Looking For A Partner
Well, many anglers have already found their partner
for Team tournaments as
some circuts have already started this years run. Many on the
other hand
haven't yet found that right partner for the upcoming events of
the spring
and summer. Many anglers trying fishing team events for the first
time don't
really know what to expect, so here is the question.
What makes a good team? Seems like a simple question but there
is no a
simple answer. Finding and keeping a good fishing partner is probably
harder
than finding a wife (and about as expensive). I believe that,
if for no
other reason because you've got a lot fewer choices. Since this
is close to
the start of a new season with many new teams forming, I thought
it might be
a good time to look at team fishing and some of the tricks of
the trade in
being a good team. Most are just common sense, other seems to
be less
obvious.
A good team shares something in common other than
fishing. If you're going
to spend 8 to 10 hours within 18 feet of one another, you'd better
at least
like the guy! If you share interests in other sports or activities,
it makes
passing the time a lot easier than trying to talk about last weeks
Fish
Sniffer for 8 hours.
A good team likes to fish similar water. Nothing
can be more frustrating for
a team than one partner wanting to go flipping while the other
wants to fish
deep holes in open water. The team should agree on the general
style they
prefer before even going to practice on a particular lake. This
may change
with season, lake, or weather, but the team should still understand
what
water each partner feels comfortable fishing and when.
A good team has TRUST in each other. If you trust
you're partner's judgment,
be it in location, lure selection, or just ESP when it comes to
finding
fish, you'll both have a better day especially if it's slow. The
respect
each partner has for the other will get you through those times
when nothing
is biting and you don't know what to try next. And if your partner
says you
should be throwing a Bubblegum Deep Diving Hula Popper, you should
trust him
enough to at least tie one on for a few casts.
A good team fishes the same water differently.
Each partner brings a
strength or style to the team. Each partner should use that strength
to help
the team. If one partner is good at crankbaits, let him be the
one who
throws them. The other partner may be better at worms or jerk
baits. Work
the same water in different ways. If you trust your partner to
catch any
fish that will bite a particular lure in a given spot, then it
would be a
waste of time to throw the same lure in the same place. The only
time you
should both have on the same lure is when you're sure it's the
best bait for
that place on that day.
A good team knows their roles. Each partner has
a set of jobs to do for the
team and his partner depends on him to do them. The boat operator
must keep
the boat in a position that both partners can effectively fish.
The rider
may be in charge of checking the livewell and keeping the team's
catch
healthy until weigh-in. If you're the boat owner, it's up to you
to keep
everything operational for the next trip. If you're a non-boater,
it may be
left to you to spend the extra money to buy the team a new type
of lure to
try, (remember to get two), or you might be in charge of cold
sodas for the
day. Discuss your roles with your partner and know what he expects
and
depends on you to do.
A good team never competes against one another.
You are not in competition
with the other guy in the boat! Don't compete with you partner
and try to
back seat him or cast through to that next good looking point.
Remember
nobody cares at weigh-in who stuck which fish. Any fish that comes
into the
boat is for the team, I tell my soccer team all the time there's
no "I" in
team. You're just as important doing a good job with the net as
you are
playing the fish.
Enjoy!
Dan Mathisen
FishDelta.com - All Species, All Delta
The Ultimate Resource For California Delta Fishing
Dan
Mathisen
FishDelta.com
- All Species, All Delta
The
Ultimate Resource For California Delta Fishing
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