My question is being a co angler on a bigger venue than nbaa such as bfl's is worth it? I am a co angler for most considering im 15 but alot of tournaments ive done have been a team. I think it would be a great learning experience fishing with those guys but ive heard some bad storys. Some people have told me that they back boat you the whole time and are jerks alot. Is this true?
MOST guys are going to be a great learning tool for you and I think you will find are quite accomodating. There is always a bad apple in the bunch but don't let that spoil your quest to learn and get better.
I have had great experiences fishing as a Co Angler in the BFLs.....It is definetly worth it as far as gaining skill....
One of my Buddies has made over 30 thousand dollars fishing as a Co Angler in the FLW...Andrew Lemle...
Even great anglers like Chad Pipkens fish as a Co to gain knowledge on different bodies of water...
As far as Jerks....It can all be what you make of it...There are "Personalities" out there but you just have to learn to go with the flow and make the best of it.....99 percent of the boaters out there want you to be successful also...They get a little bragging rights when their Cos consistently cash checks.....
Go for it and give me a PM if you have any questions....
There are a few less fun persons to fish with, but not many. I found that often the day went better or worse depending on how the co-angler started the day out. Avoid preconceived notions, deciding how your day is going to go before you even start.
If you think you've got a 'bad' draw and the day is going to be a waste before you even begin fishing, the odds are that is what will happen.
If you decide to go with the flow and make the best of everything that comes along no matter what, odds are you'll probably have a better day. Maybe even a great day when you might not expect to. Only you can control your own mood and expectations. All the boater does is put you on the water. The rest is really up to you.
These guys have got it right. The Burt and Mullet tournament is a bed fishing event, and you might not get the opportunities in that one, but then again... The rest are big water events and you really have a great opportunity. Sometimes when it's rough, you may even have the best seat. You only need a few rods and a smattering of baits.
The other three or four events are usually St. Clair and Erie so it's tubes, dropshot, etc.
I know a high school kid that has fished the BFLs for several years now. He graduated last year. He took third in the Burt and Mullet Tournament this year.
I really enjoyed the BFLs and would encourage you to give them a try. They are a real learning opportunity. I would also encourage you to try Marshalling a B.A.S.S. event. For $100 you get 2 and maybe as many as 4 days in a boat with a Tour level pro. An experience you'll never forget. It will help your learning curve exponentially.
Even in a bedfishing tournament, there are opportunities available that should be exploited. You hear more complaints about that from some backseaters, yet I've watched them catch the biggest bass of the bedfishing event, or catch roamers that the boater is totally ignoring because he/she is fixated on one specific fish.
I like a co-angler who keeps their lures wet a lot more than they complain about the opportunities they aren't getting. I've been lucky to fish with some super nice anglers who made the best of everything available and I really enjoyed those days. We usually both did better too.
I like to say that it is the cheapest guided fishing trip on the water and you may even get paid more than you spent.
Know what I mean. ;)
Oh yes. I had two co-anglers win out of the back of my boat. I was as proud of that as if I finished high (both times I only did so-so). As someone pointed out, in our water most of the time, the co-angler has a really good shot and maybe better when it's really rough.
I have fished out of the back 77 times since 95 and 15 to 20 more before that. I can honestly say that I have been backseated only once. So your odds are pretty good. Do it you will learn a LOT.
Always good to have hard stats to consider verses stories. Thanks All American Team houston!
Hi Kyle,
One thing that I did not see from anyone in their comments is confirming your age. Did you say you are 15? If so, you must be at least 16 to fish in a FLW event ( with a signature of a parent or legal guardian ).
As for being a Co-angler, I would say it is the best learning experience you could ever do. I did it for 7 years before moving up as a boater, met a lot of great people, and learned a ton ( including the sportsmanship aspect of it ).
I would think that whether or not you get "back seated" depends a LOT of the type of water the boater is fishing. On Lake St. Clair I think it would be a little difficult to get truly back seated. But if a guy want's to dock fish or hit beds then the co-angler might feel a bit left out. Me, I try very hard NOT to back seat anyone (especially in a team tournament) but at times it's almost unavoidable to hit a "spot" or two.
I'm really looking forward to fishing the upcoming TBF draw tournament on Muskegon... and I truly hope I get a co-angler that wants to learn AND catch fish.
ill be there as a co...hopefully ill draw you waterfoul ;D