Co Angler question

[chasescott]

This will be my first year fishing the Bassmasters Weekend Series and the BFL's. I will fish the majority of the tournaments as a co angler this year and my main question is regarding back of the boat etiquette. I am very familiar with the show Match fishing and just wondered if it is similar (to a certain extent) as the show. How much gas  money do i need to offer the boat owner? I want to make this a very pleasurable experience for myself and the guy in the front of the boat.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

-chase

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

[movedhere] My Fishing Tournament or Outing [move by] Low_Budget_Hooker.

[Wayne P.]

A real simple answer: treat the boater and his equipment with the same respect and courtesy as you would expect a co-angler to treat you if/when you are the boater.

[J Francho]

Its nothing like UMF.  Call your boater, and work out the arrangements BEFORE you get on the water.  

[txbass1]

Hey Chase,

I know it is a different series, but the FLW website actually has a tab leading to a co-angler clinic with a lot of informative stuff on it.

[rizman]

I can help here, 1st be respectful - ask before doing anything, like is ther somewhere you can sto away extra gear? Narrow down you equip to a managable level. Be neat and organized, be ready to move at all times. Make sure you know how to net fish and be quick about it. Do not cast over the boaters line or try to cast ahead of him. Make sure your casting ability is accurate (very important) Focus on what you are doing. Be prompt and agree on a disignated meeting place, exchange cell #. Do not be late. Make sure you can back up a trailer. Have your own PFD and dress properly for conditions. Come with appropiate cash for ramp fee and gas money( remember boats use a lot of gas give what you feel is fair. 20 bucks is not enough) I hope this will help get you started RIZMAN

[Bass Dude]

RIZMAN hit it right on the head.  I would like to re-iterate--DON'T BE LATE & MEET THE BOATER WHERE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO!!!!  I have had a few tournaments where I was sitting where the co-angler and I decided upon--only to realize that he was waiting for me somewhere else.  I am the type that is VERY prompt if not 20 minutes early to the ramp.  I like to have my boat ready and get it into the water.  Then I relax and get my fishing tackle ready once I'm in the water.  It is very annoying when a Co gets in the way of my routine or makes ME have to hurry to get the boat in and get checked by the tourney officials.  

Also, let the boater know at the meeting the night before whether or not you can back the boat in.  This way they can make arrangements with someone else to get it in for them.  Also, if you aren't very good at backing a boat in, DON'T DO IT!!!  It's very dark in the morning and if you're inexperienced you could do some serious damage.

[riverfisher]

Check this out this a pretty good read for non-boaters.

http://www.nybassfed.com/Data/Articles/Complete_Non-Boater.pdf

[chasescott]

Thanks for the info Riz and Bassdude. I think i should be able to perform all the tasks you have listed. I have owned my own boat for a few years and great at backing up a trailer so that wont be an issue. I am really excited and ready to start learning the tournament "ropes". Hopefully i will get a good draw and get to learn some new techniques.

-chase

[fishizzle]

my biggest fear always was casting past the center line in the boat so I always ask the boater about any limitations.

My other pet peeve is that I keep my area neat in the back so when its time to gun I don't have to gather all my lures and waste time.

Just have fun and good luck

[exist]

go to FLW outdoors there is a topic called the co-angler clinic,i  must have read those articles like ten times before my first BFL tourny as a co-angler,it explains some things "do's and dont's",but sometimes no amount of advice can explain everything, my advice,RELAX.the more you try to do everything at once, the more fustrated you will become, i look at it as just a day fishing, but like everything else, the more you do it the easier it gets,good luck.

[mase088]

my biggest fear always was casting past the center line in the boat so I always ask the boater about any limitations.

My other pet peeve is that I keep my area neat in the back so when its time to gun I don't have to gather all my lures and waste time.

Just have fun and good luck

ill cast past the centerline of the boat if its necessary, if we trolling along pretty quick ill wait to see how far out his casts are then adjust as needed, and most of the time its over the centerline.