Worst thing a BOATER has done to you 2024
Ratherbfishing reply :
I'm not a tourney guy so I haven't anything to contribute BUT to turn the tables a little bit, I'm curious what some NON-boaters have experienced with (ahem) "less than ideal" boaters.
J Francho reply :
Tried to net *my* fish.
Troy85 reply :
???? I'm ready!
Catt reply :
Not showed up! ????
Ratherbfishing reply :
On 9/5/2018 at 12:02 AM, Catt said:Not showed up! ????
Yeah, that WOULD kinda stink. Was any excuse ever offered?
Mobasser reply :
Borrowed my good casting rod, and made a birdsnest big enough for a condor to nest in. Bring your own stuff, or stick with your pushbutton reels!
looking45 reply :
It didn't happen to me but this sucked big time. I was doing live well checks with another guy for a Pro Am. After all the wells had been checked, we walked down to the dock for the blast off. After blast off, this guy was walking on the dock with all his rods and gear. I was talking to the TD and we asked what he was doing, if he was in the event or what. He said he launched his pro, parked the truck and when he met him on the dock, the pro had put all his gear on the dock and told him he wasn't going to fish with him because he backed his trailer off the road trying to launch him. The guy asked the TD to DQ the Pro for unsportsmanlike conduct but the TD didn't, because the pro was a big name. He told the guy he could transfer his entry to another event. I don't thing this was fair as the Am drove 6 hours to fish. He could have fished the next day but would have been at a big disadvantage. The Am was *** and said he paid for the entire year and wanted all his money back. I don't know if he got it or not
Ratherbfishing reply :
On 9/4/2018 at 11:24 PM, J Francho said:Tried to net *my* fish.
Unsuccessfully, I assume?
J Francho reply :
On 9/5/2018 at 3:35 AM, Ratherbfishing said:Unsuccessfully, I assume?
Of course. I didn't even ask for the net. That's one of my rules: net your own fish.
Ratherbfishing reply :
On 9/5/2018 at 3:26 AM, looking45 said:It didn't happen to me but this sucked big time. I was doing live well checks with another guy for a Pro Am. After all the wells had been checked, we walked down to the dock for the blast off. After blast off, this guy was walking on the dock with all his rods and gear. I was talking to the TD and we asked what he was doing, if he was in the event or what. He said he launched his pro, parked the truck and when he met him on the dock, the pro had put all his gear on the dock and told him he wasn't going to fish with him because he backed his trailer off the road trying to launch him. The guy asked the TD to DQ the Pro for unsportsmanlike conduct but the TD didn't, because the pro was a big name. He told the guy he could transfer his entry to another event. I don't thing this was fair as the Am drove 6 hours to fish. He could have fished the next day but would have been at a big disadvantage. The Am was *** and said he paid for the entire year and wanted all his money back. I don't know if he got it or not
Backed his trailer off the road? Was the truck/trailer/boat damaged? Was the non-boater a complete idiot or completely incompetent (and misrepresented his abilities)? I guess I'd have to know more before I formed an opinion. But yeah, it would suck to be left high and dry.
looking45 reply :
I don't know the details, that's all the Am told us, but backing the trailer off the road would not have damaged anything as the area was flat with and asphalt road in the middle of dirt. Maybe he didn't know how to back up the trailer and took a long time.
ww2farmer reply :
In my year end classic team tournament I fished with the guy whom I qualified with as we fished several team tournaments together last year. All was well in those events....................until the classic.
We decided to use his boat, as it's bigger, faster, etc..than my Tracker 170.
So I am signing people up, doing livewell checks, and other tournament director stuff before take off, at the 6:45 cut off for sign up/boat checks, I notice he's NOT there yet. I send him a few texts.....nothing....finally he roll's in at 7:45...a full 45 minutes after the tournament started and simply states "sorry, I over slept".
I am already fuming mad, as my boat is only 5 minutes away, and I could have just gone it alone, and not lost the fishing time had I known he couldn't get there on time. BUT....this is just the start of the story.
He has ZERO exp. fishing for smallmouth on my home lake in the fall, which is what I wanted to start with, so after I load my gear, launch him, idle out of the ramp area, and we get to my first spot, we're already 1+ hours behind everyone else. Smallmouth are not there, or not biting at stop #1....but it's too late for me to re-game plan....I'm already spun out and still hopping mad. After a fruitless hour or so of smallmouth fishing, I have him move us shallower to try for largemouth. I boat a decent 3lber right away, but rather than continuing to drift quietly with the wind and fish the grass in this area to see if we could get some more bites....he puts the trolling motor on 11, and heads to the bank chucking and winding spinner baits. Fully spun out, and now wanting to go back to the ramp, I basically go into auto-zombie mode, pick up a chatterbait and aimlessly cast it around to give the impression that I am still "trying". 5 hours of this nonsense, and him running and fishing every terrible area on the lake he could think of, he turns to me and says..."now what do we do? I don't think they are biting this spinnerbait up shallow" My answer: " Take me back to the launch. I'm done".
I went back, set up the scales for the weigh in, and took a nap in my truck.
I actually like this guy a lot, were friends, but I will NEVER fish a tournament again with him, we don't mesh well as a team, and the not getting out of bed in time thing will bug me for a long long time.
J Francho reply :
On 9/5/2018 at 10:10 AM, ww2farmer said:he puts the trolling motor on 11
One of my favorite moves.
Ratherbfishing reply :
On 9/5/2018 at 10:10 AM, ww2farmer said:In my year end classic team tournament I fished with the guy whom I qualified with as we fished several team tournaments together last year. All was well in those events....................until the classic.
We decided to use his boat, as it's bigger, faster, etc..than my Tracker 170.
So I am signing people up, doing livewell checks, and other tournament director stuff before take off, at the 6:45 cut off for sign up/boat checks, I notice he's NOT there yet. I send him a few texts.....nothing....finally he roll's in at 7:45...a full 45 minutes after the tournament started and simply states "sorry, I over slept".
I am already fuming mad, as my boat is only 5 minutes away, and I could have just gone it alone, and not lost the fishing time had I known he couldn't get there on time. BUT....this is just the start of the story.
He has ZERO exp. fishing for smallmouth on my home lake in the fall, which is what I wanted to start with, so after I load my gear, launch him, idle out of the ramp area, and we get to my first spot, we're already 1+ hours behind everyone else. Smallmouth are not there, or not biting at stop #1....but it's too late for me to re-game plan....I'm already spun out and still hopping mad. After a fruitless hour or so of smallmouth fishing, I have him move us shallower to try for largemouth. I boat a decent 3lber right away, but rather than continuing to drift quietly with the wind and fish the grass in this area to see if we could get some more bites....he puts the trolling motor on 11, and heads to the bank chucking and winding spinner baits. Fully spun out, and now wanting to go back to the ramp, I basically go into auto-zombie mode, pick up a chatterbait and aimlessly cast it around to give the impression that I am still "trying". 5 hours of this nonsense, and him running and fishing every terrible area on the lake he could think of, he turns to me and says..."now what do we do? I don't think they are biting this spinnerbait up shallow" My answer: " Take me back to the launch. I'm done".
