Being a non-boater "tournament fishing"

[nomoose]

Being a Non-Boater

By Scott Vaughn

It’s been almost three years since I joined a bass club as a non-boater. I had been fishing for bass for about 4 years already and figured I’d taught myself all I could. I was ready to fish out of the back of a real bass boat and learn something new.
Nobody gave me a set of "Non-boater rules" when I entered my first club tourney. Although I stumbled a little as a non-boater in that first tourney, common sense got me through the day. Since then, I’ve learned by trial and error on the do’s/don’ts and etiquette of being a non-boater.
The first thing I do in the morning, before I put any of my gear in the boat, is ask the boater what the rules are for the boat. I want to immediately know what the boater wants. I want to know where I can/can’t step; where to store my rods; which compartment(s) are for my use, etc. I’ve had one boater tell me "don’t touch this livewell; this is mine and that one is yours". I found out later in the day that he had a bell on the inside of his livewell so he knew if it was being opened. He did this because a past non-boater had opened his livewell to admire his nice 5 pounder and that fish jumped out, flopped all over the back deck and ended up back in the water instead of on the scales.
Help the boater launch the boat. If you don’t feel comfortable backing someone else’s boat down a crowded ramp in the dark, say so. Before the boat goes in the water, ask the boater if the plug is in. I had one boater give me a weird look when I asked this, like no one had ever asked him before, but he appreciated the fact I was looking out for him. Ask if there is anything special about locking up the rig before you drive back up the ramp. Give the keys back as soon as you are in the boat. Although I haven’t done it, it’s my terrible fear to drop someone else’s keys in the lake.
What to bring and how much is too much? I usually bring 5 rods and one tackle bag. Anything more is probably too much. Remember, all the boater’s tackle is already stored in compartments. Anything you bring has to fit in one compartment or on the floor of the boat. If it’s on the floor, it’s in the way. I bring my food/drinks in a bag so I won’t have an ice chest in the way. Don’t forget your life jacket. Or rain gear. That’s your responsibility, not the boater’s. Don’t forget your watch. That way you’ll know how much time is left in the tourney and it is also a back up in case the boater’s watch quits on the two of you.
Since I don’t own a bass boat, I usually don’t pre-fish. I may go out in my family boat and fish a little to work the rust off but seldom do I have the opportunity to hunt for fish or find a pattern. I usually just go with what the boater wants to do. But if you have pre-fished, found fish and a pattern that works, talk it over with the boater. Share that info and have the both of you agree to a game plan for the day. Do this first thing before blast off so there are no surprises later in the day. In most tourneys, the non-boater gets half the day - that’s half the day on your spot with you having the front of the boat. That may not be practical if your fish and water are on opposite sides of the lake from the boater’s.
Even though the two of you may be competing against each other, you still need to communicate. The whole idea is to catch fish. Ask the boater if there is a special way he wants you to net the fish before he hooks into the first one. Try different lures or techniques than the boater until one of you starts catching fish. If you start catching them first, share your technique. If the boater is catching them before you, ask what he was doing when he got the hook up. I’m a non-boater to learn, so I’m going to observe and ask alot of questions. However, play the idle chit-chat by ear. There’s nothing worse than having your boater miss a bite because he was paying more attention to yacking at you than watching his line. Help the boater out in any way you can. This is not a guided tour like some non-boaters think. Be ready to get up front to hold the boat with the electric motor if your boater needs to re-tie or cull fish.
Most club tourney’s have a set non-boater fee for the day. This is to cover the gas and oil you helped burn up. In an open draw tourney, you will need to discuss this with the boater. Also remember that the boater has had to pay a launch fee. Take that cost into consideration when considering what to offer. I usually offer $25. If anything, offer more than what you think so you don’t insult the boater. The boater will tell you if it’s too much. I’ve had boaters refuse my money because we made only a short run or never caught fish.
At the end of the day, with the boat in the parking lot, offer to wipe down the boat and help clean up. You helped dirty it, so help clean it up. This is probably a good time to bring up the use of liquid scents. If you use scents on your baits, spray or pour it on the bait over the side of the boat. Most of this stuff will stain carpets and there’s nothing worse than to end the day with an upset boater finding his back deck covered in stinky smelling stuff.
I’ve probably missed a few things here, but most of this I learned by trial and error. Just remember to treat the boat with the care you would want someone to treat it if it was yours. Communicate with the boater so there are no mis-understandings. Work together to get the fish in the boat. Remember that you are a guest and not on a paid guided tour and the two of you will have a fun day on the water
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[PREDATOR]

You know the other day I was thinking about casting etiquette as I was fishing along.

It really doesnt matter if you are in a tournament, or just out fishing with a buddy on saturday, when two guys are fishing the same water, there are considerations to think about.

Now, there has been many a time when I have instructed a guy to throw over the top of my line.
Lots of guys see a tangle in the future when doing this, but it doesnt happen very much at all.

bUt regardless, the thing that crossed my mind was when fishing shallow water, the lure entering the water is a huge attention grabber.
If a guy, front or back of the boat casts into a spot, and is working a lure, and the other angler casts in, chances that any fish contemplating the first anglers lure has been distracted.

After all, in shallow water the fish have to be worried about birds and small mamals that would love to eat a fish in shallow water.

I actually have better success fishing alone since there is much less disturbance being put out from the area of the boat.

I would say that if you are fishing in a tournament, and the guy you are fishing with is catching fish, it is in the best interests to give the guy all the space in the world to work the area.

Thats kind of hard to do when fishing from the confines of a boat, after all you can only be so far apart and can only effectivley fish a small area.

