Co-angler Tournament Strategies

[metro fisherman]

I thought my cousin back boated me so i got a transom trolling motor to bring along. I wouldnt recommend pulling this on a pro. My dads friend told me it was pretty boring in this series as a co-angler, he recommends pro-ams.

[mamohr686]

My first post was an example of what NOT to do in a tournament, and that's why it was a bad experience. I didn't offer to pay for gas, and I wasn't ever asked for any cash. If I was in the same tournament, I would've done things a lot diferently and at least offered to pitch in. In the current team circuts I fish, we split expenses and all winnings.

[Smallie]

I would say for people in the Minnesota area the best bang for your buck would be fishing the Silveraod Pro/Am for some of the same reason's other people posted.

You fist the event as team, no matter who catches them your going to weigh them in together it really eliminates the fact of gettting back boated ect. This style format really pormotes the fun of the sport. There will always be some guys that maybe won't be the most enjoyable to fish with but that's just life in general.

I have fished many pro/am events and I can only remeber one co/angler that I didn't really want in my boat. The experiences have been awesome and memorable and have made some good friends out of it at the same time. You can pretty much gurantee that the pro will learn something from the co/angler to because they get to fish with 4 or 5 differnt pro's through out the season and may teach me something.

It's a very unique format and really enjoyable.. I know for myself if times were tougher I would sign up as an ametuer to have the opportuntiy to fish with so many differnt people at a low cost.

[Cecil]

That and people get to watch you win when they come to Le Homme Dieu!

Glad to see you made it back to MN Cory.

[Wayne Ek]

A past article. Hopefully this will help a little.

An Economical Taste Of Tournament Fishing

By Wayne Ek

Field staffing for two marketing groups allows me to work at a number of fishing/hunting and boating shows during the year. Surprisingly, one of the most commonly asked questions is about getting started in tournament fishing. I get the feeling that there are a substantial number of anglers that fish for both bass and walleyes on a recreational level, but wonder what it would be like to fish a tournament for their favorite species. I fish a number of different tournament series so I know that tournament fishing can become very time consuming and quite expensive. But, there is a simple way to get a “little taste of tournament fishing” to see if you like it, to satisfy your curiosity and still keep the time commitment and out-of-pocket-costs to a minimum.

When someone says “tournament fishing “ I usually think they are referring to bass or walleye tournaments, which make up the bulk of the tournaments here in the upper Midwest. All of the tournaments I fish are for bass, so the information in this article is generally related to bass fishing tournaments. No matter which species of fish the tournament is for, the formats will generally be similar. There are a number of different tournament formats, but the ones that give the first time Amateur angler the best taste of tournament fishing at the lowest cost is the Pro/Am format. This format matches a Pro angler with an Amateur angler. As the Amateur angler you don’t need to take time off work to pre-fish. You don’t need a boat, trailer or tow vehicle. On some circuits you don’t have to pay entry fees for the whole circuit, just the one tournament you have elected to fish. The Amateur angler really has to do nothing more than pay his/her entry fee and show up at the pre-tournament meeting to meet his/her Pro partner.

Most Pro/Am tournaments use one of three formats for weighing the fish.

§ The first format is called a shared weight format. With this format the Pro and the Amateur are fishing as a team. They will both benefit from any fish caught, no matter which angler catches the fish.

§ The second format is called a modified shared weight format. This format is structured so the Amateur angler gets to add the weight of their fish to that of the fish caught by the Pro angler. This then becomes the Amateur anglers total weight for the tournament day. With this format the Pro angler derives no benefit from any fish his Amateur partner catches during the tournament.

§ The third format is called the non-shared weight format. In this system the Pro angler weighs up to 5 fish for his/her total weight. The Amateur angler can weigh up to 5 fish for their total weight. Neither party benefits from the fish caught by their partner.

