Coangler Gear

[hydrilla6]

I am thinking of trying out tournaments as a coanlger what number and kinds of rods should I bring? I am getting back into bass fishing this season and would like to purchase good gear at the start with the goal of the tourn at the end of the season. I do not want to go back and buy different or more gear. So how many rods does a coangler realistically use? I know some of this will be based on my fishing style but give me a ball park. Also how much tackle is a coangler usually carry?

[roadwarrior]

This is something to consider as you build your

collection over time:

Technique specific rods are for "enthusiasts".

Almost all your fishing can be done with just

one rod. Beyond that, you only "need" three rods:

Spinning: 6 1/2' or 7', M or MH, Fast Action

(soft plastics and light lures)

Baitcasting: MH or H, Fast Action

(jigs, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and all single hooks)

Baitcasting: MH, Moderate Action

(all treble hook lures)

[BrianinMD]

As a co-angler I usually carry 4-5 rods depending on the location and style of fishing, one tackle back with five 3700 plano boxes, and sometimes a extra bag if cold weather/rain gear may be needed that day.

Make sure to have something for water and a snack or two. And your own lifevest comes in extremely handy, especially if you want a Mustang type.

[Fishes in trees]

What you're going to need as a co-angler will vary quite a bit, depending on where you're fishing. Do you know any other guys who are co-anglers at the level you're wanting to fish? They could be a good source of local information.

Gear for a co-angler starts with rods and reels but it certainly doesn't end there. You'll need to bring a modest amount of baits and a handy, easy to access way to store them. There are lots of different tackle bags out there, find one you like. There is a fine line between bringing too much stuff and not enough stuff.

You will need a rain suit. Early season requires a good one, like Cabelas Guidewear or equivalent. Being cold and wet in the early spring out on the water isn't any fun. Early morning take off - don't forget about wind chill. Wind chill will commonly get below freezing - a suit that absolutely stops the wind is a great first step to staying warm. I got one of those Fishhedz face masks and that made alot of difference on long runs. (even in the summer, a june bug in the face can spoil your day) If you don't like the face mask - get a set of goggles - some sort of eye protection. If you're not used to rriding in a bass boat, your eyes will tear up when you're running and you won't be able to see a thing.

Late spring, summer, early fall tournaments, you can get by with a set of frogg toggs. (the jacket and bibs are better than the jacket and pants) Final answer - don't skimp on rain wear & don't fall into the trap of thinking a poncho is

"good enough"

You will need a life jacket - get a good one that fits. I'd recommend one of those auto inflatable models, but let your wallet and comfort be the judge.

When I was co-angling I was famous for getting a backlash to start out the day. Picking out a backlash wastes time. I got to the point to where I just carried 2 or 3 extra bait casters in my tackle bag. If it looked like it was going to take more than a minute or two to unsnarl it, I just changed out the reel.

Co -angler is fun, but you've got to be adaptable and it helps to be prepared for different angling situations. Most of the time what I would do is bring a whole bunch of stuff with me to the tournament and pare it down considerably after talking to the boater I drew.

[hydrilla6]

RW right on the money. Thanks guys, the responses were just what I nedded to know.

[Wild Bill [NY]]

Co-anglers can bring 4-5 rods easily.

Keep them neat, and be ready to run at a moments notice, once the boater says so.

Keep tackle to a small bag and maybe a 3700 or two, so that you can tuck it all right at your feet as you run.

Discuss what you need to bring with your angler before the tourney, as most boaters will have a game plan before they even start fishing..

DO NOT DYE ANYTHING aboard his boat..

Do not smoke without ASKING FIRST if that is okay.

BE VERY CAREFUL around the seats, so not to tear, burn, snag, or dye them in any way.

And NEVER grab a boat windshield to stand up or to steady yourself.

[piscicidal]

I agree with all the advice given here....

I take five rods, a life jacket, my lunch/drinks and a carry bag with three 3700 boxes full of the stuff I'm going to use. I also throw in two spare BC reels...one with braid and one with flouro. I don't mess with backlashes....take the reel off and fix it later (i.e. when running to the next spot). Which rods to carry depends on what kind of fishing you and your partner are doing. A typical tournament load for me is: flipping stick/jig rod/paddletail rod/frog rod/worm rod. I can throw big swimbaits on the flippin stick, spinner baits on the paddletail rod and crankbaits/topwaters on the worm rod, so most bases are covered. If I need a finesse rod, I will ask my partner if a sixth rod is OK, but in tournament situation we rarely finesse fish. I recently bought some rod sleeves also....useful for putting rods in/out of holders and keeping your partners boat relatively clutter free. Always show courtesy toward your partners equipment and throw in money for gas.

[webertime]

I aim to be as little of a nuisance as possible as a co-angler.

Consider a Bac Rac rod rack. Ask the boater if they are ok with using it too. It keeps the hooks away from their seats (that alone makes them happy) and keeps your rods from getting tangled. When it's time to go just drop the rod on the rack and secure the 2 bungees and you are off!

I like an inflatable life jacket and just keep it on at all times, it makes the "Ok let's get going" so much faster and easier.

