As a co angler with a top ten finish at the 2022 all American this is a very informative video! Definitely a must watch for any co angler. Thank you Bradley!
Have fished for years as a non-boater is what we called it, drew boater out of one hat, non-boater out of another hat. Totally agree with everything that was said, it’s tough, be prepared and have the mindset that you are going to have a good time, help as much as possible, and enjoy your day, will help tremendously with your fish catching .
It’s definitely scary flying down the lake at 70 mph in the fog with a stranger. There’s been a few times I’ve wanted to ask the boater to pull over and let me out on the bank... Lots of these lakes have stumps and trees that aren’t exposed and my worst fear is getting matched with the guy that’s starting at his GPS units the whole time during a run
I say a prayer every time I step foot in a boat that I/WE return in the same condition as we started. Catching fish is just a bonus. I have said extra prayers during those early morning rides also.
If you scared stay home you wouldn’t ride with me bout 2 minutes befriend daylight with no light just driving off memory and or GPS 😂🤣 trimmed out rolling
This is great stuff man. I have had coanglers that was afraid to ask me to go to the bathroom. Also learn to read the temperament of the boat owner, some talk,some dont, some joke around and some dont. You see him getting ready to move you get ready to move. Everyone listen to Brad he is dead on in what he is saying. Another great topic!
Brad let me add this to your thoughts. I have a bass boat and still like being a co. In the opens and such. I live in the N.E. and I look as the experience as a cheapest guide trip. On some of the famous lakes I have always read about and dreamed about fishing. The winning some money will be a bonus!
When the boater says we are leaving in 2, 3 cast,,,,be in the seat with the life jacket buttoned and ready to move before he pulls the t/m up. He will appreciate it.
That's when I stand up and say I'm the superior , we will leave when I say we will leave ! 😂 I'm just kidding . Cause if someone said that to me they would know what it feels like to get hit in the head with an 8 oz saltwater fishing weight lol
I don't tournament fish but this same approach I take when getting invited onto anyone's boat. I usually try to pay for gas, launch fee and have BBQ sandwiches for lunch in a small cooler. I consider it a blessing to just have the opportunity to fish from a deck of a boat and enjoy the day on the lake. Catching a fish is just bonus.
Great comments on backing a trailer. I’m always considerate of my boaters investment. I alway ask the boater to line me up at the ramp than I takeover and back into the water. Never had a boater that disagreed with my request.
@@tadkramer7034 I even do this when fun fishing with buddies, except I’m the boater, I’ve had my dad curb two wheels on my 2020 Phoenix, one of my friends jack knifed the trailer backing down the ramp to load up and smashed my bow step into the bumper. I now back nearly all the way down and sometimes even do the fishing by myself technique and tell them to just sit still
@@Glide114 It takes team work. It may not be my boat, but it still my obligation to help the boater have a safe and successful day of fishing. I love tournament fishing and I’m great-full to the boaters that take me along.
The Pro will dirt you every chance that he gets on position . You're just there because they are forced to have you on board . Dirt the guy in the front by having confidence in your ability to know what works in the situation ! USE IT ! Don't take no crap from them but be nice !
Awesome episode, Brad! Definitely something people should consider and the mental portion definitely helped me! Looking forward to my first Opens as a Co this year.
I decided to fish as a co this year I noticed fishing with guys that started as a co angler has the worst habits the guys that know what to do Regardless if you catch fish or not are the best to fish with
As a co-angler for the first time last year in the BFLs, I was able to communicate well with my boater and was praised for being the best they had in 35 years of doing tournaments. Communication is key to this relationship. Thanks for the advice. I greatly appreciate it this video from an outstanding pro angler. Good luck this year to you and the boys!!!
Great video with a lot of truth. The one thing I would challenge is the conversation about how the pro intends to fish. For the most part, yes, be prepared for everything but for example, if we are on Rayburn and the pro says we are fishing brush piles offshore all day, I'm leaving my punching rod with 65lb braid at the hotel. Don't expect a lot of information from the pro as Bradley points out but I think it's a fair question of deep or shallow or both because that can impact what you put in the boat the next day and how you mentally prepare for your approach to get bit.
Thanks for the tips. When an angler takes the time to educate co-anglers it's greatly appreciated. This helps the sport in so many positive ways. Keep up the great videos. If you're ever in West Michigan and need a camera man, drone pilot, video editor, etc message me, I would love to help as a way to say thank you for helping me become a better angler/co-angler. Wishing you all the luck in 2021 🎣
I’m fishing my first Co Angler event this week on Rayburn so this is timely. And would definitely welcome your opinion on what Co Anglers can do to be effective, stay out of the pros way, and have a good experience. Based on your video, I think I’m approaching this the right way. Be there to learn and soak it all up. But, as you said, read the water and do your own thing. Thanks! This is a great topic.
