People often ask me how they can get involved in bass fishing tournaments.
I always say a solid way to start is joining Facebook groups to stay in the know and entering smaller/local tournaments in your area. This is a fantastic way to get a feel for the structure of tournaments and their rules. Joining a local Bass Club can greatly help with this as well!
A huge obstacle for most people is purchasing a boat. Yes, there are more cost-effective options out there, but that’s not always realistic for everyone. Even fishing kayaks can be expensive and out of many people’s budgets. I’ve even chatted with anglers who own a boat but don’t feel ready or experienced enough to hop into their first tournament.
For people in these scenarios, I cannot recommend starting as a co-angler enough. You get to compete in the tournament, experience the structure and rules, all without the added pressure of operating the boat. Along with this, you get in the boat with different anglers. Everybody fishes differently and you have the opportunity to learn SO much. Yes, there’s a chance you get paired with someone who isn’t the greatest fisherman, but you will always learn something… even if it’s what NOT to do. Those learning opportunities are absolutely priceless.
I’m sure we’ve all heard the horror stories out there of bad boaters and bad co-anglers. Boaters getting their lines cast over by co-anglers, co-anglers getting back-boated by boaters, etc. I have truly always had great experiences as a co-angler, and I think that has a to do with simply being respectful. I truly believe there’s great potential for the boater/co-angler relationship to be a beautiful sense of a “team”, and I want anyone trying to get their feet wet to have an awesome and memorable experience. Therefore, I want to share some tips on how to be a “good co-angler”.
Make a Game Plan
The majority of “random pairing” tournaments I’ve fished as a co-anger, you receive a text the night prior to the tournament with your boater’s name and phone number. I recommend taking the initiative to shoot them a text or give them a call right away. Introduce yourself, and make a game plan for where you will meet in the morning and at what time. They’ll sometimes be willing to let you know how you’ll be fishing tomorrow, which I always think is worth asking so you know what to pack in your limited tackle!
Be on Time
From my experience, boaters are often already annoyed enough to have a co-angler/stranger in their boat. I’m sure this also comes from bad experiences in the past. Don’t add to this by making them wait on you. That’s a bad start to the morning!
Check Your Shoes
Sadly… I’ve learned this one my experience. Fortunately for me, it was my fiancé. Unfortunately for him, he’s often the one that helps me learn from my mistakes.
Another way to start the morning off on a bad note is stepping onto your boater’s boat and immediately getting it dirty. I view being a guest on someone’s boat similar to being a guest in their house. Quite frankly, a lot of anglers probably take better care of the carpet on their boat than the carpet in their house. Docks and shores are often full of sand, dirt, and worse… goose poop. Before you hop aboard, make sure you give your shoes a good check and wipe or rinse if needed.
Be Helpful
Making yourself useful goes a long way when it comes to gaining the respect of your boater. This comes into play all throughout the day, but a big one is launching and loading the boat. HOWEVER, honesty is the best policy. If you are not comfortable doing so, just be honest. They will appreciate that much more than having a dented truck or trailer, and yes, I have seen that happen! You can always offer to stay in the boat if you are more comfortable doing that. If you’re not comfortable running the engine, you can always use the trolling motor, or even just hang onto the dock if you’re not congesting the boat ramp.
Pack Efficiently
As a co-angler, you’re working with limited equipment. Put thought into what you’re packing. Bring enough, but not too much. Many tournaments have a rod limit written into the rules for co-anglers. Bring versatile rods so you can switch up your baits/techniques if needed. Also be sure to bring versatile baits, and baits you’re comfortable with. This is where it’s helpful if your boater tells you what their game plan for the day is. If you were able to get out and pre-fish, that’s helpful with knowing what to pack as well. I recommend bringing a tackle bag/backpack that will fit in a boat compartment. Many boaters will have one open for you, but not always. If not, be prepared to keep your tackle bag at your feet. If possible, leave room in it if you’re going to be shedding layers throughout the day. You don’t want to have a ton of gear laying all over the place and getting in the way of both anglers landing fish.
Stay Organized
When switching baits/re-tying, I always make sure I put everything back into my tackle bag and zip everything up. Along with this, I keep the rods I’m not using in the spot designated by the boater. This is helpful when your boater decides to move to a different spot. You never want them to have to wait on you. If your gear is organized and secure at all times, when they say you’re moving, all you have to do is put your rod away, strap them down, and throw your life jacket on. This may sound small, but tournament time is precious and I’ve had numerous boaters tell me how much they appreciate this.
Respect the Boat
Accidents happen, but do your very best to respect your boater’s boat and gear. Be aware of your surroundings, don’t hit their boat, engine, graphs, or worse… them, with your bait while casting or missing hooksets. If I bring a dropshot rod, I even keep a small rubber band on my rod to secure the weight so it isn’t banging up against their fiberglass while we’re running. Don’t spill drinks, scent, or dyes on their carpet or seats. If you do, be sure to clean it up to the best of your ability. Pick up any weeds or grass you bring into their boat. Again, you are a guest on their boat and wouldn’t be out there without them. Treat it with respect!
Mindful Casting
Perhaps the best way to upset your boater is with your casting. They will not be happy if you are casting forward to the area they are fishing, or worse, cross their line. As a co-angler, your area to fish is the back of the boat. Do not view this as a disadvantage. I promise your boater is not catching every single fish in that area, and there are still fish for you to catch. I like to draw an imaginary line at the dashboard of the console. Anything behind that is fair game for you to cast.
Gas Money
Being a co-angler doesn’t mean you get a free guide trip out on the water. Your boater had to haul their boat to the lake, burn gas out on the water for at least 8 hours, and haul it all the way home. Once again, you would not be out there if they didn’t do that. ALWAYS give them gas money at the end of the day.
Following these guidelines will be a great start for ensuring an awesome and memorable experience as a co-angler. When you’re getting along and working together as a sort of “team”, the day is sure to be better for you both.
If you’ve been considering getting into tournament fishing as a co-angler, please do it! You will learn more than you could ever imagine and will not regret it!
