FlW CoAnglers Revised

[N.A.R]

FLW Outdoors revises co-angler practice rule
27.Nov.2007


BENTON, Ky. — Recently we announced that co-anglers fishing the FLW Tour and FLW Series would only be allowed to practice with confirmed pros. This restriction was meant to eliminate co-angler influence on results in the Pro Division, as we believe pro results should be determined solely by each pro’s ability to identify and adapt to changing conditions, to locate fish, and then to execute. Randomly drawing a co-angler who can take someone to fish creates an unlevel playing field. We realize now, however, that there is a better way to ensure the integrity of FLW Tour and FLW Series competition.

After discussing the options at length with many of our co-anglers, we’ve decided to revise our FLW Tour and FLW Series rules for 2008 to allow co-anglers to practice from their own boats and to practice alone, with other confirmed tournament participants, with members of their immediate family, or with approved sponsor or media representatives. To ensure that pros compete based solely on their own abilities, however, co-anglers may not share fishing information, including patterns and/or locations, with pros.

The revised rules governing co-angler practice and communication are printed below. We hope you agree that we now have the right rules in place to accomplish what we originally set out to do, which is to require pros to compete solely on their own merits, without unfairly limiting co-angler practice. Anyone with questions or comments is encouraged to submit them to me at cevans@flwoutdoors.com. We appreciate your feedback and your support of FLW Outdoors.

Sincerely,

Charlie Evans
President and CEO
FLW Outdoors

4. Off-limits, practice, competition

Tournament waters will go off-limits to all contestants 12 days (11 days for FLW Series) prior to the first practice day in all events. Contestants, including those on the waiting list and late entries, may not enter tournament waters to fish, test equipment, sightsee, etc., during the off-limits period. Flights over tournament waters are not permitted at anytime after the start of the off-limits period.

During the off-limits period, practice and competition days, pros may not solicit and/or receive fishing information from anyone except confirmed pros and other publicly available information (pros on the waiting list are not considered confirmed). Beginning with practice and extending through competition, pros may not obtain fishing patterns or locations from co-anglers or fishing information from noncompetitors or follow a noncompetitor's boat or participate in the practice of "hole sitting" or the placing of markers by anyone. Anglers eliminated after each round of competition are considered noncompetitors. Pros in the top-10 cut may not solicit or receive fishing information from anyone except other top-10 pros.

During the off-limits period, practice and competition days, co-anglers may not solicit and/or receive fishing information from anyone except confirmed contestants and other publicly available information (anglers on the waiting list are not considered confirmed). Co-anglers who share fishing patterns or locations obtained during practice or competition with pro competitors will be disqualified along with the person utilizing this information. For the FLW Tour, co-anglers in the top-10 cut (Day 3) may not solicit or receive fishing information from anyone except other top-10 contestants.

The purchasing of or bartering for information or the hiring of services will not be permitted after the start of the off-limits. The sharing of tournament winnings in exchange for fishing information is strictly prohibited.

Tournament waters will reopen for practice four days (Saturday through Tuesday for the FLW Tour; Friday through Monday for the FLW Series) prior to registration day. Pros and co-anglers may practice alone, with another competitor, with a member of their immediate family (mother, father, brother, sister, son, daughter, grandchild or spouse) or with approved sponsor representatives who have also observed the off-limits period and procedures or with approved media representatives. Tournament waters will be closed to all contestants on Wednesday, registration day, (Tuesday for the Series) prior to the first day of competition.

9. Boat operation

Pros will fish from the front deck of the boat only. Co-anglers will fish from the back deck of the boat only. Pros will have complete control of boat operation and waters to be fished. Pros may not request that the co-angler not fish. Any pro that, in the judgment of the tournament director, operates the boat in such a manner that unfairly handicaps their co-angler partner will be disqualified for that day. The use of mobile communication devices, including but not limited to, cellular telephones, marine radios, walkie-talkies, CBs, etc., during tournament hours is strictly prohibited except in an emergency (severe weather, etc.) or to communicate with lockmasters or the tournament director.

Contestants are expected to compete every day for which they are qualified; failure to do so may result in ineligibility to compete in future FLW Outdoors events.




