Here’s where you can register for the whole conversation of fishing tournaments and bass fishing etiquette sufschool.com/programs/episode6?category_id=145399
I got one for ya, yesterday I was fishing a small lake near my home. I fish this lake twice a week, and have had since the 1980's. From the ramp to the farthest spot on the lake is a three minute ride on my 25 hp 1995 pro 17 bass tracker. I was the first one on the water went about fishing a few spots on the far end. There are two coves with two points and this big $$$ bass boat pulls up and the guys starts fishing. I don't care. As I move out of the cove I am in he cranks up his big motor and blasts off. So I think is done and going to another spot. So I am trolling over to the other point, that he was not fishing, and was going to hit this small spot and then move on. Well, he came flying back and cut me off. Then he started to tell he was sick of people jumping on "his hole" as soon as he left. I had no idea he was talking about me. I asked him if he was some big time pro fisher man and he said yes and he told me his name. I never heard of him before. He keeps circling my boat yapping away but I am 70 years old and I couldn't hear most of what he was saying because he had his big motor on. Finally I said, are you talking about me? And he said yes. I just started laughing and turned my boat and headed away. I got about 50 feet when I felt the need to go fish that point. So I did. That one little spot, on the second cast, gave me a 17" keeper. I unhooked it and tossed it back then fired up the 25hp motor and washed out the spot. 20 years ago it wouldn't have went down like that.
“Too old to take ass whoopin. Young enough to pull a trigger.” I have heard that once in my life. I don’t mess with old folks no more. I ask questions and give space. 😂😂
I guess I shouldn't have posted this here. it's off topic. But I was pissed and I needed to vent. All my fishing buds are either dead or can't fish no more , so I chose this place because Brian makes me feel at home. I will delete it soon. But it stilll pisses me off. haha.
No it wouldn't have, but nowadays everyone thinks they own the water, boat docks are off limits according to home owners , and everyone with a bass boat things they own the place, I'm around 50 , drive my 18 ft tracker and mind my business, if you catch one I'm happy, if I catch one I'm even happier, I get it. It's a sport but the clocks not running so enjoy fishing
Hey Brian. I'm not taking it personally. I made a comment, about misspelling a word on a podcast I believe you made about fishing from a canoe. I wanted to say. This is an Outstanding video here about being a nonboater. Good stuff. Thanks
I know these are unwritten rules for co anglers but my number one complaint about boaters is boat position. I’ve more than a few times where I can touch the bluff walls when they’re paralleling it and when I fish as a co I usually boat flip my fish, I’ve had a couple boaters stabbing at my fish before but other than that fishing as a co on new lake I’ve never been to is worth it.
Love the content and the always honest takes. B Lat, you’re my favorite pro bass fisherman. You have no idea the influence you have had into my fishing habits and thought processes. Mad props bruh
One of the best experiences I had as a co was in a Bass Federation Tournament. It was during the spawn. The pro told me that when we get to the first spot, do not cast, just grab the net. He had 5 large mouth on beds he didn't want me to spook. He garnished the deal by saying he had a spot where I get all the smallies on beds in that area, and they were all mine. We did the deal, and I ended up in 1st place at the end of the day. He even kicked himself a bit when he saw the size of the smallies I pulled in. Being a co is a great experience. If I cash a check, that's like a bonus. I've fished in the same boat with some of the top dogs in the industry, and they have a wealth of knowledge to improve my skills, and the majority are good dudes.
I fished 10 years as a AM and had 90% of the pros telling me I shouldn't be in the back seat because I was a good stick. On my home lake here in California I fished it 280 days a year. Drew a pro that hadn't been on my lake in 4 years he didn't have any spots to fish at that time I was fishing pro teams agents his buddy his buddy told him to listen to me and he do good. At that time 12 pounds was a winning wait . I took him to one of my spots I cought 4 fish back to back they were from 2 1/4 -2 1/2 . He had just won a FLW the weekend before he said these fish won't cut it ask if I new of island tops we could fish so I showed him a couple didn't catch anything last spot he cought a pound fish . After we was done on day one I told him to go fish that spot and he do good if he fished it like I was. He didn't listen and didn't do good. He said he was sorry for not trusting to me. Jim his buddy was on a bite and he chased it in stead. Had another pro in a BFL said I didn't know what a bite was I keeped my mouth shut and kicked his but from the back of his boat he didn't even catch one fish until I gave him a Jig and he cought a 2 1/2 pounder. Out of all the Pro's I've only had one ask for gas money before we even fished. Take it was in the 90s I always tried to give at least 60-80 buck's back then 80% wouldn't take it so I would pick up there dinner bill if we ate together.
