There is a difference in fishing for a living and fishing for fun.

The, "Fishing for a living vs. fishing for fun" argument holds some weight but not much, personally. Communication is an added aspect of fishing with a co and this comes to know surprise when you accept the tourney. Many jobs require adequate communication to fulfill the job and should be a major part of the pre-fish checklist.

Get some masking tape and put an X on the carpet,denoting the Co's LW. FZ1,is the Master of the Obvious!

Agreed to a point...I don't put cull rings in fish until I have five and its needed. Fishing as a co you sometimes don't catch limits and it's not needed. I would rather do my part to prevent putting unneeded holes in a fish's face. I've caught too many pretty fish that have their faces ripped apart because all the people pulling flopping fish out of the livewell into the weigh bag.

If people would use the clipping cull rings more, it wouldn't be an issue. I use the Accucull rings and they hold fine and don't pop holes in anything.

And introduces the one biggest way of cheating...

I haven't seen too many lockable livewell lids. Turn the handle and up they go.

That's got to be painful Don. I've fished co a bunch. On the flip side, I know plenty of times when a boater wouldn't have gotten a fish into the boat without me. I pride myself on being a qualified net man and am quick on my feet. I have had a few pros that net my fish with one hand while still holding their rod in the other. Now that's enough to drive a guy nuts!

Mine does, but i think it was a matter of convenience for manufacturing, all of the latches are the same on the boat, rod locker,glovebox, livewell etc..

I've often wondered if anyone ever had a fish stolen when they weren't looking at the back of the boat lol..

I fish as a co angler in the BWS and think I've fished my last event as a co. I agree with just about everything the article said. But lets ask the question; what is a pro? Is it the guy who pays the higher entry fee-the owner of the boat or someone who fishes for a living? In the bws it is the person who pays more and owns the boat. There are some that fish for a living but I have not fished with one of them. I have pulled many good boaters and then some that don't have a clue. Lets not get too caught up calling boat owners "pros"

95% of the tournaments I fish, I fish solo, against two men teams and I may get a check on alot of them but most of the time I place in the top ten at least. A couple years ago I moved to Georgia and they had a one man trail and I smoked there azzes.
I would love to see more solo trails to see where I really stack up. The pro's fish solo, how come the local tournament trails don't?

There are quite a few solo trails on smaller circuits i can think of down here

The BWS sure but this is a tour event. They are pros. Some come from money and that's the only reason they are there but it doesn't get any more pro than that.

BWS boaters are not Pros at all. They are just boaters. Some good, some real good, and some that have no business fishing the boater side at all.

I understand the bws is not a tour event just pulling from my own experience. I agree with the article written.

I don't agree with the argument co-anglers can sabotage a pro. In these rare cases poly the co to make sure they didn't do it on purpose. Not any more risk of cheating than a pro fishing solo, I think less.

I do understand the argument to let the pro fish 100% unhindered. As a co I do everything I can not to hinder the pro, but sure it happens. I have found most pros appreciate the company (I never initiate a conversation), they don�t often turn down the gas money, and you might get on a better bite that helps them adjust.