Banished to the back of the boat? It’s not as bad as it appears. Here’s what to do when following in someone’s wake.

The Back-Of-The-Boat.
It gives new meaning to “Bad Lands” and/or, maybe, “Twilight Zone”.
Typically tournament anglers are so seated because they “don’t” have a boat of their own and are more apt to be labled “non-boater” as opposed to the “guy in the back”. Nevertheless, both apply.

And then, well, then you get to spend the day fishing behind someone.
Honestly, other than the ninth ring of the pit of Hell, can there be a place any worse?

Ah, probably not.

But trust me, plenty of tourney anglers’ success can and does occur in/from the back of the boat. And heck, there’s a lot you can learn back there, too.

Jamin Barker, Dyersburg, Tennessee, can attest to this.

“In 2005, I won a Bassmaster Weekend Series Event from the back of the boat,” said Barker, who is also a member of the Reelfoot Lake Bass Club.
Positive Outlook: You CAN Do It!

Anglers on the back deck need to have a positive mindset. See the situation as challenge more than a hindrance and you will be way ahead of the game.

“Yes, the big key to fishing behind another angler is to stay positive,” Barker said. “Most co-anglers think if they are not paired with a well-known angler they are just in for a boat ride.

“But really there are times when this is an advantage. You may out-fish these lesser-known anglers by hitting over-looked areas. Hey, you may better pinpoint casts, or place your pitches and flips where they can’t. You never know.”

He said anglers should also stay positive if they draw a well-known angler.
“If that is the case, consider this: such anglers nearly always know where to find fish. And therefore, their ‘know-how’ is likely to increase the odds that you will be where the fish are, regardless of rear seating.”
And after all, you are in the back of their boat, so you go where they do.
Cost Factor

Chris Morlok is director for the Mid-South Jr. Bass Club, which is based in Memphis, Tennessee and pairs young anglers with adults in their monthly tourneys.

But he too, is familiar with fishing both ends of the bass boat.
“I fished ‘no boater’ for 10 years, and I did not appreciate it much until I owned my own boat,” Morlok said.

He said one of the most obvious reasons he was relegated to the back of someone else’s boat was cost.

“I can show receipts for over $13,000 every year I have owned a bass boat. I fish about 12-15 tournaments a year (not that many compared to many anglers), so one can only assume I am probably in the middle class of money spenders on bass fishing. So that’s just something to think about.”
Hey, being a back-of-the-boater cuts costs.

In The Same Boat, But Different

Barker believes the best strategy for back-enders is to watch the angler in the front. Try to differentiate from him as far as techniques go.
“For example, try a lipless crankbait if he is spinner-baiting or whacky-rigging to docks. By watching the guy up front you will see and learn subtle differences. If your boater is catching fish, it’s much easier for you to watch him than for him to watch you. Evaluate his retrieve, cadence, action with his rod, boat-positioning and casts. It can all be key to you getting strikes as you followup,” Barker said.

Morlok said NEVER ignore what you can learn from a boater.
This factor is really amplified when the no boater is fishing in a draw-partner format series that will pair him with a different angler each event.
The time spent in the back of the boat or as a non-boater can be a very valuable education.

“When I struck out on my own I really did just that...STRUCK OUT BIG TIME! My first three seasons of boat ownership (with me in the front) were the most dismal and depressing of all my years as a bass angler. I had taken for granted all the decisions my co-anglers had been making for me all those years.”

So learn while you can!

“You have to pay close attention to where the guy in the front isn’t placing his bait and try hitting those spots with a similar bait (but just a little different). If the guy in front is pitching a junebug lizard, I’d try a tequila sunrise shade — maybe with a rattle. If he’s flipping a medium jig, I’d try a really big worm. I always was a big fan of going to big bait behind my boater, and on occasion I’d hurt his feelings with a nice fish he missed. But the same can be said for going smaller behind a guy using big baits — remember, different,” Morlok said.

Terry Locke, Tri-State Bass Masters, as no doubt a back-bound boater can succeed.

“I was that person in tournament last September,” Locke told BCD. “I put five fish in the boat! Pay attention, the front man can’t hit every spot!”
Locke has been fishing in a bass club 38 years and admits to being in the back of the boat, “many, many times.”

“A good portion of the time, the guy in the back is relatively new to bass fishing or tournaments. As others have said this is a good time to watch and learn. Pay attention to not only what the other angler does, but his lure selection and ask questions.”

As for strategy, in the back Locke tries to hit targets his partner neglects. He sometimes uses different lures, and if it is the same lure, his is always a different color.

“Fishing out of the back of the boat gives you opportunity to see and learn things you might not notice if you had to run the boat and trolling motor. It allows me to keep a better eye on the electronics, too. There may be changes there that I have never noticed before, simply because I have more time to pay attention.

“The bottom line is I try to make every trip in the back of the boat a learning experience, learning both from my partner and my surroundings.”
And again, Locke pointed out that it is not impossible to win tournaments from the back of the boat.

“I’ve had my moments back there, but our club has also had other members do very well. Back in the mid- to late 1980s, a club member won the Angler Of The Year trophy in back to back years. He never owned a boat or a truck!”

Plan Before You Go
If you know who your “boater” partner is going to be prior to the tournament, a little planning can sure make a day fishing on the “back forty” somewhat better.

It might not hurt to ask your partner what kind of lures they typically fish. What is their favored method of fishing?

Some simple questions like this might better help you form a plan that aids in putting fish in the livewell. You could decide to fish baits that complement (or perhaps even contrast) your partner’s tactics. And at the least, you might have a notion as to where to begin when putting together a pre-tourney plan.

Learn your boater partner’s background and experience level. This way, if he suggests something, you will be able to put added weight on sage advice — or not.

Be Nice Back There
Here’s a few other notes for non-boaters, a.k.a. the guys in the back of the boat.

Morlok noted being considerate to the guy on the front end pays off. He is pretty much the captain of the ship. Bring food and drink to share with him. Don’t bring too much tackle and help the guy care for his craft. Of course, this is not as big of a deal in a small club where everyone knows everyone, as it would be in a larger tourney. Still, such will certainly make a day go smoother. I mean after all you are both in the same boat, you just don’t own it.

I have an off-beat buddy named Wayne “Gator” Collins (yep, a nickname definitely qualifies somebody as off-beat). He has fished with various bass clubs over the years, and when I asked him for some tips about fishing from the back of the boat, well, he came up with something off-beat, of course.
With tongue placed firmly in cheek (so as to not impale it on a treble hook is my suspicion), Collins offered his own version of “Tips From The Backside of Nowhere” (or the back of the boat):

• Bring a lot of food, so the whole day will not be lost if you, “ain’t catching anything”.
• Don’t underestimate the entertainment value of simple shenanigans. Loosen the drag on your partner’s reel when he isn’t looking; make up concoctions of mashed up worms and crickets and dip your lures in it, prior to casting. Hey, you got to do something to keep yourself entertained in the back of the boat!
• Politely ask your partner to position the boat in such a way to give you a chance at catching something. If he continues to “front-end you”, send a message. Throw a large lure with razor-sharp treble hooks by his ears a few times.
• Carry high-powered binoculars with you so you can spy on other competitors, or recreational boaters.
• And finally, milk being in the back of the boat for all it’s worth. Want an excuse for someone to feel sorry for you? You got it. Want a reason for doing poorly? Well, whata you know, you got that too!
  
   

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