CoAnglers

[jrhennecke]

I said the other day that I felt fisherman are some of the most courtious and most approachable athletes.  With that said I have heard of more than one story were a pro angler has been less than gracious to their coangler.  I understand too that these guys are fishing for their livelyhood and that maybe some coanglers don't understand the proper etiquite.  Do you think this issue happens often on all levels of tournament fishing?  And among those of you who fish as coanglers often, is it known which "pros" are not the most approachable or kind?

[Sam]

I fish in club tournaments as a boater and a nonboater and we all get along great.

I have not fished any federation tournaments due to the pressure involvled but some of my club members have fished them.

Every now and then you will encounter a "jerk" in a federation tournament if there is money on the line.

One story that was related to me occurred last year when one of our club members was a nonboater in a TBF tournament.  The boater must have weighed 400 pounds and all my friend saw was his back for the entire time.

The boater would not speak to the nonboater; share the front of the boat; would fish like he wanted to fish with no regards to the noboater; would not help net any fish; and would not acknowledge the nonboater in any manner.

To say the least, my friend did not do well (caught two keepers) and the other club guys fishing the same tournament say that he was visibly shaken after the tournament.

He is still upset about this encounter to this day and refuses to discuss it. He says he still has a very nasty flavor in his mouth over the adventure.

I am fishing some of the B.A.S.S. federation tournaments with another club member this year to avoid the same scenario.

[Cajun1977]

the guy is shook up because he was ignored? ;D id tell him to cowboy up, as far as jerks , well they are in every profesion not just fishing, you can have good and bad just like anything else in life

[Glenn]

I've seen it all the way down to the club level - even when money wasn't on the line!  

I personally beat a number of boaters from their backseat in club tournies, and some didn't take it well. Some never took me out again, others purposefully "front seated" me or came in late enough to disqualify my catch, and a few others "charged" me A LOT for boat expenses after I whooped their butt.

That said, those were exceptions, not the norm.  So I'd say it happens, but not often.

[littlefisher]

I've seen it all the way down to the club level - even when money wasn't on the line!  

I personally beat a number of boaters from their backseat in club tournies, and some didn't take it well. Some never took me out again, others purposefully "front seated" me or came in late enough to disqualify my catch, and a few others "charged" me A LOT for boat expenses after I whooped their butt.

That said, those were exceptions, not the norm.  So I'd say it happens, but not often.

That's shady x 100 to come in late just because your boater beat you.  Instead of trying to make there catch irrelevant, maybe they should have asked you what you were doing and learned from it.

Me and my father fished a club in the Northeaset part of Michigan this year.  The club as dwindling numbers because the same two guys win almost every tournament and always win the point race.  It would be different if these two guys were out to educate others in the club, but that's not the case.  Now don't get me wrong, they were both nice guys, they never really did anything to upset me or others, they just weren't very generous fisherman.  It wasn't like we were fishing for big money, it was a small club with anywhere from 10-15 boats per tournament.  There were plenty of good guys though, and a 14yr old kid and his grandpa, who had just started fishing the previous year, won our classic which was really cool.

I know that this year when I'm fishing a couple tournaments with them and the other ones I'm fishing, I am very willing to share information with others after the tournament is over.  I'm all about educating other anglers to make their day on the water just a little bit easier.  I just like to treat others like I would like to be treated.  So if anyone here ever comes up north and wants to go fishing.  I'm sure me and my father would gladly share the front, back, or anywhere else you want to fish from on the boat  8-).

[garry77]

In the little county club that I was in,you and the nonboater fished as a team.If you won or one of you caught big fish you split the money.Never had any problems.Also you always fished teh season with the same partner and if he wasn't available you could bring a guest one time.After that the guest would have to join.Pretty laid back and no a$$holes to deal with.

[The Bass Guy]

Hey all... It is really too bad that your friend experienced that on his first time out...  But I hope that that doesn't discourage you or him to go for it again...  Over the years, I have had experiences and success in tourneys in the Midwest, Michigan, and the South as both a boater and a non-boater...  Regrettably, I have had not so pleasant experiences in both positions...  But I never let it discourage me...  If a person has to be a poor sport or other things that is just too bad for him/her...  If it is bad enough like being late on purpose, you might want to mention it too the club heads...  

Now all of that said, I haven't been fishing tournaments for a few years due to a couple of things, one a divorce (yes she got the boat and all of the rest of my fishing stuff), I moved, and I just can't swing enough to buy another boat...  I would love to do it again no matter what type of experience I may have because I do know that almost all of the time, the experience will be great...  So if anybody is looking for a co-Angler, a non-boater, or just a great back seater drop me a note...  

