While I've tournament bass fished for many years, I'm fishing the Sam Rayburn Central Open as a Co-Angler for the first time coming up in a few weeks. It's the first "big" tournament I've fished. Any tips from those of you with experience with this on how much to stream line gear, do's and dont's, or any other advice would be appreciated.

Here is a post that I made earlier this year, and I honestly feel that it will help anyone make themselves a better co-angler.

Co-angler Ethics

If there is anything that you want to ask, shoot me a PM and I will be glad to help.

sent pm and good-luck on the trip.

Thanks guys. I appreciate it.

Remember that the gas,and oil are not free. Split the cost of gas and oil with the boater. Make sure that you check and take care of the fish in the live wells. Take only the tackle that you feel you will use.Four or five rods is all that you really need to take. Make sure you pack your own sun screen, water, snacks (offer to buy the ICE for the boat).Take care of the boat. Any damage you do to the boat you pay for. If you use those dies for plastics make sure not to get it on the carpet. Be respectful to the boater. The main thing is to have fun and catch bass. These are all things that I do as a Co-Angler I hope it helps you out.

Good Luck

Pay your gas money to the boater at the start of the day, it will help. As said above no more than 5 rods and 1 small tackle bag that will fit in the back compartment or in the floor. Ask him at the pairing meeting if there is anything you could bring for him to save him a trip to the store. Rick Clunn once told me the key to fishing out of the back of the boat is to fish it like the front of the boat turned around. Meaning don't cast forward past the consoles, fish the back of the boat. Talk with your boater about it, if you show respect for his fishing space he will appreciate it. Unless the boater asks you to - Never Open his livewell, if you do and a fish jumps out; he won't be happy. Relax and have fun Co-Angler is a great way to learn new techniques and make friends.

+1
Rick Clunn said one of the key things for a co-angler to do is give the fish a diffrent angle when presenting your lure. Hence the above comment about casting to the rear at a 45 degree. Good luck.

The worst thing you can do is hang up behind the boat. Also get you a small soft sided cooler. If you boater does not have a cooler, it's to small, or if you want to freeze water bottles for your fish. Not to give you any ideas I knew a man that once told his boater" You will know your back ending me when you feel BRAID running down your neck." lol

Thanks for all the info guys. It really clears up most of the things I was concerned about.
JC

Good post.

learning from a close friend who fished with rick clunn in their early years,

if the boat is moving forward - trolling - NEVER fish out the back. you do not have control of your lure, it's going faster than you are reeling. if it gets hung up everything comes to a stop to turn around, if the boater is nice.

the boater should be fishing well in front of the boat working baits to a point perpendicular to the bow of the boat, this allows the back seater to cast forward of the consoles and work baits to a point perpendicular to the rear of the boat.

if the boater has the boat positioned close to the shore and he is paralleling the bank, then cast out front BUT make sure you are out in the deeper water a good distance from his casting zone.

if the boat is stationary, the back seater should ask the boater where is his prime spot, AND THEN stay clear of it.

Just be friendly to the pro and be on time in the morning, try to work with him on pick up location, I have had many co's that made it difficult and that starts it off wrong.
Offer Ice or drinks/snacks, usually they will have their own.
Keep your tackle selection as small as possible 3-5 rods is plenty, small tackle box/bag.
Basically just be yourself in the morning, once the fishing starts depending on the pro dont feel left out if he doesnt talk much, some are blabber mouths and others are quite and concentrating.
Net his fish if he asks for it, try to do your best on the net job ( I once had a co @ Amistad knock 3 5-6 lb fish off for me in a row)
Above all else relax and have fun, depending on how much you fish and at what level you will learn some things through the day if you pay attention, this of course depends on who you draw.

One last tid bit, if possible when he is in close to structure (docks, rocks..whatever) try to keep the back end of the boat off the sharp stuff. I once had a co who refused to do this around docks and we destroyed the back end of my new cat, he was upset because I was front ending him while fishing docks (or so he thought)

1.Be on time.
2.Be as friendly to him as he is to you.
3.PAY YOUR WAY.
4.Don't overload his boat with all of your gear.
5.Don't stain or dirty the carpet.Don't step on the seats.
6.Keep your area neat and be ready to move when he gives you the two cast warning.
7.Respect his space, and don't cast to the front.
8.Then show what you can do without interfering with his fishing.
9.At the end of the day,help with wipe down and take ALL of the trash with you.
Maybe you'll get invited back or he'll put a good word on the wire for you.

And if he sneezes offer him your t-shirt and don't forget God Bless you.... Sounds more like baby sitting...

#10. Guess I forgot one...lol.