Movin to the front of the boat

crawdaddy · Post by **crawdaddy** » Sat Dec 25, 2010 8:23 am

Just wanted to toss it out there before the Pro/Am season starts. I will be fishing the AC Pro/Ams as a boater for the first time this year after several years from the back. I believe the first year or two will be some very humbling experiences. It seems there never are enough boaters and if I don't move up I won't keep pushing myself to improve. I hope my am's have good days on the water, to my competition let me say you are welcome in advance for the donations, and to my wife thanks for the support. I hope everything I have learned from the people I have drawn in the past will be put to good use. My team partner will be moving up as well so I wish him the best as well.

So there you go some new blood to abuse.

flipit · Post by **flipit** » Sat Dec 25, 2010 9:17 am

I hate to say it, but your not giving yourself any credit. Start with positive thoughts, excitement and have a good time. Its all about locating fish, then locating the better fish, and figuring out how to catch em. Be prepared, and check your equipment twice. Just cause yer a rookie on the front doesnt mean you cant win. Good luck this year, have some fun, and win one for all the rookies out there.

Merry Christmas

Gary Dobyns · Post by **Gary Dobyns** » Sat Dec 25, 2010 11:51 am

Congrats on moving up. It's what keeps the sport going. Best advise is not to put too much pressure on yourself. Some of my best tournaments was when I was struggling for a good pattern....and decided to have a good day with my partner and "go Fishing". I'm not sure it's just me or the same for everyone, but the more pressure I put on myself, the worse I do. When I get a good partner I can BS with and have a good time, we usually catch them. Have fun, the fish will come. You will settle down, get more confidence, and catch them.

littlebailey · Post by **littlebailey** » Sat Dec 25, 2010 12:37 pm

We need more people moving to the front like yourself. I wish you the best of luck next year. The best advise i can give is be prepared for everything. The night before, make sure your 100 percent ready to go. The worst thing for me is getting to the lake in the morning and finding out something doesnt work or you forgot your favorite box of crank baits at the hotel. Its hard to settle down in the morning and the more you do to relax before the start the more productive you should be. Good Luck.

Ps more people need to make the jump to the front. Fishing is more mental than anything and if you think you can hang, you usually can.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » Sat Dec 25, 2010 1:08 pm

Not like my opinion matters, but what the previous posters said is dead on correct. I would add though, try not to over complicate things. You are just fishing! If your gear is in order and you are mentally prepared, the FISH will come. Congrats on stepping up to the front. Its hard to move to the rear once you do the pointy end. Good Luck!

Joe

McLovin · Post by **McLovin** » Sat Dec 25, 2010 8:19 pm

I commend you for moving to the front. I was going to move to the front this year my self, but now that its getting close I am having second thoughts. I feel like I have lost my confidencs lately, plus the the pressure of putting my backseater on fish. Again good job on going to the front and have a great year.

littlebailey · Post by **littlebailey** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 7:50 am

If you worry about catching fish for your backseater, you probably shouldnt fish as a pro. As a pro the hardest battle we fight is with the backseater. Flw is a totally different tourny. You have to approach it with a totally different attitude. You work your but off to find those little green fish. Then throw in weather, 100 other boars trying to get on your area and then your CO on top of that trying to catch all those fish you saved for so long. It just throws that element in to the tourny that doesnt need to be there. If you have a co, combine the weight. I know the cos love it cause they get put on the best spots just for signing up but for the pros that lose their entry fee to the fish that the co aught, its not a fair game. Just my thoughts. If you lose the co angler worry, your way ahead of the game.

Marty · Post by **Marty** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 11:16 am

Way to go Crawdaddy – I hope you have victories in your move to the front of the boat!

Hey McLovin,

I feel the same as you!

The year that FLW removed the Stren (2009) and just when with the National Guard was the year I thought I was going to make my more to the front of the boat! I mean for two years before that I was paying $650 to fish the back seat in the National Guard and was getting nothing – why not make the move and save $150 to the front of the boat in the Stren. But the FLW pulled the Strain and there was no more until this year when they added the EverStart but now it is $1000 to move up front. Now I can afford it at a $1000 a hit.

I believe that the Pro and the Co-Angler are competing against each other in their own category in a non-shared weigh. But that is not the question – the question is can the Pro find the fish for they can compete in their own categories. The Co-Angler has expectation and knows he is going to get second chances at the water the Pro has left for him – that is the game. If the Pro leave an opening for the Co-Angler to get a first chance at his water that Pro should not be fishing as a Pro. I’m not talking about nosing the Co-Angler out either. I talking about the Pro getting first chance and the Co-Angler follows’ up mopping up any water left open.
When fishing the back seat the best thing I love to hear the Pro say – “I could have used that fish”. That means he left something open or did not use the right approach or bait and I out guess him. That is why you have some Pro’s (in name only) nosing their back seat out, is because they are scared of leaving an opening for the Back Seat. Granted, that did not happen with a lot of the Pro I fished with – they were good and did not think (well not openly) I was there to screw them. If fact most of them when out of their way to make sure I got a limit too. That is a Pro!

As for fishing shared weight – it is the same finding the fish and the expectation of that AA thinking I’m the Pro and putting us on fish to catch. I don’t have that confidence as of yet. But when I do, everyone will know I’m there to win and no Co-Angler is not going to stop me by being completive.

What I’m doing to move up and gain my confidence to fish the front to the boat is by fishing the California Bass Championship (CBC) and the Heavyweight Bass Classic (HBC). In both I have to make the same decision as to is this the right location, am I staying too long or not giving it enough time, as well as finding the fish.

Come on out and try those to build your confidence and fish with some really good sticks.

crawdaddy · Post by **crawdaddy** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 2:08 pm

Thanks for the support guys. I am very excited. Littlebailey; if you are Brian Bailey then I drew you at Clearlake a couple of years ago at the AC on day 2. We had fun and caught a lot of fish, we just couldn't get those big swimbait fish. My primary reason for moving up is I feel confident I can get on fish I just hope I can get the right ones to go on game day. Whatever happens I will enjoy the ride. See you guys on the water.