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MIKE LUCAS.
You get the crappy end of the deal on co-angler not knowing who you will fish with every tournament.Also just because you draw someone good doesnt mean anything either because you will get front ended all day because they dont care about your limit.So if you want to depend on someone else prefishing then go co-angler but if you have the money I would fish the angler side without a doubt.I tried co-angler 1 time and I will never put myself through that again.Last edited by AndyYerger on August 30th, 2011, 2:24 am, edited 1 time in total.
There are advantages to going as a co-angler if you are new to tournament fishing or new to a geographical area and you are trying to learn the waters. Otherwise, go as a boater. Making on the water decisions is what makes you a better tournament angler and a large portion of the decision making process is taken away from the co-anger w/ the boater having full say of where you go. My two cents.
Everyone has a different approach. Some wanna take a beating early some dont. Some play for “points” some play for money. Me personally I havent stepped there yet because Id like to be more competitive when I do. Dont wanna have playing for points as my highest goal. Need to feel like I have time and experience to win with some luck. I put easily 100 hours a year on my motor fishing small local events. Own a puma FTD as well.To me it also depends on how well attended those events are where youre planning on fishing and how well you do competitively now-If they draw 150+ boats for either circuit and you plan on practicing one day prior to event and this is your first go round with a larger format event you are gonna get your clock cleaned as a boater and your co may hurt you too. BFL here is FULL of these guys. No chance of winning but just cant stand being a co angler from an ego standpoint. I personally think a ton of these guys would be better with some coangler time. If the locals are good they already know all of the “honey” holes that you dont see anyone on Saturday/Sunday. Gotta fish around folks or put a boat where no one else will go doing what no one else is likely to do- not complicated though. Just different.If you dominate your small local events and have competed in some way against some of the top 20 on the BFL and have fared well you may be up to it. Depends on how good the local circuit is.I have fished 3 different circuits here as a co, winning some, losing lots. Learning TONS- but not spots! How to pattern fish in practice, what makes a good spot? how many patterns can I find? Will I tolerate other anglers in the area? Are there always biting fish? How good is what I have found? What are my options this time of year on this lake/river? When to dump everything and “just go fishing”? Is everyday a “new” day? Lots to learn.Everyone has their own path. Pick one and if you flounder for 2 years you need to changeC.O.D. Jr. III
My tournament experience has been pretty much like yours. My Dad and I always fished team tournaments together. I guess everyone has different experiences. Im sorry you had a bad one, Andy, but I fished as a co-angler once in a BASS Open and it was a good experience for me. It was a spring event and I guess I was lucky to get the pro partners I had because I was able to fish and catch my limit and do well. My Dad was also in the tournament but his first and second day partners were strictly sight fishing and therefore he was kind of left to try to fend for himself without much chance since they were way back in the bushes. If money or experience level are a question……I can see fishing a circuit as a co-angler to learn different lakes, techniques, and strategies. That way you wont be spending as much staying in a hotel extra days or on the gas used during those days of practice as well as the tournament itself. You can get an idea of the level of the competition and decide if you think you can compete against them.Jim EbarbMany, LA (Toledo Bend Lake)2004 Cougar/ 225 OptimaxHumminbird Helix 12 Chirp SI on BalzOut Mount at bowLowrance HDS 7 at bowHumminbird Helix 12 Mega SI on Ram Mount at ConsoleLowrance HDS 8 in dash at console
That is a great reply and insight Ward. Cull None, I too have always wanted to go this route and try and become a better angler as well as experience this side of competitive fishing. With that said, I have sent in my application as a co angler in the BFL on Pickwick in September. My goal for this is to learn more of the lake, learn alot more as an angler instead of fishing my normal spots thinking that I will get different results, and possibly fish as an Angler once I get a fill for the process. I do have concerns regarding the luck of the draw regarding the boater as well as how I will handle the “being front ended” situation. Maybe a crankbait across the shoulder will get the hint…lol. Im a seasoned angler, but feel that I have gotten in a rut regarding fishing habits. I am hoping that this will open my eyes and allow me to become more adaptive as and angler. It may seem like I am expecting too much out of this process. However, its like they say, “Either win big or go home”. sk
My 2 cents. Im 36, have a P4, Ive fished team tournies for about 5 years and club stuff 10 years plus. Ive been fishing since my dad threw me in the boat with him. Ive fished small lakes and big stuff, Toledo Bend and Rayburn. Im doing the Co-angler this season in the BFLs and currently have one tourny left and then regionals. My finishes have ranged from a zero to an 8th place. I dont feel like I was front ended all that bad in any of them except one and the way we were fishing was understandable, thats just part of it. I wanted to do Co one year just to get a feel for things and next year I plan on going boater. I fish the Cowboy division which is Toledo, Rayburn and east TX. Do I think I can hang with the Toledo/Rayburn sticks over there (the Harold Allens, Glen Freeman, Dicky Newberry, Chris McCall) etcs Not Even in my wildest dreams. I have been on the lakes enough through the years to have an idea of what to do and at least think I can act like I know what Im doing most of the time. You do have to put in some practice time though, showing up on Friday only to practice aint gonna cut it. You only live once, so no use waking up an Old Fart one day and saying shoulda, coulda, woulda. Get out there and duel it out with em. Be nice to your Co-Anglers, and have fun. Bryan.
