What makes a good partner?

I am killing myself mentally about this. At the beginning of the season, I was fired up about taking the plunge and entering bass tournaments. I have fished 3 with 3 different people. But my problem is I never gets asked to fish a tournament more than once. So my question is, what does a person look for in a partner? This is just eating me up wondering what I am doing wrong . I will admit, I am new to fishing tournaments and don’t know everything there is to know about the different techniques. I figured if I had a positive attitude and gave it my all, things would be good. In the 3 tournies we never limited out or came close to getting a check, could that be a problem? Obviously I need to make some changes, but where? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. With your help, maybe I can get rid of this stomach ulcer.

Did you catch 9 sheephead last Saturday like my partner did?

Sorry Dave, I couldn’t resist!

I’m no tournament veteran by any means but I think the most important thing is to have fun on the water, get out, try and learn something new everytime. I’m fishing my 3rd this year in 2 weeks… 3rd partner as well. Why? It’s just the way it worked out.

Bottom line — you’re waaaaaaaaaaaay overthinking the whole thing. Ease back and have fun.

I also thought maybe I was making it bigger than it is, but I don’t beleive that. I tried getting a better boat thinking I might be able to get a partner for tournies, but that fell through. Then I thought why should I have to have a $12000+ boat to get friends, pretty sad huh? I have asked to partner up again, but can’t get any takers. Now I am pretty much out of the tourney game due to not having a partner. I missed out on 3 due to that . But so far 2 of the tourneys have been cancelled due to high water. I do try and have fun while fishing and learn new techniques or areas every time out. Maybe I should just try and find individual tournies that do not require a partner.

What’s your fishin background Am?

Its very difficult, in my opinion, to find a really good partner. There are alot of good fisherman but not alot of good partners. Normally I look for the following:

1. Has about the same understanding of the water as I do; If someone wants to partner to learn thats fine but I want to know that up front cause it will definitely change the tournament I’ll fish with them. I have partnered with people to learn in the past and I continue to learn from my partners but if I’m really fishing the tournament to learn from someone … they need to know in advance so they don’t depend on me when the time comes to put the money down. These days I don’t partner to learn its a byproduct of associating withsomeone else who is willing to really share thoughts and work as a team on the water. JC and I get along very well on and off the water and have for years. We’re a good team when we have a chance to fish a tournament whether we win or not. My normal partner(JC is my abnormal partner hahaha) John and I, are a good team whether we win or not. We get along on and off the water and are willing to contribute as much as we can to the success of the team not the individual.
2. Is willing to prefish the same as I am
3. Is willing to pay for half of the expenses
4. Is not a legend in his own mind… or if he is he keeps that notion to himself
5. Has the same ethical and personal standards that I do; e.g. I don’t fool around on my wife and I expect my partner to not fool around on his. Sounds like a peculiar standard in a way but I don’t want to worry about what my partner’s doing when he’s not in the motel room the night before the tournament.
6. Has the ability to keep his mouth shut about the fishing we did, the spots we fished, and the techniques we used before and after the tournament.
7. Will laugh and joke yet be serious as need be to have the best tournament we can.
8. Will analyze what we did and didn’t do at the tournament regardless if its a good or bad showing
9. Does not lie to me… about the fish he’s on or if I’ve done something to bother him
10. Has my back

Can’t think of any more at the moment. I will say… don’t let it eat you up. People fish tournaments for a lot of reasons… some good… some ridiculous but there really is no justice in fishing there is only fishing hahaha. Learning what you need to about the sport you love can be achieved alot of different ways. Fishing club tournaments to get to know people and learn more specifically what partners want is one way… probably one of the better ways. If you lay money down… especially serious money down… and your partner is intending to compete you have to understand that he or she will expect you to compete as well at nearly the same level they are usually. If you’re ability is not at the same level theirs is and they don’t realize it the experience will be tough for both of you. It doesn’t mean they will dislike you… but… they may not ask you to fish again because they don’t believe what you two put together is enough have a good showing.