I went back, set up the scales for the weigh in, and took a nap in my truck.
I actually like this guy a lot, were friends, but I will NEVER fish a tournament again with him, we don't mesh well as a team, and the not getting out of bed in time thing will bug me for a long long time.
Yeah, that being late thing would have put me in a rather sour mood too. If you read my entry in the similar thread (about what some non-boaters have done), you'll see that I can attest to this.
I have a friend who quite often outfishes me (he seems to execute better) BUT he will listen to my suggestions and will not stay on a "pattern" that isn't working. All I've ever want/expect is someone who doesn't think they know it all or persists in something that obviously isn't working. Oh, and who is also punctual.
J Francho reply :
Worst thing I've done as a boater? Put the console graph in demo mode. 
Ratherbfishing reply :
On 9/5/2018 at 11:35 PM, J Francho said:Worst thing I've done as a boater? Put the console graph in demo mode.
Did you really? Ha! My friend said he did that once. He said he wondered why there were so many fish under the boat and why it seemed so much deeper than it ought to be.
scaleface reply :
Weighed in my fish , just to win a stupid trophy . I ratted him out .
BassNJake reply :
Scariest boater- I got tossed out of the boat at about 60 MPH as we ran into a submerged rockpile.
We both ended up ok, his boat not so much. Scariest 5 minutes of my life as my inflatable pfd never opened.
Racist boater- I got back boated the entire day we were on the water while my boater was bed fishing.
We stayed on one fish for 3 hours and he never changed baits.(no wonder he couldn't get bit)
To top it all off he said some racist things about another competitor and had me boiling mad wanting to fight him.
He refused to take me back to the ramp so I spent the last 2 hours doing the Guntersville slap everytime he would pitch to a bedding fish. This got him boiling mad as well and thats when we left. When we got back to the ramp he went right to the tourney director to report me disrupting his fishing on purpose. Tourney director suspended him as he did not deny what he said, he tried to pull the I'm not racist, my best friend is (insert minority here) card.
Wedding boater- I had a boater take a call around 11am telling him he was supposed to be at a wedding at 1pm.
We left on the spot. I ended up missing first place by 2 ounces after weighing in at 11:30, while everyone else fished until 4.
Hissy fit boater- I had a boater break 3 rods in about 20 minutes. He was fishing a deep brushpile with a jig. He broke off on the hook set the first time and just instantly snapped the rod over his knee. He flips back into the brushpile, this time he hooks the fish and its a pretty good one. He fights it for a short time before it gets hung up in the brush. after about 5 minutes the fish gets off but he's hung up and its his last PB&J jig. He gets a lure retriever slides it down his line and it was never tied off so it just keeps going and we watch the rope sink. He gives it a pull and the line breaks again. He hops around on the deck and then breaks rod number 2 over his leg. He picks up another rod in disgust and as he goes to pitch it out he snags the console and gets a major blow up. He then smashes the rod on the gunwale about 20 times. I bet he dropped the F bomb and other variations of it a hundred times in those 20 minutes.
Best Boater Ever- I drew a boater once and he ran a bakery with his wife. We had these amazing donuts and scones in the morning and some type of pastry wrapped ham and cheeses for lunch. We had a pretty good day and he ended up taking third. At one point I let him have a pack of Keitech swimbaits as he ran out. After the weigh ins he took me to his truck and gave me 2 left handed Shimano Citicas he had bought off of ebay by accident.
I was a co angler for about 10 years and had about half a dozen bad boaters and they were downright awful.
I did learn a ton and wouldn't trade it even with the jerks mentioned above.
N Florida Mike reply :
I have many more non boater stories.
The only boater story I can think of is when we had fished for a couple hours with little results and we saw a school of shiners. He immediately whipped out a cast net and threw on them, catching a 5 pound bass in the process. Then wanting me to count him in the totals. Which I didnt.
Ratherbfishing reply :
On 9/6/2018 at 1:35 AM, N Florida Mike said:I have many more non boater stories.
The only boater story I can think of is when we had fished for a couple hours with little results and we saw a school of shiners. He immediately whipped out a cast net and threw on them, catching a 5 pound bass in the process. Then wanting me to count him in the totals. Which I didnt.
It'd be truthful if he said he "netted him." But otherwise...no.
volzfan59 reply :
I fished as a co-angler in a draw tournament on Watts Bar Lake in East Tennessee. I didn't know this guy from Adam, he didn't know me. This was around fall 2000, 2001.
We got along really well, we were both raised country. Main thing I remember is he had a Norris Craft, around 20 foot with a Mercury 225 on it. I guess he kept it outside, uncovered as the gel coat was oxidized and faded. Anyway, every time we hit a wake of wave I felt the floorboard buckle under my feet, all the while he was driving balls to the wall! I swear to you that I prayed for God to get me "back to the bank in one piece and I'll never get in another Norris Craft!" God and I have both kept our ends of the deal. This is no reflection on properly cared for Norris Crafts by the way. Great, super fast rig. Neither one of us finished in the money. Heck, I was to scared to seriously fish.
Catt reply :
On 9/5/2018 at 12:36 AM, Ratherbfishing said:Yeah, that WOULD kinda stink. Was any excuse ever offered?
Nope!
We didn't have cell phones back then
And he darn sure aint tried to talk to me since!
RyneB reply :
Get stuck on a sand bar I warned him about. Then we had to get out and push and push and push
Oregon Native reply :
Fished a BFL on Chick a number of years ago when I first moved to Tennessee to kind of check out the water as I was new here. Thought being a non boater may be interesting.......NOT.
Icing on the cake this day was when the boater said he had left his two little kids back in the motel by themselves...did I mention he was late and an jerk.
FishTank reply :
Went flat out in a no wake zone in front of the DNR guys. Made for an expensive day.
Ratherbfishing reply :
On 9/24/2018 at 9:42 AM, FishTank said:Went flat out in a no wake zone in front of the DNR guys. Made for an expensive day.
Surely YOU weren't fined, were you? Or was it the long delay that was so costly?
FishTank reply :
On 9/25/2018 at 10:18 PM, Ratherbfishing said:Surely YOU weren't fined, were you? Or was it the long delay that was so costly?
When you tick them off, they look for anything and everything from the size of the fish in your live well to the correct size and font of the registration stickers on your boat. They got me for not having the correct size life vest (zipper was broke), plus for both of us> the going too fast in a no wake zone ticket (not sure how it was worded), open container (empty beer can that was not mine), and one fish over the limit.
I know these guys are there to keep things safe for all boaters and they do a good job but sometimes they are just a little over the top when comes to the rules.