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[mac (Doyle McEwen)]

It may be rather difficult to enforce in some areas, but now at least it does make sense..Great job FLW for listening to your customers..

mac

[Guest]

I had a chance to talk with Chris Jones as he was driving to the Stren Championship concerning this issue and mentioned this issue on the forum after I read the rules for the 2008 season. His call was in response to my internet posting on the Westernbass.com forum and follow up email to him concerning this issue. I'm glad to see that FLW came to their senses and revised the rule. I understand their reasoning and the desire to level the playing field for the Pro's, however with the entry fee for the coanglers at $700 per event they would have a very hard time filling the field for any event with this sort of restriction for coangler practice.

FLW does indeed listen to their fisherman and has the courage to admit when they've made a mistake. I think they should be applauded for their actions and I'd encourage all of you to continue to fish the FLW Series events as I will next year as a coangler.

The revised rules will definitely level the playing field for all and will take quite an adjustment as a coangler so that I don't DQ myself. Anyone who's fished with me knows that I like to talk and I have a feeling that my new secret fishing gear will come in quite handy during competition -- Duct Tape & a pair of tube socks.

Good luck to all next year and tight lines!

[Gator]

Not throwing fuel on the fire but I have one question.....other than bait selection, what good does it do a co-angler to pre-fish when he cannot share any of the information with his pro?

[mac (Doyle McEwen)]

Then on top of that Gator, just assume the co has found a particular bait that has the bass leaping left and right to get into his livewell, he can't tell his pro about it, but the last I looked there were no blind pro's, so they could or rather should be able to see what the co is using and being so successful..I do agree the co's shouldn't be telling the pro's where to fish..

mac

[justin lucas]

Hey Gator I will answer that one for you...When you fish for four days in a row before a tournament you get a feel for the lake or river that you are on. You start to understand what type of transitions the fish are in and what they are doing. Also it gives you a chance to get your hooksets down and make sure your casting is accurate. Last but definitely not least it gives you confidence. For example, during the tournament you may get put in a similar situation to one that you were in during prefish and you can change up immediately to a bait or technique that you used in that situation with all the confidence in the world because you already know exactly what to do. Hope this helps a little! Take care and have a great holiday season!

Justin Lucas

[Terry Smith]

I'm am A little confused. As a Co Angler you are not allowed to share any information with the Pro that you are fishing with? So if the Pro that I draw is not putting US on fish and I have A few spots that have worked in my pre-fishing I can't say " Hey I have A spot right around the corner that has been producing very well for me in pre-fishing" just doesn't seem right for the Co Angler NOT to have some input if the Pro is stuggling to put them on fish.

Terry

[leachman90]

I e-mailed Charlie about this last night,this is a copy of what I said.And by no means is this meant to be negitive to any pro's or the FLW in general.It is just how I feel.

Charlie has already sent me a responce.He said"Thanks for the comments".



Hi Charlie,This is James Leachman from Tri-Cities Wa.Just thought I would make a couple comments on the new,new rule.
1st off I realize this is about the Pros and not the co's since they are the ones fishing for the big bucks.But to me this is the "big time" at this point in my fishing career.Yes,I hope to fish the pro side down the line but right now I cannot do that.
Here is the problem I have with the new rule.I pre-fish very hard and alot of that time I have to do that from my float tube or a borrowed boat or something like that.I think I work just as hard as anyone does to find fish during this time.And sometimes a pro will give you a shot on your(co's)water.But if I read the rule right this is no longer possible.What happens if I go down to the Delta and pre-fish and find a school of 10 lbers that no one know's about,with the new rule I can't ever get to those fish?Yes we must keep it fair but what is the point of me pre-fishing if I know there is NEVER a chance at the fish I find.Yes,I can see it would be about building a pattern but come on this would be the Delta.I think I can go down blind and figure to take a jig,senko's and maybe some basstrix and throw in a lippless and there is my pattern.I know it is not that easy but I think you get my point.I guess I will just save my gas money and time and just show up and fish and leave the rest to the "pro"?Let's just remember that to some of us fishing from the back of the boat might be as good as it ever gets.Thanks for your time and I will see you at the Delta.God Bless....Jim

[NaCl]

...the anglers. Its no wonder your tournament circuits are successful.

