Bassmasters Open

[Fat Boy]

Champ you are right on, I have been in the front of the boat for a very long time and you are right it can go both ways. As far as being on the bank and fishing fast well that was his bite and he had to go with it. I just finished fishing the Joe Bass fish off over the wkend and my partner and myself started each day with the trolling motor on 80% and the boat was 10ft off the bank I threw a blade and never backed off for the 1st two hrs my partner never said a word and caught fish behind me. I have fished Pro Am events this way also and told the non boater to cast in front off the boat with me and just don't cast behind the boat and get hung I won't go back. It is not a easy gig running the boat finding fish and making things work for both front and back anglers as far as gas go's you got a cheap day of fishing not matter who the man is or how much money he has. My answer if things don't go your way get a boat pony up the money and go for it.

[Spinnaker]

So, fishing is still tough on the rock? The water temps still too warm? The shad are still dispersed? I can come down after the tourney and everything including the bass will be ready for me?

[techo]

Champ...sure didn't mean to offend you if I did. I fished with French out of Kansas City and an awesome guy. If you get to fish with Charlie Campbell......he packs extra sandwhiches just for you! Fished with some others during the flood year and on LOZ.... had such a terrible time......I probably will never fish Pro-Am again. Can't remember who said it a few posts back....but I am not paying a tourney entry fee to fish with a Pro and have "low expectations." I often go to the dentist with low expectations, beg for sex from the wifey with low expextations, but don't fish with low expectations. When I fish.....I expect a bite at any second. High expectations!

I also am not paying a tournament entry fee and pitching in for gas to "learn from the Pro." Much more information to be gathered from fishing with Bill Babler, Bill Beck, Don House, Eric Prey or many of the other guides around with less investment.

With that in mind.....if you don't own a boat, can't afford one or want to fish many different lakes then a PRO-AM might be for you! Pro-Ams aren't bad....just not for me. Still would rather fish with the Mrs (increases odds on aforementioned begging) or hire a guide to learn.

[Dudley]

If he lets me choose an area to fish and actually gives me good shots at what we're fishing then I'd think of giving him some gas money. Otherwise no, he doesn't need any help from me. I doubt ole Roland did either.

[co-angler]

Champ & Jeremy are you 2 fishing the Central Pro Am @ bull shoals in 2 weeks? If so I would really like to meet up with you and talk I really enjoy this forum and do not post much as I member I really appreciate the info that is shared here.I respect you 2 for your knowledge and experience and that is why i sarted fishing pro-ams. Have learned so much and 95% of the boaters I have been paired with have really been super. Was not intending for the post I started to swell like this I was just sharing an experience .

[Billfo]

I USE to fish local tournaments but stopped for many reasons including;

If I drew as the non boater I would usually get front ended- all day, has to fish only where the owner wanted to fish.If we used MY boat, the non boater would sometimes pitch in for gas- sometimes not, & sometimes willing to argue about it.Some non boaters who DID pitch in for gas thought they had equal rights to my boat, INCLUDING scraping thru stumps & brush. Ive had guys cause minor damage to my boats, broke one road- STOLE one rod. So my expectations will alwys remain low when fishing with other people.. everyone get a change to screw me over- "ONCE". I THINK I am pretty easy to fish with- as I attempt to be NON-competitive when I fish, just give me a chance to pitch to SOME cover "ocassionally". I have become a more laidback fisherman & just enjoy fishing for the "being on the water". I try to find out my co anglers expectations for the day- then there are no surprises. Bottom line- respect my stuff, Ill respect yours, if you honestly need what I have, lures, gas money, lunch, I'll give it to you. Just dont screw me right in front of my face & be happy with yourself for doing it.

[Quillback]

I'm surprised there isn't a mandatory gas fee for co-anglers, say $50/day. Money is paid up front to the tourney organizers who then give it to the boaters. Also, since the backseaters can win a check, it becomes more than just a ride along learning experience for some backseaters, seems it would be better to eliminate the backseater money, if you have a backseater that's in the running, he's not going to be happy with someone that shuts him out with boat positioning. The way things are set up it is bound to create tension between front and back. Not in all cases, maybe only 10-20% of the time, but it's always going to be there unless some changes are made.

[denjac]

Have to give Rowland credit for telling what he wanted and expected right off the git go. Not that I am a Rowland fan, and sorry he was a jerk. That stops any ackward moments later in the day . Most boaters are more than happy to give you a fair shake. If the pro or boater has a long run and needs more gas money than is the norm , pay it. Those are his fish he found and hes sharing them with you. I would be more than happy to pay for all there gas, as that would still be cheaper than having to use my boat, (hauling it , oil, wear and tear ect ). Like many sports, its the luck of the draw. Sometimes you draw good, sometimes you dont. I blew a motor years ago around Lunker Landing first thing in the morning, I just dropped the trolling motor and started fishing. I ended up winning the tourny and the nonboater came in second. It was a small 20 boat tourny. After the weigh in the guy asked me for his $10. back that he had given me for gas as we didnt use any gas ! There can be jerks on both ends of the boat.

[97procraft]

I fished my first Pro/Am last year at LOZ. My boater was Jim Kopff. I couldn't have asked for a better boater. He had some trolling motor trouble in the first couple of hours, and after we both tried to fix it for about an hour he made sure that I was in a position to fish while he continued to try to fix it. After giving up on fixing the trolling motor and using the big motor to idle up wind we both were only one fish away from a limit at noon and still didn't have a trolling motor that worked. He ended up in first and I finished in second by .04 lbs. Jim put on a clinic that afternoon culling several times. He answered every question I had, and I had a lot of them. It was a great fishing experience.

On the flip side I was not that impressed with the way the ABA ran the pro am. There were too many am's and not enough pros, so when checking in I was asked if I had a boat with me and if I wanted to fish as a boater. I told him that if I wanted to be a boater I would have signed up as a boater. I don't know if anyone took him up on the offer, but I feel that it would have put that boater and his am partner in a great disadvantage for the tournament. I haven't fish another ABA tournament since.

[Guest csfishinfool]

I'm surprised there isn't a mandatory gas fee for co-anglers, say $50/day. Money is paid up front to the tourney organizers who then give it to the boaters. Also, since the backseaters can win a check, it becomes more than just a ride along learning experience for some backseaters, seems it would be better to eliminate the backseater money, if you have a backseater that's in the running, he's not going to be happy with someone that shuts him out with boat positioning. The way things are set up it is bound to create tension between front and back. Not in all cases, maybe only 10-20% of the time, but it's always going to be there unless some changes are made.

I think this is a great idea. If every pro expects gas money, then the circut should make it mandatory, and add 40-50 bucks per entry fee. I won't say where i stand on this topic as it would get me into some trouble