Last, and this took me a while to learn… I knew it in my mind but not my heart… fishing tournaments will never make you a somebody… you’re a somebody before you ever pick up the rod. Winning tournaments will cause people to notice you… for better or worse… it doesn’t always bring out the best in people. Losing is part of winning… if you can’t take losing you probably will very very very rarely experience winning.

I respect that you asked the question you did. Not everyone has the courage to do that as forthrightly as you did. So don’t club yourself.

Hope this helps

Curt

very good answer curt, but to add to what you skirted around in your message is trust. AM, if all your looking for is some new fishing spots- this would be the biggest way to urine off a new partner, that is, showing up on the fish that they just showed you for a tournament. Alot of stratagy goes into tournament fishing- how a person pre-fishes, (stays away from the from the schools during off tournament dates), believe me, big fish when pressured leave! I guess what i’m trying to say is, if no one knows you personally, they are less to extend a helping hand in the tournament scene. The best formula is what curt said, best friend+fun in the boat x trust^3= success!

Curt,

That is probably one of the better posts i’ve read in this forum in a long time. Nicely worded, and very insiteful. I’m contemplating the jump from club tournaments (which I enjoy), to fishing pay-to-play tournaments and your reponse was a great thing for me to read right now. I’ve fished with alot of partners in my club and outside my club (including JC, and others from this site) and found each outing a learning experience.

Chris

AMWatson,

I’d have to agree with Curt & Champman. Especially trust.

I have a partner that I met here; you guys know him as slopbass.

He took me into his home, fed me and was very gracious. He prefished and worked his tail off from the back of the boat to put fish in the boat.

He and I just clicked.

Today I have a local partner named Carl which you guys don’t know. He and I just clicked.

We fish similarly yet differently so we tend to cover a good portion of water.

There are two guys I know. Rick & Jaybird. Those guys fish well together. They click.

Now I know two other guys. They don’t click and it shows in tournament attendance & points or fish in the boat.

Have you considered teaming up with slopbass? I’m not sure if he has a partner or not, but if he doesn’t, you and he may be a good match for one another.

Man, it’s like a dating relationship. I don’t lie when I write I talk to Carl my Monday night partner more than my wife sometimes!

If a guy is a good fellow and works hard and stays out of given areas when asked, then he’s worth long look.

Oh, lastnight we had second place, but were two minutes late to the weigh in… We were DQed… Pooh.

Thanks ,

Jeff…
Thanks for those kind words!! You got DQ’d for being 2 minutes late huh?? Seems that happened to you (US) once before…lol .

Wats…
Don’t get discouraged. You and I have fished together and We had a good time. And If it wasn’t for my boat crapping out on me w/a few hours left, there’s no doubt we would’ve limited out. We still pulled together a nice bag, despite the handicap….

As for partnering up…I’ve been fishing w/the same core group of guys for a few years now….so i’m fairly committed to them…BUT i’ve also partnered w/some new faces here as well…yourself, Botto, mossboss…and had a great time w/everyone. I try to fish with new people if I get a chance….but i’ll be more than willing to fish with you again….providing i’m not previously committed…

Don’t get down…just keep posting and keep fishing. Opportunties will come. Speaking of which, we should head out soon!!

later bud

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5. Has the same ethical and personal standards that I do; e.g. I don’t fool around on my wife and I expect my partner to not fool around on his. Sounds like a peculiar standard in a way but I don’t want to worry about what my partner’s doing when he’s not in the motel room the night before the tournament.
Curt

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What goes on the road stays on the road

Way to be “THAT GUY” PB

Mike,
Just when everyone is starting to take the things you post with some consideration you go and show your true colors. I for one would never partner up with someone I didn’t think had high personal standards. To tell you the truth I would be more than half tempted to see if that body ends up in swift creek with all the others falling to that fait. Fun is fun but this is a serious post and in my opinion one that needed to be brought to the surface.

