When FLW Outdoors laid the foundation
for its pro-am formats, officials intentionally chose the title
“co-angler” to describe the angler who fishes from the back
deck rather than traditional monikers like “no-boater” or
“amateur.”
FLW Outdoors realized that many “amateurs” were not only boat
owners, but also good anglers who wanted more visibility in the
sport. With that, the role of the co-angler has evolved.
For example, it used to be that pros practiced and “amateurs”
showed up just to fish the tournament. These days, however, more
and more co-anglers are also putting in practice time to get a
feel for what the fish are doing.
Should co-anglers tow their own boats to tournaments or practice
with a pro? How can co-anglers who do not own a boat get hooked up
with a pro to practice?
These will be the topics of the next two installments of the
Co-angler’s Clinic.
For co-anglers who own boats, deciding whether or not to take your
rig to a tournament largely depends on the type of FLW Outdoors
event you are fishing, number of days you can practice, the
tournament venue and its distance from home.
The answer to this question starts with identifying your goals as
a co-angler. If you want to learn about specific techniques and
find alternative tactics for catching fish in “used” water,
then practicing with a pro is your best bet.
If you are trying to find fish in hopes of convincing a pro to go
to them during the tournament, then you will be better off taking
your own boat.
Co-anglers who get into FLW Outdoors events near their home
usually opt for practicing on their own. Being native to the area
offers many advantages, including inherent knowledge of the lake
and its fishing patterns.
Also, the chances of a pro entertaining a co-angler’s fishing
suggestions increase if the co-angler is a local. Checking a few
sweet spots before the tournament could pay off if a pro is open
to suggestions.
However, if you are a co-angler headed to foreign waters, then you
might let the particular circuit dictate your decision as to
whether you want tow your boat for practice.
The Wal-Mart FLW Tour, for example, is made up mostly of touring
pros. They usually spend somewhere between three to 10 days
practicing for an FLW event. By the time the tournament starts,
they usually know exactly how and where they want to fish. Even if
a co-angler brings a boat and finds the honey hole of lifetime,
the chances of convincing an FLW Tour pro of going to it are slim.
In this case you will probably learn more about what’s going on
and, more importantly, what you need to be prepared for by
practicing with a pro.
BFL events are quite different. BFL boaters are often faced with a
limited amount of practice time. A BFL boater that gets one day of
scouting on an unfamiliar lake will likely be all ears for
suggestions if his co-angler has practiced a day or two.
Somewhere in between are the EverStart and TTT events, which can
be evaluated case by case based on a few other conditions.
Distance from home and the number of days you can practice are
legitimate concerns. Towing a boat 500 miles for one day of
practice on a lake you know absolutely nothing about may be
arbitrary.
Also, the venue and your accommodations should be considerations.
If you are in a 200-boat tournament and staying in one of only
three motels in town, parking your rig is likely going to be a
nightmare.
Conversely, if the tournament is being held in a city with a
myriad of motels or you have a cabin out by the lake with plenty
of room, then taking your own boat becomes a more viable option.
If you do plan on practicing from your boat in hopes of swaying a
pro to your fishing areas, here are a few suggestions:
• Practice near the put-in. The closer your areas are to
weigh-in, the better your chances of sampling them during the
tournament. Occasionally, pros will come in a few minutes early
and fish near the check-in. If you have a productive place or two
nearby, the pro might be willing to give it a shot. Trying to
convince a pro to go to fish that are 30 miles out of the way is
much more difficult to do.
• Know your spots well. If a pro should agree to try one of your
places during the day, be able to put him right on the spot. Your
credibility begins to diminish by the minute if a pro takes you to
your spot and there is a lot of: “Well, I think it’s over here
… or maybe it’s over there. … I’m not really sure.” Be
direct about how to get there and exactly where to start.
• Be prepared to make a deal. Don’t be surprised if your pro
agrees to go to your fish under the condition that he can return
to them the next day should the area pan out.
• Some pros are automatically resistant to trying a
co-angler’s spot for a variety of reasons. When you meet your
pro at the pairing, avoid introducing yourself with stories of the
big ones you caught in practice. Wait until the appropriate time
in the conversation and simply tell him you practiced on your own
and you have some places in mind if he is interested and leave it
at that.
• Don’t exaggerate your catch in an effort to influence your
pro. Most pros can see right through this and it ruins any chances
of going to your area.
• Don’t badger a pro with your recommendations all day long.
Again, it’s perfectly fine to make a suggestion or two, but
leave it at that. The pro is going to be more likely to try your
place if you have been patient and helpful.
• Shake fish off in practice. Practice as if you were going to
fish the tournament yourself. Of course you will want to check a
couple for size but “sore-mouthing” 15 keepers from one spot
the day before the tournament can be counterproductive and it’s
not necessarily a good selling point with your pro.
Remember, a pro has complete control of the boat. If a pro does
not want to sample your areas, don’t get frustrated. He or she
paid the higher entry for that right and you must respect that.