TnRiver46 reply :
On 9/26/2018 at 6:04 AM, FishTank said:When you tick them off, they look for anything and everything from the size of the fish in your live well to the correct size and font of the registration stickers on your boat. They got me for not having the correct size life vest (zipper was broke), plus for both of us> the going too fast in a no wake zone ticket (not sure how it was worded), open container (empty beer can that was not mine), and one fish over the limit.
I know these guys are there to keep things safe for all boaters and they do a good job but sometimes they are just a little over the top when comes to the rules.
Wow what state do you live in??? They allow you to drink beer on the lake in Tennessee, just can’t be over the limit. Also I have never heard of a passenger getting a ticket for riding too fast hahah. I bet a judge would have thrown that out but then you would have to go to court and probably pay for that . The one fish over the limit they will get you for every time anywhere in the country
FishTank reply :
On 9/26/2018 at 7:16 AM, TnRiver46 said:Wow what state do you live in??? They allow you to drink beer on the lake in Tennessee, just can’t be over the limit. Also I have never heard of a passenger getting a ticket for riding too fast hahah. I bet a judge would have thrown that out but then you would have to go to court and probably pay for that . The one fish over the limit they will get you for every time anywhere in the country
It was on Raccoon Lake in Indiana about 12 years ago. I was fishing with a guy I didn't know that well and he gunned his 200hp(?) Evinrude in a no wake zone for no apparent reason. We went past a point close to shore and the DNR guys were there on the other side. We were well inside the markers. I guess if you're in the boat, you're guilty. This was my first time, other than getting my licensed checked and making sure I had a life vest, that I was ever stopped. Also, my first ticket on the water. The guy driving the boat had a few beers, I had none. We were lucky they did not tow us in. There were others that day without vests that got towed. Made for a weird but memorable day.
J Francho reply :
Open container? In NY, there's no open container law in for boats, but the DWI restrictions (and punishments) are the same for the boat operator.
Bankbeater reply :
Many years ago I was a co-angler and my ride was about 2 hours late. It turns out that he liked the nightlife and decided to try out some of the local watering holes.
Sam reply :
I have been back boated by my club buddies. I can name four right off the top of my head.
In one Region 3 tournament on the Mattaponi River I filled in for the team's nonboater (he had to do something with his daughter) and I caught three and missed one while the boater caught one. The boater was really surprised and glad that I caught my three as it helped him in the standings. And he told everyone at weigh-in that I caught the three and he nailed only one so there would be no misunderstandings that he caught all four.
Another time, about 12 years ago, on the Chickahominy River in Virginia after a club tournament, I had a melt down. A total yelling and cussing melt down. I will never forget this. And my melt down lasted for about two hours after weigh-in.
Since I am usually a quiet guy, the club members were really surprised by my going nuts.
The guy, who is one of my best friends now, was the boater. The problem was that we sat in one place for four hours because he caught a bass in this area when he prefished a few days earlier. He had caught a bass by a Cyprus tree in a creek off the main river. He refused to move or speak about moving. We just sat there. Four freaking hours.
All I did was feed the crabs my Senkos and all he did was sit in one position with his Zoom trick worm on the bottom, waiting for a bite. True dead sticking in the middle of the summer.
Another guy in the club laughed at us as he went by and told the guys at weigh-in that he passed us four times as he moved from place to place and thought we would win the tournament with a big bag since we never moved.
Finally, through my polarized sunglasses, I saw a bass swim around the tree and I told the boater where to throw his worm. Since he did not have polarized sunglasses he did not see the fish and after I yelled at him for about five to six seconds, he moved the worm to where I was pointing and the bass hit it. Only fish we caught that day.
Four hours in one place with no bites. And he refused to move.
I blasted him at weigh-in and the club president and vice president had a conversation with him as I was not the first club nonboater to have a problem with him back boating and not moving around enough.
He is set in his ways and he will not give up on a pattern even if it is not working. And he asked me a few months ago why he was not catching the bass at the same rate as the rest of the club members. I just smiled and said he will, one day.
Today, as I penned above, we are good friends and we have no problems. I have no idea if he back boats any of the other club members when they fish with him but since we went to a "team concept" it does not matter. I fished with him only one time since and we had to follow his milk run even though we were not catching them.
Guys, four hours in one place. No bites. No conversation. It can drive a guy to drink. 
Dirtyeggroll reply :
6 hours ago, Sam said:Guys, four hours in one place. No bites. No conversation. It can drive a guy to drink.
What’s ironic is that this is most people’s perception of what fishing entails.
riverbasser reply :
Been pretty fortunate with the few times I've been a co angler. Do have a similar story as above though with a boater pulling up on a spot swearing it was the deal and how even if they're not biting now the fish will move in. About 2.5 hours go by and we finally move only to go about a mile and he says "dang this is the spot I was thinking of not back there"
On a side note, what is yalls definition of back boating? Just curious
Sam reply :
On 10/18/2018 at 12:24 PM, riverbasser said:Been pretty fortunate with the few times I've been a co angler. Do have a similar story as above though with a boater pulling up on a spot swearing it was the deal and how even if they're not biting now the fish will move in. About 2.5 hours go by and we finally move only to go about a mile and he says "dang this is the spot I was thinking of not back there"
On a side note, what is yalls definition of back boating? Just curious
When the boater positions the boat in a position that only he can hit the target; or the boater throws his bait to the target area at an angle upon arrival at the spot so that the guy in the back cannot throw to the target .
TOXIC reply :
Most of the back boating I have been involved with the boater was totally unaware he was doing it. A little "reminder" from me usually works. Now if they are doing it intentionally, then we have a problem. As a guide, I am always hyper focused on making sure everyone on the boat has "good water". Sometimes I have had someone on the front deck with me, one in the well and one on the back deck.
Sam reply :
On 10/18/2018 at 6:51 PM, TOXIC said:Most of the back boating I have been involved with the boater was totally unaware he was doing it. A little "reminder" from me usually works. Now if they are doing it intentionally, then we have a problem. As a guide, I am always hyper focused on making sure everyone on the boat has "good water". Sometimes I have had someone on the front deck with me, one in the well and one on the back deck.
Toxic, I think they know they are doing it.
And I believe the majority don't care.
TOXIC reply :
On 10/18/2018 at 6:54 PM, Sam said:Toxic, I think they know they are doing it.
And I believe the majority don't care.
Most club/tournament rules speak to that situation. If intentional, I would drop a dime on them no hesitation.
Sam reply :
On 10/18/2018 at 6:57 PM, TOXIC said:Most club/tournament rules speak to that situation. If intentional, I would drop a dime on them no hesitation.
I don't know of any club rules that prevent back boating.
I remember a story told by a state trooper who was a member of our club who was fishing as a nonboater on Kerr in the Fall Classic a number of years ago.
His boater must have weighed at least 350 pounds; refused to speak to my friend; did what he wanted even though the nonboater could have a say in where they would fish for half the day; and the boater kept his back to the trooper all day.
The Virginia Federation did nothing about it. It was just too bad and the luck of the draw.
