Where did your buddy locate the boat? Right on the bank, or off of it? We usually run right on the bank. I've had people on the back who did better than the front. I have also had two people on the front, one taking the "inside" using a sliver or redfin and one taking the outside with a sliver or jig. Could be you were moving your bait too fast since you were being pulled. Could be the fish were roaming from the other direction. Usually the fish patrol from both directions, so front or back doesn't matter.