Co-angler water wins boat

[Robert F]

Real interesting situation to ponder from this weekend's Rayburn Everstart. The Co-angler winner convinced both of his boaters to go to his spots. Certainly would have never happened if there was a top ten cut. Perfectly legal within the rule structure. Any thoughts?
Personally, the reason I fish out of the back of the boat is that it is the most pure form of high level tournament fishing. No seeding your spot, no saving your fish, etc. Just plain old who can catch 'em with the hand your dealt. Sure, some are dealt better cards than others but that should even itself out over time.

I will have the tournament details up this evening. That is an awesome lake. Just a little cold for the event. 16 degrees on day one and 22 on day two. www.backdeckpro.com

[TomL]

Robert, do you think that's the first time a co-angler winner has dictated the spot?

How about in FLW where that's against the rules?

[Marty]

That was only on the Nation Guard rules – it is not part of the Everstart rules.

[TomL]

Ok so what are your thoughts on it if it happened at a NG event?

[Marty]

Ok so what are your thoughts on it if it happened at a NG event?

Disqualified from the entire tournament along with the pro utilizing the information. That the way the rule is writen

[Robert F]

Not against the rules in FLW Everstarts. Actually I think it is pretty innovative. I know there are people prepping for our Western Pro-Ams and Everstarts with the same game plan. Between the boater and the Co-angler they lay out Co-angler water that the Pro doesn't want.

These two Texas Co-anglers practice together and then share the water they find in practice. I would not want to fish against it. That is just me. I might as well take my chances and hold total control as a boater if that is what it comes down to.

It seems like it would work well for a couple of local anglers. All you have to do is draw a couple of weak boaters and have a good spot. Then you are fishing as a boater in the co-angler division.

BTW I know it happens in NG even though it is against the rules. I know a boater that top tenned off a Co-angler spot. The Co was leading but didn't get the rest of the boaters to go along with the deal. The boater still goes back to the co-angler's spot to this day. haha Co is mad he gave up his goods.

[TomL]

Good points.

[Rick G]

Sounds to me like they left alot of money on the table by not fishing as a pro if "Their" spot was so loaded. Should have ponied up. Rick G.

[Marty]

I know when I first fished the Everstart before they became the Stren Series as a CO and that Pro did not have an idea what to do – I would do my best to get him to my water! There are some guys that come to the Delta for the first time and only get to per- fish for a couple of days and on a three day tournament would run out of water or a pattern.

I would be a fool not to tell him what I had.

The first year they had the Nation Guard – the Pro and the CO could talk and share all they wanted. The second year is when they came out with the rule that the CO could not help the Pro. Some other Pro got upset they did not draw home water CO that could help them.

I would say I need to take a piss right over there, you know the Pro is going to fish while you do your business - just joking

[Robert F]

Sounds to me like they left alot of money on the table by not fishing as a pro if "Their" spot was so loaded. Should have ponied up. Rick G.

Really Rick? His weight would have landed him 7th place for a little over 5 grand. If you have any 177TR's for double that laying around I will be in tomorrow. Seems to me it was a good plan. I know the Grovers only fish for the big cheese but smart money says it was a good investment. To fish against the lower weight Co side and split the spot and entry between two guys trying to get enough weight to win the boat instead of putting it all on one? Kind of like a hedge bet. Still feel the plan was a bust if the event was a three dayer. How do you convince the guy that is leading on the boater side (the first place draw) to go to a co-angler's water. The plan definitely has merit for a shared weight AAA.

[Robert F]

Some other Pro got upset they did not draw home water CO that could help them.

I understand this is the way the BASS Opens are played. You go there hoping to draw a local CO that can put up the spots.

Personally all of this stuff is why I like the Tour. First off there is no information. If by chance you get somebody to cheat that one day you are not going to get it to happen the other two days.

[TomL]

Robert - I think you have a point on the $$ side of things. Maybe not so much on the 3 day theory... if they are fishing with a top 10 angler, they wouldn't NEED to go to their own water, as you said, their water was only good enough for 7th on the pro side so 70% of the top Pro's had better water than they did.

[Robert F]

Very true Tom. Just get yourself to the cut and see where it shakes out. How many times have we seen the leader not even need a fish on the last day to win. The guy was a versatile angler. Always helps. If you can't stick a hook in 'em it don't matter how good the spot is.

WOW Just added up the top ten's stats. They have a combined 45 top tens and over $370,000 in earnings. Not bad for a group of Everstart guys. Two guys have made over 100K out of the back of the boat!!!
Wish I could finish the second place interview so you guys could read the story. Maybe tomorrow.

[Rick G]

I remember a few years back a Tournament on Smith Lake in Alabama and the guy who prefished with Art Berry was a local stick who knew where all the hotspots [brushpiles] were. He was signed up as a co and after practice changed to a Pro and finished 2nd in the tournament. Won 45K. If you are confident in your abilities and that dialed in, you have to roll the dice, imho. If he would have had that spot to himself from the front, maybe he could have pulled it off is my point. Rick G.