So MLF BFL’s have done this in the past and it seems they are going to do it again. The issue is not having enough co-anglers to pair with boater and then doing a random draw to pair boaters together. To me this just doesn’t seem right. Opinions?

I’d be irritated if I pulled my boat half way across the country and then got stuck fishing with someone else in their boat. Unless I won and then, whatever….but that’s a slim chance, especially if the mofo in the front is front ending you.


Or if I had a great spot to start and had to share it.

Yeah, doesn’t sound like a good idea.

Sounds like a refund is due…along with still getting to fish.

Horrible situation and should only be a voluntary situation.

How about just not taking entries past what they have co-anglers signed up?

ABA did this up until maybe 4 or 5 years ago, it’s to prevent cheating and quite honestly needs to come back. Anyone who says cheating doesn’t happen didnt fish the Ryan Lovelace event years ago.

It happens everywhere. Locals got busted getting fish out barrel in a benefit deal that a high ranking judge was putting on

Yeah the ABA will let some boats go out as solo's. While other boats have Cos. I personally do not like this situation.

Watch they will get enough Cos right before the event starts. And It's important to find a link.

Agree on not liking the situation, and I believe boater to boater draw is based on entry date timestamp. So if you don't want to draw a boater if they are short on co anglers be sure to get your entry fees in early, its the last boaters that paid that get paired up.

This rule has been a big part of me not signing up for BFL's.

Sign up early and you don't have to worry about it

BASS did it too. In fact, you were never paired with another angler from the same state as you. And yes, I left my boat parked quite a few times and fished out of the back of the other person's boat. But it's not too terrible when that other angler is Roland Martin or Hank Parker or Ken Cook. I did once talk Forrest Wood into fishing out of my Skeeter when we got paired up. He caught some good natured ribbing over that.

Before my time but that was the old bassmaster invitational days, I believe they quit doing that about the time Iaconelli came on the scene, he talks about doing those right before they went way. If you were paired with a bigger name there was a gentleman's agreement you took their boat, otherwise it was a coin flip if both pros wanted to take their boat.

If you pay a boaters entry fee you should fish a boater... You find out what, 10 hours before take off that you'll be fishing solo???... You'd have to be one devious soul to be able to setup your scheme to cheat in that amount of time... Dan

I understand times have changed, but before COS wasnt this the way all of the major tournaments were organized? Prior to FLW there was Redman and even Bassmaster events that were drawn the evening before takeoff and wash angler got control of the boat for half a day to fish their fish.

Seems like they could use gopros or other video cameras in the boat of the solo anglers. Wouldn't be hard to do. I fish a lot of tourneys solo and usually run my gopro just in case I need to show my catches to the TD. I've never had to use the video but have had to take polygraphs when finishing in the money. Always passed the test so no need for the video.