Personally, I feel that the non-shared or modified shared weight tournaments are not a good place for a novice angler to experience tournament fishing for the first time. From my experience and in speaking with other Pro and Amateur anglers these types of formats can be more competitive for the Amateur angler than the basic shared weight format. This can cause a novice angler undue stress or tension. Leaving them with a bad first impression of what tournament fishing is really like. On a non-shared weight tournament the Pro angler may feel they do not have the time to explain fishing patterns, structure or techniques to their Amateur partners, leaving the Amateur angler to their own devices. This can really be frustrating to a novice tournament angler who is hoping to catch some fish or learn a new technique. I do, however, think that these formats are an excellent place for the experienced angler to test their skills and build on their tournament knowledge. Also, by fishing tournaments with these formats an experienced Amateur angler can develop the confidence to move over to the Pro side of a tournament series.

Of the three formats, the shared weight format will generally be less stressful for the novice angler. This format can at times feel more like a guided fishing trip than a large tournament. During a shared weight tournament the Pro angler has everything to gain by helping his novice amateur partner catch fish and understand the techniques they will be using to do so. With a shared weight tournament the Pro will usually be more than willing to take time away from fishing to explain to their Amateur partner which bait to use or how to use a certain type of bait.

The biggest costs will be the tournament entry fee. In the upper Midwest I think you will be hard pressed to find a Pro/Am tournament that has an amateur entry fee over $250.00, most are in the $200.00 range. When you think about it, that’s a bargain. I run a fishing guide business during the soft-water months (summer) and our fee for 1or 2 anglers is $300.00 for an 8-hour trip. So for less money than you would pay a fishing guide (hopefully I’m not going to lose business here) you get to fish with a Pro angler, usually in a top of the line boat and if you place high enough in the standings you will cash a check. Even if you do not cash a check (win prize money) some tournaments offer just-out-of-the-money prizes or various door prizes.

There are some other costs associated with tournament fishing. On most Pro/Am tournaments the tournament director will encourage the Amateur anglers to contribute to the cost of boat gas, usually $25 to $30. There can be hotel and meal costs, but with so many tournaments in the upper Midwest you should be able to find a tournament close to your home, allowing you to avoid the cost of hotels and meals.

For parents who have a child (over 16 years old) who is showing a strong interest in fishing, see if they want to experience tournament fishing. This could be a great gift from you and a great experience for them. This is also a great gift for a senior who just doesn’t get out fishing as much as they wish they could.

Another great thing about a shared weight tournament is that you will not have to bring a boatload of gear. Most of my Amateur partners bring 2 or 3 rods and a small tackle pack. Trust me on this one… If your fishing a shared-weight tournament your Pro partner will let you know what he wants you to use and generally will have more than enough equipment for both of you. The other things you will need to bring are:

§ A life vest (PFD)

§ Lunch and something to drink

§ Sunglasses

§ Rain gear

§ A warm coat for early spring or late summer tournaments

Here in the upper Midwest I’m aware of 3 major Pro/Am tournament series to choose from. Some are shared weight and others are non-shared weight formats. They are:

§ BassMasters Weekend Series (now run by American Bass Anglers)

§ FLW, Bass Fishing League (BFL)

§ Silverado

All of these series are well run professional tournaments, which cater to both the Pro and Amateur angler. If you want “ a little taste of tournament fishing” with some fun thrown in, along with a little adrenaline rush, not to mention the possibility of cashing a prize check, give one of the Pro/Am tournament series a try.

As always, stay safe and we hope to see you on the water.

Wayne Ek is a fishing guide, tournament angler and writer living in Alexandria, Minnesota. For more information you can contact him at

www.agapefishingguides.com

[fishfart]

I would'nt mind learning a trick or two, from you Agape. But aside from that. Bassmaster weekend series has pulled out of Mn. That was a fun deal for me, but their done with us.