By the way...  Good luck to all.... Maybe I will run over to Leesburg for the BASS weigh=in this weekend...

[Danceswithbass]

I've fished from the back deck for years.I Fish everything from club tournaments to BFL, Had every kind of partner you could imagine, but really none were jerks to me.

If you learn to be an asset to him in the boat, then most guys will treat you well. But if you are a hindrance to him, then you are going to get on his nerves.

Back boaters should learn the ropes at a lower level before saddling a guy with an inept co angler.

If there' are "pros" out there that are A holes to back boaters, their sponsors should hear about it.

[SneakySnook]

I've heard the same thing and haven't joined a bass club because of this.  I don't have a boat and would have to be a coangler but I don't want to fish with someone that makes me feel like I'm putting them out. Does this happen a lot with small local clubs?

[FD.]

Last year I fished about 50/50 boater/coangler and can tell you that it happens at all levels, both ways.  Most of my experience has been positive and a good time.  I have even had my non-boater place in the money and catch the biggest fish of his life (8.5#) and that made ME feel good because I put him on the fish.

BUT I have had a few instances where I was ready to get out or put someone out of the boat....10 percent of the world are jerks and unfortunately some of them fish.....

[fishizzle]

We all fish...can't everyone just get along???

My club members are great people and very humble and I hope no one is discouraged to join a club.

One of my regrets was not starting tourney fishing earlier in life.

At 36 years old I may not make the pros till I'm 56.

Good thing fishing is for all ages

[Bassnbrett101]

I fish in club tournaments as a boater and a nonboater and we all get along great.

I have not fished any federation tournaments due to the pressure involvled but some of my club members have fished them.

Every now and then you will encounter a "jerk" in a federation tournament if there is money on the line.

One story that was related to me occurred last year when one of our club members was a nonboater in a TBF tournament. The boater must have weighed 400 pounds and all my friend saw was his back for the entire time.

The boater would not speak to the nonboater; share the front of the boat; would fish like he wanted to fish with no regards to the noboater; would not help net any fish; and would not acknowledge the nonboater in any manner.

To say the least, my friend did not do well (caught two keepers) and the other club guys fishing the same tournament say that he was visibly shaken after the tournament.

He is still upset about this encounter to this day and refuses to discuss it. He says he still has a very nasty flavor in his mouth over the adventure.

I am fishing some of the B.A.S.S. federation tournaments with another club member this year to avoid the same scenario.

I've had this happen as well, i hate it and it actually screwed me in a couple tourny's. anytime there is money on the line a guy will do this.  From now on i dont fish any tournaments without my own boats.  Its never shaken me, i mean i got stuck with a guy like that last year and i still caught a nice sack and the next day i had an amazing boater that more than made up for it.  I didn't beat that boater but i did earn a boater's spot to the state classic  ;D.  it's very rare you do encounter these people, from these experiences i try to always let my non boater in on whats going on and i ask him if theres anywhere he wants to go

[DangerRanger]

I have never had it happen to me.  I guess because I stay around TN and KY.  If it did happen to me I think I would just let the guy know that there is no reason to act like he was and ask him if I had offened him in any way.  I have managed a lot of ppl and when confortation arises you need to nip it in the butt asap.  If he was still a jerk and front seated me I would probably act like I have never casted in my life an keep crossing him up or throwing a double bladed buzz bait......lol.  I don't know what I would do never been put in that situation.  I always make sure that I present my self as an asset to them.

[vaparrothead]

I am in my second club and fish strictly as a non-boater.  The first club I was in was a great bunch of fellows but each was in it to win the $$.  I wasn't good enough to compete with 'em.  I joined a club that REQUIRES each member to talk about what tackle they used to catch fish.  The club rules state they are in more for fun and to learn.  We do have money on the tournment but it's a small amount (6.00) with some going to support the club kids fishing tournment.  I'm so glad I'm hooked up with a club that requires it's members to share expertise with other members.

[roadwarrior]

Only happened once to me. That was my first and last tournament.

I never looked back.

 >

[Bassnajr]

I have joined my first bass club this year and I believe it is with a group of guys that are trying to get AWAY from what you are all talking about....we'll see.

Whenever you add MONEY to an equation, things change, and most times, not for the better. As far as beating a "pro" in the front seat, I can imagine that there egos are bigger than their personal best and more tiimes than not, they will find a way to "punish" you. As I said, this year will be my first fishing tournaments, and I am being encouraged by my new club members to fish some "big" tournaments.

As far as being a non-boater, I would lay down ground rules with my "pro" before I left the dock. What is expected of me? What should I do/not do? etc. As long as I was courtious, helped out my partner, and did my best, if my "pro" treated me like a jerk, EVERYONE would know about it, not just his sponsors.  >  IMO

bassnajr

[squid]

I have never had that happen to me....NOT YET...hope never will.