Boaters in my club will give you one compartment out back and as long as you don't get in their way with it they don't care what you bring for tackle so long as it fits and is quick to stow.

That being said one thing that had me frusterated was that I was bringing too many options with me and got myself confused and wasting MY time deciding on what to carry. The second half of the season I brought far fewer items and my success went through the roof. I brought what I was confident I could use and just stuck with them.

This year I have a bag that will fit 2 3500 sized boxes (jerks/TW), 4 3600 boxes for plastics/jigs/terminal and 2 pockets for a Lindy Leader Roll (Drop Shots and C-Rigs pre-tied and ready to be attached) and my tools. This thing is pretty compact and allows quick access and storage.

RW's recommendations on rods are spot on, I also like a longer Heavy rod.

I keep pliars, clippers, and a hook file clipped to me so they're always on me and I don't fumble around looking for them and then have my angler call "Fish!" and create a cluster...

(Not gear related but good tips)

Never lean on a PowerPole/Talon without them saying it's ok. Saw that end badly. Get used to fishing around them.

Don't go nuts when you lose a fish or get into it with other people while you are in another person's boat (saw a co-angler go nuts on a Kayaker that was being an instigator). This is probably common sense but I have been into tournaments for 1.5 seasons and have seen it happen a lot.

[jchez444]

i been fishing as a coangler for the past 4 seasons and bring 5-6rods and 1 large tackle bag. if you keep your rods neat, with sleeves and the ties you can easily bring 6-7 at most and have them never get in the boaters way or yours. i keep my tacklebag under my legs when i sit, sometimes ill even have my legs partially up on my bag. the key is orgaanzing the right way. get the sleeves and ties, yes it may take you an xtra 2 mins to undo one rod and put one away, but its more efficent and is actually quicker cause your not dealing with tangle rods and line. You will get some people who are going to say 5-7 rods are way to much, it is if done poorly, but i been doing it for awhile now on both full size bass boats and my other club which are only reservoir rigs (15-18ft aluminum boats). just organizeand keep things somewhat neat and you will be fine. good luck

[jkarol24]

All last year i brought 5-6 rods with no problem. They included:

-2 spinning rods, one with a weightless wacky rig, and one with a dropshot

- 3 baitcasters, one for heavy flipping, frogging, C rigs, swimbaits, one for moderate cover jigs and spinnerbaits, one for topwaters, jerks, heavy shakey heads

-additional baitcaster for cranking but only if partner indicated cranking as a possibility

In my tackle bag:

-5 3600 p boxes, one for terminal tackle, one for jigs, one forspinnerbaits, one for jerks/topwaters, and one for cranks/traps

- a few soft plastic bait bags kept in the side pockets (craws/ flipping on one side, worms on other)

- small spool of leader material

- pliers

- leader roll with 5 or 6 prerigged dropshots (weight, hook, and swivel), plus additional weights and swivels inside

- culling buoys

- sunglasses and goggles

- flashlight

Additional stuff:

- rain gear dependent on weather

- small bag of peanuts or trail mix

- Gatorade

- life jacket

I always kept the bag either under the console or between my rods and where my feet would go. Keep it simple, organized, amd know where all of your stuff is located in your tackle bag. I use a sharpie and write what is in each box on the side showing so that i can see whats in each one before i pull it out of the bag. As well, if you pull out a box or a bag of lures, grab what you need and then put it back in tacklebag before you start fishing again. Keeps everything organized and in one place.

[piscicidal]

Miscellaneous gear I carry in my travel bag:

- needle nose pliers

- extra pair of sunglasses

- sungear (buffs/sunscreen)

- small scissors (braid)

- clippers

- boga grp/scale

- rag

[new2BC4bass]

I don't tournament fish, but have enjoyed reading this thread. I fish from a small 12'6" Porta-Bote, and am going to put some of the suggestions made into practice. I can't carry more than 4 rods unless going by myself, which so far has been never. Also have to keep lure containers to a minimum. Right now I have a Plano 7271 which is small, and I feel it doesn't hold much for its size. (Any suggestions for a smallish tackle box that will hold quite a bit for its size?)

I carry more plastics than anything. For this I picked up some cheap plastic containers at a super store. None too big and what I do is put what I want to use that day in a couple small ones, and leave the bigger containers in the car. Another small container gets my hooks, sinkers, etc. put in it.

I'm not particularly fond of this system as it means rummaging thru each container looking for the correct size hook, or desired plastic. Speed isn't of the essence, but I hate wasting time looking instead of fishing since I don't get out often, and time on the water is limited when I do go. That is why I carry 4 rods instead of 2...because I don't like wasting time changing lures if I don't have to. Four rods is only possible because I fish out of the back of the boat, and don't have a motor yet.

Some very good ideas have been posted, and I want to thank you guys for sharing what works best for you. Thanks!

[ChiCityBasser]

Great info from everyone and this will be my first year fishing tournaments as a co-angler and this sure helps to get down to the gear to take and some boat etiquette as well.

[A-Rob]

Don't grind your gravelly shoe into the gel coat

Don't try sneaking up onto the front deck to get a better cast at his bed hahaha