Bassmasters Open

[Guest Buck Creek Mike]

I don't know anything about high level tournament fishing, but I would have figured they get gas paid for by a sponsor or something. Then again, maybe they do, but then charge their co-angler anyway. It's too bad to hear that he was a a-hole, i would have been excited initally to hear that I was with him. Would he talk to you? Did he just act like you were an inconvenience?

[Sprint21fter]

Fished in the open as well was 2 oz away from a check. Had a great time with the pros that I drew. Ken Iyobe was a

wonderful Japaneese angler. We fished up the James River dragging football jigs and hula grubs. Only asked for 30 dollars for gas. Was expecting to pay at least 50 dollars each day. Thursday totally suprised me. Drew Teb Jones from Mississippi and I asked what he wanted for gas money and said nothing just hoping for you to catch a couple of keepers and get a check. I about lost my coffee. He pulled up his decked out Triton boat with HD's Lowrance units with mapping and pointed at the map and told me where I liked to fish and what I would like to do. My dad was in 7th place after day 1 and fished with Jim Culp who was awesome to fish with as well. They both caught two keepers fishing ceder trees in Cow Creek. Jim also lost a 4lber on a texas rigged creature bait of some kind that my dad couldn't identify. Paid 35 dollars for gas. The 2nd day was totally different drew James Watson and he waked down the bank so fast covering water and never had a chance to cast for a crazy bass. However, didn't ask for any gas money and as the day went they helped Ricky Campbell back to the weigh in who caught 4 fish for a little over 10lbs and said he had caught them in 55ft of water on a big texas rigged senko. I had a great time and you hear good things and bad about fishermen. Roland Martin isn't what he appears on TV his ego gets in the way. My dad complimented his son about his big FLW win and he had just a couple of words to say about it and that was it. If it was him who had won that Championship he would have never stopped talking about it. Sorry to see prominent figures be such jerks. If everything is going right then they are happy. If his coffee is too hot it will ruin his day.

[Champ188]

OK, some of this probably won't go over well and so be it. But there are two sides to every coin, and those who fish from the front of the boat in pro-am events spend quite a few coins to do so.

I have spent the last five years fishing the front of the boat in Central Pro-Am events, along with the occasional BFL. During that time, co-anglers have won a lot of money fishing behind me. Not sure if that speaks more to the fact that I'm a nice guy or not so good of a fisherman, but you can take your pick. I will say that I make a concerted effort to be sure my co-angler has room to fish and a fair chance to catch some. Our own Jeremy Rasnick here on the forum drew out with me in a BFL tourney on Table Rock. Don't recall if he made a check that day but he can tell you that I treat my co-anglers with respect and kindness.

Two springs ago (May 2010), my co-angler WON that division and more than $1,000 from the back of my boat during the annual BFL Ozark Division event on Table Rock. When all was said and done, he didn't so much as OFFER me a penny for gas for the day. And we burned a bunch. Just grabbed his gear out of the boat after weigh-in and left. Oh yeah, I netted every fish for him and gave him a jig when he ran out.

In my personal experience with Central Pro-Am over the past few years, as gas prices went up, co-angler offers for gas contributions went down in amount. The average amount that I'm offered is $25. Heck, the gallon of Mercury Premium Plus oil that I burned that day cost that much before I even turn on the gas pump and put $75 to $100 worth of gas in the boat.

There's also the fact that if I'm fishing a Central Pro-Am event, by tournament day, I've been there at least two days practicing and was probably there the weekend before and the weekend before that. So, my co-angler friend, a lot of work and expense went into locating those fish you caught today.

There's also the fact that the front-end guys pay a pretty penny for the boat, not to mention insurance and maintenance of that boat that co-anglers climb into on tournament morning and out of in the evening without us asking a single thing of you except maybe to wipe your feet and store your gear (I provide an empty storage box) so that I don't trip over it while trying to get around in my own boat.

James Watson fished for quite a few years in the back of the boat in Central Pro-Am. He won a good bit of money doing it and learned a lot about fishing along the way. I highly doubt that anything he did during the recent Central Open was done with any intent of hamstringing his co-angler. If he was fishing faster than the co-angler preferred, then maybe the co-angler needs to buy his own tournament-level boat, fill it up with gas and oil, pay his own pro division entry fee and get in the front of the boat where he can fish the way he wants.

