Competing as a co-angler is the best way for novices to get their start in tournament fishing.
I learned a great deal about the equipment I needed for fishing tournaments and how to fish my home waters of Lake of the Ozarks when I was a non-boater in the Eldon Bass Club. I also know some top pros, such as Brent Chapman and Brian Snowden, who got their starts in tournament fishing when competing as co-anglers in the Central Pro-Am circuit that held tournaments in Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.
Co-anglers can have a great learning experience and a good day of fellowship with their pro partners, but trouble and hard feelings can quickly develop, too, if co-anglers fail to follow some unwritten ethics. Throughout my years of covering bass tournaments for various media outlets, I have heard the pros complain about unethical co-angler partners. Of course, I have also heard co-anglers complain about the pros not giving them much of a chance to catch fish or not being very friendly.
The best way for co-anglers to make sure they are not to blame for troublesome times with their pros is to apply the following etiquette tips.
- Minimize tackle
Most pros will leave one of their back deck storage boxes vacant so co-anglers can store their gear, but the pros cringe when they see their co-anglers arrive at the boat with a suitcase-size tackle box and ten or more rod-and-reel combos. When co-anglers get paired with a pro, they should talk with the pro beforehand and find out what lures they need to bring and scale down to about four rods and reels.
- Keep Casts On Your Side of the Boat
The safest way for co-anglers to prevent becoming too aggressive with their casts is to never cast in front of the driver’s console, which is about the halfway point of the boat. Ask the pro which direction he will be casting, and then ask if he minds if you throw towards the front of the boat, primarily if he is paralleling the bank.
- Respect the Boater and His Equipment
Before entering the pro’s boat, ensure your shoes are clean. Leaving muddy footprints in the boat is the wrong way to start the day with your pro.
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A co-angler should avoid casting toward the front half of the boat unless he asks permission from the pro. Banging your lure off the motor occasionally happens when casting from the back deck but adjust your casting, so it doesn’t happen too often. Avoid leaving crumbs in the boat if you eat something during the tournament. If you smoke, ask your pro if he allows smoking in his boat and if so, make sure you flick your ashes into the water rather than in the boat.
Never use the boat seats as steps when you step to and from the back deck. I hear pros complain about how their boat seat upholstery gets torn up because co-anglers use the seats as steps.
Be careful with dipping dyes to prevent stains on the boat seats or carpeting. If you need to dye your lures, hold your dye bottle over the water to dip the lure, and then make sure the dye on the lure is dry and the cap on the dye bottle is tight before bringing both back into the boat.
- Be Ready To Go
When the pro is ready to move to another spot, don’t be fiddling with your tackle and making him wait for you to get settled. Ask your pro for a warning before he makes a move so you will be seated and ready to go when he starts his engine.
- Keep Hang-Ups To A Minimum
Another complaint I heard from the pros was that they had to frequently help their co-anglers get their lures unsnagged. Snagged lures are unavoidable, especially when fishing from the rear deck, but you can limit hang-ups by using more weedless lures such as jigs or Texas-rigged soft plastics if applicable. Don’t expect your pro to back up the boat to help you get a jig or worm loose every time you get snagged.
- Keep Talking To A Minimum.
Let your pro start a conversation or talk to him while he is changing lures or rummaging through his storage boxes. It’s best to focus your conversations on fishing and avoid discussing a potentially divisive topic such as politics.
- Ask About Fishing Your Spot
If you are on your home lake and your pro is struggling to catch fish there, politely ask him if he wants to try some of your spots, but don’t demand it. Remember, the pro controls the boat and has paid the higher entry fee, so he has the final say on where the two of you should fish.
- Respect the Pro’s Spots
If your pro catches a heavyweight limit from a spot, don’t blab out all the details about his spot to your friends at the weigh-in. Another complaint I have heard from the pros is how their co-angler paired with another boater in a tournament the following week and showed up on that same spot.
- Offer Gas Money
Pros can spend a lot of money on gas while practicing and during the tournament. Offering a pro at least $20 for gas is a courteous gesture that the pro will appreciate.
