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Non-Boater Guidelines

The “RIGHT WAY” to be a non-boater
Over the years we all have had the great pleasure of fishing with many different members of the Wisconsin BASS Federation. In that time we have come up with a few ideas on how to be a good non-boater. Here are some of them.

First, remember it is not your boat! You are a guest and should act like one. Help the boater get the cover off. Take the straps off and check for the DRAIN plug. Load and stow all your gear where the boat owner has made room for you. Ask if you can help back the boat in. If you don’t know how, LEARN. If they ask you to NOT help, respect that too, they may have a certain way of doing things. Remember, it’s their boat! If you do help launch the boat watch for their hand signals, they know when the boat is in the right position for unloading. Park the rig and get back down to the boat right away, unless you are helping another boater launch their boat. Your main job is helping your boater.

Clean your shoes off before stepping into the boat. Strap down anything you don’t want to blow out. Your stuff is your responsibility. If your hat blows off, don’t ask the boater to pull over and let you go get it. Take an extra one along. Bring enough pop and goodies along to share. Wear glasses so you can help your boater see the stumps etc. Don’t be afraid to speak up if you see a dangerous spot in the water. The boater has a lot to do just running the boat.

When the boater stops the big motor and prepares to move in on his spot, DO NOT start casting until you have discussed the plan of attack. Sometimes the boater will troll back and forth a few times to locate cover or structure. If you go to the boater’s fish, don’t and I repeat DON’T go back the next day, unless he says it’s OK.

If you don’t know how to run a trolling motor, tell the boater right away. Inexperienced trolling motor operators can cause quite a bit of damage to a boat. If you want to learn how to run a trolling motor, find a friend that has a boat and ask if you can practice. DO NOT try to learn during a tournament! If you do know how to run a trolling motor and would like to run the boat part of the day, also tell the boater right away. The boater will plan the day with time for you to run the front of the boat. If you do not tell the boater, you may never get a chance to operate the trolling motor. As well, the boater may ask you to run the trolling motor so he can do something else. At that time move to the front of the boat as quickly as possible and take over the controls.

Discuss things like netting the fish, running live wells, culling the fish, etc. If you want to fish off the front of the boat with the boater, ASK FIRST and let them know you are coming. There is nothing that hurts more than a rattle trap in the back of the head!! When the boater gets ready to leave or move, reel your lure in FAST, stow all of your gear, get your life jacket on and get ready to leave.

When the tournament is nearing its end, discuss your return trip. You should both agree to quit fishing and give yourself enough time to get back to weigh-in safely. Once you get back to the dock check your fish to make sure they are alive and look OK. If you have a problem with any fish talk to the boater RIGHT THEN! Your fish are your responsibility. The boater may choose to leave the boat in the lake so that fresh water can circulate through the livewells. If all the fish are OK he may choose to load the boat at that time. When you are dropped off at the dock, go get the truck and back the trailer into the water. Watch for his signals, he knows how far in the water the trailer needs to go.

Once the rig is parked, stand in line with the boater to get your weigh-in bags. If you did not catch any fish, tell the tournament director and go back to the boat. Pick up your mess, things like broken lures, used lures, line, pop cans, candy wrappers etc. Pay the boater for the gas and oil! The average cost to the non-boater should be $20 and with current gas prices you may want to offer more. If the boater plans to run a long distance, the cost may be more and should be discussed before take off. Don’t say “I’ll catch you later” and not thank or pay him because you did not catch a fish. Remember you are fishing against the fish, not the boater and it still costs money to take the boat out. If he showed you a HOT spot, don’t assume you can go back there the next day or even next week. The boater found it, not you. Thank him again and go away friends. All of these hints amount to common courtesy. Treat the boater like you would like to be treated. There goes that old “Golden Rule” again. Have a great day on the water and keep your lure wet.