What is expected of a non-boater?

[MSD]

I have seen several posts by guys looking for non-boater for the BFL? My question is what is expected of a non-boater? I know that this may be a stupid question, but I would like to know what boaters expect of a non-boater. I am thinking that I may be interested in doing this. What do you guys think? Good idea or bad idea? I am the type of person if I say I am going to do it, then I will show up and not back out.

[skinny]

havent read the posts, but most are looking for someone to sign up with to be guaranteed a boater/non boater pairing. if more boaters sign up than non boaters they get paired boater/boater. some may want to travel and split costs, but its more for pairings. you could sign up under someone and never actually meet them in person.
if your going as a non-boater you dont have to have a boater,but it helps to get you in the tournament.

[00SKEETER]

It's pretty simple. Just respect the boater and his water and his boat. Don't bring your lifetime supply of tackle and 15 rods with you. Just bring what you think you'll need. If your boater is willing to tell you what kind of pattern he's on in the pre tournament meeting you can eliminate a lot of tackle. However, not all like to tell until the morning of launch. Ask him if he wants help netting the fish or if wants to do it himself. 90% want help. Always help out on gas for the boat. Most of the guys you meet are great guys and you make a good friend by the end of the day. But there is always the bad apple in the group that doesnt want to talk and thinks he's the next KVD.

[Trophyhunter8]

Realistically you are there just like the old co-angler in the bassmasters you are there to keep the boater honest. Fished the BFL one year and made it too the regional which by the way is no feat at all. Because I had three good boaters which included the overall winner that year. Also had one that thought he was a superstar, that was nothing short of a b-hole. then regional two others that shouldn't even be allowed to own a boat. Then tried it again the next year for the first two tournaments. The first boater, first words out of his mouth were "I've never been on this lake before." not a good sign.

Now my experience is, and my thoughts on it now are probably a little jaded. But my thoughts are for $550.00 entry fee: instead hire a guide a couple of times a year fish your butt off until you think you can be a boater. then try it. Because out of 200 boaters, you have 40 that our very good. The other 160 are probably no better than you are, they just have more money to blow

[00SKEETER]

That is true. Probably only 40 of the 200 should be competiting at that level. The rest of them just have their 100k rigs and fancy Ranger Jerseys but don't have a clue (more money than sense). However it's still fun and you will learn a little on the way and make some pretty good friends. If you don't have a boat it's a great way to get out and compete.

[ryan_ekubass]

i fished the bfl as a non boater last year and i used it as a learning experience but i was fortunate enough to have some good draws and even if i did have an ok draw i always learned something new about the lake.... like on dale i found some killer spots for largemouth... i learned how to sightfish 10 times better on laurel.... barren i learned that even though u went to the lake in a wraped truck and a wrapped z boat u arent guaranteed anything...... and on cland i learned the fog really can freeze and no matter if the water is colored and cold ky bass will still bite a shaky head..... its a personal decision if u wanna fish the bfl as a non boater.... there is alot u can gain and learn and most of the guys fishing are good fishermen that may be able to teach u a tactic that u never knew about or didnt know alot about.....so the decisions up to you if i had the extra money i wouldnt mind doing it again this year....

[JimDi]

I fished two as a non-boater back when it the Red Man series on Barkley/KY. One guy was good and one was bad. The good one showed me how a jig can out produce a carolina rig. I caught more, but he caught bigger on the jig. The bad partner had one pattern and we were hitting spots I knew about by 9:30am.

I fished one as a boater and my partner finished second place and I got skunked. I was happy to see him do good because I have no allusions of being the next KVD. Since then I have learned alot more about fishing and will one day compete as a boater, but have little kids and have to go the fish/ski route for several years.

I would do it again, but some of these guys can't drive a boat. It is a learning more experience.

[MSD]

Realistically you are there just like the old co-angler in the bassmasters you are there to keep the boater honest. Fished the BFL one year and made it too the regional which by the way is no feat at all. Because I had three good boaters which included the overall winner that year. Also had one that thought he was a superstar, that was nothing short of a b-hole. then regional two others that shouldn't even be allowed to own a boat. Then tried it again the next year for the first two tournaments. The first boater, first words out of his mouth were "I've never been on this lake before." not a good sign.

Now my experience is, and my thoughts on it now are probably a little jaded. But my thoughts are for $550.00 entry fee: instead hire a guide a couple of times a year fish your butt off until you think you can be a boater. then try it. Because out of 200 boaters, you have 40 that our very good. The other 160 are probably no better than you are, they just have more money to blow

Thanks for everyone's honesty on this subject. I really like the idea of hiring a guide to get more experience.

[billbrewco]

I've been a non-boater two times. I've also been an observer for KBF State Tourneys twice. All but one were not positive experiences. I've never understood for the life of me why some boaters choose to make a 60 mile run up a lake. Now I know you might say that they went where they were comfortable, and I understand it to some degree. I just sat there thinking to myself that they are passing up miles and miles of great fishing spots. Yes, I dressed for the weather. But when it is 30 degrees and the water is 35 degrees, and the wind is howling at 20-30 mph, and waves are 3-7 feet, why do they have to go 70mph. I was never so scared in all my life. Never again will I put my life in someone's hands I do not know.

Being an observer in KBF, both times I asked to fish, but was turned down. I respect that in every way. That is their right. I just know if I ever am fortunate enough to qualify for KBF finals, I will allow my observer to fish. I will ask him to try different patterns and if he gets on fish with a pattern, I would ask him to sit for a while. Now, if the angler was on fish to begin with, I would certainly understand. But both times the guys caught a few dinks. Granted, fishing conditions were very tough, and I doubt I would have done any better. After all, they did qualify, I did not. But it seems to me if they aren't on fish it would be better to have two rods working different strategies to try to unlock the code.

One more funny story. First day of observing at KBF my guy caught two fish. Second day he zeroed. 1/2 hour before tourney's end he let me wet a line. I grabbed a DD22 and began ripping it. (He fished a jig all day). Caught a keeper smallie on my second cast. I put my pole down. He was not upset at all. As a matter of fact he was happy for me. I felt sorry for him when I dropped that fish back in the water, though. Oh, well...

[offdtop]

Read this article:

http://www.flwoutdoors.com/article.cfm?id=149411&nid=95

It is an article on Stetson Blaylock who is a master (even at his young age) at what a "co-angler" would/could or should do.