Good luck. I agree with everything he said. One additional point of importance that he didn't really touch on is adaptability. Be prepared for anything. Just because your boater says he's going to one thing, or that he's been catching them by doing x,y,and z doesn't mean that that is how the day will pan out. Conditions can change literally overnight.
Had the pleasure of being a coangler with you Brad at Muskogee Open in 2020. What you described in this video is the exact approach I have learned to take as a coangler, and it is how I wish more coanglers acted when I fish as a boater. Great video. I have sent it to a buddy who is fishing his first BFL as a co because it reinforces everything I have tried to teach him about fishing from the back of the boat. Hope all is well and thanks for the great video.
This is a great video. I've not had a bad experience yet with my boater. I always make it a point to be friendly with the boater because that's my mentality, I just think it makes for a good day on the water, whether I catch a fish or not. I wait until the end of the day to settle on an offer for gas. Ninety percent of the time the boaters I've had absolutely refuses any money for gas. But I will say this, if my boater treats me like a piece of crap then there is no offer for gas.
Awesome video Brad! Probably the best detailed cool angler video I’ve ever seen. Good job brother! I don’t fish tournaments much, and normally fish by myself. Really good content. God bless!
Fantastic video!! Love the no such thing as a bad draw concept, mental toughness, confidence and patience. I was fishing as a Co on the Cal Delta, knew sight fishing was in play. My pro polled down on a big girl locked on for nearly two hours. Was able to fan cast a swim worm through mats and pick up two nice fish. Opportunities are always present if you're prepared. Great stuff.
I've fished as a Co for years up here in MN in a club and never really thought much about securing myself during the run. I will be sure to do that from now on.
Not even gonna lie.... I never even Looked at it as the "Back of the boat".... I just always felt privileged to be ON The Boat lol... I work my ASS off in Tournaments! I never stop Castings Unless I'm Retying
I'll be starting to fish tournaments this year and found this video very reassuring to just relax, also learned a few things I haven't thought of I appreciate the tips
Thank you Bradley for the time it took to make this video. Very good info I'm thing of enter my first fishing tournament. The first week of September at lake Murray. Thanks for all the help. Kind of looking forward to it. Fish or no fish the entry fee plus gas money. Is still cheaper than renting a bass charter. Plus it will be my second time on bass boat in about twenty years. Thanks again.
This is a great video, I've not heard much about this in any you tube vids, would great if all pros were like you, I've never co-angled in a professional tournament, but I am a co-angler in my brothers boat most of time, and I do pretty good, I've educated myself watching videos like yours & many others wanted to say a big thank you!
My first time as a co angler was a great experience thanks to videos like these.. I do wish I saw this one though so I was prepared for that ride lol hard to find something to grab onto when you’re going 70 in rough water.
I’m fishing the BASS northern opens this year and you’ve answered a lot of my questions as well as a lot of great pointers. Much appreciated. I can’t wait to check out you’re other videos. I subscribed!!! Thank you!!!
I am a boater but I found this video very informative. I have watched several videos on this subject and this is by far the very best. Your channel keeps getting better and better Brad.
This is what I needed to hear. As usual your honesty makes it even more enticing to try some co angler tourneys. Interesting information Brad. Awesome.
Anybody 2ho doubts the co angler position watch Bill Dance fishing with Jerry Reed. Jerry was mocking Bill's boat positioning but showed him the big fish
I fished with Aaron Martins 2 times in the 90's before FFS, he was special he didn't have FFS but he had a gift, the best fisherman I've ever seen, That special gift is now gone, college fisherman will never have that gift, pure talent without FFS is now gone!
Awesome video.Used to fish co-angler in a bass club.Most guys were great but a lot acted like the co- angler was an aggravation.These guys eventually started a club where everyone fished by themselves.
That was Excellent. I fished with a very good Angler in Canada years ago. He started the first day racing through spots. We would be trophy muskie fishing together for seven days! My blood pressure was screaming. Then I thought: This guy knows more than me! I said to myself: “Shut Up, Sit Down and Hang On!” I asked him, “Brian, what do you recommend I throw? Was a successful trip after that. That was a good Life Lesson. Be well.
Great video,been through all those scenarios, I would practice from the back of my own boat,I have the remote control for my trolling motor, two main things, launching, if it's lifted truck in the dark,he has to drop it in,I'm not going to start in a bad mood,I bring 4 rods,a shoulder bag,a lunch bag,have coffee before we blast off,there could be fish blood everywhere then one drop of coffee on the carpet,and crap hits the fan, boat speed and common sense driving, and my last one,my last tournament on Clear Lake involved FFS,there are a million docks,the pro aim straight in on every dock,I was skipping baits all the way up to shallow water ,I might of had 20 seconds, you just have to stay calm and think,I got a big fish buy in,got me a paid weekend,it takes time,plus,pee carefully!
