Question for Team Tournaments???

[fishing2five]

Here is a question for both boaters and non-boaters involved in team tournaments.

As a team, what would you say are the responsibilities for the boater and non-boater?

Should the boater be responsible for catching 70% of the fish while the non-boater uses a larger presentation in search for a kicker fish?

Does a non-boater have a say as far as where to fish and how to fish a certain spot, or should a non-boater just sit back and put their trust in their boater partner?

[Kelly Ripa]

It depends on the team and their experience. In my recent night tournament efforts I have toned down my attack style to achieve a more harmonic boat. I didn't want my nonboater to be grasping for stuff as he does not have the experience to fall back on that I do. I was only able to fish one Top Stick tournament with Guy Williams and that was a different stratagy all together as while we fished as a team there was the fact that I was only there in a shared weight format and so I needed to fish around anything my pro was going to be doing. I always had something to do that could add to the sack but I wasn't always swinging for the fences as the areas and the stlyes don't always mesh. Being a boater doesn't mean that you are responsible for anything other than boat position. If it's a reaction bite the front has an advantage of first crack at the fish but if you're both up front than it's 50/50 as to who might put the fish in the boat. Sight fishing in the spring??? The backseater better bring his backseat stuff to entertain himself with! Interesting question that should be agreed upon prior to the event as it has a major impact on so many different issues during the course of a day.

Rip

[DL]

50/50 period. It should be decided on before you even fish. I think it is a TEAM event and things should be dealt with in a TEAM manner. If my partner says he has a hunch, we talk about it and usually try it. But a dictatorship during a team event is recipe for disaster. If any of my team partners told me what to do I would tell them to pound sand. Now, if I was doing something stupid, I would expect them to call me on it. But if you cant trust the other guy in the boat you need not fish with him(or her.) As far as one guy being responsible for catching 70% of the fish....I dont care who catches them so it doesnt matter to me. Sometimes I get all the bites, and sometimes he gets all the bites.

[buddy brown]

It depends on the format of the event and each individual fisherman's strengths and weaknesses. The team should function as a single entity with the common goal of executing when opportunities arise, being net boy sometimes, if your spot sucks @ss you gotta be man enough to bite your tongue and try their spot, whatever it takes to put em in the livewell..

[Pred]

It depends.... HAHAHA
you have to take into consideration the skills of both guys. I think that unless one is on fish the front guy should throw to cover water and the back should throw a plastic or something completely different.
For instance a spinner up front/ Crank in the back
crank upfront / jig in the back.

Once you get on the fish both use the same thing. I have had circumstances where the my non boater, for whatever reason, was tearing them up. What I did, was basically get his fish off tagged and in the livewell as fast as I could so he could cast again.

[Rick G]

For Kyle and I alot depends on who does the practicing. Its also about a team effort, so who is hot does not matter, just have fun. Rick G.

[Ron T.]

Sit down , hold on and shut up !

[Rob Cummings]

My partner and I are still relatively new to the tournament scene. However, from day one it's just been..."let's go fishin." As we've become involved, a few things have changed but not much. Now if one of us is on fish, that person is up front. We talk a couple weeks before a tournament about what's going on and what we expect to happen. If we get a quick draw that means we can work our milk run. If not, we take what we can get. All of us know how often patterns disappear on tournament day. When that happens we "try" to adjust. For the most part, it all goes without a word even being said now. I can tell now how the boat rocks when he sets the hook and I'm on the net before he even says "Oh goddam, got one, help help help, oh no, fish, please net my fishie". But seriously, when it all comes together everything should fall in place and I don't think either person should be "in charge".

The best tip I can give anyone...practice with your partner. Power fish together, finess fish together, chuck swimbaits together. Trade places from front to back, fish both of you shoulder to shoulder up front..figure each other out. If you click you'll have a blast and have fun no matter how you finish..if you don't click find a new partner!

[buddy brown]

Sit down , hold on and shut up !

[oakview]

As for team tournament...I recommend someone you fun fish with alot...the reason why...casue you know each others diferences and way of fishing...

For example, I like to power fish all day, win or lose but my partner likes and is very good at finese fishing...SO it all depends on whats going on...and not being to big headed to release the trolling motor to the other one if he or she is on them or has the feel...

Your first 2 to 5 tournaments might be a little stressful mainly from the excitement from the whole experience...

Look at the guys always in the top 10...Mike Hart, Da Elshere's, Da Bailey's, Todd Holder etc...for So Cal...They have the patience to dial in whats going on...As for me and my partner we are still years behind them...but we have our momnets...it just takes time and the understanding when the other person in the boat has the right feeling or idea...to get fish in the boat...it takes time together to dial in the fun part of any tournament no matter if you place or not...

See you on the water
D.

[203DCX]

"Should the boater be responsible for catching 70% of the fish while the non-boater uses a larger presentation in search for a kicker fish?"