[Wayne Ek]

I think the weekend series combined both the Minn. and Wisc. tournaments into one series on the river. They are still in the area, for metro people it will work ok. But for the out state anglers traveling and housing costs for 4 river tournaments will cut the field I would think.

[ikeslayer]

hey here is another article sorry it is longer than doom - got shanked for the link on the last one

Blaylock’s back-deck wisdom

2008 FLW Tour Co-angler of the Year Stetson Blaylock offers advice on being your best from the back deck

By Rob Newell - 20.Jan.2009

In February, 21-year-old Stetson Blaylock of Benton, Ark., will be shedding his status as a co-angler and stepping to the front of the boat as a pro in the 2009 Walmart FLW Tour. But before he makes that quantum leap and begins forging a career from the front deck, FLWOutdoors.com wanted to review Blaylock’s blistering back-deck career to glean some insight on what it takes to be the best from the back.

Quiet and modest, Blaylock is not one to boast about his co-angling accomplishments. And no bragging is necessary because his back deck stats stand out on their own. In just four years on the FLW Tour (2005-2008) and two seasons in the BP Eastern Division of the Walmart FLW Series (2006-2007), Blaylock has amassed winnings of nearly $150,000 as a co-angler.

In the last three seasons, he has scored 10 top-10 finishes, including two wins in the FLW Series. In 2008, he claimed victory at the Walmart Open on Beaver Lake and then finished runner-up at the next FLW Tour event on Fort Loudoun-Tellico. Those top finishes helped push him to the top of the Co-angler of the Year points race for 2008.

That’s a spectacular résumé for a 21-year-old. But Blaylock is quick to point out that his bass-fishing education started long before he began reeling in big bucks from back decks on the FLW Tour.

As a teenager, Blaylock spent three nights a week fishing night tournaments on lakes around central Arkansas.

Although normally reserved in conversation, Blaylock is a bit more vocal when it comes to rendering an opinion of the fishing talent found in his home state.

“Arkansas has the best bass anglers in the country,” he said. “And I’m not just talking about the big names we all know either; I’m talking about names most people have never heard of. I can name at least 20 guys in central Arkansas who could compete against the best pros in the country, but most of them will never have that opportunity. I have fished alongside these great locals in night tournaments since I was 10 years old, and that’s a fishing education you can’t get anywhere else at that age.”

By the time Blaylock hit the FLW Tour as a co-angler at the age of 16, he was well-versed in even the most advanced techniques of bass fishing. As a result, he is a proponent of being versatile with a multitude of lures and techniques. And although dragging a big football-head jig in deep water has figured heavily into half of his wins, shallow-water techniques like flipping, ChatterBaits and finesse jigs have been responsible for the other half.

Interestingly, Blaylock is not a big fan of the shaky head – which has become the bread-and-butter technique of back-deckers.

“I don’t really like spinning rods to begin with,” he reasoned. “That’s a product of my upbringing. You don’t win many tournaments in central Arkansas with a spinning rod in your hand.

“Don’t get me wrong,” he then countered. “As a co-angler, I carry a spinning rod with me almost every tournament day; every now and then a spinning rod produces a clutch fish. But during 2008, I did most of my damage with casting tackle.”

When the floor opens for discussion on being a better co-angler, Blaylock points to a proper attitude, controlling emotions and staying focused as more critical components to winning than what is tied to the end of the line.

“A lot of times I think co-anglers are looking to one lure they can tie on and catch fish after fish, no matter where the pro goes – and it simply does not work that way,” he said. “The best lure in the world is worthless if your pro does not go to the right kind of water to use it. And that’s the hardest lesson to learn as a co-angler: Don’t get locked onto one lure or technique before the tournament starts. Because as soon as you get your heart set on something like dragging a Carolina rig out deep, you’ll draw a guy fishing in 2 feet of water, and your mind will be toast before the tournament even begins.”