One more thing I THINK IF YOU AND CO GUY FISH AS A TEAM YES NOT ON FRONT DECK BUT AS GOOD AS YOU CAN FISH AS TEAM.. you and pro seem to both do great that day remember its you against the bass not each other but mostly be respectful to pro and his boat and always give your pro some gas money or ask your pro hey you need anything so on so on
Thank ya man. this is really helpful insight. I'm an old dude... lol. Bass fished all my life, Just joined a club as a rider and fished my first TBF club tourney. I have 2 this weekend. Looking forward to more co-angler videos.
OK....I hit the subscribe button...lol... I was a closet Hallman follower. I do not co-angler much since I have my own rig, but your info gives a different perspective for when I end up there. Excellent points. Real world views. Good job, look forward to more of those kind of video's
Great video. Wish I had seen this 25 yrs ago. East Tenn, Weekend series point champion. Ol Brown Fish his self says Merry Xmas. And Thank you. Stan Bishop
Glenn May of bass resource won events from The back of the boat w better casting skills. This helped me develop a good sense of possibility, as a non boater,I am there to contribute, to the boater,and that included a small gearbag containing 3 3700 sized boxes,5 rods or less for my co angler rod pocket,and drinking water,and snacks that we shared the boat cooler for. I would drop my rod and grab the net when the boater would hookup. We would communicate where he was needing the help,and id scoop the fish add the tag,right down the weight,and go right back to fishing .this saved time writing down weights to color coded tags,so culling up was simple and efficient.
All I have is a 41 year old Lowe but it’s cherry all I’m using is a little garmin striker 7cv what I like to do is burn through my first spot against the wind,then drift back through it with nothing on but my graphics, how can I improve this???
As a co angler you need to watch the front man and you need to use different casting angles/ cast tighter to the cover and do not whine about being "CUT OFF" I have often outfished the boater by watching what "HE MISSED" LIKED N SCRIBED. I own my own boat so I understand what a co angler should be doing. I once let a co angler get up front and let him go to town.
Yes..yes,yes,yes,yes YESSSSSS!!!! This video should be a Tell all for all co-anglers, n I know if even HALF the boaters had the frame of mind you do, it'd make the co-anglers feel so much more comfortable and more likely to have a good day regardless of what they catch! Awesome, awesome video man!!
I know you done this 2 years ago but this is my 1st time to see you on here. 😁👍🏻You done a great job. I am the CO fisherman on my buddy's boat and fish the ABT. I told him I was going to buy me a shirt that said Net Man. Lol!!
What should we do, on the off chance we catch more/better fish than the boat owner and they seem to get angry claiming they should be his fish? I've heard stories about this being an issue on occasion.
Hi Brad, what if you have a partner that fishes ledges in 52-75 feet (drop shot only) with his Garmin Live scope looking directly down at them and you(that would be me) is fishing from the back of the water with no electronics and 52-75 feet of unknown water? Please answer this one for me because honestly I am stumped on this fishing method.
I am going to adopt that beginning my angling skills SUCKED TODAY! thats what it boils down to... i have out fished boaters hundreds of times but sometime I come back with nothing and he has 5.
Last year I had a MRI done on my back and tech pointed out i had old injury to one of my discs that showed healed fractures. I immediately remembered about 20 years before i was fishing a regional pro-am in rough weather. On the run back my boater misjudged a wave and jammed my spine bad. Even my organs hurt bad with that hit, but i didnt get it checked out. The waters were rough and i had asked him to slow down, but he had fished too long trying to fill a limit and didnt want to chance missing check-in time.
I fished co one yr it sucked... Lol I definitely felt I was a much better angler than my results showed but man talking. Can't say I picked up much in that one yr honestly... May give it another shot down the road
I tell my boater first thing in the morning “I’m throwing 1 oz rattle traps all day. If I don’t have a limit by 10am, I’m closing my eyes and throwing them in each hand. I’m not throwing anything that doesn’t have treble hooks..’
Competing against the other guy in the boat--LOL, no matter whether I'm in the front or back of the boat, I'm competing with the other guy. Maybe not for prize money but you can bet your last dollar I'm keeping track and I want to outfish him. This guy seems like a good dude to share a boat with but I'm too much of an alpha male to even consider being a co-angler.
I have mostly enjoyed fishing in the back due to lack of owning a boat these days, but maybe I'm weird. Lol if the person in the front can't catch em I will. 🤣
Myself I rather fish from the back of the boat many times I out fished the person that was seating. Or standing on the front of the boat , I feel more relaxed in the rear of the boat !!