[WBFishing]

Not to bring up bad experiences or anything My first event in CA, after my move in October '07  si the one true time I can say that I was really "front ended/back boated" . I fished an event and we were fishing a rock pile in 30+ All I saw was the back of the guy's head the whole time. He caught 20+ keepers off this pile and was culling. I was in the back all day, caught one out of no where. Even if he was retying, instead letting me hit the pile, he would just let the boat drift out of casting distance and then troll back up when he was done. He even called to me net his fish and actually help me with his culling beam.  BEING A GOOD GUY, I DID.  We left it and later in the day came back and his buddy (who is entered in the event, and showed him the spot) was about to get on it and he motors around him to get to it, cuts him off at about 10 ft. So at weigh in ( he ends u winning the event), the custom (since the division started, we were told) was to tell your baits and just tell the technique you used. Well, he lies and breaks the custom and tells some crap he never threw. I didn't rat him out, but like I told the wife, if I have to draw him again--I won't fish unless I can change partners. Sit on your buddies holeand he is in the event, back boat a guy, and lie to the members... what you think?

[Bassnajr]

WB..

I REALLY hope that these guys are the exception to the rule. That is the oppisite of why I joined a club, and want to fish some tournaments. And as far as "ratting" the guy out.... he should follow the rules, tradtions or not, and treat people like people. If I were you, I would tell this story to anyone who might end up in the back of this jerk's boat. Maybe the reason he is like this is that no one calls him on his behavior!! (OK, I am done venting!!) ;D

bassnajr

[Tin]

1. The last time I fished as a non-boater was in my State Qualifying tourney. It was the last time for that. My boater was drop-shotting bridge pillings and was dead on with them so I couldn't fish. Well I figured out a little something and put some fish in the boat, then it died so I just started firing my sworming hornet over the boaters head. I know two wrongs don't make it right but sorry, I didn't pay a couple hundred to get back-boated all weekend

2. Alan, it's going to be a fun year in our club. ;D

[Shadcranker]

Two issues:

Pro-Ams and Clubs or draw tourneys.

I've fished club and draw tourneys as a boater and non-boater, and I've seen bad from both perspectives. As a boater, I've had non-boaters bring another boater in and fished water we fish the day before together (with $ on the line)- not good ethics.

As a non-boater, I've been scolded for casting too far forward, when i wasn't, and I've had my boater get mad when I've caught "his fish" out of the back of the boat. I fished the BASS Weekend Series national last year as a non-boater, and the guy's pattern was paralelling rip-rap banks in 3ft of water, and casting directly in front of the trolling motor all day, leaving me 0 water to fish all day (I actually sat and read the newspaper for a while).

I'm in the Elite Series KY Lake event at KY Lake this June, so I'm anxious to see how I'm treated by the pros I draw. I've heard some horror stories about pros, but most of the guys I know that have done it said the pros were really nice, but certainly down to business. My philosophy is going to be to stay out of the way and have some conversation, but not talk to him all day. He's doing his job, and I need to respect that, but if the guy is a jerk right off, he hasn't earned my respect. I'm going there to do well, but the main reson I'm there is to learn and have a lot of fun.

As far as clubs go, you really need to understand the philosophy of the club you're joining. Our club is funa and learning based. We don't fish for money, just bragging rights, and we try to help our non-boaters learn, b/c most of them are wanting to buy a boat and fish more. I've developed good friendships with several of our co-anglers, and a few of them go with me fun fishing a lot. if the club is super competitive, you need to know that going in.

Bottom line is ethics and sportsmanship. Boaters need to allow their non-boaters an opportunity to fish and not get in their way, and co-anglers need to respect the boaters' time on the water finding fish and enjoy the opportunity to be on the water and learning.

It's really as simple as the golden rule. Unfortunatley, with fishing, esecially when money is on the line, sometimes greed and control come through. I've learned to take the bad with the good and to keep fishing in perspective. It's a hobby, boardering on a passion, but many folks take it way too seriously.

SC

[t1365]

Holy crap! I hope I never end up with horror stories like u guys have.  I've been fishing pro/ams for a few years now and so far have never drawn a bad guy.  I've always been given plenty of water, advice, and hospitality.  One of the circuits I fish gives an award to the best boater as voted on by the non boaters.  If it gets back to the tourney director that a boater was an ahole, then they are penalized for sportsmanship violations.  I agree with bassinajr too.  I get everything straightened out with my boater before take off.  I give him gas money first thing in the morning then discuss the day to come.  So far, I've had it good.