Logan S reply :
On 10/18/2018 at 6:51 PM, TOXIC said:Most of the back boating I have been involved with the boater was totally unaware he was doing it. A little "reminder" from me usually works. Now if they are doing it intentionally, then we have a problem. As a guide, I am always hyper focused on making sure everyone on the boat has "good water". Sometimes I have had someone on the front deck with me, one in the well and one on the back deck.
You can't be throwing this in the discussion about boaters/co-anglers in a tournament...It's not even remotely the same situation and it leads to what is, IMO, a flawed perception of what 'backseating' actually is. Your clients are paying you to take them fishing. A co-angler is NOT paying the boater to take them fishing.
Similarly, you can't compare how someone might operate in a team tournament or just out fun-fishing. 'Backseating' is pretty specific to boater/co-angler draw tournaments.
On 10/18/2018 at 12:24 PM, riverbasser said:On a side note, what is yalls definition of back boating? Just curious
In my experience, real backseating - As in the intentional act of denying the non-boater opportunities - Is actually very rare. Now, situations where the boater's plan/style/method/etc happens to put the non-boater at a disadvantage happen frequently...But that's not 'backseating' in my mind, it's just part of being a non-boater. You can't expect your boater to guide you, they are in the tournament too and it's their boat...So if it comes down to the boater or co-angler getting the best shot at something, the boater is going to take that shot (and rightfully so).
I've been a tournament director so I've heard some official complaints about backseating and none were ever real backseating...Most often it's just guys that didn't get along or a non-boater with a flawed idea of what the boater 'owes' him.
If you're a co-angler/non-boater, you just need to live with the fact that you're along for the ride...99% of the time your boater will be a normal person and you'll get your shots if you know what you're doing. But if you want to call the shots, you need to buy your own boat. Might seem harsh, but it's the reality of the situation.
J Francho reply :
On 10/18/2018 at 9:15 PM, Logan S said:A co-angler is NOT paying the boater to take them fishing.
I can point to several club situations where this was the reality. Joining a club was the only way for some to get off the banks.
TOXIC reply :
On 10/18/2018 at 9:15 PM, Logan S said:You can't be throwing this in the discussion about boaters/co-anglers in a tournament...It's not even remotely the same situation and it leads to what is, IMO, a flawed perception of what 'backseating' actually is. Your clients are paying you to take them fishing. A co-angler is NOT paying the boater to take them fishing.
Similarly, you can't compare how someone might operate in a team tournament or just out fun-fishing. 'Backseating' is pretty specific to boater/co-angler draw tournaments.
I was just saying that when I am in the boater position I unconsciously keep the boat positioned for my back seater to get in position. I should have added.....EVEN IN TOURNAMENTS.....If it's fun fishing then there is no "Rules" beyond just being a good guy....I don't fun fish competitively. But I specifically don't like the arrogant attitude of boaters who look negatively at a co angler, that is a problem with a lot of tournaments and where the bad blood gets started.
There are rules and if your club/organization doesn't have them the re read your rules and if not in them, petition to have them added. There is NO EXCUSE for a boater to play those types of games. If they do that to me INTENTIONALLY, I'm gonna raise a ruckus just as I would expect someone to do if I did it to them.
Examples Clipped from the rules:
Official Rules B.A.S.S. Nation Effective January 1, 2018
7. ANGLER CODE OF CONDUCT:
Intentionally interfering with a fellow angler’s ability to compete.
BASS Opens:
Any pro who, in the judgment of the officials, operates the boat in such a manner as to unfairly handicap their co-angler partner, shall be disqualified.
Logan S reply :
On 10/18/2018 at 9:32 PM, J Francho said:I can point to several club situations where this was the reality. Joining a club was the only way for some to get off the banks.
I can sympathize with the notion of wanting to get off the bank, but it doesn't make a boater your personal guide - Since you aren't paying ME, besides maybe chipping in for gas/expenses.
I've often said that for someone without a boat, being a co-angler in a club is the best deal possible to get out on the water...It's cheaper than hiring a guide or renting a boat and you still get to fish all day with someone who is likely experienced on the body of water you're fishing. But someone shouldn't do this and expect a guide service as sort of a 'loophole'.
On 10/18/2018 at 9:40 PM, TOXIC said:
I was just saying that when I am in the boater position I unconsciously keep the boat positioned for my back seater to get in position. I should have added.....EVEN IN TOURNAMENTS.....If it's fun fishing then there is no "Rules" beyond just being a good guy....I don't fun fish competitively. But I specifically don't like the arrogant attitude of boaters who look negatively at a co angler, that is a problem with a lot of tournaments and where the bad blood gets started.
There are rules and if your club/organization doesn't have them the re read your rules and if not in them, petition to have them added. There is NO EXCUSE for a boater to play those types of games. If they do that to me INTENTIONALLY, I'm gonna raise a ruckus just as I would expect someone to do if I did it to them.
Examples Clipped from the rules:
Official Rules B.A.S.S. Nation Effective January 1, 2018
7. ANGLER CODE OF CONDUCT:
Intentionally interfering with a fellow angler’s ability to compete.
BASS Opens:
Any pro who, in the judgment of the officials, operates the boat in such a manner as to unfairly handicap their co-angler partner, shall be disqualified.
Understand your sentiment and I agree about fun fishing. It's great that you still operate that way in tournaments, but if other boaters don't operate that way it doesn't make them backseaters or bad boaters. It's unfair to make that the standard to be measured to.
Regarding rules and 'malicious' or 'intentional' acts....If my pattern is dock fishing, or running a spinnerbait close to the bank, or something else where the co-angler is going to be at a disadvantage....Am I being malicious or unfair? Am I supposed to scrap my plans and do something different to appease the Co? My answer is no...That's part of the game for Co's.
I'm not going to go out of my way to screw the co-angler, but this whole notion that any inconvenience to the co-angler whatsoever is considered rude/malicious/selfish/backseating/etc is garbage IMO. If someone wants a guide they need to hire a guide.
There's a huge difference between situational/unavoidable disadvantages and intentional backseating...And in my experience that vast majority of complaints have to do with the 1st one and not the 2nd.
RichF reply :
On 10/18/2018 at 9:15 PM, Logan S said:In my experience, real backseating - As in the intentional act of denying the non-boater opportunities - Is actually very rare. Now, situations where the boater's plan/style/method/etc happens to put the non-boater at a disadvantage happen frequently...But that's not 'backseating' in my mind, it's just part of being a non-boater.
Agree 100%. I've only had maybe one boater actually backboat me. We were fishing docks. It wasn't the fact that he hit everything before me (that's just dock fishing). Every time he broke off, he would troll out of casting distance to re-tie. To me, that was intentionally putting me at a disadvantage. I definitely had a cause for complaint but I crushed him and won the tourney anyway soo...
J Francho reply :
On 10/18/2018 at 10:15 PM, Logan S said:I can sympathize with the notion of wanting to get off the bank, but it doesn't make a boater your personal guide - Since you aren't paying ME, besides maybe chipping in for gas/expenses.