Tournament pros (or front-end anglers, pro or not) are not guides and they aren't out there on tournament day to tend to the needs of their co-angler. They should not operate the boat in a way to handicap the co-angler, and they should net the co-angler's fish. It's common decency. They should be friendly, although co-anglers should realize that some of us don't like to chatter all day long while we're fishing.

That's my 2 cents worth and again, chances are if any of you ever draw me as a pro-am partner, you'll likely enjoy your day and probably catch a good bunch of fish.

P.S. Been an outdoor writer all of my life and shared a boat with Roland Martin for the better part of a day back in the 80s. He's certainly no peach to be around.

[Ham]

While I agree that there is no comparison between the money the Pro spends for the tourney and what the co-angler spends, there is a usual and customary amount for the co-angler to contribute. $50 would be more than fair and a "legend" of the sport like RM doesn't have to be a cheapskate and a obnoxious SOB.

I've fished in several FLW and BASS events as a Co-Angler. I've always offered gas money to every angler I've fished with and always treated their boat/gear BETTER than I would my own. I tried to ask up front for ways that I could be helpful and at a minimum stay out of their way. I was there primarily to learn. I did learn that I can and do catch fish from behind anybody I fish with. You have to adapt to what they are doing and fish what you can behind them. Everyone needs to clearly understand that you ARE NOT fishing against the pro.

Pre tourney meetings cover all of this.

[mic]

Would someone like RM pay for his boat, motor, rods, reels. As a layman, I would assume his sponsers paid for them.

[Champ188]

Ham, you're right on target and you'd be a fine co-angler to fish with, just like 90% of the ones I've drawn out with over the years. Mic, no way does RM pay for his gear. MAYBE his boat on a delayed billing setup but I doubt that. Far as someone mentioning pros being furnished gas, that usually is not the case. I think Swindle and Marty Stone probably got free gas years ago when Citgo was their main sponsor but otherwise, pros are pretty much on their own at the pumps.

[edwin]

I understand the co-angler's grief with certain situations they encounter, but couldn't agree more with Champ. The front guy in in front for a reason - he's made the investment to be the front guy and has the 'fun' that goes along with it. Being the anal-retentive b@sshole (you've all met me, I'm 'that guy'), I generally enjoy choosing who's going in the back of my boat. I paid a fair sum for my boat...I had enough folks that I wouldn't choose be in the back give me the "it's just a boat" answer when they F-up something. Heck with that, it's just MY boat. I give folks credit for even allowing co-anglers in their boat.

Raises the question - are the folks in the BASS, FLW, Central Pro-Am required to have a co-angler with them? Forgive the ignorance...I'm not a derby fisherman.

[Champ188]

Edwin, yes you are required to have a co-angler with you. Boaters sometimes fish alone in CPA if there are not enough co-anglers but in BASS and FLW, you are required to be accompanied.

Let me say lastly that there are some boaters or "pros" out there who I wouldn't want to fish with on a dare, so I too have compassion for co-anglers. In fact, my wife has fished the past 4-5 years as a co-angler in CPA and BFL events. Incidentally, she pays a minimum of $50 in gas money and if the angler refuses it, she stashes it somewhere safe in his boat then calls him later to tell him where it is. Done that several times.

[TroutRinger]

I only have two comments:

1. This is one of the most interesting discussions we've had on this board in a while

2. Sprint, how the hell did they fish a Texas rigged Senko in 55ft of water!?!?!

[Jeremy Rasnick]

Champ....I did cash a check with you by the way. It was a central pro am event so i was only allowed to weigh 3 keepers. I had like Nine that day. This was the most keepers that I have ever caught in a pro Am.

Advise for the Co-Anglers out there: No matter who you draw good or bad, it is super important to go into the event with low expectations. Always look for an opportunity to learn. If you don't learn a way of how to catch fish, rember how not to catch fish.

I fished the central open last week as well. I drew a guy from Japan on day one and he didn't speak English. But I could tell he was really nice guy.....always smiling when him or I got a bite or caught a fish. Day two I drew Jamie Fralick......absolute pleasure to fish with. I was being very timid with my casting and he insisted that i chunk my jig or crank right up there with him. None the less it didn't help me out a whole lot. I never ask how much i need to give a boater, i base it off of how far we have traveled that day.

Lastly, Your "pro" doesn't have to cater to your needs or be a fishing stud. Don't blame the boater in the case that you don't catch fish. I use to be really bad about this. In the year that i won a new Ranger 198VX, I saw 5 keeper bass boated by my pro's throughout the entire BFL regular season.