I enjoyed my time in a local club they taught me good how to do everything. Especially getting back to safety during bad weather and when to just beach it and ride it out. Safety first. And to do and not do.
Sounds like it not even worth being a Co in the upper level tournaments, back boating with ffs n such. I been back boated without ffs as well. Team tournaments are way more dmfun anyway. Need more of that !
Couple years back, I was fishing a Bfl, which I ultimately won. I knew what I had going into the tournament, and I told my co that morning that we would be flipping pads all day. He looked up at me and said “I don’t flip pads” (as if I was going to cancel my plans to do what he wanted to do).🤦🏽♂️ Well, you better learn today, buddy.😂. But I also do not charge my co’s gas at the end of the day if they’re willing to play by the unwritten rules, and I always try my best to give them access to decent water to fish. Back ending someone just sucks at a low level tournament like a Bfl. When I was a co-Angler, I never once went back to any of my boaters spots. They worked to find those fish, some co’s unfortunately don’t understand the amount of work it takes to find fish. Respectfully, if you don’t like being a co-Angler, and playing by the rules, it’s probably best to get a kayak or work on getting a boat, respectfully.
That 7:00 moment. Fish the back of the boat. 😂😂The guy on the front isn’t picking apart every spot, idc what they do. You need to be focused on where they cast and what they hit, hit places close by but not exactly where they’ve already fished. Pick it apart. That’s your job. But stay in the back of the boat. You don’t need to be casting ahead of the boat unless that trolling motor on 10 and we burning a whole bank line
I feel targeted with tis video.. lol Im literally about to join my first Co Angler tournament in a couple weeks. Nervous, Excited, and everything in between. Ill fight a man to the death, but am scared to mess up on another mans boat LOL.. Thanks for the info stud! Always a pleasure seeing your content. Best Channel on the RU-vid Machine!
How many of you guys and gals have fished SO much that when you back a truck up WITHOUT a trailer, you turn the wrong direction? Regardless, this is a great video.
Most the time it’s a joke they want you to be their deck hand. And Get pissed if you out fish them.😂Go fish for fun find a buddy with a boat or get one tourney life is drama now a days grown men acting like children.
I fished a practice with a local pro and he was very insistent for me to be up on the front deck with him but just behind him. As well, he said DO NOT cast rearward past the halfway mark of the boat, ie while on the deck, don't cast toward the rear of the boat past the driver/passenger seats. He did not like a co-angler to fish 'rearward' or from the rear deck because he was of the feeling that while he maintained forward momentum, he didn't want to have to stop forward movement to unstick or wait for someone in the rear fighting their fish. Needless to say, I don't fish tournaments and especially will not be a co-angler. I stay clear of tourney bassers because most of those I've run into are the ones you say or only the occasional...I beg to differ. And I've had bass boats fish right on top of me MANY times. Maybe my comments will be the most unpopular here, but they are reality yet they won't stop me from still loving and enjoying bass fishing.
@@BrianLatimerFishing thats true but only because he has more extra money than I do. It's plenty Co's that are better than boaters when it comes to fishing also. But everybody deserves some common courtesy. Most clubs put Co's in a different bracket..so why be selfish? Because I still had to pay a Co-angler fee to be in the boat🤷🏾♂️
This is how I was taught. You are paying to learn and watch what the pro is doing. Getting a good boater is a privilege and be grateful when you get a good one. In higher level tournaments the pro is fighting for his life to make a living and the non boater is usually just having fun or trying to learn.