I've often said that for someone without a boat, being a co-angler in a club is the best deal possible to get out on the water...It's cheaper than hiring a guide or renting a boat and you still get to fish all day with someone who is likely experienced on the body of water you're fishing. But someone shouldn't do this and expect a guide service as sort of a 'loophole'.
That is definitely what is happening, and these are the worst non-boaters. This can lead to some of the tension right when a new non steps on a boat. I don't really have an issue with it, but some guys hate it. I'm not gonna tie your baits, or tell you what to do, just stay out of my way, out of the trees, and if you catch one fish that contributes to our best five (team format) I consider the non boater an asset, even if they're just there for the boat ride.
TOXIC reply :
I'm trying to be non-judgmental here because I have a boat, I consider myself to be a pretty good fisherman and I have been a backseater. So, your pattern of thought that you are not a guide and since you own the boat it's tough luck if you backseat me either by chance or by design, it's OK, just part of the game...is totally wrong. First throw away the notion that a backseater is a nOOb that doesn't know how to fish, doesn't own a boat, can't tie his own lures on or couldn't find fish in a bathtub. Second, drop the premise that since it's your boat you are king of all you survey. Per the rules you have a responsibility to not impede me from fishing. It's not your choice it's a rule. Now keep in mind I understand that if you are fishing docks and it's not easy for 2 to work a dock then you can at least position the boat to where I can fish around the dock. If you put the boat nose straight in and I am left straight out the back of the boat, first I'm gonna say something to you. Your response would determine if you are doing it intentionally. You do it a second/third time it's obvious. Per your example, if you are working a spinnerbait down a bank, I don't think you could position the boat in a way I couldn't fish. If I feel you broke the rules, I'll file on you and let the TD make the call.
I just get tired of hearing the worn out excuses of some of the boaters.....I pay insurance on my boat, I made the investment in a boat, I pay more for entry, which by the way gives you the right to fish your spots. And on, and on. Well, I have a boat and pay the same boat ownership expenses as you. Just because I don't choose to use my boat in a tournament doesn't make me any less an angler. So, as the boat owner can I blame you when you or I blank in the tournament? No. Can I tell you I don't want to kick in for fuel if you are going to run 25 miles up a river? No. Can you look down on someone who is a co-angler....No again. I think there are enough bad boater and bad co's to go around and I for once would like to hear of a constructive way to deal with the exceptions to the rule rather broad statements about an entire class of fisherman.
J Francho reply :
Not all boaters and non boaters are created equal. I've been on plenty of others' boats in tournaments that had no clue what they were doing. I've nons have no clue. I've both where they were excellent anglers. I've had jerks that were great sticks. I've been on boats with nice guys that want to learn and get better. I've fished with guys that felt like a nice day on the water with fishing with someone else is a win. It's all over the board. No one protocol works. My game is to establish from the beginning that I want to win. Whatever we have to do, and this is true for team or draw, let's make a plan for success.
TOXIC reply :
On 10/18/2018 at 11:42 PM, J Francho said:Not all boaters and non boaters are created equal. I've been on plenty of others' boats in tournaments that had no clue what they were doing. I've nons have no clue. I've both where they were excellent anglers. I've had jerks that were great sticks. I've been on boats with nice guys that want to learn and get better. I've fished with guys that felt like a nice day on the water with fishing with someone else is a win. It's all over the board. No one protocol works. My game is to establish from the beginning that I want to win. Whatever we have to do, and this is true for team or draw, let's make a plan for success.
I agree. That's why I only fish team tournaments. We are in it together win or lose. Have one next week as a matter of fact. I will be the backseater. I would rather be back there myself.
J Francho reply :
On 10/19/2018 at 12:44 AM, TOXIC said:That's why I only fish team tournaments.
Me too. It's a much better time.
Logan S reply :
@TOXIC...Intentionally screwing over the co-angler is a far cry from situational disadvantages that are inherent to the boater/co-angler format . The former is why rules were written and the later is just part of tournament fishing.
On 10/18/2018 at 11:04 PM, TOXIC said:First throw away the notion that a backseater is a nOOb that doesn't know how to fish, doesn't own a boat, can't tie his own lures on or couldn't find fish in a bathtub.
Never said or implied this. It really doesn't have any bearing on the discussion anyway.
On 10/18/2018 at 11:04 PM, TOXIC said:Second, drop the premise that since it's your boat you are king of all you survey. Per the rules you have a responsibility to not impede me from fishing. It's not your choice it's a rule.
We'll have to agree to disagree on this..."My boat, my rules" applies to me. I don't fish tournaments for the sake of others. Doesn't mean I'm a jerk and I'm not rooting against the Co, but I'm going to do my own thing and sometimes that means the Co will be out of position. It's not breaking those rules. If someone wants to tally up all the times he was out of position and report them to the TD that's on him...I can say that in the hundreds of tournaments I've fished, I've never once received a complaint or been reported. My co-anglers generally do well.
Backseating happens 1000x more often on the internet than it does in real life.
riverbasser reply :
Seems there are alot of grey areas here. I agree that the co angler deserves to be in a position to fish effectively but there are factors sometimes that dont allow this (wind for instance) but my club has a rule that both members are aloud half day on the TM, not that this is exactly enforced or even initiated by most co anglers.
In my mind though say in the situation of going down a bank, I believe there is an invisible line down the middle of the boat and the co angler should not cast beyond this point until his turn, I also believe that if the boater works his way into some thick brush in order to make a specific cast then that will be HIS cast and no one else's.
Your thoughts?
TOXIC reply :
You are correct. It's a common etiquette consideration for the co not to cast in front of the consoles. We can get deep in the weeds on all of the unwritten and written rules but believe you me if I ever drew a boater that prevented me from fishing either intentionally or if his preferred style caused it, I would make a claim at the weigh in. It's not an internet fantasy either it happens a lot. I started doing research for a series that I was going to write for Yamamoto called "From the Back Deck" but put it on hold. Most boaters are considerate but I have seen some that could back boat you all day and you would never get a productive cast. Those guys also are bullies and then turn around and grouse about the co not kicking in for fuel or wiping down the boat or bringing them lunch or giving hot oil massages after the tournament.... I jest but it's kind of true.
RichF reply :
On 10/19/2018 at 1:01 AM, Logan S said:Backseating happens 1000x more often on the internet than it does in real life.
I think this sums it up pretty well. Being a co-angler isn't all that fun so anytime a boater does something a co doesn't like (sit in one spot for 4 hours, move the boat too fast so your senko doesn't sink, cast to a piece of cover first, or just fish in an area you don't like) he/she will tend to cry "backboating." I feel I can say that because I actually did that when I started fishing tourneys as a co years ago. Eventually I just started to go with the flow and adjust accordingly, which is the best advice I can give to co-anglers. When I changed my attitude, the experiences got way better. The vast majority of boaters aren't out to sabotage their co-anglers. They just wanna do their thing.
