 replies to keep from making it long and drawn out.

This is my first year of tournament fishing.  I have been doing the BFL, BWS, and ABA as a non-boater and totally love it.  I have really learned a lot and am looking foward to moving fishing as a boater next year.  The first thing, and   a hard thing for me as a non-boater was to figure out how much gear to take. Now,I take 5 baitcasters and I spinning set up, but I ask my boater at the pairing if I can bring 6 set ups, and if there will be room.  I have them set up the way I like to fish them but in a way I know I have something to cover the entire water column, from top, shallow, mid, and deep. I have a carry tackle bag that holds 6 boxes-4 arranged in my bait preferences, 1 terminal, and 1 is for accessories (rod tip repair kit, lighter, spinnerbait blades, extra treble hooks, etc). I strap my raingear and plastics binder to the bag. I have enough room in the bag to stuff scissors, pliers, file, 2 extra spooled reels, culling clips, 2 filler line spools,and any food I want in the bag.  It is not a large bag but I pack it tight. Always be efficient and prepared.  I have had to actually repair a busted rod tip.  I have also left my raingear before, because it was sunny and after getting to the spot we were fishing, the bottom falls out--with a 10% chance of rain for the day.  

[WBFishing]

My second challenge was to cast and fish without ticking my boater. I know it irritates me when I take my wife out and she cast over my head. I am not into dodging lures, especially when they are coming from behind me, so I try to keep that in mind.

I spent my first few events scared to cast for fear of ticking off the boater, so I only casted behind the boat or the width of the back deck. I just told myself one day, "Self, you have a right to fish the water". I learned to cast left handed to help with the problem. I pay attention to boat positioning more now also. I think the "imaginary line" shifts when the boat position changes. If the boat is parallel to the structure, then my casts will not go any further forward than the console, unless the boat as passed a specific structure and the boater is not fishing the opposite side. Unless, I am specifically told to throw up ahead---or he is retying and the boat is drifting. If the boat is perpendicular, then I think the line runs down the center of the boat. So I will cast to the front as long as I cast outside the width of the boat. I have not had any complaints with my theory so far. If I ever get one, then I will reevaluate it. I also try to keep a rod at the ready and be quick when we stop on a new spot, cause the boater has to get on the trolling motor.

**last note (I hear this complaint from friends about their co's)-- When the boater says "let's get ready to roll" , get you line out of the water and start strapping up--no boaters want to wait for a co-angler**

[Hale]

There's no actual "rule" and I dont want to come off as a jerk because I'm the nicest guy you'll run into out in the boat, but if you cast in front of me or over my head, it's going to be a long day on the lake for one of us.

**last note (I hear this complaint from friends about their co's)-- When the boater says "let's get ready to roll" , get you line out of the water and start strapping up--no boaters want to wait for a co-angler**

Some good points here!

I will say something once about infringing casts. Im not trying to bogart all the water up front, but I am trying to develop a pattern that will also benefit you as the co-angler. Making sloppy casts and cutting out my angles will make me just turn the boat and you will be faced with one of two casting scenarios: a lot of open water by yourself, or no water at all.

If I have the big motor on and im sitting there at the helm waiting on you something is wrong. I have 'sat' a few people down with a little rap on the throttle. Likewise not securing your items because your an idiot is not my problem; it will be windy in a second, take your hat off, hold onto your drink, straps your rods. Im not turning around...