Many of the guys feeling frustration are realy only fighting one of 2 battles. 1 they can not find anyone that is of the same caliber in which they both learn or they are trying to find a guy to teach them. My best advice is that you need to find another guy in your situation and the both of you will grow as a team. What you learn on your own will make you both better. The days of finding a guy to help you win tourneys is over. I lucked into my partnership and solid friendship with Tom and for that I am greatful. If I were another guy trying to pump him for info and not trying to make us the best team on the river I am sure he would have already told me to hit the road. We spoke Sunday after the MN Teamsupreme victory and I told him exactally where we caught fish followed up by a map of the areas we checked that had nothing aand the areas that had small fish. I know in perfect confidence that he will take the work I did and expand upon it and have same valuable time not looking in areas I wouldn’t get bit in.
jc

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I know in perfect confidence that he will take the work I did and expand upon it and have same valuable time not looking in areas I wouldn’t get bit in.

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Jeeperz, you make it sound like work.

At any rate. Mike, keep on working and good things will come your way. With a little time and dedication you may meet someone that is looking for a partner too.

In some cases, this website is the best thing that has happened to some of us. Jeremy has made me a better fisherman and for that I am eternally greatful. I can only hope I’ve helped him in some way. That’s what makes great teams even better. We’re all here to help. Mike, I know I’ve offered you a seat in my boat a few times, but other commitments have prohibited that from happening. All I can offer is that it will happen soon.

Anybody get the sense that a group hug is coming.

Hey Wats just hang in there you’ll find the right partner. I think the common thing I hear in these posts is trust. There are too many people out there that just pump other guys for info and that’s all. Everybody on this site is always more and willing to help. As far as going out fishing my boy and I would be willing to share the boat someday. That is if I ever get off the couch and go. As far as tournaments I usually fish with my boy, wife or friend. We got kind of the same arrangement as JC and Ole Blue. Although sometimes I think he does more of the work. Keep ur head up wats.

I’ll generalize this out one more step… Tom was ok with JC and I fishing the MN Division Team Supreme tournament… I’ve not ever met Tom but already trust him because I do know JC and trust him completely. We fished that tournament with all the odds and ends taken care of… I asked my partner John if it was ok that JC and I fished this one together even though JC has been the alternate for our team for about 7 or 8 years. JC talked to Tom about whether it was ok… once we had approval and were sure it was actually approval ( no feelings hurt ). We fished the tournament with no reservations… I talked freely and so did JC. We generalized and improved upon the patterns we were seeing and spent a great deal of time talking in depth about the fishery and the species… with no reservations… I knew going in that every single thing we did, modified, improved on, and discussed would go to Tom and I had absolutely no problem with it in fact I’m hoping JC and Blue (whom I’ve never met ) do awesome with the info. I love to fish with alot of people. I love to fish tournaments. I will only fish serious tournaments with people I can trust completely and I limit that to a very very small group… not because I think I’m all that… but because I worked my tail off to learn what I’ve learned and some of the techniques that took me years to figure out I don’t really want to have shared with the entire tournament field just because one of my partners decides he wants to look cool. I have no fear of that in this arrangement. I have no fear of sharing, though its sparse, what I’ve learned with Tom because of how this developed.

Trust is as fragile as it is binding.