.....NaCl

[PF3352]

I agree 100% that these guys listen and take to heart what we have to say..I talked to Chris Jones for no less then 30-45 minutes via the phone while he was driving to an event. He could have just ignored my phone call but he and I had a very good discussion on this topic. I explained to him my thoughts and he shared his openly and we both took time to listen. I for one think that this is a good change and hope that everyone will abid by the rule. I also tried to have it adjusted so that Justin could only prefish the Tuesday prior to the event between the hours of 1015-1230 from the bank. Chris is supposed to talk to Charlie about this. I will let you know what comes of this..

Paul Fontaine

[Randy Yeager]

Here is a copy of a question I posed to FLW and a Reply from Charlie Evans

Randy,

You are correct that you may not obtain fishing locations from a co-angler you practice with however, you may pay attention to how he/she might be catching fish from the back of your boat. Let me know if you have any further questions.

Charlie



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Randy Yeager [mailto:randy.yeager@attglobal.net]
Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2007 12:32 PM
To: Charlie Evans
Subject: Practice info


If pro's can only share info with other confirmed pro's, then how is it going to work if a pro allows a co-angler to prefish from his boat, I would assume that the pro can share info with the co-angler during practice but can not let the co-angler provide any input into the practice at all. So if I, as a pro, take a co-angler out during practice, I cannot go to any fishing location the co-angler might suggest or pay any attention to how he/she might be catching fish from the back of the boat?
Please clarify the rules if I practice with a co-angler, it seems the only way to not get info from a co-angler is not to have him/her in my boat at all.

[Barry Watson]

I was reading the co angler info supplied by FLW and I was surprised to note that in the past, a pro could ask his am not to fish.

Why would that have been the case? Is it because of a shared weight issue and the pro does not want the am messing up his water? Now if it is a your weight issue ( un shared) then it would be terrible to have to stop fishing, especially after paying your entry fee etc.

I probably do not have it right since I have never fished a tournament

Also, if you are a pro lucky enough to draw an Am that knows where the fish are, so be it. Luck of the draw for heavens sake. Pity the poor guy that sits in the back of the boat and watches his good spots go by. Ahem, Ahem. cough cough, could we stop here a minute while I use the bathroom. Like, over there by that tree on the side of that long point. LOL

[Saechao]

i havent read to see if anyone answered your questions to
why the co-angler cant share ionformations. its pretty simple
your fishing with 3 or 4 different pros throughout the tourny
example i fish with skeet reese on day one, were on fish like crazy then day three comes around im with joe low and we have 0 fish and its noon. i the co angler can easliy say lets go to skeet reeses spot he took me too on day one. i know were going to smack them. im guessing this is one reason as to why the co angler cant share information.

[Terry Smith]

i havent read to see if anyone answered your questions to
why the co-angler cant share ionformations. its pretty simple
your fishing with 3 or 4 different pros throughout the tourny
example i fish with skeet reese on day one, were on fish like crazy then day three comes around im with joe low and we have 0 fish and its noon. i the co angler can easliy say lets go to skeet reeses spot he took me too on day one. i know were going to smack them. im guessing this is one reason as to why the co angler cant share information.

That is the main reason I'm sure but if an AM did that the AM would be BLACK BALLED for sure. No one would want to fish with him.

[Guest]

What happens if I go down to the Delta and pre-fish and find a school of 10 lbers that no one know's about,with the new rule I can't ever get to those fish?Yes we must keep it fair but what is the point of me pre-fishing if I know there is NEVER a chance at the fish I find.

Leachman90,

Actually this is a good thing. This levels the playing field for guys in the front of the boat as well as the guys in the back of the boat. For guys who are paying $3500 from the front of the boat, if they have a bad prefish and can't catch fish it prevents them from relying solely on their coangler to show them how & where to catch fish. That was the main complaint that FLW has heard over the years and truly levels the playing field for the front of the boat.