With that said, Blaylock does not see practice as a prerequisite to winning a tournament, either. Sure, it’s good to see the lake and get a feel for what’s going on, but he cautions the real danger lies in getting attached to preconceived notions, which can be disastrous in the tournament.

“I’ve probably won more money as a co-angler not practicing than practicing,” Blaylock said. “My first co-angler win at the FLW Series on Pickwick came from hardly any practice. As a result, I was never sold on any one technique going into the first day. I truly started that tournament with an open mind.

“Winning it taught me that entering a tournament day with set expectations about lures and techniques can be detrimental. That doesn’t mean practice is bad; it just means you have to be guarded about getting set on a certain technique when you have no idea where you are going or what you will be doing in the tournament.”

On the topic of practice, Blaylock says he never takes his own boat for practice and recommends, if time allows, practicing with a pro or two.

“The idea of practice for a co-angler is not to find a specific pattern, but to see as much of the lake as possible – all the cover, water colors and different fishing options that you may encounter. That way, at least mentally, you can be ready for anything.”

If you are going to practice for several days, Blaylock suggests going with a couple of different practice partners to see more of the lake.

“Some pros favor certain styles or areas of lakes and will stay in that kind of water for an entire practice period,” Blaylock explained. “For instance, a guy who likes to pitch and flip will probably stay in the upper arms of rivers or creeks. That’s a great education for a day, but you don’t want to spend three practice days with a pro doing the same thing. You’re better off to knock on a few doors around the motel to see if you can hitch a ride with someone else who might be going to the lower end of the lake to see something different.”

When it comes to finding a pro to practice with, Blaylock suggests selling yourself with common decency and hard work.

“It boils down to simple ethics,” the reigning Co-angler of Year opined. “If a pro lets you in his boat for a day of practice, don’t tell other anglers about where he went or what he caught. Not only is that now a violation of the rules, it’s just not right to tell other anglers that kind of information. Also, always throw something different than what your pro is throwing and help him cover water with different lures. Work hard to help that pro any way you can.

“If you get a reputation as a guy who gets in the boat, mimics everything a pros does and then goes back blabbing to the whole motel about what you caught, you probably won’t get too many offers to practice with pros; however, if word gets around that you work hard and keep quiet, you’ll find more invitations available to you.”

Deviating from what lure a pro is fishing is a convention that Blaylock follows both during practice and the tournament.

“I almost always fish something different for practice and the tournament,” he said. “I know other guys who will throw what the pro is throwing in the tournament, and it works great for them, but not for me. I have no confidence in fishing the same exact thing as the pro. I might throw something similar, but I’ll guarantee something is different – color, weight size, line size – something about my bait will be different.”

Whether he realizes it or not, perhaps Blaylock’s greatest asset as a co-angler is his ability to stay calm and focused under the most challenging of times.

I had the privilege of covering Blaylock several times when he fell short of his first win with second-, third-, fourth- and fifth-place finishes in Tour and Series competition, and not once did he offer up the usual co-angler alibis of lost fish, being front-ended or not being able to fish the way he wanted.

Each time, he just shrugged it off and said, “It was not my time to win.”

Blaylock prefers not to complain about the injustices that plague other co-anglers.

“Challenging things are going to happen, and I’ve experienced them all,” he said. “Yeah, I’ve lost fish. Yeah, my pro has caught a limit in his first five casts, and I never got a bite. Yeah, I’ve had a great day of practice down by the dam, and my day-one partner hauled me up the river. Yeah, I’ve lost tournaments by ounces. Yeah, my pro has weighed in an awesome sack, and I’ve zeroed … and the list goes on.

“But if you’re going to fish as a co-angler, all that and more is going to happen, and you can either get upset and dwell on it, or you can put it behind you, get over it and stay focused on the task at hand.”

In dealing with tough breaks, Blaylock offers wisdom beyond his years.