Final comment about ethics and standards… I was serious about knowing my partners ethics. Two guys that screw around on their mates probably could be pretty good partners for each other… just not me. I walked from one partnership because of that issue. We finished very high in a draw tournament, 2nd and 5th, and I was more that pumped because of where it put me in the standings overall. I headed home feeling on top of the world… the guys wife calls me later that night cause she sees my rig come through town and asked me why I wasn’t fishing the final day of the tournament… I laughed and said ” the tournaments over we placed 2nd and 5th and it was awesome” … she starts crying and there I am realizing what just happened… feeling like crap 3 hours after one of my most cherished fishing memories had occurred dealing with my partner’s decision. I told him very frankly what I thought. I’ve talked to all my partners from that point forward about that particular issue and a few others. I feel no shame from or fear of telling someone frankly what I think… its only fair. That way those that want to do that can partner with someone else who wants to. I’m sure, after the discussion, they won’t call me a second time hahaha.

oh.. forgot one other thing… Tom.. thanks for letting me fish the tournament with JC. I sure appreciated it. I’m looking forward to meeting you sometime. Jeremy has nothing but great things to say about you as a person and as a hook. I am curious how you put up with all his fidgeting and butt scratching on the front deck though hahahaha.

Curt

Alot of excellent responses here. Thanks guys
But there is one post that got me riled up a little. I am not looking for a handout on spots or a guaranteed win. That was not what I meant when I mentioned about not limiting out or winning. I put that in as more of a concern on my abilities. I was just wondering if that could be a reason for not being asked to partner up again. I also am not “stealing” other peoples spots that they have taken me to. I don’t have a problem with a partner going to spots where we have caught fish in a tournament when I am not there. The fish do not belong to me nor does the water in which they inhabit. I have fished with 3 people from this site and they are welcome to fish areas that I knew anytime they wish. Of course I only know about 5 spots on the whole pool 8 .
Other than that, I really appreciate taking the time to give your thoughts and opinions on this isssue.
Also, if you all get a chance, get out and fish with Slop, DanWi, and johnl . They all showed me techniques that I have not used previously, but do now and is helping a lot. They also are great guys to fish with. Now if I can just beat everybody off with a stick, I might get to fish with them again

Curt,

I know Tom pretty well, and he is a good guy. I’ve met JC through Tom, and I know JC is a good guy. If you’re in their company, I know you’re a really good guy!!

One question though on this:

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6. Has the ability to keep his mouth shut about the fishing we did, the spots we fished, and the techniques we used before and after the tournament.

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What do you see wrong about sharing a technique (not spot) used AFTER everything is said and done? Patterns change week in and week out..do you feel it helps your competitors out??

Just curious bud..Thanks

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Also, if you all get a chance, get out and fish with Slop, DanWi, and johnl . They all showed me techniques that I have not used previously, but do now and is helping a lot. They also are great guys to fish with.

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Thanks for the kind words Wats. I know we have only fished one tourny together but have been out many other times and have had a great time. I know it has been while, but it is unreal how busy a schedule can get hopefully July and August will be better

Thanks again
John

wats
You are welcome in my boat anytime you want.I enjoyed the times we fished together an hope there will be many more to come.When ever you need a partner just let me know.

Slop Bass,

I’ve been typing and retyping my response to your question cause the answer is more complicated than it looks so I’m going to try to give the short answer and if necessary go in more depth later.

It depends on the time of year, the specie, and the technique being employed. If you’re going to show someone a technique normally you’re going to show them in a way that they actually can catch fish with it so you’ll go somewhere the fish are active and respond to that technique. My experience has been people take people to places that are very similar to or actually to the last place they caught fish with that technique… that sucks if its you’re tournament water.

If the technique is a peculiar technique that took some time to refine it should be treated with respect in my opinion… in otherwords if you created or discovered an unusual approach to slop that took you 5 years to refine cause it only really worked during very limited times of the season and you showed it to me, your partner, so we could do well in a tournament I should know that I am not to show that particular technique to other people because during that limited period of time it works I would have just created competition for the team. There are not alot of discoveries in fishing but there are a load of duplications and modifications of someone elses original thought.

I’m also not talking about the every day basic bass fishing techniques… slow rolling spinnerbaits in prespawn… dead sticking sluggos… stop and go retrieves with crank baits… I’m not talking about what you can learn out of Bassmasters magazine. I figure everyone can talk about those. