Back of the boat fisher

[mlofsted]

I'm fairly new at bass fishing (1 yr) and have just joined a local club. As a new fisher I'm a non-boater, so I always fish the back of the boat at our monthly club tournements. Are there any strategies or tactics specifically for the rear person? I've tried to find articles on the WEB, but so far nothing. From all acounts, it looks like the front person gets all the good spots, but I have to believe to be a good team or "match", there must be a tactic that best fits the rear fisherman, and thus complements the front guy.

Anyone with any ideas?

Much appreciated.

[FlipnFanatic]

When I'm fishing in the back of the boat there are two things I always do...

1) Until one of you finds out what the fish want, try to throw different baits than what the boater is throwing.

2) I watch where the boater is casting and try to hit the spots that he passes up on.

[bflow_6]

thats pretty much it one thing i would say is dont go to far on the different lure though you dont want one of you fishing a crankbait and the other trying to fish a worm or jig. Reason being crankbait fishing is a lot faster so maybe if he is fishing a crankbait try a different crankbait or a spinnerbait but like said above dont fish the excact same lure till a pattern is found

[Triton21]

I fished the back of the boat for a lot of years.  Fish like the guy in the front of the boat wasn't there.  I have caught hundreds(maybe thousands) of fish by throwing a different bait in the same place the guy in the front just fished.  This is really true if the guy in the front fishes every likely looking spot.  I now own a super nice boat but still would rather fish the back of the boat.  9 times out of 10 I will beat my tournament buddy because all I have to do is fish and not worry about boat control and position.  I always let my buddy run the trolling motor.

Kelley

[WABass]

Same as triton21 said, I also fish the back of the boat often and I do just as good and sometimes better than the guy in the front, and there are no worries about boat control. good luck

[slinging southpaw]

One eye watches for what the guy in the front fishes while the other is watching the other side of the boat, usually the deep water with a lure that can be used to follow the contour of the bottom(carolina rig, grub, swim jig, crankbait, heavy spinner bait.

[Fisher of Men]

All good information.  I agree with throwing different baits as the pace will allow you to do.  If the person in the front is throwing a soft plastic or jig, you can afford to throw a crank to the other side of the boat, or directly behind at mid-depths.  My wife used to spank me hard by throwing a rat-l-trap into a little deeper water while I meticulously beat the bank with a worm in the summer.  I think one key thing is confidence.  Keeping in mind that you don't have to fight the trolling motor and that you have every bit of opportunity to catch one as much as the guy in the front will help set the tone.  If you see that the guy in front is getting short strikes, you might go with the same set up and cast to the same spots as well.  Keep the glass half-full!!

[flechero]

If you are fishing team events or divisions, where you are not competing against the boater, a good boater will leave you good water and targets as you fish along.  (or at least I and my friends do)  And you guys can discuss what's happening as it does.  If you are competing against him directly then you are best off to use different baits and watch his locations casted to.  In that case, getting front-ended (and silent treatment) is going to happen.   :-/

[WBFishing]

I started fishing tournaments this season as a co-angler.  After the events, I read the write ups and have been getting blitzed by other co's throwing shakey head worms.  I am really no good at a spinning/open-face reel. I also thought the whole technique was boring.  So, it took me 5 events of being stubborn and donating entry fees, but I finally picked up a spinning rod and have been learning to use it and to fish the technique.  

So my suggestion is shakey head.  Something else I taught myself this year was to learn to cast left handed.  I can't cast any great distances with my left hand,  but I am accurate enough for a short cast to spot the boater missed because he could not get to it because of the angle.  Most of those places set up pretty well for a lefty cast once you pass it.  GOOD LUCK!

[tbone31]

There has been many a day that my partner in the back of the boat has kicked the tar out of me fishing. Just goes to show you a good fisherman can catch them no mater what. Don't be afraid to throw on the opposite side he is. 8-)

[Catt]

My fishing partner Patrick C. and I have been fishing together for 30+ years; during this time I've kept detailed records of every outing. These records show it doesn't matter who's in the front or who's the back; the total number of bass and total number of hawgs average out.

