Non Boater Tips and Tactics
November 5, 2008
Fishing is fishing, wherever you go. But…tournament fishing is a whole different story, especially when you’re fishing out of the back of the boat.
As a Non-Boater you do not make the decisions on where to fish, so you do must do whatever you can to make the best of what you have. Preparation and versatility are key factors to success from the back seat.
Becoming proficient as a Co-angler, or from the non-boater position, is a challenge which requires a rapid and steep learning curve from the beginning tournament angler. Learning the ropes from the back seat is something everyone should experience – it’s a great learning opportunity.
At Least We’re Fishing
We are talking about tournament fishing here, and in my opinion it all boils down to competition against the fish, not the other anglers. From the back seat, you are already at a disadvantage. You do not decide to where to fish, you usually do not get the first presentation to a piece of cover, but you still are fishing – that’s a good thing by the way, and you can never forget that.
Entering a tournament as a non-boater, you probably are not going to have the chance to pre-fish, and obviously are not going to choose where to fish. But you can do some in-depth research and prepare effectively. If you have fished the lake before, or you are going to fish it regularly, I would suggest obtaining a fishing log, preferably a good one with many different features, such as the Taysy’s Fishing Professional Suite.
You can also use the internet to your advantage by researching as much as you can about past tournament results, seasonal patterns, fishing reports, food sources, and more. The more information you have, the better prepared you are for whatever you encounter on that body of water. I have to say that preparation is one of the main factors to doing well as a non boater.
Research is a big part of preparation, but preparation of your gear is also very important. It is common as a non boater to bring four to seven rods - I usually rig up six, but if it is a lake I know nothing about and is very diverse, I might bring seven. After your research, you should have a fairly good idea of what will work and what is probably going to provide the best chance to catch you a limit of fish. Always start with the baits that you are confident with and adapt your research to them.
Gear Prep 101
When you prepare your gear, starting out with a variety of rods is a good idea. You do not have a rod locker, so you need to bring a variety. Like I said, I usually have six rods rigged up - four casting and two spinning.
Here’s a sampling of what baitcasters I might take:
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The first casting combo is my favorite. Lamiglas XC 705, 7-foot Medium Heavy (5 Power) with a fast tip. A high ratio reel and 12-15 lb. Gamma Edge Fluorocarbon. This combo can do many things, but the main uses are light pitching and flipping duties, heavy spinnerbaits, leadhead jigs and Carolina rigs.
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-Lamiglas XMG 704, 7-foot Medium (4 Power), extra fast tip. A medium to high geared reel and 10 lb. Gamma Co-polymer. This works well with spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, topwaters and vibrating jigs, also good for shaky heads.
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-Lamiglas XCF 705 E-Glass, 7-foot (5 Power) with a Moderate Tip, paired with a slow ratio reel and 10 lb. fluorocarbon. This is the ultimate crankbait and reaction bait set-up.
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-Lamiglas XFT 766 7’6 Heavy with a fast tip. A fast ratio and 20 lb. Flouro or Braid. This would be your heavy duty pitching and flipping set up.
Here are my spinning selections:
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-Lamiglas XS 703 7-foot Medium with fast tip. Usually with 10 or 8 lb. co-polymer. This is an all round good set up that you canuse to throw a weightless Yammoto Senko, or a Super Grub on a jighead.
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-Lamiglas XS 702X, 7 foot Medium Light (2 Power) with a fast tip. It is the Drop Shot Special 2, it is meant for drop shotting and light plastics.
Now you don’t have to follow those suggestions specifically, but it is a sample of what is a versatile set-up of rods as a non boater.
Tackling the Tackle Issue
Generally, a medium to large-sized tackle bag is acceptable. I usually take four to five Plano boxes and a small plastics bag. When downsizing your tackle to fish as a non-boater, take what you think will work because of your research, and don’t forget to pack your confidence baits.