Actually we do it just the opposite. And as a few have said, knowing the strengths of each other & planning accordingly is the key. Doesn't always work, but Paul & I have had a few tournaments that it was just the ticket. LOL.
Jim

[Ron C]

http://www.westernbass.com/dotcom/libra ... ml?id=2687

http://www.westernbass.com/dotcom/libra ... ml?id=1340

[Mike Phua]

Hey Ray.................this is a good question.

First off let me start by saying Team tournaments feature a "SHARED WEIGHT FORMAT" Have the mentality of THESE ARE OUR FISH, WE CAUGHT, WE PREFISHED, OUR BOAT, OUR BAITS!!!!! As a team you are 1 in the same regardless of who catches the fish.

After a tournament you'll never hear us say "I" did anything it's always "WE" for example Lillibridge caught a nice one in the last 10 mins of a tournament that sealed the victory for "US" back in November...............he was asked who caught it he said, "We both did." Like DL said earlier.............we both suggest and make decisions accordingly on what and how we fish. There should be no pressure on one particular person in the boat to contribute more than the other.

If you want personal recognition or your some kind of "Glory Whore" bring your skills as a "Pro" or "Co-Angler" to the Columbia River in 2 1/2 weeks for FLW where you rely on nobody but yourself to fill the live-well. MP

[fishing2five]

Thanks for advice .

Good luck!!!! all team tournament members.

[JasperW]

I really dont think it matter's. typically I have found that most of the boaters dont catch much at all. i have fished many tourney's in the last 2 year's here and I have had the boater catch one keeper fish to take to the scale.
seem's like most the people with the big fancy $$$$ rig's spend more time looking good and running around the lake for so long they never learned how to fish spot's.. thats my opinion.

[Mike Phua]

Hey Jasper that's hilarious. What tournaments are you fishing? Maybe you just caught the lake at the wrong time. Hopefully at your next tournament you'll have a better experience. Don't give up on us Boater's after a few try's you'll finally get a good one and he or she will totally change your thoughts. Take Care! MP

[DL]

Jasper, if that is how it works, maybe you need to get out from behind the seats and run the show. At least the am that draws you will know all he needs to do is hold the net and stay out of your way...

[Mike Phua]

Now that's funny DL...................geez Jasper if you have skills like that I'll be your net boy. I won't even show up with my rods I'll just come with a NET!!!!!! Shoot I'll be a nett'n fool for a couple thousand bucks a week! MP

I'll be looking for your name all year buddy!

[DanWarme]

It all depends on the partners and how you can mesh and work together. There are a lot of factors.

Are you paired up with a experienced pro? or are you both at the same level? I can guarentee you a different experience if you are partnering with Dee Thomas vs. Joe Blow.

This is one of the things that can make or break teams. Often times you both can put fish in the boat but your angling styles may be complete opposites. I've had mismatches in the past. I tend to power fish and fish very fast, (sometimes to my detriment) and I have had partners who wanted to camp on a point and never move. One partner I had, we couldn't even agree on the purpose of the bouy. I threw it out to mark where the break was and then moved along the break several times trying to get fish. His whole point of the bouy was to show us that we weren't moving! Not a good match.

I remember watching one team at a fishoff who looked like they were about to come to blows! These are the kind of angler's I love to fish against. We call them donators! lol.

My approach will generally depand on the situation and the tourney. (If I'm in a Pro am, or guiding, then it's differnet, Do what I say and where I say to do it) But in a team tournament, I try to go with these guidelines.

1. It's a team and a team effort. I don't care who catches the fish as long as we get them and cash a check.
2. I may be the boat owner, (or not) but each guy has put in his money to enter, its a partnership, not a dictator ship.
3. I expect my partner to be working to catch fish like I am. I want to hear his ideas. If it is one I aree with, I'll tell him so and we go do it. If I disagree with it, I'll tell him as well. And I expect the same thing from him. If I have an idea he really doesn't like, I expect him to speak up! We both have to be fishing effectivly to be competative and working together. Whether that means I go for a limit and he hog hunts, or vice versa, fine. If we both are just trying to get bite, thats fine too, but you have to work together to pull it off.

Getting a compatable partner is one of the toughest things in fishing. There are too many variables. In the Pro/Pro format, you each get the front for half the day. Although even with the sportsmanship rules and etiquette, you would be surprised at the problems you can have. I recall a BASS tournament at Oroville where my 2nd day pro was a full 100 spots below me in the standings, and still insisted we flip for the boat. I lost and had to fish out of his boat, and worse yet, had to spend 1/2 the day on his water. I still got my limit, (barely) and he blanked but he cost me 20 places with that bit of BS. No system is perfect,

Best advice I can give is fish a couple of times before you enter a tournament. See if your fishing styles and personalities are compatable. Then work out a gameplan and get it together before hand. Lastly, realize that these are team tournaments. Not life or death. Keep some perspective about it and go have fun.