Anyways, thats just an observation I have made while fishing with others, and by myself.

It seems you have to fish twice as diligently with a partner, to achieve the same results as you can alone. After thinking about this quite a bit, I have only been able to come up with two potential reasons for this.
1) Distraction factor. Too much activity and comotion going on in skinny water tends to spook fish.
2) while fishing with a partner, the conversation factor keeps you from focusing totally on the task and keeps you out of tune with getting in the zone.

I would like to think I am able to carry a conversation and still pound the heck out of the fish, so I tend to believe the first option is more likely the reason for the difference.

However, in discussing this issue with some anglers, i have found that anglers who second guess themselves find they do better with a partner.
This being because having someone along makes them feel a level of confidence in what they are doing since they have two minds trying to figure out the fish.

One thing for sure.
The boater non-boater relationship is full of interesting topics.

I think that if I were a non-boater, my strategy and focus would be to find and catch fish the boater is not fishing.

For example, if my boater is pounding shallow water banks, casting to every piece of cover and working it pretty good and slow say with plastics, I would either drag a bait on the bottom off the deep side of the boat and target the deeper fish, or pull out a lipless crank and fan cast the last half of the boat burn the trap back, then pop a suspending jerk bait in the same areas.

That is if your boater is any good.
Chances are hes getting most of the active fish in front of you.

If the guy sucks pretty bad, like me, and is leaving plenty of uncaught fish for you, I would likley fish some plastics behind him.
I usually tend to leave more fish behind me for the guy in the back of the boat than I actually catch.
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[bassrods]

You say a lot of very good things and sound like you would be a great non-boater what club are you in.
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[Likes2CatchBass]

That is some great info.

I was thinking of fishing the Mantua Tourny on Oct 8, but I'm not sure about it. Mantua is a pretty small lake, and there aren't that many really good spots. The sportsmanship factor has me a little concerned.

I was out Fri AM, and it started getting crowded as the morning progressed. I was fishing the holes in the grass/weeds, and the wind kicked up pretty bad. I moved to the North side of the point, and someone was there fishing, so I moved down quite a ways, and pulled in. I dropped my trolling motor, and made a few casts. I wasn't trying to crowed the guy, I was just trying to wait out the wind. Any way, I felt really bad, and thought maybe I pulled in to close after all, so I pulled up and moved back to the top of the point, to fish the water they had already fished. I said hello later, and tried to be polite. But I think they may have been mad.

Anyhoot, that was just my second trip out there, and I can't count the number of times that I've been cut off. And what is worse is that they will go between me and bank that i'm fishing... I don't mind sharing the water I'm fishing, if you pull up after someone, you should go around them, and give them their space.

I don't see how you can have a tourny on a lake that small?

What are the rules and etiquette?
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[nomoose]

I was just put into being the tournament director for TEAM AIR-VISION PRO BASS CLUB.
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[PREDATOR]

Hey likes to catch bass.

Every now and then I go up there to mantua.
The east side over there gets hit pretty hard, its the first place guys head for when chasing the bass.

So, yes there can be a lot of crowding ect.

But I tell you what, theres also a LOT of untouched water out there.

Most of the year, the big bass hang out on weed edges way off shore and dont see a lure for months.
Of course theres the times of year and conditions that bring them shallow, but when having a tournament on mantua, theres a ton of room, just most guys choose not to fish the room, and choose to crowd the east side point.

Its kind of funny too since you can fish the west side and talk to guys on the bank who have stringers full of bass.
The north side holds tons of fish when the water is up.
Its a tad shallow at the moment.

The south side is the same way, it gets kind of shallow right around the shore line, but it drops faster there than on the north side and so you have deep water access much closer to the actual shore line.

I know there are some big ones living under the boat docks, the bluegill guys toss a lot of crap at them, and they are probably the most lure shy fish in the place, but they are always there.

Some water skiiers put a floating platform out there to drop people off on and tie off thier boat too, and it usually holds bass in its shade, the key is all in the approach on that chunk of wood.
If you fish the right side, and slip your lure into the water without much splash you would be surprised how many fish are under there.

Theres planty of transitions from rock to mud and weed to rock ect to fish.

Its actually a much more diverse fishery than many people give it credit for.
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[nomoose]

There a lot of spots to fish at mantua. I have hooked bass all over the lake it's just like any other place you need to fish it a lot to find all the spots are then they go and move on you and you start over.

Yes mantua is a bit small but there are a few clubs that fish it all the time. Cache valley bassmasters has 1 big one there a year if not more. it will hold more boats then you think. The bad thing about anytime you fish there are those jerks that dont care and move in on you, but thats fishing if you take the time to get mad it takes you out of your game and you wont get as many fish, and thats what there hoping for. I've learned over the years just not let it get to me. when I was younger I would have gone over to them and got into a fight, but now I just keep doing my game plan and leave no fish for them. if the move into my line I go around them just a bit and get back in my line. Most of the time the get the clue and move out.
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[Likes2CatchBass]

Thanks for the info. I plan on fishing Mantua and Pineview a lot, mostly because they are close to home.

I guess I did get focused on certain types of structure out there.
I'll keep those tips you provided handy, and start fishing some different parts of the lake. I was able to catch a couple of bass on the east part of the lake, but wasn't to put a pattern to it, to consistantly catch them.

I definately need more time on the lake. Every time I go out, I learn something new about the lake. Right now, it is my favorite lake to fish. I think the lake has a lot of potiential. The more time I spend on it, the more I'll learn.

Maybe I'll see you guys on the 8th...

Thanks again for the info.
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