@CHASIN_A_BASS the thing u don't realize is these boaters in most cases always get a vote or say weather they wanna do the whole co angler thing they in most cases choose at the first of year vote to do no co anglers so the people owning the boats are choosing to allow us co anglers to be in there boats
we used to allow co anglers in this club tournaments that I fished on my local lake but the CO,S started talking crap and acting all crazy about how the boaters where acting so the following year they voted to do a no CO anymore
1. I don't give a crap if co-anglers tell people where l fish doesn't guarantee you're going to catch them. 2. Don't need help netting my fish 3. I back the boat all the way to the last 5 feet. I hope the no boater can park 4. If I'm fishing from the back of the boat, it's game if you miss a spot tough chit. I'll also let you reel in halfway and then cast forward parallel. I can cast so game on. I paid to play tuff chit. If you can't handle the competition, then that's on you.
This should be mandatory for every co angler to watch I started as a co angler. Now fish as a boater. Ive had several great co anglers and this one guy…… The day ended with the tournament director asking me to write a statement so he could present it to the president of the organization so he could ban this co angler
I TELL ALL OF MY NONBOATERS "YOU STAND WHEREVER YOU NEED TO STAND TO GET THE CAST YOU NEED"... The very instant they step into my boat. I can't stand nonboaters bashing their boaters at the weigh-in.
With the advent of “spot-lighting” all “unwritten rules” should be out the window, tournament fishing has just entered a “No holds barred, no disqualification match”, if the scope is considered “sporty” and acceptable then literally anything is
@@BrianLatimerFishing Co-angling will be a thing of the past very soon……..not too many people interested in paying to be back-boated all day in the middle of the lake while some nerd has his head buried in the scope all day.
I only fish tournaments now that I know I don't have to have a Co-Angler. My experience that I have had with Co-Anglers is that some just don't care about your boat. Here are a few examples as to why I like to fish tournaments alone... eating a sandwich having mayonnaise and mustard come out of the sides of it and on to my carpet deck, then just barely make the effort to wipe it up. Burn a hole in my carpet from his cigarette, crack my Garmin screen with a weight and deny doing it. Take a bottle of Spike-it and then spill the rest of the bottle on my carpet. Not all Co-Anglers are like that, but I didn't save and work hard for someone to trash my boat.
I dont want to be servicing no pro, holding their nets and retrieving their fish. Co Anglers are just deck hands. Not interested in being a deck hand. Back of the boat, casting to the bad spots and angles. Ive backed a trailer, I've driven a boat. I dont do it because I dont want to deal with it. Why do they take on co anglers if they are going to be A holes!!?
I've struggled with jumping in as a non boater. Too many bad stories and FFS hasn't made it better. Not belly aching, just being pragmatic. The boater is dropping some green backs and isn't my guide for the day. They owe me nothing, I get it. Spending the day as a marshal as an observer at a higher level competition would be a better investment of my time. My focus has shifted to kayak derby's. Less pressured water, fewer boats, less annualized cost etc... Still have dudes dropping twice what the rig cost on electronics. Appreciate the straight talk in your video sir. All the best.
I had a 2 day pro-am that showed the best and worst of boaters. 1st day I drew ex “ 8:16 FLW Tour Pro” he was a first class ass. We planned to meet at a certain time at the ramp. On the way to the lake there was a bad accident we rolled up on. I tried to call him but service was bad and call wouldn’t go through. I was like 10 minutes late. He was bitching about how unprofessional I was getting there late. Dude was straight up dick all morning. At one point he says “I do believe all 5 of those fish in the livewell are mine!” At the end of the day as we were coming into check in I said “I do believe 3 of those fish in the livewell are mine!” He says “well I gave you the worm and it took you all day.” The second day my pro had weighed in 3 fish day 1 for about 7 lbs. first thing he says “ my fish are gone, what do you want to do and where do you want to go?” He let me take the trolling motor all day. Great guy and we still see each other all the time and are friends.
In recent years boaters need to learn some things. Most have gotten to if its a pro and co both fishing for 3 or 5 fish limit the co is a nobody to the "pro" and he purposely puts the co in vad positions while placing himeself in the best casting angles.
