Rules for co-anglers

[carolina-rig-01]

G-Mans post about joining a club as a co-angler got me to thinking that maybe we should start a thread and give some of the unwritten rules about being a co-angler as well as some of the things that us boaters appreciate from co-anglers. I will start but feel free to add any that I overlook.

1. Always give your boater plenty of money for gas and oil. If your not sure how much to give, just ask. Sometimes boaters will decline your offer and that's fine. I always made them take me money anyways but if they decline then that choice is yours.

2. Treat their boat like it's their baby. Accidents happen and most guys understand that. But don't be careless with lure dyes, stepping in the boat with muddy feet, banging crankbaits off the motor, and anything else that is easy to control.

3. I always appreciate it when a co-angler offers to bring a lunch for the both of us. Nothing big, just a few peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or something similiar that doesn't cause a big mess and is easy to eat on the run. Boaters have plenty to worry about the night before a tournament like fueling up with gas and oil, charging batteries, and all other kinds of boat owner duties. If a co-angler throws together some kind of lunch it is one less thing for them to forget or at the very least have to do. Offering to bring ice and bottled water is a nice gesture as well.

4. In big tournaments where the ramps will get crowded make plans ahead of time for where you two will meet up and what time. And don't be late!

5. If you don't feel comfortable backing their boat in the water just say so, there was a time when they didn't know how to either and they would much rather ask a buddy to back them down than use their cell phone to call AAA because their Tahoe is in 10 feet of water.

6. Be sure and pick up your trash at the end of the day.

7. Don't talk bad about the areas that the boater worked hard to find. If he has confidence in an area then just humor them if you don't like the spot. Not saying that if things are tough you can't throw out some ideas though, sometimes a co-angler will turn a boater onto a good pattern.

8. Make sure you are capable of handling a net, nothing will make a boater more upset than having a co-angler knock a few 5lbers off at the boat.

9. When it's time to move make sure you have your rods strapped down and your life jacket on before he is ready to fire up the motor. If it takes you a little while to get ready to run then just ask that he gives you a few minutes notice so you can be ready to go when he is.

10. Don't give out information about the spots he took you to. General areas is one thing but don't tell everyone you caught your fish off that brush pile on the south west corner of the red dock on point 13.

11. Do your best not to cast on top of or over your boater. Accidents will happen and the wind has a way of picking up in the middle of a cast and taking your cast a little wide right, but just don't cut him off so you can hit a target before he does, unless he tells you to.

12. Offer to help get the boat ready for the trip home after the day is over. I personally would rather do all the strapping down, putting on the transom saver, taking the plug out, and unhooking the graphs myself because I have a routine and if someone does one of the things I do in the middle of my routine I may overlook something else that I would normally do next. It's nice to ask but most guys would rather do it themselves and this isn't meant to be an insult to a co-angler. It's just that they need to do it themselves to know it's how they need it done.

At the same times there are lots of rules that boaters should follow as well to make the co-anglers feel welcome. A few that I try to follow are:

1. I always try and carry on a conversation with the co-angler as best I can while staying focused on what I am doing. I want them to feel welcome and have a good time.

2. If I am catching fish on a certain bait and they don't have one I offer to loan them one if I have enough.

3. I try not to front end them with the trolling motor. If the wind is out of a direction that just doesn't let me position them for a good angle then I offer them a spot on the front deck.

4. When we get to a spot where it isn't obvious what we are fishing make sure and fill them in on what it is that you are fishing (for instance if it's a ledge or brush pile, make sure they know that so they can fish accordingly rather than just letting them unknowingly cast out in the middle of no where).

5. Accidents happen. If a co-angler accidently spills a Coke on your carpet, don't make him feel like the whole world just ended.

I know there are more that I am missing so I hope others will add to this list.