If you live long enough and you love fishing, you will go through periods where you get burnt out or yearn for something different. So went my tournament fishing year of 2008. The normal boat deals that were the mainstay of many a guide or tournament angler were not as plentiful in 2008. We would often work sport or boat shows for major boat and motor manufacturers in exchange for using the boat for the year, and selling at the end of our commitment agreement. Promotional arms of companies, money and promotional programs that went with those companies were cut deeply in the struggling economy. So in a nutshell, I found myself in a situation where I did not have a tournament boat for 2008. So I was faced with a situation. I wanted to fish competitively, but I did not have the boat to do it. I am used to being a “Boater” as opposed to a “Co-Angler.” Well, I figured when life serves you lemons, you may as well make lemonade! I decided to make it my goal to make the best of my fishing tournament year by trying to show (To myself.) that a proficient co-angler can make a difference. Well, that was what my head was saying. LOL! My heart wanted to fish! And I was going to learn how to do it out of the back of the boat, which was strange territory for me as of late. I made it my mission to learn to fish effectively in a situation where I was not in control. Maybe I would be using equipment or techniques that I am not used to. Maybe I would be fishing out of boats that I am not familiar with. Maybe I would be fishing with people I didn’t yet know. All the above turned out to be true.
Anyone reading this can fish as a co-angler if you so desire. The two major trails out there to do this would be the FLW Tour and League. The boater or “Pro” is in charge of the locations and presentations that they and the co-angler will be utilizing during competition. The co-angler pays half of what the boater pays, and competes for cash and prizes separate from the boater. If you want, you can offer up time to help a boater “Pre-Fish” for the tournament, and help out with traveling and bait expenses as well as lodging and food. Most boaters welcome the extra stick in the boat. It really becomes quite an extended family when you start to get to know people. While it may seem expensive, if you think of what you may pay for a guided trip, it may make a lot more sense to fish in this type of format.
If a co-angler really wants to take it to the next level, they can do some research into the lakes the Trail will be fishing. You can find out what little idiosyncrasies each lake has, and educate yourself on how to catch those fish. You may find that conventional concepts may not apply if you are going to be successful. If you are not a wing dam aficionado on a river system, you may want to find as much information as you can as to how to fish that type of structure. Maybe it is trolling an open basin, or a cabbage bed in search of local secretive walleyes. Whatever the game-plan, learn to do it. Practice it. Chances are some variation of what you learned will be put into practical application during the tournament. You can then cross another accomplishment off your list of things to learn in regards to competitive walleye fishing if that is your wish. Otherwise, you can just show up with a lunch, and jump in the boat, fish and learn with a boater and compete for the chance at winning hundreds or even thousands of dollars!
If your plans include bringing your game up to the next level and eventually fishing as a boater, co-angling is definitely the way to go. After your tournament take down notes on techniques, locations and comments the boater may have made during your day on the water. Watch how they play the wind and handle the boat. Take notes on the type of bait they use and why. Take note on the rod, reel and line selections and ask why they like them. Take notes on the boat and motor. Was it aluminum or glass? What did you like, and maybe even more important, what didn’t you like? Maybe you will make the comment “If I was going to do this, I would….” Did you like the four-stroke or the direct injection two-stroke? What type of electronics were used, and how did the boater use them to your advantage? How did the boater care for the fish? Did they live until the day’s end and through the bump tank? What time of year was it? What type of structure were you fishing? Could you duplicate this on other lakes that you are familiar with? All of these questions and more specifically the answers create and invaluable data base for you in the years to come. The experience can be what you want to make of it. At the end of the season, you can reflect and ask yourself if you have learned anything. Chances are you will have, and you will have met a lot of new friends along the way!
With the 2008 FLW League season drawing to a close, I find myself sitting in 3rd place in the Minnesota Division. In September, we will be competing in Winona MN for the chance of winning a new boat, motor and trailer as well as cash prizes! Memories of a great season of fishing are mine for keeps! I have learned a tremendous amount in this all too short open water fishing season! And with the luck of the draw, maybe I will get that right combination of boaters to get to the championship round and compete for that new boat!
I'm going back to buddy fishing tournaments next year. I just couldn't make the time commitment to be more succesful with the FLW league. And I really didn't like all the variables out of my control. But it was fun and interesting.