Hey man it's been awhile, I hope things are well. I have been fishing my axx off. Anyways, I just wanted to say you are an inspiration to many. As you can see, I am a black man myself. I am in NC, and I have a little Jon Boat that I made into a little bass boat with platforms that I call Lil' Boat. This all started bank fishing 2 years ago in Utah after I got out of the air force. I was living with a buddy of mine after having a tough time landing my own spot after getting out. I was also having a ton of mental health issues. I had gone to the doctor for a few issues and I was reading my prescriptions and one of the prescriptions was 15 minutes of sunlight a day. I was embarrassed. After moving in with my buddy, he started taking me fishing with him and I was hooked again like I was 8. I asked him to go with me almost every day. Before we left Utah driving back to our respective homes after our enlistments were up (his Kentucky, mine NC). I purchased a fishing kayak from our other good buddy. Brought it back to NC and hated it. I never even caught a fish out of it. But, while we were in Utah, my buddy Brandon told me to start watching you and Greg Blanchard. That I did. Ohhhh man did I. Well, I sold the Kayak, bought a jon boat for $750. Had to fix the engine before I bought it, and blah, blah, blah. A year later and I have almost fished the complete complete Catawba River (Lake Rhodhiss (bleh) , Lake Hickory (lil norman) , Lookout Shoals Lake (Dam side of Lake Hickory), Lake Norman (sooo much(small boaters be careful)), Mountain Island Lake (first 3lb-er), and Lake Wylie). I have not fished Lake James yet, I'm waiting for an opportunity to go two days in a row. I'm finishing my degree, so I have time and don't have time. Anyways, whole point, the other week I was docking at Lake Hickory and an older white man probably around 65 years-old walks up to me. Mind you, I have ridden by a 50 foot rebel flag and numerous every where else on that side of the lake, and he says "You look just like this guy I watch on youtube, I can't remember his name, but he has a beard like you". I'm like, "B-Lat?!?!"" Sounding perplexed. He said: "Yeahhhhhh, that's him! He's like the only guy I watch on youtube, he's awesome". We knucked out the window of my Hyundai Santa Fe, talked of you and as he walked off and I was giggling voice memoing this story to Brandon(buddy from Utah), I see this old mans revolver on his side. Coolest guy ever! On the way out he asks if I can catch them like you, and I said, not yet, but I will be able to soon. We were both on/under docks with worms. Hot-dog days. Suggestions welcome. You're an inspiration man. I hope to be able to compete in my first tournament by the end of the year with Lil Boat and have it on my YT. Thank you man. From the bottom of my heart.
You brought up some FANTASTIC points. Many I never even thought of like backing up the trailer and not fishing the back of the boat and if you got hung up.......just to list a couple. Thanks for your knowledge and channel.
Great vid, channel and dude. Down to earth, humble and extremely knowledgeable. This is a man/channel I truly and greatly appreciate. Wud up from canada, you ever come to ontario let me know.
One thing I'd add, even though its a competition, don't be the overly competitive live and die with each cast or lost fish co angler. Trust me, your boater is fishing where he thinks is best and is trying. No need to add stress from the back.
As a boater I ask the guy I'm with if they are cool with backing a boat in or whatever. if they say "No" that's I have zero issue with doing it. It's my boat so it my responsibility. I have also let my Co cast up front. If I'm fishing off the left and they wanna hit a dock towards the front on the right, I say go for it. generally, I don't have any issues with Co's I had one but that's all. He got super pissed at me because my motor blew up. Not really a whole lot I could do about that one. also, I had to get the shit fixed.
It’s very expensive, blast off can be there best or worst. Some guys are p$icks some guys are over the top amazing. Same with us cos tho. I’ll bring ice, but I’m not backing your boat in and I’m broke bro. Can’t afford to replace that truck, boat or nothing. If I could, I’d have my own boat.
