New Lake, New Partner

[Joshawa]

I'm interested to find out how some of you would approach this situation.

In about a month I am going to be fishing in a local tourney with someone I have never fished with on a lake that I haven't fished in almost ten years.

This is just a little local tourney but is going to cost us about 250 together and usually draws quite a few boats 50-100+. Its has some nice pay-outs as well as a very nice top prize for combined weight of the entire boat.

I have not fished in a tourney in a very long time and just want to get everything I can out of this experience because I am planning on getting into the local tourney scene in the coming seasons.

I am going out for the first time with him later on in the week to get a little more familiar with the lake as well as well as get a feel for his style of fishing.

From talking with him and some of the people he usually fishes with I have gathered that he likes to burn spinner baits along a couple different strips and submerged weed beds. He is mostly fishes for muskie but is very familiar with the waters.

My only concern is that he doesn't fish plastics at all and is missing lots of quality spots because of it. I want to make sure that we have the best chance for boating enough quality fish to contend but I do not want to step on any toes doing so.

Hes a real easy going guy and I'm sure he will be open for changing it up but I want to be sure that we are getting the best fish we can for what conditions are there.

I have no problem with burning cranks and spinners to try and get on a pattern but if we don't get on the fish how would you go about getting the boat into the right spots so that we can do so.

Obviously I will be fishing the back of the boat and I mostly fish plastics when I can. If you have any suggestions or advice about this situation please feel free to chime in.

[Sam]

1. Talk to him to set up how you are going to fish - fast, slow, etc.

2.  If he throws spinnerbaits you throw something else until you all find out what the fish want - spinnerbait vs. Chatterbait or crankbait or buzzbait.

3.  Half day in front of boat? - Do you get the boat for half of the day - if not, then work out a deal to go to his favorite places first and then some of your favorite spots.

4.  Who knows the lake the best? - if it is him, then let him lead you. If it is you, then you have to give him some guidance.

As long as you two communicate you will not have any problems.

And remember your plastics and jigs and try to fish the way you like although he is going to lead the way with his techniques.

Have fun.  

[Joshawa]

Thanks Sam,

He defiantly knows the lake best, hes out there a couple times a week and I've only been there 3-4 times and that was a long, long time ago. As for the 1/2 in front 1/2 in back I'm not sure.

I'm sure we will be able to get some of this stuff straight later this week, He's pretty much family so we don't have to worry about communication at all.

I defiantly plan on trowing something else if hes tossing spinners in order to try and find what the fish are doing.

For the most part I'm just happy I found someone who wants to enter the tourney with me and he has a nice boat to boot so I'm sure were going to have a great time, But I wouldn't mind winning some money while we are at it

[Eddie Munster]

Good luck. Take a camera and post some pics of em!