So... For those of us inexperienced in the tournament game, what makes a co-angler one that a pro would be happy about drawing a second time?

min amount of tackle ..5 to 7 rods... treat his boat better than you would treat yours..Ask the pro what he requires of you...pay for half the gas.. be a great net man

Base your talking on the amount of talking the boater does.

Minimal talk, No more then 4 rods, be respectful, offer gas money and go witht he flow.

Don't step on the damn seats .....

Yes, especially if you see your boater avoiding them.

It makes me cringe to see some big work boot grinding into a seat. AHHHHH.....

keep your area in the boat clean and picked up. when boater says we are fixing to move, beat him to the seats ready to go. if you cast way behind the movement of the boat and get hung up expect to break it off.

Be able to back a boat trailer, park and load.

Need I say more?

Ask him if he wants to buy the 5 lber you just caught.

Did that pro get to stay on tour??

NOPE !!!!!

Nice hat!

1. Be ontime and prepared at your pre determined meeting place prior to the event. A lot of times these guys like to pick you up somewhere away from the launch site.
2. Most of these guys will have one storage area open behind the passenger seat for your tackle so try to reduce your tackle down to that size.
3. Bring your own life jacket unless the Pro tells you not to.
4. Help them launch the boat if you are capable of doing so, if not let them know the night before that you are uncomfortable with backing the boat in.
5. As stated above do not step on the seats.
6. As stated above be a good net man.
7. Engage in conversation without talking the Pro's ear off, especially if the bite is tough and you see he is really concentrating. As stated above go with the flow, some of these guys have a lot of energy and want to engage in high fives and knuckle bumps others not so much.
8. If you develop a pattern be willing to share both technique and baits without being asked.
9. Be prepared to go in a moments notice, some of these guys like to run and gun and do not want to wait for you to pack up all of your stuff. When he says go try to be in your seat with life jacket buckled before he leaves the front deck.
10. Bring gas money, even if the guy was a jerk and did not share the water give him $30 its the right thing to do. If you had a great day give him $40 to $50. If you pull a DD out of his waters and have the best day of your life hand him a $100.

I enjoy co angling and the challenge of developing a pattern on waters you most likely have never fished. I have met some great guys sharing the boat with these Pro's and look forward to seeing them at future events. Learn something each time out that will make you a better Pro when your time comes to go to the front deck.

have a good attitude, make good snacks,know a joke or two, and when he has a fish on make sure you dont knock it off with the net. help if the boat is on a stump by rocking and push the boat off of trees and concrete or boat docks when needed. make it so if you need number 3 or 5 and he has his limit he helps you get yours. You be helpful and I want to draw you again. gas money is the last thing I worry about. Make it a great day on the water for we truly live in a magic world.

Here is a post I made a few years ago that pretty much sums up my 4 years as a coangler. Communication, versatility, and efficiency are the best things to have in my opinion

http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/3051674/1

she can fish with me anytime. Even if they doesn't pay for anything I mean, just look at her bass

That's a REALLY nice Bass!

Thanks for the great tips and link guys! And Sktr#22, I would have trouble standing on the boat all day if I dressed like that because I would have to wear my heels or my legs would look bad.

When you dress like that..It surely takes us a long time before our eyes lower.

redhead
about 5'4" tall
good headlights
clothing optional

Don't get hung up alot.

If he misses a fish on a frog, don't throw your fluke in behind.

Respect the Boater and the Boat, and that should go both ways, Either should get in return what they give.

didn't even see the hat, oh she is holding a fish too

Skt 22 may have given the best advise but I do have something to add. I have fished quite a few pro am style events and I don't really see anyone telling you what I have noticed.
The best co-anglers I have every fished with, such as Bill Rogers, are very perceptive. The guys that are super aggressive, throwing in on top of you, high strung or trying to do exactly the same thing as the boater don't usually fair as well. If your boater is around fish there are always a bunch of ways to catch them and you will be able to catch fish that the boater misses. Pay attention, the best guys don't miss much.
As far as etiquette, just treat everything like it yours and as you would want to be treated.

she can be my co angler