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One inexpensive and excellent way to obtain information on an unfamiliar reservoir would be to purchase a premium fishing lake map on the reservoir. The majority of comprehensive lake maps include: lake characteristics, lake accesses, fishing points of interest, symbol illustrated marks showing points of interest, tips and techniques for that body of water. A shrewd non-boater will study these for clues to what tackle, rods and reels to bring. This will change according to the season and type of reservoir the tournament is being held on. Doing this homework will absolutely result in being more prepared to catch fish out the back deck.
Pre-Fishing
Non-boaters should also allow for some pre fishing time before the tournament if possible. Countless non-boaters pre-fish which enables them to observe exact water clarity, experiment with different color lures, and evaluate any patterns, look for funnel areas, making mental and physical notes of all critical information.
It works best to do this right on the lake map. This way you will not lose it and have the information for future trips to that body of water. Take special note of areas within close proximity to the take off area, which could end up being key places to fish. Usually Pros will fish these areas for a brief time before tournament check-in time. In addition, non-boaters can also pre-fish “community holes” which will assist in deciding color and lure selection since most of these areas have a large population of fish willing to bite.
Boat Ramp/Launching the Boat
Tournament partners should also discuss launching the boat before getting to the ramp area. Non-boaters should offer to back up and launch the boat if at all possible. After launching your Pro’s boat and parking your partner’s vehicle and trailer, turn off his lights, and lock his doors. Always make it a habit to give the keys back to the Pro for safekeeping.
Organize Yourself for Long Rides
Short, calm rides normally cause no alarm as a non-boater can just jump down in the seat to go; non-boaters can just put their gear down and are ready to go. However, certain conditions like if the boat has a single or dual console, wind, time of year, weather, and distance you will be traveling, all factor into how much you should organize for the ride.
For short, calm rides, non-boaters typically can just strap their rods down and make sure all tackle is stored in pockets or in the tackle box. Long rides in inclement weather conditions require organizing quickly and properly to avoid damage to gear, your body or both in some situations.
To prepare for long rides, begin with storing your tackle box behind your seat in the boat’s storage compartment space at the start of the day if the Pro has room to store it there. This would be where having a smaller tackle box which fits in the storage compartment comes in handy. Non-boaters should keep only a small amount of tackle in their pockets which you will need during the tournament like hooks, sinkers, jig heads, or plastic baits. Next, non-boaters will need to protect their fishing poles from tangling, knocking out rod guide inserts, or from possibly breaking rod tips. Non-boaters can eliminate this problem by utilizing rod sacks. The non-boater simply inserts each one of his rods in to the rod sack before the tournament begins and slips them off to fish with them.
The rods should be strapped down to prevent any dislodging from the boat during rough rides. You should continue preparing by putting on your rain suit including bibs. This works best if non-boaters ask their Pro at the start of the day to give him some notice, before moving to another location. This will allow you to get your rain suit on before going down the lake because putting one on while running down the lake happens to be an impossible task. For extreme long rides in cold or rainy weather non-boaters may decide on wearing a helmet to stay warm and dry.
Remember always be ready to go when the Pro sits down to take off. Finally, to be comfortable on long rides which can last a couple hours, non-boaters can try facing backwards on the floor, not the deck. For a non-boater, boat rides should be just one thrill of fishing bass tournaments; being organized and prepared to get up on plane will keep it that way.
Landing Net Etiquette
For inexperienced non-boaters nothing can be more nerve-racking than netting the Pro’s fish. Nevertheless, you can eliminate this by discussing it before the tournament begins. Both Pro and non-boater should understand when and how their partner wants their fish netted. Nearly every Pro will inform a non-boater if any special steps will need to be taken for landing the fish. In some instances, Pro’s prefer to land their own fish, but will land yours if you want.
Non-boaters should also take a minute to familiarize himself with the Pro’s landing net. At each stop, before starting to fish non-boaters should put the landing net in an easy to reach place for himself and his fishing partner. Finally, always wait to net the fish until the Pro tells you to and follow any directions your Pro gives you.
