The boater/non-boater format is a good way for someone to get introduced to the sport of bass tournaments without making the financial obligations it takes to fish on a tournament circuit. A non-boater doesn’t have to spend the $50,000 + on a fancy bass boat and the cost of running one of those boats for a summer. The other advantage is that you don’t have to worry about where to fish or how to find fish. This is all taken care of by the boater….hopefully. The non-boater fishes from the back of the boat and really doesn’t have any input on where to fish. The only thing that the non-boater has to do is meet his boater partner at the launch at an agreeable time in the morning and then spend the rest of the day trying to catch fish and also learn as much as possible from his partner. Each of them will try and catch their own fish to weigh in at the end of the day.

The question that most non-boaters have is; what do I bring??? You will not be able to bring everything that you own. You have to limit yourself. The day before the tournament when you and your partner meet for the first time, this is a good time to ask him/her what type of fishing that you are going to be doing the next day. If your partner (boater) says that you will be fishing in shallow water flipping and pitching stumps and lily pads all day. Don’t bring your ultra light gear with you. Chances are that you will not have a very good day out there. Although this first conversation is usually very brief you want to get as much information from your partner as you possibly can. Some of the key questions to ask are: do we have a long boat ride before you get to his fishing hole?? Are we fishing deep or shallow, are we power fishing or finesse fishing for most of the day? These questions will determine what you bring with you the next day.

A good start is with the amount of rods that you should bring. That amount is usually no more than 6 rods. Why 6 rods?? It’s not a rule that you have to bring 6 it’s just that you have to be prepared for anything that can happen out there. In case one of your reels break down, or you snap a rod tip you will have another that you can use. Also if you are using multiple baits during the day, you don’t have to keep tying and retying different baits, you can just grab another rod and continue fishing. So now that you have your rods selected and your reels are fully spooled you are ready to decide what tackle to bring.

Again here is a place where you have to limit the amount that you bring on the boat. You don’t want to bring everything because you have to hold onto this bag(s) at your feet while you are moving from spot to spot. Once again the brief conversation that you had with your partner the day/evening before will help you determine what type of tackle to bring with you for the next days fishing. There are some places where you can limit what you bring. A perfect example is don’t bring every single colour of plastics that you have. Don’t’ bring every colour of flipping jig you have. You should limit yourself to a maximum of 2 tackle bags. The boater doesn’t want to have an extra 200 lbs just because you need to bring all of your tackle with you. In some cases if you are onto fish and you run out of the particular colour that the fish seem to be biting on the boater (if you ask nicely) might lend you that colour to finish off the days fish. You have to remember your partner’s boat is usually a floating tackle shop. He/she probably has the colour that you have just run out of. Ask if he/she has that bait, you may be surprised how much they will try and help you out.

Now that you have your rods and tackle bag(s) packed and ready to go, you have to make sure that you bring the other essentials with you. You have to be prepared for everything and anything that can happen out there. Trust me if something can go wrong it will happen when you are out on the water. You will not be able to come back to shore because you forgot something. Here is a list of other important items to bring with you so that you can have the most enjoyable day possible fishing. You want to make sure that you bring some drinks and/or food, a rain suit, your life jacket, sunscreen, fishing glasses, perhaps shorts or pants depending on the weather conditions for the day.

Other things to consider when you decide what to bring is how long of a run do you have to make to get to and from your fishing hole. This will also have an impact on the amount of things that you bring with you. If you have a 30 minute boat ride 1 way, you want to be able to sit comfortably in the seat and not have to worry about your gear. Also if the weather conditions are nice then the ride is not too bad but what happens if it’s windy and raining. Now that 30 minute boat ride in nice weather as turned into an hour and 30 minute ride. A hard back pounding ride that you have to endure until you reach your spot. This kind of ride and tire you out before you even pick up a fishing rod. Sometimes the boater (if you ask nicely) allow you to store your rods in his rod locker or strap down on the front deck so that would be 1 thing that you don’t have to hold on to for the ride. Your neck muscles can get tired very quickly when you trying to brace yourself against the elements.

You want to make your fishing enjoyable and you don’t want to let the little things spoil your day. This article is based on my experiences that I had while fishing a Citgo Bassmaster Tour event in March of 2004 in Manning South Carolina on the Santee Cooper Reservoir. You want to bring everything that you need when you go out fishing because when we fish from our own boats we know that if we need a particular bait that we probably have it in a storage compartment somewhere. When fishing as a co-angler/non-boater you do not have that luxury of having everything you need at your fingertips. So if plan carefully and pack wisely you should have a good day on the water. You never know, you may just come home with a cheque.

By Peter Larmand

Normally, I write about different products or techniques that we use in bass fishing or tournament fishing but this time I thought I’d write about something a little different than a how to article. Today I’m going to write about my boat dealer.

George’s Marine and Sports is a family owned and operated marina for the past 40 years. The founder George Wilcox started the business in the late sixties and how it’s ran by his son Jeff Wilcox and family. I have been with George’s Marine and Sports now for the past 4 years. I have purchased 2 Nitro bass boats from them, one back in 2003 and the other this year, a 2008 Nitro Z-9. The service that I have received from them has been amazing. I bring in my boat and they tell me right away what needs to be done and it gets done. I’m back out on the water in no time. Being a tournament angler I depend on my equipment to work under all conditions. So if my boat is in the shop for any length of time, I’m losing money.

The sales staff at George’s Marine and Sports are knowledgeable on the products that they sell and they will make sure that you are in the right boat/pleasure craft or recreational vehicle that suits you. They are not only your sales person but they really want to help you and make you feel welcome. Even after you leave the dealership with your new toy, when you come back they make you feel welcome.

The service and parts department are second to none. Parts for your Mercury motor and accessories for your Tracker/Nitro boat are available. With knowledgeable service staff from the ladies at the service counter to the guys working on your rig. They get it right the first time and they make sure that when you leave there you are satisfied and you want to return. I know that some of you are saying…I don’t shop at George’s and my dealer is the same way. That may be true but here is the kicker.

Every year George’s Marine and Sports along with Tracker Boats put together a family fun fishing weekend. This is held in early September on Golden Lake just north of Ottawa Ontario. Jeff, his family and staff volunteer their time on their day off to put this little fishing tournament on. Everyone that has purchased a Nitro or Tracker boat from George’s gets an invitation to participate. This has become an annual event for the past 13 years now and I have been fortunate enough to participate in 2 of them over the past 4 years.

There is a buffet dinner on the Saturday night where everyone gathers for some fine food, drinks and fun. Activities are planned during the evening and prizes are given out. For example; participates are asked questions about the boats that they have and the correct answer receives a tracker shirt, or a George’s beach towel etc. The staff from both locations; Ottawa and Eganville are there talking and having fun with everyone there.

Sunday morning we wake up then proceed to have a buffet breakfast and register for the 1 day tournament. There is a kids division as well as an adult division. The species that you are fishing for are bass and pike. Upon registration each participate receives a hat from Tracker Boats and it’s off for a fun day of fishing.

Upon returning for the weigh in and all of the fish have been weighed prizes are handed out. All participates receive a prize consisting of clothing, fishing tackle and/or other items. There is also a door prize which this year was a stainless steel BBQ with utensils and a voucher for some great steaks, a $1500 value. All this just to say thank you, not very many other dealers do this if any.

With 2 locations to serve you better, the next time that you are looking for a boat or recreational vehicle give George’s Marine and Sports a call and let them hook you up. After all they make fun a reality. Then hopefully, we will see you at the next family fun tournament.

Peter Larmand September/07