Fishing as a Non-Boater Tim Miles February 7, 2003

Agenda Preparation Preparation –Get to Know Your Boater –Know Something About the Water –Know the On-the-Water Conditions –Gearing Up The Essentials The Essentials Handy Extras Handy Extras Rods and Reels Rods and Reels Lures Lures Terminal Tackle Terminal Tackle Responsibilities Responsibilities Etiquette Etiquette Strategies Strategies

Preparation: Get to Know Your Boater Take the initiative to introduce yourself to your boater before the tournament Take the initiative to introduce yourself to your boater before the tournament –Meet at a FOBA meeting –Send him/her an –Call him/her on the phone Determine where you will meet each other on tournament day Determine where you will meet each other on tournament day –Drive to the tournament location together Provides time to discuss on-the-water strategies for the tournament Provides time to discuss on-the-water strategies for the tournament –Meet at the ramp Know which boat belongs to your boater so you can find him/her quickly Know which boat belongs to your boater so you can find him/her quickly –Be on time!

Preparation: Know Something About the Water Buy and study a map of the lake or river Buy and study a map of the lake or river –GMCO sells maps of most bodies of water we fish Ask your boater… Ask your boater… –What types of structure and cover will you be fishing tournament day? Do NOT ask about specific locations! Do NOT ask about specific locations! –What is the predominant forage? –What water depths will you be fishing?

Preparation: Know the On-the-Water Conditions Understand what seasonal patterns apply Understand what seasonal patterns apply –Determines what type of structure or cover you’ll most likely be fishing –Helps eliminate unnecessary tackle/lures Keep track of local weather conditions the week leading to the tournament Keep track of local weather conditions the week leading to the tournament –Helps determine water temperature trends, water level, and water clarity Check out fishing reports in the newspaper or on the Internet Check out fishing reports in the newspaper or on the Internet –Bass Fishing Home Page –

Preparation: Gearing Up The essentials The essentials –USCG-approved life vest –Fishing license(s) Maryland freshwater & Bay-sport Maryland freshwater & Bay-sport DC DC Virginia Virginia –Food & non-alcoholic drinks (water/Gatorade) –Sunscreen –Raingear –Sunglasses with strap –Hat or visor

Preparation: Gearing Up Handy extras Handy extras –Small towel –Lure retriever –Extra clothing/apparel Cold weather Cold weather –Gloves, goggles, sweatshirts, Gore Tex overalls, warm socks, knit or fleece cap, long johns, snowboard or motorcycle helmet Rainy weather Rainy weather –Dry clothing for the ride home –First aid kit Band-aids, aspirin/ibuprofen, gauze pads, anti-bacterial ointment Band-aids, aspirin/ibuprofen, gauze pads, anti-bacterial ointment –Culling kit –Small cooler with ice –Waterproof bag

Preparation: Gearing Up Rods and reels Rods and reels –Take no more than six rod and reel combinations –Be prepared to fish your boater’s preferred structure and cover options Know whether you’ll need finesse or heavy-duty equipment Know whether you’ll need finesse or heavy-duty equipment –Sample set Spinnerbait rod Spinnerbait rod Crankbait rod Crankbait rod Flipping/pitching rod Flipping/pitching rod Carolina Rig/Worm rod Carolina Rig/Worm rod Topwater rod Topwater rod Spinning rod for finesse presentations Spinning rod for finesse presentations

Preparation: Gearing Up Lures Lures –Consider the seasonal patterns Example, you won’t need your buzzbaits for early spring fishing Example, you won’t need your buzzbaits for early spring fishing –Consider prevailing weather and water conditions Example, use spinnerbaits and crankbaits for windy conditions Example, use spinnerbaits and crankbaits for windy conditions –Limit the number of soft plastic lures you bring with you Soft plastics tend to weigh a lot Soft plastics tend to weigh a lot Limit colors to those that match water conditions and those you have confidence in Limit colors to those that match water conditions and those you have confidence in Chances are the boater will be willing to share a hot color or shape Chances are the boater will be willing to share a hot color or shape –Bring only those lures that you plan to use Bring lures to fish the structure and cover your boater wants to fish Bring lures to fish the structure and cover your boater wants to fish Leave the others home or in your car Leave the others home or in your car –Use lure wraps for lures with treble hooks to prevent tangling with other rods and lines

Preparation: Gearing Up Terminal tackle Terminal tackle –Bring a good selection of Hooks Hooks –Extra-wide gap, offset, etc. Sinkers Sinkers –Brass, lead bullet, split-shot, Water Gremlin Swivels/snaps Swivels/snaps –Barrel swivels for Carolina rigging or floating worms –Snaps for quickly changing crankbaits Glass and plastic beads Glass and plastic beads Jigs Jigs –Round, tube, slider head, standup –1/16 oz., 1/8oz., 1/4oz., 3/8oz. Fluorocarbon leader material Fluorocarbon leader material –Hook sharpener, pliers, knife, scissors –Don’t depend on the boater to share his terminal tackle

Responsibilities Be on time! Be on time! Pay your boater before the tournament begins Pay your boater before the tournament begins –$30 is not too much for 8 hours on the water Don’t forget your gear! Don’t forget your gear! –You MUST bring the essentials Launch the boat, if you can Launch the boat, if you can Keep your gear organized and out of the way Keep your gear organized and out of the way Know where the safety equipment is stowed Know where the safety equipment is stowed –Flares, fire extinguisher, throwable life ring/cushion, etc. Put trash in a secure place Put trash in a secure place –Fishing line that blows off a boat can damage an engine –Don’t pollute the waters we fish Help cleanup/wipe down the boat at the end of the day Help cleanup/wipe down the boat at the end of the day

Etiquette Don’t cast over the boaters line Don’t cast over the boaters line If you smoke, ask before you light up If you smoke, ask before you light up –Don’t assume that it’s okay to smoke on the boat Determine whether you will net each others fish before the first fish is caught Determine whether you will net each others fish before the first fish is caught –Some fishermen prefer to land their fish without the net Don’t make the boater wait for you before moving to a new location Don’t make the boater wait for you before moving to a new location –Be prepared to move to a new location quickly Keeping your gear organized and stowed helps Keeping your gear organized and stowed helps –Ask the boater to give you advance warning Tell the boater if you are in a position where you cannot cast or fish Tell the boater if you are in a position where you cannot cast or fish –Don’t assume that the boater is deliberately preventing you from fishing Your boater might not realize that he’s put you in that position Your boater might not realize that he’s put you in that position Handling a boat in difficult seas and weather requires lots of concentration and effort on the part of the boater Handling a boat in difficult seas and weather requires lots of concentration and effort on the part of the boater Play by the FOBA rules Play by the FOBA rules

Strategies Do something different than your boater… Do something different than your boater… –Lures Try a different lure size (larger or smaller) Try a different lure size (larger or smaller) Add or remove weight Add or remove weight Try a different color and/or shape Try a different color and/or shape Use a scent product Use a scent product Choose lures that fish a different water depth Choose lures that fish a different water depth Use or eliminate sound Use or eliminate sound –Retrieves Use a faster or slower retrieve Use a faster or slower retrieve Use a steady, stop-and-go, or animated retrieve Use a steady, stop-and-go, or animated retrieve –Fish spots your boater missed If your boater is killing you… If your boater is killing you… –Duplicate everything he’s doing!