| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | towards the weeds, and the back of the boat out in |
| Bass fishing in tournaments doesn't seem like a sport | | | | the main lake. You figure this tactic will keep 'em |
| in which "proper etiquette" really means much. I've | | | | from spooking. |
| fished many bass tournaments in Florida and found | | | | By about 10 AM, you have your limit and the tactic |
| out through experience that it is very important. | | | | of keeping the back of the boat out of the weeds |
| Let's look at this bass tournament scenario. You get | | | | paid off. Your partner still only has one fish, but you |
| up early in the morning preparing for your fishing trip. | | | | think that he just doesn't know how to fish. He then |
| You then drink a couple cups of coffee, light up a | | | | asks you if he can share the front deck of the boat |
| cigarette and take care the 3 s's before you hitch up | | | | with you and you tell him no, there's no room and |
| your boat. Once on the road you have a nice | | | | he'll mess up your hookset. |
| conversation with your "draw" partner on where | | | | About noon, you've culled a few fish but can't seem |
| you're going to start and what you're gonna throw | | | | to get a nice kicker fish. You see the other boat land |
| so you guys can catch loads of fish in your favorite | | | | a nice one, so you put your trolling motor on high and |
| honey hole. | | | | take the inside track in the bulrush patch right in front |
| By the end of the tournament, you weigh in your | | | | of the other boat. Your about 30 feet from the |
| fish and manage to get 5th place! Lucky for you, the | | | | other boat, but buried up in the bulrush patch, |
| tournament had enough entries to pay all the way to | | | | scouting for bigger fish. You see a nice one about 4 |
| 7th place. You are real happy until a few of the guys | | | | pounds on a bed. The fish doen't seem to want |
| give you the "bird" and say some unpleasant things | | | | anything as you toss just about everything in your |
| to you. Then you think, "What's their problem?" | | | | tacklebox at it. Finally, you tie on a tube bait and |
| It isn't until you partner says he's getting a ride home | | | | "Wam" the 4 pounder hits, your partner quickly nets |
| with someone else and starts taking his tackle out of | | | | it and into the live well it goes. |
| your boat that you start thinking it maybe something | | | | You only have 30 minutes to go and to play it safe |
| you did. | | | | you decide to go. You fire up the big motor right in |
| Let's replay the tournament day. | | | | the middle of the weeds and take off, sending a nice |
| Early that morning you get up a little late 'cause you | | | | wake into the other boat. |
| forgot to set your alarm clock. Once on the road, | | | | You get to the weighin with about 25 minutes left |
| you swing by to pick up your partner. He asks why | | | | and beach it. You kick back waiting for the director |
| you didn't call him telling him you would be a little late | | | | while your partner takes off for the nearest |
| and you respond: "I didn't have time!" You also tell | | | | restroom. |
| him that your swinging by the gas station and he | | | | OK, so my story is a little extreme but lets look at |
| needs to fill up the boat and truck since you make | | | | the missing etiquette: |
| the boat and insurance payments. You emphasis that | | | | 1- Always leave on time. Your partner won't worry |
| it's normal for the "draw" partner to do this. | | | | and you'll get to the ramp and not hold up anyone. |
| You finally get to the boat launch area and wait | | | | 2- Turn off your headlights while waiting in the launch |
| patiently in the line of trucks to launch your boat. You | | | | line. Keep your parking lights on. This will prevent you |
| leave your lights on so anyone coming behind you will | | | | from blinding the person that is backing the boat |
| see you. When you get to the front of the line you | | | | down the ramp! |
| and your partner exit the truck, and start boat launch | | | | 3- Prepare for boat lauch long before you get to the |
| preparation. You put in the drain plug, take off your | | | | front of the line. This will speed up the entire launch |
| transom saver, pull of your safety straps, put in your | | | | process for everyone. |
| boat lights, etc, etc. About 10 minutes later, your | | | | 4- Never plane right in the middle of a bunch of |
| partner finally start backing you and the boat down | | | | boats. You need to get beyond the last standing |
| the ramp. The sky is starting to light up from the | | | | boat before you take off on plane. |
| early morning sun. The two trucks behind you start | | | | 5- Always give some room to another boat even if |
| to honk their horns! You shout back, "You shoulda | | | | they don't have their trolling motor up/anchor down |
| got here earlier!" | | | | especially if they are there 1st. In the scenario above, |
| The boat is finally launched, you beach the boat and | | | | you should only respectfully fish the furthest bulrush |
| pick up your partner. The tournament director had | | | | from the boat that is there or maybe not even fish |
| already started to call the boats numbers out as | | | | there at all until he leaves. At least ask if he minds if |
| many of them were already going down the lake. | | | | you do decide to share the spot with him. If he says |
| Your boat number had already been called, and there | | | | yes, you are way better off in the long run to leave. |
| were about 20 other boats still waiting, so you | | | | Your day will come! |
| quickly take off leaving a huge wake right in the | | | | 6- Always net fish (if allowed by the tournament) |
| middle of the waiting boats. | | | | and don't wait for the partner to ask you to get the |
| As you approach your fishing hole, you see another | | | | net. If your partner prefers you not to net the fish, |
| boat sitting right on your spot! The spot is a bulrush | | | | he'll tell you. |
| line which is loaded with bedding fish, but it's only | | | | 7- Always be considerate of your partners fishing |
| about 30 yards long. You are real anxious so you | | | | position. In this scenarion, he didn't stand a chance |
| don't get off plane until your right on the weedline. | | | | because he was too far away to site fish! Offer him |
| You quickly lower your trolling motor, pick up your | | | | a chance at the front of the boat. In fact most |
| bedding fish rig and start pitching the pockets and | | | | tournaments (not the proams) state they have 50% |
| points along the bulrush patch. Your partner is doing | | | | share in running the trolling motor. At least ask, and if |
| the same thing, in fact he get's the 1st fish around 2 | | | | he refuses because he's not comfortable running it |
| pounds and you tell him to swing it in like a "real" | | | | then fine. |
| man. | | | | 8- Fish until the last possible minute with a slight |
| The other boat doesn't have an anchor down nor | | | | safety factor unless you have a large limit of fish , |
| has his trolling motor up so you edge to within 20 | | | | especially if your draw partner isn't doing well. In this |
| feet of his boat and as you do you get your 1st fish | | | | scenario, give you partner the full front of the boat |
| on. You yell at your partner to get the net and he | | | | and let him choose his spots. |
| quickly scoops up your nice 2 pound fish. You give | | | | 9- Draw partners should only pay 50% of the fuel bill |
| him a high five for a nice netjob! | | | | for both the tow vehicle and boat. If they drove to |
| On the 1st pass, you noticed that the fish were | | | | the ramp themselves, then they need only pay 50% |
| getting spooked from their beds as you approached, | | | | of the boat fuel. |
| so you decide to try to keep the boat outside of | | | | If you follow these bass fishing tips, you'll have a |
| the weedline, with the nose of the boat pointing | | | | better relationship with all the fishing community! |