[motocross269]

I am thinking about fishing the LSC BFL as a boater....It sounds like they are way Co-angler heavy and If I sign up as a boater I may be able to get 2 more guys out fishing.....(I will drop from a co and move to a boater)

I have fished as a Co angler in the BFLs off and on for 3 years..I have been lucky enough to draw great boaters on LSC and cashed checks 2 years in a row....
I won my club tournament a week ago with 18.5, I had a little help finding a great area, but was able to narrow it down and produce a fair sack...
I have been fishing as a boater in my Club for 2 years....
I live close to LSC so have started to gain some solid big water driving experience over the last 2 years....
I have a 97 20 ft Jag that is super clean and pretty much like new...It has run pretty solid so far with no problems and livewells and pumps all work well..(It is carbed so it can be a little cold blooded) It is set up for big water with a 52 inch trolling motor and is equipped with 2 Lowrance X28cs
My concerns are my area has seemed to have dried up some..I will need to spend some time on the water and hope that I can put something together by next week...I should be able to do that..I have a day or two off coming...
I just don't want to screw some Co that is in the points race if the fish that I have fall apart or I fail to put something together....
I have only been able to fish 3 BFLs a year for the last couple of years due to the economy, but hope to move up to the boater side full time when things turn around a bit...
Your thoughts??

 

[icefishermanmark12]

What's the difference in entry fees? In the BFL you're going up against some real good anglers. I hate to say you're not ready, but I hate to see you lose your money too. I'd do what your gut tells you.

 

[Nick D]

QUOTE(motocross269 @ Jul 29 2009, 10:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I am thinking about fishing the LSC BFL as a boater....It sounds like they are way Co-angler heavy and If I sign up as a boater I may be able to get 2 more guys out fishing.....(I will drop from a co and move to a boater)

I have fished as a Co angler in the BFLs off and on for 3 years..I have been lucky enough to draw great boaters on LSC and cashed checks 2 years in a row....
I won my club tournament a week ago with 18.5, I had a little help finding a great area, but was able to narrow it down and produce a fair sack...
I have been fishing as a boater in my Club for 2 years....
I live close to LSC so have started to gain some solid big water driving experience over the last 2 years....
I have a 97 20 ft Jag that is super clean and pretty much like new...It has run pretty solid so far with no problems and livewells and pumps all work well..(It is carbed so it can be a little cold blooded) It is set up for big water with a 52 inch trolling motor and is equipped with 2 Lowrance X28cs
My concerns are my area has seemed to have dried up some..I will need to spend some time on the water and hope that I can put something together by next week...I should be able to do that..I have a day or two off coming...
I just don't want to screw some Co that is in the points race if the fish that I have fall apart or I fail to put something together....
I have only been able to fish 3 BFLs a year for the last couple of years due to the economy, but hope to move up to the boater side full time when things turn around a bit...
Your thoughts??

Hey Motocross269,

If you have a sound rig that will adequatley support two fishermen in space and livewell capacity, and have the confidence to want to fish as a boater, then why not go for it! Remember, co-anglers are co-anglers for a reason....either they do not have a boat and want to fish a tournament at this level, or they do not want to use their own boat for some reason. That said, I wouldn't worry about it. Your not being hired as their private guide so your not obligated to put your co-angler on fish (although having fish does work in your favor), and fishing's fishing. You can hammer them one day and then find yourself wondering if there are any fish in the lake on the next. Nothing's guarenteed and this happens to even the pros! So quite thinking about it, and get your rig ready and go fishing!

Have Fun and Good luck!!

 

[No More Mini]

You are ready young Jedi.....

I have never fished as a Co in a BFL (or Redman). Only did one Redman as a boater, but have fished many draw type tourneys.

You are worrying too much, join a boater you will never look back. Just make sure and collect your $20 for gas (or more if needed) and have a good day!

 

[DWC]

I agree with Nick and Mini...go for it! Sounds like you're doing pretty good at the club level, and you've been around the BFL's long enough to know how things run under their format. Yeah, it's a scarry step to take but there's no better place to do it than on a lake you've had recent success at.

Besides all that, there will be one more happy co-angler sitting on the waiting list that will get to go fishing!

 

[Topwater_maniac]

I think your ready. I too am making the jump to boater, Ranger Z21 with all the bells and whistles.
After fishing the Stren last week, as a co-angler, and having my first day boater lose all function of his GPS and me having to play guide all day and my 2nd day boater wanting to go largemouth fishing, but not know where to go, again me playing guide, I think I am ready.
There are so many wonderful fisherman that know the Rivers, St.Clair and Lake Erie I can only hope to learn and work hard to be as good as them. If you have the knowledge and confidence go for it, I am.

 

[motocross269]

Thanks for all of the encouragement..

I called FLW today and they have 30 more Cos than Boaters..I am going to wait until the end of next week to switch over in case I have boat problems or something comes up while prefishing...I have a confirmation letter and I don't want to jeopardize that...

If I switch to a boater that will actually get 2 more anglers on the water...My guaranteed spot will become open and whomever I draw...

Should be a blast..See you on the water...

Brian

 

[No More Mini]

Good luck Brian, even though you wont need it.

 

[motocross269]

With the weather report looking like it could be tough I have decided to stay as a CO...Wind gusts out of the south up to 30 MPH and Thunderstorms have me concerned...I found a great concentration of fish 18 miles from Metro, but couldn't really get anything heavy going on the American side....I never got a chance to fish the River....So bottom line is that could be a long run in bad weather....I worked hard this week pre fishing LSC and for my Sunday Club tournament up on Saginaw river.....I picked up a few more areas that I should be able to use in the future...
If I was fishing for points it would be a different story...I am just looking forward to a good day on the water...The kicker of course is you never know who you will draw...Luckily I have been very fortunate in the 10 or so BFLs I have fished and drawn good-great boaters....Even if I didn't catch fish I have always picked up some great pointers...
Again thanks for all of the encouragement and I will keep working hard to get better...

Brian...

 

[motocross269]

There ended up being more Boaters than Co Anglers so I would have had to stay as a Co either way to ensure my Designated boater got his slot...I find it hard to believe that 30 boaters waited to sign up in the last week, but maybe..

 

[motocross269]

Well it worked out pretty well....I won the Co angler side with 21-05...
I drew a great boater that said he didn't have much so he was open minded to go to my spot after checking one of his spots for awhile. His truck broke down on the way to the event so it cut into his practice time..We ended up putting a couple of fish in the boat at his area then headed over to an area that I had and It worked out well....I am glad that the fish didn't make me out to be a liar.. That is the way it usually is when you tell someone you have a little bit going in an area...Actually It was a secondary area for me and I was surprised that it held that much weight.....
The weather stunk...It is going to take me a week to dry out....

 

[DWC]

Congrats! It'll take me a week to dry out - and I only watched the weigh in!

 

[little guy]

Congrats!

I did it as a co-angler for a couple of years and drew some good guys and drew some duds. Never had the desire to go to the pro side even though I have some top 5s and a couple of big bass titles to my name in only a couple of seasons. As a boater I find myself a consistent 15# sack kinda guy and that is good for points but won't pay the entry fees - although today would have been good.

Again great job.