[GLADES]

In my boat, I fish in the front seat. The front does have the advantage.

If we are moving along a shoreline or weed line, I usually space my casts every 10 - 15 yards or so. My buddy will fish in between my casts.

If we are flippin, moving more slowly, are presentations are usually closer together. I try not to spook the bass.

If either of us get snagged or hung up, we both stop fishing until we are clear.

If we have a fish on, the other grabs the landing net.

Fairness, patience and teamwork is the key.

Now and then, the back seat seems to be "luckier".

[mlofsted]

Ahh great responses from all of you! I truly appreciate it.

Thanks and may the god of the large mouth bring you all a double digit gift on your next outing!

[Guest avid]

c-rigging is a great non boater tactic

just so long as the boater isn't moving too fast.

If he's a "run and gun"  then you have to fish fast as well, but he will be passing good targets that you can hit once you get more experienced.

Keep at it.  You'll get there

avid

[jomatty]

im no expert at this but here are my thoughts...

downsize and slowdown if you can.  if the boater is moving slow enough downsize to something like a shaky head.  the other poster who said the coanglers in his club where doing great with a shaky head hit on a good point.  you are gonna catch a lot of fish on a shaky head that guys miss using larger baits.  same holds true for a dropshot or wacky rigged senko.  problem is they can be diffficult to fish if the guy in the front is running and gunning a spinnerbait.

if the front of the boat guy is fishing too fast to downsize and slowdown it is gonna be tougher.  you may just have to do the best you can with what he leaves you.  and be observant for spots he misses.

matt

[Bluecraw]

The only thing I don't like about the back is that I tend to cast with more of an underhand throw and I'm right handed....needless to say, I've broken a few hardbaits whacking the side of the boat.  You don't realize how much momentum there is at the tip of the rod until you whack the boat. :-[

I've just tried to make a conscious effort to not drop the tip as much during the cast and I also tend to pitch a lot of the time if my target is within range....and yes, that includes pitching a crankbait and spinners with a 6'6" medium action rod....not the ideal setup for pitching, but I've had a lot of practice.

[WhiteMike1018]

Everyone above me has offered great advice.

Just wanted to say GL and Welcome Aboard!

Ill see you around -White Mike

[John J.]

I am in the same boat you are in bud! I joined my club exactly one year ago (actually a little over a year). Sometimes I am the non-boater and sometimes I am the boater.

A good tip for the non-boater is like these guys said, watch where the boater casts and any spots he misses or hasn't hit and jump on it! We have a rule (which I am sure it is applied everywhere) that there's an invisible line in the middle of the boat and neither the boater or non-boater can cast pass that line (in other words, no casting in front if your in back and no casting in back if your in front).

I try to throw opposite of what the boater throws (unless he is catching fish of course!) If the boater is casting a spinner-bait or card plastic I switch to soft plastics. Offer something different. If the boater is catching fish, switch to what he's throwing. Many times I stick with a few lure types and stay with them even though the boater is catching them.

I did this once with a spinner-bait when my partner, Randy Beasley was catching bass off of a ZOOM Finesse worm. It was on the Hot Side of Lake Anna. He caught 3 small bass on the finesse worm. I knew it was warm water and we were on rip raps in between dikes and I knew a big bass will hit my spinner-bait (it was a 1/4 ounce) and sure enough 20 minutes prior to the tournament ending I landed a 2 pound 10 ounce bass that got me 2nd place!

If you know something will work and will give you luck (in the proper conditions and locations) stick with it! You will be surprised.

Good luck!  8-)

[Lunkers0]

Very good information from everyone.  I always try to do two things when fishing the back of the boat.  1. Try not to pay attention to what lure the front fisherman is throwing.  Fish the way you would normally fish if you were alone.  2. Try to cast where the front fisherman isn't casting to.  Sometimes you can catch one off of one side of the dock post and nothing on the other side.