But, do not take too much tackle, because it will just serve to make you more confused and undecided come tournament time. It will become a typical case of “Tackle Haze”. Tackle Haze is when you will be worrying about what different bait will work, just because you didn’t get bit in two casts; and start changing baits erratically.
Limiting yourself on tackle and organizing what you do take is not very hard, but it’s often time consuming.
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Have one box loaded with your Gamakatsu hooks, Tungsten and lead sinkers, Jigheads, Quickdrops dropshot weights and your entire terminal tackle.
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Pack the next box with crankbaits, a good selection of shallow, medium, and deep divers.
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Pack a box with your Kinami Jerkbaits, Topwaters, Swimbaits.
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Lastly, pack a box with jigs and vibrating jigs, and save some room for confidence baits that you just have to take with you.
For plastics, confidence is a real key. Take what you think will work, in your favorite colors. That will be enough. Loading up with your confidence baits, such as my favorites, the Yamamoto Double Tail Hula Grub and the KGM Slinky, is a good idea also.
Shift Gears for Success
Versatility is another important factor that is essential to being successful as a non-boater. Since you’re not deciding where to fish, you have to fish for the fish that are in the area. A good starting point is to throw something different from what your boater is throwing, at least don’t throw an exact copy of what he’s using. Usually, fishing different baits behind your boater will give the fish a different look, and possibly entice a fish that was partially aroused by the first bait presented to hit yours.
Learning to trust your instincts plays a part. To take in all the variables around you and then to switch up at a moments notice is a skill you will want to develop. Here’s a trick I call my “Hail Mary” cast. When you’re fishing close to shore and your boater is beating the banks, shift gears - make a cast to the middle of lake. Very similar to those casts where you just cast as far as you can to the middle to get out a loop out of your reel.
Or the inverse - if your boater is fishing a deep break, but you are within casting distance of an island or shore, start fishing the shoreline. If your boater is burning a spinnerbait just under the surface, try dragging a dropshot with a small Kut-Tail, or a leadhead with a Hula Grub. These are some good examples of being versatile.
Details Yield Limits
Paying attention to detail can also put you over that winning edge from the back seat. Changing the sink rate of your jig or throwing a four-inch Senko instead of a five inch Senko can put that extra fish in the boat. Make a concerted effort to pay attention to every part of your boater’s presentations, and guard against getting sloppy as the day wears on. That will help you put that extra fish in the boat. In any tournament as a non-boater, you can do alright, at the very least, if you manage to catch a limit.
Catching a limit is a goal you should have every tournament from the back of the boat. This is so lame sounding but in may cases that may involve the need to think outside the box. Extreme downsizing or upsizing may be in order. Something as simple as dead sticking or burning a bait is enough to get you started. Changing things from the norm are always worth a try, especially if you’re fighting for that limit fish. Overall, being versatile and not getting caught “just going through the motions” is what will help you become a better non-boater.
To consistently be a successful non-boater, you have to be prepared and versatile. Ignoring these key things can make your tournament just another ho-hum fishing trip. Remember that being in the back seat is also a learning position. Enlighten your brain by learning as much as you can from your boater; be willing to adapt.
You wouldn’t be a non-boater if you thought you were such “hot stuff”, so open up to your boater. Hopefully, this article has gotten you started on your quest to being a successful non-boater tournament competitor. Good fishing and good luck on your upcoming tournaments. For more information visit www.NickBarrFishing.com
Nick Barr is a Semi-Professional tournament angler in the Pacific Northwest. He is the President of the Timberline High School Fishing Club and proudly sponsored by: Legend Boats, Mercury Marine, Smith RV and Marine, Outdoor Emporium, Wired Energy Drinks, Lamiglas, Gamakatsu, Stowmaster Nets, Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, KGM Custom Baits, Gamma Fishing Line, Keelshield, Navionics, Quickdrops Dropshot Weights, and Red Creek Apparel and Embroidery. To contact Nick, visit www.NickBarrFishing.com