DINK WHISPERER reply :
Sounds like a few people in here should stick to fishing alone! ????
TnRiver46 reply :
I have fished one tournament in my life and it was as a co angler. (BFL not team) The guy told me at the meeting the night before that he hadn’t fished the lake in years and wasn’t on anything. He kept the boat 1 ft from the bank the entire 8 hrs and threw up front. He also asked me where I wanted to fish, which was illegal the way I understood the rules. Is this considered “backboating” or unethical or what? I didn’t complain to him or anyone, just asking what y’all think. (For the record I have a few of my own boats but they aren’t “tournament worthy”) Biggest waste of $120 I can recall and I haven’t fished a tournament ever since and probably never will. Needless to say we both caught dink’s and zero keepers. Sure is fun to have a regular job and just fish with all my neighbors and friends after work and on weekends that I have off.
TOXIC reply :
On 10/19/2018 at 1:17 PM, TnRiver46 said:I have fished one tournament in my life and it was as a co angler. (BFL not team) The guy told me at the meeting the night before that he hadn’t fished the lake in years and wasn’t on anything. He kept the boat 1 ft from the bank the entire 8 hrs and threw up front. He also asked me where I wanted to fish, which was illegal the way I understood the rules. Is this considered “backboating” or unethical or what? I didn’t complain to him or anyone, just asking what y’all think. (For the record I have a few of my own boats but they aren’t “tournament worthy”) Biggest waste of $120 I can recall and I haven’t fished a tournament ever since and probably never will. Needless to say we both caught dink’s and zero keepers. Sure is fun to have a regular job and just fish with all my neighbors and friends after work and on weekends that I have off.
No, that was not backboating. The key is "intentionally" keeping you from fishing. You just had a clueless boater/angler. I'm not saying it is an epidemic but my initial research showed it does happen with regularity, if it didn't there wouldn't be rules on the books against it. I'm also not for filing frivolous protests but if the rules are broken then it needs to be examined by the TD and a decision made.
TnRiver46 reply :
On 10/19/2018 at 10:07 PM, TOXIC said:No, that was not backboating. The key is "intentionally" keeping you from fishing. You just had a clueless boater/angler. I'm not saying it is an epidemic but my initial research showed it does happen with regularity, if it didn't there wouldn't be rules on the books against it. I'm also not for filing frivolous protests but if the rules are broken then it needs to be examined by the TD and a decision made.
He was clueless about fishing but good at sales! He said Pure fishing pays all his every fees so he can just mingle with all the anglers and sell them stuff.
ratherbfishin1 reply :
On 10/19/2018 at 10:45 PM, TnRiver46 said:He was clueless about fishing but good at sales! He said Pure fishing pays all his every fees so he can just mingle with all the anglers and sell them stuff.
You should have told him "Pure fishing doesn't pay my entry fees!"
Janderson45 reply :
I’m a new boater, coming from a coangler recently I can see both sides of the discussion and don’t think that a one size fits all rule approach really works. Both boaters and non boaters come with widely varying experience, skill, knowledge of the fishery, etc.
I’ve recently fished two tournaments with a coangler, just so happens it was the same guy twice. He’s in my club and I drew him for my first club tournament as a boater, which we both did well in. This was a two day event, and he was in my boat day 1 and in another guys boat day 2. After day 1 with me he was sitting in 1st and I was in 3rd place. The guy he was fishing with the next day happened to be in 2nd place. After day 2 I won, and my coangler from day 1 didn’t catch a single fish all day because of the dock pattern his boater was fishing. Not anything intentional or nefarious about it, the boater was just trying to win and kind of screwed his co because of it.
Even if you are technically competing against each other, I still think it can be an advantage to have a co onboard. There’s exceptions of course, but I can see scenarios were working off a co can really help narrow down a good bite for both of you. If I’m fishing with someone, I’m usually vocal about my thought process, plan, and pattern for the day. I’ll often ask for their input as well, especially if my gameplan isn’t working. Maybe some guys wouldn’t appreciate their boater being vocal? I’m not sure, I’m just used to fishing alone or with buddies, and I’ve pretty much taught all of my buddies how to bass fish so I’m always talking through my thought process and bait selection.
N Florida Mike reply :
On 10/18/2018 at 4:53 AM, Sam said:I have been back boated by my club buddies. I can name four right off the top of my head.
In one Region 3 tournament on the Mattaponi River I filled in for the team's nonboater (he had to do something with his daughter) and I caught three and missed one while the boater caught one. The boater was really surprised and glad that I caught my three as it helped him in the standings. And he told everyone at weigh-in that I caught the three and he nailed only one so there would be no misunderstandings that he caught all four.
Another time, about 12 years ago, on the Chickahominy River in Virginia after a club tournament, I had a melt down. A total yelling and cussing melt down. I will never forget this. And my melt down lasted for about two hours after weigh-in.
Since I am usually a quiet guy, the club members were really surprised by my going nuts.
The guy, who is one of my best friends now, was the boater. The problem was that we sat in one place for four hours because he caught a bass in this area when he prefished a few days earlier. He had caught a bass by a Cyprus tree in a creek off the main river. He refused to move or speak about moving. We just sat there. Four freaking hours.
All I did was feed the crabs my Senkos and all he did was sit in one position with his Zoom trick worm on the bottom, waiting for a bite. True dead sticking in the middle of the summer.
Another guy in the club laughed at us as he went by and told the guys at weigh-in that he passed us four times as he moved from place to place and thought we would win the tournament with a big bag since we never moved.
Finally, through my polarized sunglasses, I saw a bass swim around the tree and I told the boater where to throw his worm. Since he did not have polarized sunglasses he did not see the fish and after I yelled at him for about five to six seconds, he moved the worm to where I was pointing and the bass hit it. Only fish we caught that day.
Four hours in one place with no bites. And he refused to move.
I blasted him at weigh-in and the club president and vice president had a conversation with him as I was not the first club nonboater to have a problem with him back boating and not moving around enough.
He is set in his ways and he will not give up on a pattern even if it is not working. And he asked me a few months ago why he was not catching the bass at the same rate as the rest of the club members. I just smiled and said he will, one day.
Today, as I penned above, we are good friends and we have no problems. I have no idea if he back boats any of the other club members when they fish with him but since we went to a "team concept" it does not matter. I fished with him only one time since and we had to follow his milk run even though we were not catching them.
Guys, four hours in one place. No bites. No conversation. It can drive a guy to drink.
Think I would have gone wade fishing. ????
HOG727 reply :
It's really easy guys, just treat the boater or non-boater how you would like to be treated. Some people have empathy and some don't. I can't catch fish behind a guy paralleling rip-rap and moving 3 MPH with the boat side 3 feet from the bank. But if my boater does it, I'm still pulling for him and don't mind if it's not all day.