“There is so much about fishing that is out of our control; getting upset is pointless,” he said. “We’re dealing with an animal in its natural world. Now, if it was golf, and I sliced one off into the woods, I’d probably get mad because I physically did something to make that ball fly off track. But in fishing, there’s only so much you can control – especially when you are in the back of the boat. And when you’ve done all you can do to control those things and something still goes wrong, why get upset?

“I did not fully understand this until I finally won at Pickwick. Then I realized that I did absolutely nothing different than the other times when I finished 100th – things just went my way. In fact, I zeroed the first day of that tournament and came back to win over the next two days.”

In 2009, Blaylock plans on taking this same focus to the front of the boat, where things will be much different.

“I realize that higher entry fees and more boat control provides more temptation to get mad at myself when things do not go right,” he said looking ahead to next year. “But I’m up for the challenge. One thing that being in the back of the boat has taught me is to deal with the tough breaks, move on and get refocused as quickly as possible.”

Before heading to the bow in February, Blaylock offers up a few more solid tips for new co-anglers:

Find a travel partner: “Traveling the Tour or Series with another co-angler or pro is a great way to alleviate costs. I got hooked up with pro John Tanner from Texas, and we got along great. We traveled, roomed and practiced together for many of the tournaments. It’s a tremendous help mentally and financially to have a reliable, trustworthy person to travel and split costs with.”

Don’t tell others about your practice with a pro: “The key to practicing with pros is showing respect and gaining their trust. Nothing ruins that faster than telling other anglers in the tournament what your pro practice partner was doing.”

Get over losing fish immediately: “You are going to lose fish, period; it happens to everybody. No one has boated every single bass in their tournament career. Things are going to happen, fish are going to come off, it’s that simple. How you deal with lost fish is the trick. You can either let one lost fish cause you to lose more fish because of your attitude – or not. I know it’s way easier said than done, but don’t dwell on lost fish. I’d love to tell you about the fish I’ve lost in tournaments, but I can’t because I’ve forgotten about them. Seriously, when I lose a fish, the first thing I do is forget about it; that’s a memory I don’t want to keep. One way I do that is to recall a fish or two that I never should have landed during a tournament but did. We always seem to forget about the catches that were barely hooked or that come off in the net. When these miracle catches happen, imprint them on your brain and recall them when a fish comes off – it’s a great way to cope with lost fish.”

Don’t let your pro’s sudden limit get you down: “Trying to keep pace with your pro partner during a tournament day is self-defeating. He paid way more money to compete, practiced longer, found the fish and has dialed in on a particular lure, area or maybe even a specific cast. There’s a good chance that when the day begins, he’s going to start catching fish before you do. Sometimes he might even catch a limit on his first spot and pull off it before you get a bite. Remember: He’s the pro; you’re not competing against him; he paid for that right to have total boat control and make the first casts to that exact place with that exact lure. Being upset by this only makes things worse for you. Just because your pro catches 15 pounds in the first 15 minutes does not mean your day is over with – you still have seven hours and 45 minutes to fish your heart out.”

Don’t be afraid to change: “This kind of goes back to not getting too locked in on what you’re throwing from day to day or hour to hour. As co-anglers, we are constantly being exposed to change. Things are 180 degrees different from day to day, from partner to partner, from practice to the tournament, from the upper end of the lake to the lower end of the lake, from out deep to the shallows. Seldom does one single lure stand up to all of these different variables. If you caught a good limit on a certain lure one day, be prepared to throw something different the next day to adapt to a new area or conditions. Above all, don’t die with one technique just because it produced a few good fish the day before.”

Sell yourself on the fact that you are around fish all of the time: “No matter what happens, you must sell yourself on the fact that you are around fish; no matter how tough your pro partner says practice has been; no matter how many days of practice he said he went without a bite; no matter if the boat breaks down and you have to pull over and start fishing some place neither one of you have ever fished in your life; no matter if your pro takes you the only place on your home lake where you have never caught a bass – you have got to believe in your heart that you are around fish and that you can catch them.”