Made a good bit of money doing the elites :) back then top150 as a co angler. But I do remember I had co angler meet me and say" hey my name is... Ive been up here scouting. We should go....." na, na , na ...nooooo.
As a co I only have one rule: don't expect me to touch that boat or truck. Unless it's an emergency you're the captain and I'm not b backing your rig in the water. It's terrible backing someone else's stuff in with the mirrors and seats all set for them. I'll pull the boat up on the trailer if asked nicely 😂
Communicate with your boater. Ask them if it's ok to fish a certain way behind them. 9/10 boaters (probably even more) are insanely nice guys, and if you ask them, they'll help you stay our of their way.
I’m that co angler that uses treble hooks on my soft plastics. And 6 ounce weights. I like to drag them on the bottom near rocks and wood. Is it OK if I listen to my music? Pulls a boom box out of the tackle bag. But then you find out the rest of the tackle bag is full of food… Huh what now
This is very informative. I had a tournament director tell me one that you should never give the boater anything for fuel up front. That you should pay afterwards then you pay as to whether you got back boated all day lol.
As someone who’s tried coangling a few times my best advice is to expect no opportunities at all to catch fish. Who you draw as a boater is a big factor and those odds are against you. It could be an awesome fishing trip or the worst. Hang on!
Thank you. When I was fishing as the co angler, this information would have gone a long way to have made me a better co angler. I can't wait to try now
If take off ain’t till 6 or 7 my ass ain’t going to ramp boater or co angler at 3:00 am I might be up at 3:00 am but it’s gone be involving a women or my wife and some fun then I’ll think about getting to the ramp
Thanks for all of the great information. This was very informative as someone who will be new to the co-angler spot this year for the opens. One question I have is what advice would you give a co-angler in an off shore position? Where maybe a pro was staged up fishing a school on a ledge or something.
I got a text last night from a tournament director on the west coast telling me about a well known co out there. Said last fall at their championship on Clear Lake this co had a 19lb bag behind a pro that blanked. It’s possible is all I’m saying! Stay positive and make the best of it.
@@BradleyHallmanFishing good advise. I don't co as much as I used to because since 1991 I've owned Rangers and did then but in that case was fishing pro am format and I qualified for fishing the end of year classic at table rock. living in norther Illinois never fish clear water and no confidence in the water he picked to fish. Deep trees all day long we both blanked. I am used to out fishing my boater in my home waters. scared me for good so your statement hit home.
I stumbled across this one last night, well done sir. I fished the Cowboy division of the BFL's for two years as a co, met some great people, even got asked how long I'd been doing it in my first two! I treat my boater and his boat how I want to be treated, never had an issue. I switched over to the front of the boat for a couple of years, took a year off and am back as a co this year. I won't share my horror stories of a couple of co's I had while running my boat! (Well one anyway, don't sit back there and tell me half the day we should go somewhere else, true story.) I always give them gas money first thing in the morning, bring them a coffee and a biscuit if they'd like. I do ask them what they plan to do, but I am ready to go where ever. If I get hung up fishing a worm, I break it off and re-tie. I don't fish many treble hook baits, I can do well with plastics. And one thing you did not cover, netting the fish. I always ask how they want me to net their fish, I was surprised that there were different thoughts on this. Good luck to you and thanks again for sharing.
If I had to describe myself, I'd say I'm a very experienced, passionate angler who has never had any interest in tournament fishing. That being said, even guys like me can learn from this video! Good stuff Hallman!
Even if I fish tournament and I’m not big time at all just local stuff even if I was fishing bigger tournaments anybody that fishes with me is welcome to anything from rod reels to baits to snacks to my toilet paper etc it’s a pain to travel and fish out of different bait to drag all tackle you think you need etc
Great info in this video. Recently I signed up for a tournament to be a co angler at Sam Rayburn in September but I’m on a wait list. I need more boaters to sign up
I love being in the back of the boat when my brother is fishing top water. I use a gulp 6" sinking minnow in pumpkin seed. I pick up all of the fish he misses and get the ones that are a little deeper off shore.
Very good seminar two things I would like to get some insight on remember when the power ploes came out and stuck up in the air 8 feet that cut down on the 180 to fish now the power poles or straight down anchors were a co anglers nightmare now they are pretty much motor level not an issue but the new nightmare for a co angler is forward facing sonar these things are co angler killers the boater literally is hunting for fish with the trolling motor wide open and the co angler surfing lures is not very effective and trolling is aginst the rules they already banned it in walleye tournaments and musky tournaments what do you do as a co angler now!
