Back-Seaters Can Take Steps To Boost Chances

By David A. Brown
Special to BassFan

The struggle is real for co-anglers, but “back of the boat” doesn’t necessarily mean "bottom of the barrel." To the contrary, the opportunity to fish for decent paychecks without the heavy buy-in of pro competition can offer the diligent and proactive co-angler a pretty sweet deal.

Maybe you’re developing your skills and experience with plans of stepping up to the front deck, or maybe you’re cool with the co-angler role for the foreseeable future. Either way, James Tate, one of FLW’s top Western co-anglers, addressed several key points on maximizing the non-boater role.

Fishing ABA, WON Bass and RTF Casitas team tournaments along with FLW Series Western Division events (he topped the Cal Delta tournament in 2012), Tate has won approximately $60,000 since 2011. Here’s what he had to say.

Study and Gear Up

The pro calls the shots, but the savvy co-angler starts each day with perspective and anticipation borne of his own pre-fishing recon, buttressed by a conversation with his partner during the reg-istration meeting and subsequent evenings. Knowing what the fish are doing and then knowing your pro’s preference for baits and techniques facilitates game-planning.

This knowledge also trims the rod selection. FLW, for example, limits co-anglers to seven rods. That’s usually plenty for primary and backup baits, but Tate factors the relevance of power-fishing, finesse or heavy flipping techniques when selecting his outfits.

And to that rod point, Tate stresses the wisdom of co-anglers being equipped with the best gear his or her budget allows. Price isn’t always the most important criteria, he said, but he insists on gear that can take the pounding of loading and unloading and the bumping and banging inherent to the co-angler shuffle.

He also appreciates a rod that can play multiple roles to maximize a limited budget.

“Take IROD Genesis 2 Fishing Rods, for example; here’s a rod that retails for $150, but it's comparable or better than some $400 rods,” Tate said. “For a rod that will support several differ-ent techniques, I use for the IROD Genesis 2 754 Fred’s Magic stick.

“This rod is a one-stop shop. You can fish jigs, Carolina rigs, Spooks, frogs, spinnerbaits, spoons, etc. Typically at any tournament, I will have three to four of these rods on the boat so I can quickly switch styles of baits without needing a new rod.”

Whatever his game plan requires, Tate arrives well stocked with multiple backups. Overkill? Nope, it's reality.

“Do not just bring one crankbait and assume it’s going to last all day,” he said. “As a back-seater, you cannot expect your pro to stop his day and allow you to retrieve every lure you snag. He’s not going to turn the boat around when you've got a crankbait stuck 30 yards behind the boat or when you have a jig stuck on his juice rock pile. Most of the time you’re breaking it off.

“I recall a day when I broke off 20 jigs on sticky rock. On the same day, I caught 18 fish on jigs and ended up in 13th place. If I was not stocked up on jigs I would not have done as well because I wouldn’t have had any to fish after I broke off the first five.”

Tate assembles a 3-inch-by-4-inch tackle box for his terminal tackle; his 3/16- and 1/4-ounce dropshot weights, dropshot hooks, Senko hooks and Texas-rig weights and hooks. Keeping this go-to box in his jacket pocket reduces his re-rigging time and keeps him in the water longer.

Prudent Presentations

For technique selection, Tate offers his fellow co-anglers three pieces of advice:

> Be original: Don’t try to copy your pro’s pattern or lure; blaze your own trail. By the time you reach the fish, they’ve already seen the pro’s baits, so something with a different shape, color, speed or swimming style gives you a better shot.

Naturally, if the pro’s smashing ‘em while you’ve coming up short, certainly adjust as needed. However, confidence is key in this sport and doing your own thing removes the spin-out-risking copycat routine.

Consider this one from Western stick Gary Haraguchi: You may not have a clear path for casting a swimbait over promising water, but learn to pitch that moving bait so you can take advantage of brief lanes in the tules and other vegetation.

> Make a decision: “Do not double-guess yourself,” Tate said. “I have seen plenty of guys spend half the day going through their 50-pound bags of tackle tying on every lure in the book and wasting time that should be spent in the water. Also, when you double-guess yourself you are more likely to fish your bait too fast and not present it the way the fish want it.”

> Embrace opportunities: During the fishing day, Tate watches his pros cast and then he fills in the blanks where he did not cast.

“Yes, fish like ambush spots, structure and whichever part of the point they are relating to at that time of year. But fish are predators, and when the bait does not come to them they will go out for a cruise to hunt it down,” he said. “Most of the time these are the fish that I'm targeting because you will not always be able to get a good cast on a juice rock or brush pile and by the time you do, it’s already played out.”

People Skills and Perspective

It should go without saying that establishing good rapport with the boater/pro can positively im-pact the day. Overzealous attempts to compete with the pro for prime spots – casting toward the bow – won’t earn you any love; but co-anglers frequently praise gracious boaters who literally go out of their way to park their co-angler in ideal position to catch a limit.

Example: On day 3 of last year’s FLW Series event on Lake Dardanelle, day-2 leader Derek Fulps was more than generous in sharing the angles on a big laydown that yielded enough weight for his respectful 16-year-old co-angler, Tate Brumlett, to pluck his winning weight.

Tate says that getting "back-seated" is not necessarily a day-killer. There are plenty of ways to catch fish. As a co-angler, one of the most solid attributes is the ability to adapt to your pro and the situation.

“Most of the time, they are not back-seating you on purpose,” Tate said. “When they are on a tight parallel-to-the-bank pattern, you must deal with it. Adapt and figure out how to catch fish no matter the position you are in.

“Also, don’t get down on yourself; always keep yourself in the game with a positive attitude. There have been plenty of derbies where I had no fish by noon. But then I have a 30-minute rally when I put 5 in the well with a kicker and I’m back in the game.”

Focus Pays

Stay focused.

That’s easier said than done when bites are few and far between and the guy on the front is whacking 'em. Nevertheless, banish complacency and remain sharp for those day-changing op-portunities that could arise at any moment.

“As a co-angler, you are fishing against a co-angler weight not a pro weight,” Tate said. “I have seen plenty of people (bomb) because they are trying to fish for that 10-pounder, when all you need is 12 pounds a day to make the cut.

“The beauty about being a co-angler is how much you learn. You're fishing with some of the best anglers in the world. Be a sponge and always keep an open ear and eye. Watch and listen to what he is doing or telling you. The amount of things I have learned are innumerable and they've made me a better fisherman.”