Landing Nets
For Pros and non-boaters, keeping their fish alive can mean valuable points towards the end of year championship and winning prize money. Intelligent anglers know this begins the moment you go to net the fish. Using a cheap landing net that has abrasive or uncoated netting can lead to removal of the bass’ slime coat and increase chances of mortality. Although non-boaters rarely carry their own landing nets, one option for Pros to decrease mortality when landing fish would be using a tangle-free rubber net. The tangle-free rubber mesh nets are made of elastic, soft molded
rubber that prevents roughing and great for bass tournaments. It also protects the fish during the catch and release process.
Livewell Maintenance
Non-boaters frequently fail to pay attention to one thing right under their feet during the tournament. Bass that you place in the livewell become your responsibility to keep alive for weigh-in. Non-boaters can enhance the likelihood of their bass staying alive by adding an additive like U2 Pro Formula to the livewell. However, before any non-boater pours livewell treatment into the livewell they should ask the Pro first. Every Pro knows the importance of keeping bass alive for weigh-in and will want some livewell treatment like U2 Pro Formula poured into their livewell.
Finally, a non-boater’s weigh-in bag should be filled with the cooler, oxygenated water from the livewell rather than the surface water at the weigh-in site. Following these simple steps will aid in keeping your bass alive all the way to being released back into the reservoir. Furthermore, non-boaters should use release formulas year round not just in hot weather. Undue stress can cause bass to lose weight or die. Simply put, non-boaters who keep their catch alive and healthy make more money, because they will not be penalized for dead bass or having bass lose weight due to stress. Non-boaters can check online at www.keepfishalive.com for more detailed information on the subject.
Dead Bass
Without exception every major bass tournament being held today is based on the “catch and release” format. In other words, each bass caught will be released back into their reservoir. This conservation principle allows for managing our natural resources in an appropriate manner. In the Heartland Trails Pro-Am Circuit, anglers may not cull dead fish from their live well. In addition, anglers suffer a penalty of .50 (1/2) pound from their total weight for each dead bass. If the angler’s big bass dies, a 1/2 pound deduction will be taken from the big bass weight. Pros have a five fish tournament limit and non-boaters (amateurs) have only a three fish limit. Numerous bass tournaments today have been won by mere ounces, which shows the value of keeping bass alive. For the duration of each tournament, non-boaters only compete against other non boaters for total amount of weight caught, big bass, and points received for the tournament.
Weigh-In
At the end of each tournament day every Pro and non-boater must return to the check-in point by their designated time. Failing to check in on time will result in a late penalty or possible disqualification. After you have checked back in, weigh-in bags will be given out according to your flight or boat number. Take this time while you wait to clean up any trash and replace any tackle or lures back into your tackle box. Once your bag number is called or they allow you to, bring your fish up to the weigh-in. In some tournament trails, officials will require that you sign a weigh-in slip which acknowledges all tournament rules were followed. Finally you will get to weigh in your fish on stage.
While on stage, the emcee will weigh all your fish and big bass if you have one. The emcee will tell you your total weight and big bass weight at that time. Remember on stage to thank your Pro for taking you fishing and any sponsors you may have at that time. After all anglers have weighed in, checks and trophies will be handed out to Pros and non-boaters depending on their total and big bass weight. Remember to notify tournament official of any cash incentive programs you are eligible at the appropriate time.
No boat, no problem for anglers on the back deck of a boat ready to have fun and gain knowledge about different techniques in bass fishing. Definitely, do ask questions of your Pro about different techniques or how the Pro selected any of the fishing locations. Non-boaters, who prepare before the tournament, normally catch fish during the tournament, no problem.
Brad Wiegmann is a full time fishing guide on Beaver Lake in Northwest Arkansas . Brad guides for Largemouth, Spotted, Smallmouth, Stripers and White Bass. He is also a free-lance writer who’s weekly column “Speaking of Fishing” appears weekly in the Siloam Springs Herald Leader and Westville Weekly Times (Oklahoma) Newspapers and other fishing magazines. You may also see him doing seminars, working outdoor shows or featured in outdoor magazines such as BASSMASTER Magazine, Outdoor Life and Arkansas Sportsman. He also fishes the FLW Tour, FLW Stren, and local open Tournaments. He is currently on the Pro staff, Promotional staff and Guide programs of numerous tackle manufactures, lure companies, and fishing related companies.
