Club fishing Etiquete????

[Lil Baby Cousin Ray-Ray]

I am new to this forum and i am also about to join my first bass club. I will be a Non-boater and I was wondering if there are any unwritten rules about stuff like helping in maintenance costs and gas and stuff. I will be glad to pay for gas but is there anything else that goes along with being the second guy in the boat?

[Sam]

Your club rules should include how to reimburse the boater for his costs, such as gas.  You could have a sliding scale depending on the price of gasoline or a flat rate.

Be sure to offer the money to him as soon as you can to get that business finished early in the AM.

Be early.  Do not be late to the ramp.

Treat his boat as you would treat your boat.

And be a gentleman.

That's about it.

Good luck.

[Lil Baby Cousin Ray-Ray]

Thanks. I was just thinking how the pros always have that guy in the boat that doesnt really do anything.

[HPBB]

be quick with the net,

if you don't know how to back a boat in, tell the owner.

If a guy can't back down the ramp. I'll back the boat in till the trailer tire hit the water. then get in the boat and have him just back up enough for the boat to come off. then he can park it.

If you don't know how to. Try to practice if you can.

Take enough gear that you will need, but don't take everything you own. You don't want to over crowd the boat with your stuff. I am an owner, but when I do go as a rider, I try to keep it to 4-5 rods and two small bags. You will se some guys that carry 10 rods and have enough gear to fill a U-haul.

And if you do smoke or chew, ask the owner if its ok to do that on thier boat, before you start. I don't smoke and I don't let people smoke on my boat. I did at one time, then I had to replace a seat  and carpet because of burns. A lot of guys get mad when I say "No smoking".

[Danceswithbass]

You may be asked to back his boat down the ramp before and after the tourney. Then help him strap it down, and possibly wipe the boat down. Clean all the trash out of his boat from the day. Don't spread your tackle out all over the place. Be ready to reel up, strap your rods down and move in an instant. When the boater decides its time to move, he ain't going to want to wait for you to pick up all your stuff. So keep it fairly well in order. You should always offer the boater some money $20.00 -$25.00 is the norm around here. He may want you to net his fish for him. If he does, and he hooks up, you need to get to the net as quick as you can. Don't expect him to do the same for you though. Some will, but not all. It depends if he's a pro or if your in a smaller tournament. Check out the co-angler clinic at http://www.flwoutdoors.com/.

Good luck

[Lil Baby Cousin Ray-Ray]

thanks for the great info. i dont know how to back a boat in. i tried to back my father in laws boat in and made an a$$ of myself.

[Jnamo]

Backing in- You should try and learn, it makes the ramp process so much faster and efficient if all boaters and their partners are self-sufficient.  When it is a big club or a real busy launch, it really does help.  

Keep your hand at the bottom of the steering wheel to point the boat in the direction you want.  Practice.

Jeff

[Brad_Coovert]

I assume that you will be pairing up boaters and non boaters at your club meetings before the tournaments.   After the meeting is a good time to get with your partner to discuss riding to the tournament together, where you will meet, general expenses, if you can share his boat cooler or need to bring one and how much/what type of tackle you should bring.  No sense bringing deep water stuff if you're gonna be fishing a shallow creek off a river all day and no reason to bring a cooler if the boat cooler will hold both angler's stuff, etc.

At the ramp, offer to help with unstrapping, uncovering, etc. and make sure you will not have a problem backing down the boat.

When in the boat, make sure you do your best to keep the boat free of clutter to avoid tripping, tangles, broken rods, etc.  Be careful with scent bottles and treble hooks.  Watch the back end of the boat if you are fishing around docks or standing timber to help avoid major scuffs.  Be quick to point out of your snagged so your boater can get back to your snag quickly.  Basically, treat the boat like it ws your brand new boat.

At the end of the day, offer to clean up the boat and make sure you get all your trash out of the boat.

Enjoy your time in your new club!  If it is a good club, you will learn a lot.

Brad

[Lil Baby Cousin Ray-Ray]

thanks for all the great advice

[Glenn]

Start here:  http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/guide_to_tournament_fishing.html

Then read the articles linked at the bottom of the page.

Enjoy!

[HPBB]

Also get your own lif jacket. Most boat owners carry extras, but in all the tournaments I have fished the rider is required to have there own. To save room I don't carry extras in the boat at tournaments. i will have some in my truck. also get one that fits you. My extra one fits me. I am a big guy so if a little guy wears it it will slid right off of them.

[timmyswetarded]

oh and with backing down the ramp, if its a long tongue (like most) it shouldnt be as hard, just follow the advice above ^,but if its a short tongue it will be significantly harder. i learned that the hard way... :

[luv2fsh33]

You have nothing to worry about, keep asking questions, just listen to these guys and to your club members it will not take long for you to figure out things you don't do and things you do in the boat.  Just remember though that everybody is different and what you got away with in his boat may not be what you get away with in my boat.  Good Luck

[Sam]

And remember the most exciting part of bass fishing....

backing the trailer down the ramp to launch and pick-up.

Especially with a lot of people watching you!

[Lil Baby Cousin Ray-Ray]

yeah ive tried once. i was with my father in law. it took about fifteen minutes to back down. i made a total fool of myself. i have never beenmore embarrassed.

[Tr186]

Another tip is to only bring bottle drinks. They can be closed and put back in the cooler. Can drinks only get kicked over and stain carpet. I also don't allow dye (spike it) in my boat. This is a quick way to get stains also. Dye markers work just fine. One last tip, don't step in the seats when you are getting up on the back deck. Enough people do that and the seats will tear.

Those are just some small things that will go a long way toward getting invited back to fish for fun.

[TeamHillbilly]

Hey man this is a club event not a Major FLW Tournament or something like that, just talk to the boater before the tournament and HAVE FUN, don't worry, these guys are your friends, In a couple of tournament and club meeting you'll get to know these guys, and be an old pro at backing the boat. Just let them know you are new at this and want to learn.

Good Luck

[RecMar8541]

teamhillbilly is right on the money.  the one thing definitly NOT to do is tell them yeah I can do this or that, and not be able to.  Be straight up and say, hey guys I am new and dont know how to back a boat, etc etc, they will be pretty willing to teach as long as you are straight with them.