Fishing out of the back of a boat all day with someone you don’t know, while you are fishing in a tournament? Many people might be a little hesitant to do this. Most anglers feel that their boater is going to give them bad water to fish all day. This happens on a rare occasion and the majority of time the co-angler is in a great position to learn a great deal of information and knowledge from their boater!

The trust and partnership that goes into a pro-am tournament goes both ways and needs to be there for an enjoyable day on the water. The co-angler needs to understand that they are there as a co-angler and the boater has control of the boat. The co should also respect the water that the boater takes them to. Give your boater space to fish and he’ll in turn give you equal chance to catch fish. It is also important to remember to not return to the water and spots that your boater showed you. If you have suggestions on places to fish, you can politely offer them to your boater if he asks.

There are several kinds of pro-am events available. The most common one is where a co is randomly paired with a pro. The pro and co, both fish for their own limit of fish and compete against other pro and co’s respectively. The other style is where a pro and co are randomly paired together and work together to put together a limit of fish. They are each in different divisions and compete for different prizes, but the weight they earn is the same. I have competed in and have had success in both style of events, but more importantly I have learned a tremendous amount and made great friends along the way.

  5th Place MN Silverado Pro-Am finish

My first tip is that the night before the tournament, at the pre-tournament meeting, when you get paired with your boater find out what you can expect during the tournament. Determine a meeting place for the morning that is easy to find, so you two will be able to load you gear quickly into the boat and put the boat in the water. Next, exchange phone numbers just in case there is an emergency and there needs to be a change in the meeting place. With your boater, also discuss what type of fishing you will be doing next day. If you are going to flip all day, then you won’t need a full box of crankbaits. This is going to aid in your tackle selection, which when done you have what you need for the next day and not every single lure you own. Pack the tackle that will be needed for the next day and bring any lures that you think might work, because you never know when the bite will switch over to another lure, I suggest bringing five to six rods, again this is depending on how many tactics will be applied during the tournament day.

A full day on the water is a long time if you don’t have the right clothing. Wear appropriate clothing for the climate you are in a. A pair of jeans or khaki shorts is comfortable, but yet looks better than a pair of sweatpants. A comfortable shirt that is suitable for all conditions is a Boombah Performance Fishing Shirt. For the hot days it is lightweight, comfortable and you can easily layer a long sleeve shirt underneath if it is a little chilly. You will have a much more pleasant day on the water if you have the right clothing on, so if you are not sure what the weather is going to be like, pack some extra ones. Another key item is a high quality rain suit that is lightweight and comfortable. A good rain suit is very important if your boater has a single console boat. When you are running up river 70 mph and it is raining, a good rain suit will keep you dry and warm. A pair of sun glasses or goggles is important to keep bugs, rain and other things from going in to your eye.

The next tip I have is that when your boater is ready to go, you be ready as well. Ask your boater to give you a one cast warning so when he is ready to move to the next spot, you are in your seat ready with your life jacket on and gear ready to go. This will give you and your boater the maximum amount of fishing time possible. Another tip I have for you is to make sure you and your boater always have your life jacket on when the big motor is running and your boater has the kill switch attached. It is the boaters as well as the non-boaters job to practice safe boating habits. Be sure to talk about netting fish with your boater, some want all their fish netted and others will yell for the net when they want it. After the tournament is over, be sure to offer your boater gas money and to help them take the boat out.

I hope these tips will make your non-boater experience more enjoyable. Remember to pay attention to your boater and absorb any information you can, and have fun, it’s FISHING…it beats work and who you knows you might win some money!