Great American Heartland Sportsman Magazine As a co-angler competitor on the FLW Tour, I’ve been faced with highs and lows, successes and disastrous defeats. I’ve learned that consistence from tournament to tournament is half determined by skill, and the other half with the “luck of the draw”. I’ve also learned that perhaps the technique and presentation of baits your pro-partner chooses, isn’t necessarily that of which you should attempt as well. But above all things I’ve learned while fishing behind the world’s best of the best is this, know how to adapt. Adapting to every given situation and making wise decisions is crucial to victory when you’re not in control of the watercraft. A co-angler is basically “along for the ride”, making success the ultimate challenge. Now, for all of you that fish as a co-angler on tour, or for those contemplating competing on a professional tour level, this is intended for you. I’ve been receiving several inquiries via my website pertaining to co-angler related questions or concerns. I hope to touch on a few of these and share my opinion with you today! Find a practice partner. I generally like to spend two or three days on the water prior to official take-off day of the tournament. By doing this, I’m basically just getting a feel for the water and establishing my game plan. I prefer to fish with a different angler for each day of practice. I never know in advance who I’ll draw for the tournament, so I like to obtain as much information from a variety of anglers before I’m paired. I know several co-anglers that bring their own boats, find their own water, and work alone. My belief is this. If you won’t be running a boat in the tournament, don’t practice as you are. The back of the boat is an entirely different ballgame and you must prepare yourself mentally for that challenge. Keep your tackle to a minimum. After practicing, I have an idea what I’m going to be throwing and what the water conditions may bring, therefore, why cloud your mind, (and your partners’ boat), with things you’re not going to use? Simplicity is sometimes more beneficial for a co-angler than is a disorganized mess and clutter. It’s easy for a co-angler to get frustrated and change up presentations far more often than necessary. If you can resist the temptation by not bringing EVERYTHING you own, you are bound to sticking with what you “know” worked for you in practice, hence more time with your line IN the water instead of retying too often. Carry no more than five rods, the fewer the better. Know how to finesse fish. If your pro partner is power fishing, throw finesse behind him or her. Our duty as a co-angler is to catch the fish that were “left behind”. That’s a tough gig to fill when your partners gone through the water with a fine toothed comb and a vacuum!! Adapt. As co-anglers, we adapt; light line, finesse worms/jigs, (my personal favorite, the new Shaky Head worm in Berkley GULP!), and a lot of patience! Have your “go to” power baits rigged up and ready also. I essentially will carry rods equipped with flippin’ jigs or plastics, Carolina rig, and a crankbait/spinnerbait; given you have the opportunity to use them. However, my advice is go light and stick with it!! Respect your partner. I tend to keep conversation to a minimum unless my partner has initiated communication. We’re both there to have a great time, indeed, but, there is also the overwhelming sense of pressure associated with such a challenging competition. However, I have conceived the notion several times that once the livewells are filled, the pressure seems to cease considerably and the good times begin! Never question your pros decisions’ and be quick to your life vest when the word is given. Discuss net procedures before the tournament begins. Be quick in aid when needed and congratulate, always! Simply stated, he/she is your partner, not your opponent. At the end of the day, the unwritten rule of slipping your partner a little gas money, (practice or competition), always applies! Stay positive! As a co-angler, there are immense amounts of time when the negativity and frustration try to creep in. Perhaps your pro partner is sight fishing, and you’re backed up in a cove for a half hour casting relentlessly in the same spot to no avail. Maybe while practicing you knew the majority of quality fish were being caught deep, but your pro made the choice to go shallow. These circumstances will and do arise, however, adapt, stay focused, fish hard, and your good attitude will be rewarded! Have fun! With a competitive spirit, I know that the desire to win can ultimately affect your ability to have a good time. We as co-anglers are, granted, there to compete and win, but above all, there to learn. While some people could be content with fishing as an amateur for infinity, I particularly tend to look at my co-angler career as stepping stones. I’m gaining the experience that I need now to compete and win at a level of professionalism I perceive in the future. Take the good with the bad, stay humble, and have fun! Aside from the basics, this is my advice for you, the co-angler on tour. Practice, have a game plan and be able to adapt accordingly, pack light but be prepared, stay focused, be patient, and have fun! These are only my opinions and what works for me, but also my suggestions. With the competitive spirit that lives within me and from what I have seen by other competitors on the trail, it’s easy to become consumed with the thrill of victory and the pits of defeat. If you can keep a smile on your face throughout it all, your time will come and you will succeed. But like everything else, we pay our dues, we learn, we grow, win and lose, and most importantly, we’re humbled. If anybody should have any further questions or comments, please send any inquiries to my website at sondrarankin.com. Fish on! |