Going from a boater or pro to a Co-angler can sometimes be a humbling experience... with your knowledge, I can only assume that it was difficult to put that aside and focus on being the student rather than the teacher. Great write-up and perspectives! Everyone can learn from that!
I also have fished the co-angler side at some BFL's. Got to know some great people. Also I have qualified for the championship in Winona on the boater side. I made it through the Heartland division. My three co-boater's I had this season were awsome. Both as fisherman and everyday people. They're friendships that will last a lifetime. I wish you luck in Winona and hopefully I'll run into you and say hello. Glenn
Great article. Glad to have you as a partner at Cass and to help you make the championship with our 5th place finish. We live so close yet this was the first time we had ever fished together. Good luck at Winnona.
Jimmy, that was one of those trips I will never forget. Story of my year though...each tournament haunted by that "1 more fish needed for a limit" problem!
Thanks to everyone I got to fish with! And to Jami Ritter for letting me pre-fish with him all year!
First of all, Good Luck in Winona Chris Second, thanks for the article/post. It was easy to understand and I feel even I could go out and do this j/k, I wouldn't!
Where the FLW League is concerned, if you sign up with a boater, you are guaranteed a spot. Considering the 100 boat field has not been met. The Tour, you need to get signed up early to ensure a spot as they do fill rapidly. You draw your partner at the rules meeting in both the Tour and the League.
Quote: We are all students! I have yet to meet the guy who knows it all!
Now that depends if you know Chappy or not.
Good read Chris Call me we should hook up and go fishing.
-------------------- Clarence Chapman
"Though you cannot go back and make a brand new start, my friend.
Anyone can start from now and make a brand new end."
(John C. Maxwell, Developing the Leader Within You)
As someone who has 10-15 co's in the boat each year the avdvice I can give is to pay attention to the details that are going on in the boat - at the league and tour level's it's not things like putting bait on your hook it's how you are hooking the bait. As both the pro and co are a team for the day, a good partner (both ways) can make or break the outcome of the day.
Best of luck in Winona... I'll be there as a spectator maybe I will get to meet you in person. Sept 11-13th Winona MN Wal_Mart FLW league finals Anyone else coming to Winona for this tournament?
I got this pic on day 2 weigh-in here in Winona. Can you tell me how the Winona pools match up with pool 4? What presentations were used in this tournament and where were the HOT Spots?
Live bait was the key in this tournament in my opinion. There were fish caught on cranks and other means, but live bait was the key. Because of the low flow, placement of that bait was key. Wing dams that produced in the AM were somewhat dead during the day, so sliding off the deeper ends of them and hitting them with jigs and bait, as well as dork rigs (Short snells and 1/8 ounce egg sinkers.) drifted off the ends worked well.
Some deeper dams, or dams lucky enough to have flow produced fish all day. Up and down Pools 5A and 6 were going. Some obviously better than others.
The biggest difference for me between Pools 3 and 4 is flow. The fish were not as tight to the dam in the Winona area, so the crank bite seemed not as productive as live bait rigging. Patience was the key.
Quote: Live bait was the key in this tournament in my opinion. There were fish caught on cranks and other means, but live bait was the key. Because of the low flow, placement of that bait was key. Wing dams that produced in the AM were somewhat dead during the day, so sliding off the deeper ends of them and hitting them with jigs and bait, as well as dork rigs (Short snells and 1/8 ounce egg sinkers.) drifted off the ends worked well.
Some deeper dams, or dams lucky enough to have flow produced fish all day. Up and down Pools 5A and 6 were going. Some obviously better than others.
The biggest difference for me between Pools 3 and 4 is flow. The fish were not as tight to the dam in the Winona area, so the crank bite seemed not as productive as live bait rigging. Patience was the key.
Thanks for the Pic!
Chris you are very welcome. Sorry I didn't get down to the stage to introduce myself. I'm just a 50 something rookie fishing pools 5A and 6 and a pretty new member here also. Like to hook up sometime and try to learn some tricks of the trade.
Well you are in a great area to learn wing dam fishing, that's for sure!!!
Start at the dam in Pool 6, and just hop. Start in the middle of a dam, and work to the end in deeper water. Sooner or later you will find the sweet spot, and your skills will be refined each time you hit the water. I am hitting pool 4 tonight to do just that.
Competitive fishing as a Co-Angler
Re: Competitive fishing as a Co-Angler
j/k, I wouldn't!
Re: Comptetitive fishing as a Co-Angler
