anything a NB should know?

is there anything i as a non boater for my first comp in about 3 weeks should know?

im aware you should offer fuel money to your boater and stuff, thats all pretty much common sense. and i know i need to bring my own lifejacket.

obviously dont cast over your boater and try to limit your casts to behind halfway of the boat so as to try and avoid tangles and lining your boater's lure.

is there any other unwritten rules that i should know about?

thanks guys
Tom

[Danmaso]

I have spent the last 3 years fishing ABT events as a non boater from Queensland to South Australia aside from being a great traveling experience it has been a huge learning experience, fishing with other people with the same goals, but learning how we all strive to achieve these goals with different methods. I have fished with some of the best boaters out there Darren (Dizzy) Borg, Scott Towner, Steve Duff, Russell Babekuhl, to mention just a few.

You don't just learn how to improve your fishing techniques you learn all sorts of things such as boating skills, everything from driving and handling your boat in some very tricky situations such as the chop, and the wakes you receive from other boats at the start of an event. It takes a lot of skill to handle a boat in these conditions, over the years I have learnt a lot from each and every one of my boaters.

When it comes to tactics there are so many different styles and techniques it is very hard to take it all in some times, but it is more than worthwhile. Some boaters will talk to you and give you a lit of helpful advice others don't say much. This doesn't mean they are ignorant or don't want you there, they are spending a lot of time and money to do what they are doing, and they take it seriously. Some more so than others, some handle the stress better than others, this is not the best time to try and talk to other anglers, wait for when they are more relaxed.

Since becoming a boater myself I have realized just how much stress being a boater can be, there is a lot more to it than meets the eye, don't get me wrong it is a very enjoyable experience if you are prepared for what you are taking on. This is just one aspect of being a non boater that was an invaluable experience, some days are golden as the saying goes and others are not, such as very windy conditions.

Over the years I have fished with boaters that made this look easy, but it is extremely hard to control your boat in these conditions, or keeping your cool when the unexpected happens such as electric motor failure or just someone else beating you to that all important spot. In order to do well you must remain cool calm and collected, that's why you always need to have a backup plan and more than one in some instances.

You have to get to know your boat first of all, I am not to proud to say the first time I jumped on an electric motor all hell broke loose, I was concentrating so hard on what I was trying to do with the electric that I could not fish, needless to say before I knew it I was snagged and nearly broke a rod trying to get myself out of trouble. I was ready to toss the towel in then and there, but with a little encouragement I soon got the hang of it, it all takes time and lots of patiences.

Over the years I have tried to learn by asking questions of my boaters, some are more than willing to pass on their knowledge, experience and techniques others are either not or just can't put it in to words. I have come to realize you learn a lot more by just paying attention, to a number of things, if it is working for your offsider it will more than likely work for you if you do it right, watch your boaters fishing techniques.

How far or close from the bank they cast, how long they let it sit before moving it, watch for pauses, lifts, drops and so on, no matter how small or insignificant you might think this is, it is sometimes the difference between winning and losing.

Even though I have my own boat now I am still learning, from my non boaters as well as other experiences, I don't think I will ever stop learning, not to mention all the different gear and new techniques evolving all the time. I enjoy being a boater but I do admit I still don't mind being a non boater, the good part of crossing over for me was being able to try some of my own ideas and putting them to the test, that's what it's all about.

I don't expect to much to soon, and intend to enjoy the experience, if I get lucky it will be a bonus, in saying that I do take my fishing these tournaments seriously and hope to make a name for myself on my own merits. I never cease to get a rush when I catch the first fish of the day whether it is practice or a tournament, or when I get that big fish we all dream of. I find the comradeship and competitive nature of tournament fishing a buzz that is very hard to beat, and becoming a boater has made this experience even more of a challenge.

The pressure is on to find the fish and then catch them. It is not always easy to get the fish to bite even though you may have found a good school of fish. I have fished in clear deep water and watched fish swarm around my lure and follow it, but with no intent to eat it, you either have to entice them to eat when they are not in the mood or torment the heck out of them until they strike out of aggression.

Sometimes this still doesn't work, so you have to move on, this is where having more than one plan of attack is of the most importance, every minute out there is important to you so get to know the waterway you intend to fish. Always maintain your gear as these are the tools of your trade especially rods reels and line, you don't want that all important fish lost due to line or gear failure, as a boater it is also very important to make sure you have everything in good condition for your tournament.

Maintenance of your boat should be a ritual every time you use your boat, it is one of your most important tools and your biggest expense, so look after it, and it would be nice to see a few more women have a go. It may seem a bit daunting at first but like anything else it all gets easier as you go along, but this article is not just about being a female as everyone is treated equal and we all have the same chance of winning if we put the hard yards in. I am still learning and hope to learn even more.

I hope my article will encourage more people to come along and see what tournament fishing is all about and if you have a passion for fishing give it a go, you will find the atmosphere very friendly and contagious, you will also find a never ending supply of anglers ready and willing to share their knowledge and experiences with you.

You don't have to have a boat to do this, just download a membership form, become a member and nominate for an event as a non boater and be prepared to learn, all you need is a light weight rod or two with reels of course and your tackle bag full of goodies. Any good tackle store can put you on the right track with the right gear. You don't need to have all expensive stuff to start out, it's up to you how much you spend, but do remember in most cases you do get what you pay for.


(found this article on the ABT wesite, its by KAREN BERRY)

Cheers carra...

[Hooked]

Mate one thing l find a lot of non-boaters fail to bring is their own measuring device for obviously measuring fish...ln a hot bite l hate having to look around for MY ruler when time is of the essence when the fish are on.
Also a set of pliers(long nose) to call your own for removing hooks and the like.Bar the things you've already listed that would be my only items l see missing when a non-boater gets on board.

Steve

[butcheri]

Another great article for non-boaters:

http://flwserieswest.flwoutdoors.com....cfm?id=149411


Cheers,

Jim.

thanks for all the tips guys

measuring stick is a good idea, ill definetly remember that one and pliers too

thanks for the articles aswell guys

[pinkey]

dont laugh when your boater casts his hb's off

[phil jagger]

Don't yell "cheater" when your boater catches a fish using Gulp!....