One of my worst boater stories- I'm fishing my first B.A.S.S Nation regional at Lake of the Ozarks and draw a stud of a stick from Texas-Tom Jessup. I'm super respectful and he is a fishing machine but his style allows me very little opportunity. Then, he has to work very hard in windy conditions to position the boat on a spot. I wait until after he cast and then make a parallel crank-bait cast that was behind the console line. We both hook up and he shakes off his small one and I call for the net as mine is going to be close. He dutifully nets my fish and holds the net on both sides and as I start to reach in for it, he shakes the net violently and the trebles tangle the net into a mess. I have to sit down and pick it out while he cast to the school. I just would never consider doing that to anyone and was in stunned disbelief.
RB 77 reply :
On 9/5/2018 at 8:24 PM, J Francho said:One of my favorite moves.
That line in that movie is quoted so regularly with me and some of my co workers its ridiculous! haha
On 9/6/2018 at 1:05 AM, BassNJake said:Scariest boater- I got tossed out of the boat at about 60 MPH as we ran into a submerged rockpile.
We both ended up ok, his boat not so much. Scariest 5 minutes of my life as my inflatable pfd never opened.
Racist boater- I got back boated the entire day we were on the water while my boater was bed fishing.
We stayed on one fish for 3 hours and he never changed baits.(no wonder he couldn't get bit)
To top it all off he said some racist things about another competitor and had me boiling mad wanting to fight him.
He refused to take me back to the ramp so I spent the last 2 hours doing the Guntersville slap everytime he would pitch to a bedding fish. This got him boiling mad as well and thats when we left. When we got back to the ramp he went right to the tourney director to report me disrupting his fishing on purpose. Tourney director suspended him as he did not deny what he said, he tried to pull the I'm not racist, my best friend is (insert minority here) card.
Wedding boater- I had a boater take a call around 11am telling him he was supposed to be at a wedding at 1pm.
We left on the spot. I ended up missing first place by 2 ounces after weighing in at 11:30, while everyone else fished until 4.
Hissy fit boater- I had a boater break 3 rods in about 20 minutes. He was fishing a deep brushpile with a jig. He broke off on the hook set the first time and just instantly snapped the rod over his knee. He flips back into the brushpile, this time he hooks the fish and its a pretty good one. He fights it for a short time before it gets hung up in the brush. after about 5 minutes the fish gets off but he's hung up and its his last PB&J jig. He gets a lure retriever slides it down his line and it was never tied off so it just keeps going and we watch the rope sink. He gives it a pull and the line breaks again. He hops around on the deck and then breaks rod number 2 over his leg. He picks up another rod in disgust and as he goes to pitch it out he snags the console and gets a major blow up. He then smashes the rod on the gunwale about 20 times. I bet he dropped the F bomb and other variations of it a hundred times in those 20 minutes.
Best Boater Ever- I drew a boater once and he ran a bakery with his wife. We had these amazing donuts and scones in the morning and some type of pastry wrapped ham and cheeses for lunch. We had a pretty good day and he ended up taking third. At one point I let him have a pack of Keitech swimbaits as he ran out. After the weigh ins he took me to his truck and gave me 2 left handed Shimano Citicas he had bought off of ebay by accident.
I was a co angler for about 10 years and had about half a dozen bad boaters and they were downright awful.
I did learn a ton and wouldn't trade it even with the jerks mentioned above.
I like that you included the "best" boater ever guy as well to offset the "other" boaters. That sounds like an awesome guy to fish with! The other guys, well... good grief some of that nonsense sounds awful!
Rpratt reply :
1st tourney I ever fished, within the first 20 minutes of lines in the water, I caught 3 bass that weighed a total of 11 lbs on spinnerbaits by bumping them off logs. The boat owner said I was done, moved the boat out into open water and stayed out there for the rest of the tournament. This was early 90's to where light line was starting to really take off, however I had nothing then to compensate for it. Lesson learned there.
It just stunk to go from total excitement of being in your first tournament and doing well, to bottom of the barrel what the heck are we doing? We caught no more fish being out there for the next day and a half either.
dam0007 reply :
On 9/5/2018 at 3:26 AM, looking45 said:It didn't happen to me but this sucked big time. I was doing live well checks with another guy for a Pro Am. After all the wells had been checked, we walked down to the dock for the blast off. After blast off, this guy was walking on the dock with all his rods and gear. I was talking to the TD and we asked what he was doing, if he was in the event or what. He said he launched his pro, parked the truck and when he met him on the dock, the pro had put all his gear on the dock and told him he wasn't going to fish with him because he backed his trailer off the road trying to launch him. The guy asked the TD to DQ the Pro for unsportsmanlike conduct but the TD didn't, because the pro was a big name. He told the guy he could transfer his entry to another event. I don't thing this was fair as the Am drove 6 hours to fish. He could have fished the next day but would have been at a big disadvantage. The Am was *** and said he paid for the entire year and wanted all his money back. I don't know if he got it or not
That’s insanity.
Cheetahsneverprosper reply :
QuoteThe guy told me at the meeting the night before that he hadn’t fished the lake in years and wasn’t on anything. He kept the boat 1 ft from the bank the entire 8 hrs and threw up front. He also asked me where I wanted to fish, which was illegal the way I understood the rules.
As far as I know, this is not at all illegal in the BFLs. If a boater isn't on fish, I'm pretty sure it's fine to ask the Co if he has any good spots or ideas. Only thing you can't do is contact others by electronic means about fishing spots or methods during the tournament.
As a Co, I shut up and keep suggestions to myself unless I'm specifically asked though, figuring that most boaters have been there practicing and already have a game plan. If they want my two cents worth, they'll usually ask for it at the pairings meeting.
RobbyZ5001 reply :
I'll play. I've fished as a co-angler for BFL's for awhile. I only had two bad experiences out 21 fished.
1st- Dude was just a terrible fisherman and inexperienced with the boat. He had a brand new 21' Ranger, we were fishing the potomac out of smallwood. It was blowing putting maybe big 3s on the river. We sat on trash point a few hundred yards away from the launch ALL day in an area maybe 30x30. I was the only one to catch a fish and it was a snakehead. I suppose I rather have him do that then spear some waves tossing me out of the boat I guess...
2nd- Potomac again boater fished hard maybe 2/3 the day (lot of time left, not far run from weigh in). I had 4 in the boat with one being 5+ boater had 2 dinks. He literally put his rods away tossed the dinks over and let us drift to the back of the creek and wouldn't run the trolling motor or fish. I continued fishing because I had a shot at a check, but couldn't finish out my limit since we were in garbage water from drifting. This one sucked.
clark9312 reply :
I stick to team tournaments where I can choose who I fish with. Typically I have one partner who also owns a boat. It sounds a lot easier than the boater non boater thing. If we’re fishing and I break off my parter jumps on the trolling motor and picks right up. If I’ve ran the trolling motor 3-4 hrs and want a break we switch. Sometimes we’re both up front sometimes one will go to the back. I’ve thought about trying out BFL as a non boater but it seems like there’s a lot of complaints. I like winning but at the sane time I work 60plus hr weeks so I like to enjoy it
RobbyZ5001 reply :
On 1/21/2019 at 9:00 AM, clark9312 said:I stick to team tournaments where I can choose who I fish with. Typically I have one partner who also owns a boat. It sounds a lot easier than the boater non boater thing. If we’re fishing and I break off my parter jumps on the trolling motor and picks right up. If I’ve ran the trolling motor 3-4 hrs and want a break we switch. Sometimes we’re both up front sometimes one will go to the back. I’ve thought about trying out BFL as a non boater but it seems like there’s a lot of complaints. I like winning but at the sane time I work 60plus hr weeks so I like to enjoy it
I think you should give it a shot. It's cool to see different peoples strengths fishing certain water certain ways.