Howdy Brian you are the Bomb! By the way is your trolling motor a 36 volt MotorGuide Tour Pro? Just looks like it on your Falcon Bass Mobile Brother~ keep on kickin Butt Bro🎣🤙
The reason I stopped fishing some club tournaments was me and my brother used to win one of em pretty regularly, and one day we went back to the ramp early and just started screwing around fishing beside the launch. They started coming back in and we went back to the ramp and while we were waiting in line to get loaded up on the trailer, the guys running the tournament DQ us, after seeing the fish we were going to weigh in, saying we were late getting to the launch site. The furthest we got from the ramp was about 150yards. And we had enough to win the tournament and big fish that day. After that I decided if I fish tournaments it’s gonna have to be real tournaments or I’m gonna end up going to jail for beating somebodies brakes off over something stupid. I do thank those guys tho. They bought about half of my rods and tackle and bought us a new lowrance graph already before that day. So I’m sure they still salty about that. 😂
down to earth no bullshit honest talks. i have been enjoying all the videos he isn't afraid to show the good bad and the ugly of it all unlike most people who do fishing shows n stuff they spend 2 weeks on water for half hour of show. this dude lays it down and says hey... fish aint biting. oh well we still had fun
If you can’t back it down let them know. They’ll back you in then you can tie off at the end of the dock out of the way. Don’t step on the seats Try to keep your area tidy (more for your sake) but also to not clutter up the boat when y’all have run for the net or land a fish. Don’t cast up on your boater. They got first shot they’re the captain guiding the boat where to go. Don’t cast across a small stretch to the other side of the bank that your boater is planing on hitting. If a fish hits or blows up and your boater misses it let them go back in there again ask when they’re finished if they mind if you pitch back in. Don’t be afraid to ask them to go back and get a bait for you if your hung but also use your head and discretion though. If it’s something you can spare like jig heads and hooks and waits you don’t wanna be going back for terminal tackle all the time esp in an area w a lot of junk or r try has a good population of fish. Just break off and retie whenever you can but don’t be shy about asking to go in and get a crankbait or something more expensive. It’s fishing though in alot situations you’re gonna lose some stuff. Offer them some gas money for the day depends on how far you’re running how many times they get on the big engine $50 is standard I’ve given more or less in some cases. I usually ask what they want. Ask to use a storage container or throw things in the glove box whatever just ask. Just be polite. And most of all focus on fishing getting your limit and have fun. It’s not hard. 99% of my experiences fishing as a Co have been TREMENDOUS.
My personal thoughts is just don’t join any ole fishing club there are a lot of clubs where the guys in the club who own boat have a certain way they fish and it just might not be a way you fish. I’ve fished in two clubs one was with a group of older guys who only want to head to one point and drag a jig or the or Carolina rig have no desire to try anything else and here it is you payed to fish in a tournament but you never catch any fish. I’ve fished with guys who got these super nice boats and all they want to do is show you how fast it is. So I would say just check out a few clubs before joining one. Sometimes it just might be best that you buy a kayak and find a local kayak club until you can afford a boat. Fishing clubs are usually close knit groups of people who have known each other for years and it’s hard to really get into them. They will let you fish but it may take a while before you are really a club member. I was a co angler for maybe two years I wanted to fish in tournament and see if I could really do it and end up 0 every tournament because you have no say so in to where they want to fish or how they like to fish. The first thing they all say is hey man just let me know if you want to fish something else but when you say hey man we been fishing this point for 4 hours with no bite let’s move around the fish are not here yet. They will say we’ll give this spot a couple more mins and then go somewhere else but that never happens. So be mindful of that everybody don’t fish like you and some people don’t care to learn different ways to fish they have there way you have yours. I proved this when I got my own boat I placed in the top 3 and won two tournaments last season. But then the same guys you beat have to vote you in and we all know how that turned out. Can’t have a new guy coming and winning all are money so they will vote against competition. Just something to think about if being a co angler is something you’re looking into. But I will say best thing of being a co angler is you learn everybody’s best spots. So when you get your own hey you know a few spots lol.
I just got off of an Open as a co-angler and the only problem I had was almost every time I was starting to catch fish and the Pro wasn't catching fish, he wanted to leave and go to the other location!!! I get that the Pro has more money on the line, but I had money on the line too!!!
I've fished with a lot of guys as a co angler. Had a few buttholes but for the most part I've had a great time. Shin Fukae was a lot of fun to fish with. After that day he was in 1st and I was in 2nd.
I would Co for my buddy sometimes, I enjoyed myself even though he was a bit intense. Anytime I would catch more fish than him he took it the wrong way. He would troll out of spots if I was the only one catching fish. Sometimes he would get really upset and pull up the trolling motor and then blast out of the spot altogether. I was a great co angler, though, and never crossed lines, was patient to make casts that would really count, I was quiet, I would immediately grab the net when he hooked up, I helped with gas, cleaning the boat, parking the boat, etc. Even though he would get upset, the love of fishing kept me going through his drama.
There’s none. If it were your boat and you spent the money to take a person fishing, what would be adequate in your opinion? Frame your answer that way.