I AM 40 YEARS OLD AND HAVE BEEN FISHING SINCE I WAS A KID. I STARTED TOURNAMENT FISHING ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO AND BOUGHT MY FIRST BASSCAT AROUND THAT TIME AS WELL. I FISHED AS A CO ANGLER IN THE CENTRAL PRO AM, HEARTLAND AND BASS WEEKEND SERIES. UNTIL I GOT GOOD ENOUGH TO CONSISTENTLY BREAK INTO THE TOP TEN, I KEPT FISHING AS A CO ANGLER. ITS IMPORTANT THAT YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE EXPERIENCE OF FISHING WITH DIFFERENT GUYS AND SEEING THEM CATCH FISH ON THINGS YOU WOULD NEVER THROW. YOU BECOME A MUCH MORE VERSATILE AND ACCOMPLISHED ANGLER IF YOU SWALLOW YOUR PRIDE AND TAKE THE CO ANGLER SPOT FOR A FEW YEARS. ITS LIKE GOING ON A VERY CHEAP GUIDE TRIP AND HAVING A CHANCE TO CASH A CHECK AND REGAIN YOUR EXPENSES. FINANCIALLY IT IS ALSO A MUCH EASIER ROUTE AT LEAST TILL YOU GET GOOD ENOUGH TO REALLY COMPETE ON THE BOATER SIDE. OFTENTIMES I HEAR A GUY SAY HE HAD ONE BAD EXPERIENCE AS A CO ANGLER AND WILL NEVER DO IT AGAIN… RUBBISH. I HAVE PAIRED UP WITH PROBABLY A HUNDRED DIFFERENT GUYS OVER THE YEARS AND I DREW SOME OF THE NICEST AND BEST FISHERMEN IN THE MIDWEST… ITS BASS FISHING 101 AND DONT MAKE THE MISTAKE OF PASSING UP THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN…. AT LEAST FOR A COUPLE YEARS.THERE ARE SO MANY GUYS THAT DONATE THEIR MIONEY EVERY WEEKEND BECAUSE THE WANT TO FISH THE “PRO” SIDE… GOOD GRIEF. ONCE YOU START CASHING CHECKS REGULARLY AS A CO ANGLER THEN AND ONLY THEN SHOULD YOU MAKE THE JUMP TO THE FRONT OF THE BOAT… TRUST ME.. ITS ANOTHER LEARNING CURVE AFTER YOU DO AND EVEN THEN, THE BOATERS IN MOST OF THE REGIONAL CIRCUITS ARE VERY VERY GOOD…. THE EXPENSE OF OPERATING A BOAT, HOTELS, FUEL, PRACTICE DAYS AND TACKLE IS A BIG DEAL. MOST TIMES, IF YOU DONT MAKE TOP 4 OR 5 ON THE BOATER SIDE, YOU DONT EVEN BREAK EVEN. ENJOY FISHING AND THE LESS STRESSFUL SIDE OF COMPETITIVE ANGLING AS A CO ANGLER FOR A COUPLE YEARS AND THEN SEE WHERE YOU ARE… YOU WONT REGRET IT.
Fished BFL a couple of years as co-angler, then decided that I could not catch any less as a boater and did a lot better- 2 or 3 checks.BAYOU BANDIT
I reread your original post… One more thing to consider. There are a lot of guys out there with 120 k or more invested in their truck and boat. I see those guys oftentimes at the beginning of a tournament and many are consistently coming in with empty livewells. On the other hand (THE BCB guys will know who I am talking about)… There is a father and son who fish out of 17 ft BCB with 150s… Their boats are not in the best shape… BUT they smoke everyone in the area… In fact, the son, has a small Ranger as well to fish the other tournaments like FLW and he kicks a lot of rears in those circuits as well.. In other words, The boat is just a fishing platform… YES it is advantageous to have a nice rig and good equipment BUT… Time on the water, practice, talent and other factors are what really make a good angler. YES you can draw a check on the boater side from time to time BUT a check doesnt mean you even break even oftentimes. The co-angler side is much more cost efficient, you learn more as a beginning tournament angler and you have an advantage in that later on, you will be throwing lures and trying things while many others are fishing a spinnerbait or jig 90% of the time because it is their “favorite” lure. I fished the bassweekend series last year and made it to nationals as a co-angler. I am on track to make it again this year as a boater. I finished 18th last year at Guntersville and had a great time. The guy that won on the co-angler side cashed a check for 102 k… no entry fee. Good luck with whatever you decide.. Just keep representing BCB along the way
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