FordsnFishin reply :
As of right now I just fish local club tournaments. So we choose our partners which im sure helps a lot. I tend to stay vocal and will try what the other person has to say as well.
I feel the more you work together the better the day will go. The guys I fish with we typically will switch boats each tournament to keep it fair. Don't cast in front of each other. Fish on, buddy helps net. If you're removing a fish or retying other person takes trolling motor.
Keep things fair and the day goes smooth.
This article is nice because this year I plan on co angling bigger tournaments in hopes of further learning and seeing how others fish. Im a fish to the last minute guy, even if im beating a dead horse. So interesting to see what guys on the boater side say about co anglers.
th365thli reply :
I've only fished two tournaments as a nonboater. Both were with the same local club. Team format.
First time was great, the guy was a hammer but he was very chill. Think a "cool confidence" and he was giving me tips on how to bed fish and it was just a very pleasant time. Now, I don't expect every boater to be like that, I'm perfectly fine just quietly fishing from the back. He was just uncommonly nice.
The second guy was an *******. He was one of those that took club tournaments very seriously. I understand if we were fishing a Pro-Am or a BFL or whatever, but this was just a club tournament. He was grouchy, condescending, and would yell at me if I didn't do things quick enough. I'm not going to get into this whole "what constitutes back boating" argument. All I'll say is that throughout the day I was consistently put in a disadvantageous position. At the end of the day he ordered me to put the fish in the bag and yelled at me when I didn't get out of the truck fast enough, as if I were his child. I have a lot of pride and don't take it kindly when people disrespect me like that. The icing on the cake was he would litter on the water. He would through trash, cigarette packets and butts, into the Delta. That experience caused me to quit the club.
A year later I toyed with the idea of rejoining. It's the only bass club in the area. Went to the website and saw that he was the president now. Nope, I'll stick with fun fishing. Now, when I take friends fishing, I do my d**n hardest to be the opposite of guy #2.
I could've easily reported guy #2 but in my shoes it was a touch call. I was a newcomer, and that was only my second tournament. The guy was established in the club and had a lot of friends. Tough situation.
zeth reply :
Well lets see....
1) boater takes a business call. 30 minutes. swearing, yelling and so on. boat floats off into middle of river. I have nowhere to fish. I was catching them before that. same boater flipping 2' away from reeds on river in current leaving me nowhere to cast. i'd stand there and wait for him to get a birds nest (there were many) and drift off a bit, flip in my dropshot and catch one once the boat backed off. same boater goes right over a school of fish. he has 0 at this point. about 10-15 bass all well over 8lbs just chillin on the bottom cruising this outside edge of reeds. I flip in the dropshot one chases it down but misses it because he's blasting off with his trolling motor to go flip some shallow reeds in 6" of water where there are no bass. bad day.
2) shared weight format. boater back boats me all day running as close to the bank as he can on a almost vertical bank with trolling motor on high leaving me nowhere to cast. couldn't just drag a bait either since he was moving so fast. ho got 0 fish of course.
3) bed tournament shared weight boater would not let me flip to any of the bass.
4) bed tournament boater has like a 25lb limit by 10am. lets me flip on one. rest of the day he spend looking for more bedding fish and never let me flip in and get some of the 3 pounders. hw would only stop if they were over 5. we roll up on some guys that were going for this bass. they trolled off and said it was uncatchable. it swam out the the edge of the tules. I drop my bait and it sucks it in and I said it ate it at which point boater puts trolling motor on high. it was a 10+.
5) have had boaters run around all day like a chicken with their heads cut off when I figured out the pattern in first 5 minutes of fishing.spent all day convincing boater to go back to an area we saw a bunch of fish. bedding smallies on laydowns in 10' or so. i'd flip a dropshot to each one and get bit. he got jealous after I had 3 fish in about 5 minutes and went in about 45 minutes early. could have had a limit for both of us.
6) had a boater make a run down Winnebago in 6'+ waves lightning everywhere. thought for sure I was going to die. couldn't walk the next day. 0 fish because he back boated me on the one spot he wanted to get to. we should have never even gone out. a lot of guys bailed and like 6 boats sunk that day.
7) probably a bunch of other bad boaters as well.
???? when I do 8 it makes that smiley for some reason. on a more positive note I have my own boat now. have had a few great boaters, Heath Ahnen (the main reason why I fish today is because of this guy giving me a very positive experience in my first year of tournament fishing redmans), Ryan Friend, a few other guys I don't remember... a good boater will chill out and not take low level tournaments so d**n seriously, they will help you out show you the ropes, give you a bait to try if they're catching them, actually let you get some casts in, treat you with respect, not demand money from you (imo everyone gets money unless they back boated you on purpose and demand money which in that case I just walk away)...
FishOn!GetTheNet reply :
This is not bass fishing story but I went with a coworker to a catfish tournament once.I paid 50$ To enter he had a 18’ flat bottom with 40hp I had a 12’ v Hull with a 6hp so of course we took his. It was an all night thing 7 to7 cold and rainy but the worst part is this guy had no rod holers no depth finder and no anchor how do you catfish without that? Well you drive the boat right up on the bank and hold one rod and sit there and curse and think to yourself I have a way better setup at home just less room and speed not that we needed the speed we never went more then a mile from the ramp he brought every kind of bait chubs gills salamander frogs probably 50$ I brought worms from my yard and caught the only fish 5lb channel lol
mheichelbech reply :
On 1/21/2019 at 9:00 AM, clark9312 said:I stick to team tournaments where I can choose who I fish with. Typically I have one partner who also owns a boat. It sounds a lot easier than the boater non boater thing. If we’re fishing and I break off my parter jumps on the trolling motor and picks right up. If I’ve ran the trolling motor 3-4 hrs and want a break we switch. Sometimes we’re both up front sometimes one will go to the back. I’ve thought about trying out BFL as a non boater but it seems like there’s a lot of complaints. I like winning but at the sane time I work 60plus hr weeks so I like to enjoy it
Curious about the BFL complaints. After a hiatus from tourney fishing to raise my kids, I’m considering buying a boat and getting back into tourney fishing. I’m thinking that fishing a BFL tourney as a co-angler would be a good way to judge if I have the desire and competitiveness to tourney fish again.
My main concern is getting paired with a jerk.
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