From the back of the boat, practice should be more figuring out specific techniques, bait color and limiting the number of rods. This way by the time the tournament comes as a coangler I can have confidence in 2-3 techniques w/ 1-2 backup rods. Besides you have no idea what the guy in the front of the boat is going to do in a 3 day tournament so your goal should focus on adapting to the conditions.

Another way to look at it is that if Justin Lucas or Pat Wilson get a bad draw the rest of us from the back of the boat might have a chance to catch up. One can hope, right?

As for the "what if" delta scenario of 10lbers...

Even if you did find the magical spot in prefish as a coangler you wouldn't believe how many people you'll hear at the weigh in saying, "I just don't know what happened to them?!? I was killing them in prefish but my fish just wouldn't bite today."

You're better off just keeping your mouth shut and trying to throw to the non-obvious structure from the back of the boat and just go fishing. You'll do better in the long run doing the exact opposite of the guy in the front of the boat rather than competition for the same fish.

Your goal should be to outfish the guy in the front of the boat on his water with your techniques, go out of your way to net his fish when he has a fish on and try to earn his respect as a great coangler. That's a hard lesson to learn and it really takes fishing an entire season as a coangler at this level to figure out what exactly a great coangler is. It will take quite a few mistakes to figure out exactly what I mean by this, but most of all just go out there and have fun.

[Dewayne]

One thing to keep in mind. The co-anglers who are successful in this format are usually the ones that do not try to find their own fish. Their focus in pre-fish is on catching fish behind a boater. When you pre-fish with your own boat, too often you practice fishing as a boater would fish. You are not developing the confidence that you can catch fish behind people. You can also get focused on those 10# fish you found or a particular technique and not fish the water in front of you as well as if you were not distracted. I have fished with several of the top co-anglers and they all seem to share a confidence that there are fish down there and they can catch them. They don't worry about where they are fishing, just "How do I catch fish here".

This rules makes it simple and may actually help you.

[JT-Madera]

Dewayne, you are 100% correct...Co-Anglers should just work on catching the fish that the Pro didn't even know were there...I know many non-boaters who can fish behind any vacuum cleaner and catch fish...if they can do it anyone can learn how...

JT

[gt5bass]

One thing to keep in mind. The co-anglers who are successful in this format are usually the ones that do not try to find their own fish. Their focus in pre-fish is on catching fish behind a boater. When you pre-fish with your own boat, too often you practice fishing as a boater would fish. You are not developing the confidence that you can catch fish behind people. You can also get focused on those 10# fish you found or a particular technique and not fish the water in front of you as well as if you were not distracted. I have fished with several of the top co-anglers and they all seem to share a confidence that there are fish down there and they can catch them. They don't worry about where they are fishing, just "How do I catch fish here".

This rules makes it simple and may actually help you.

Dewayne hit this one on the head. The year I won the National Co-Anlger Points Title on the EverStart Series (now Stren Series) my focus in practice was on learning the basic active patterns and how I could catch fish behind someone who would most likely be sucking up 80% of the fish in front of me. This often requires you to simplify or think outside of the box. I went into every tournament that year confident no matter who I drew, if they so much got me near any fish, I was going to catch them. This thinking got me three Top Ten finishes (one regular season win and a third at the National Championship) + two Top Twenty finishes. I didn't so much worry about having fish to go to but how could I catch them when I got around them. It also helped that I had a couple of great practice partners and real good draws

[leachman90]

I guess to me "finding fish"has always been one of the fun things about the "puzzle".I guess I will have to just try some different pieces of the puzzle til I get on the pointy end of the boat.Alot of good insight guys,thanks.GB...Jim

[snapitoff2002]

I haven't checked, but last year at Shasta the WON bass tournament was the weekend before? I'll have to check, but 12 days off the water- that could mess up someone's plans to fish both tournies....

[Guest]

Note that this rule change only applies to the FLW Tour and FLW Series. The FLW Stren is not affected by the off limits or this rule change. Last year the Won Shasta tournament coincided with the FLW Stren at Shasta. This would not cause a problem this year unless the tournament was on the same body of water during the off limits period for the FLW Series.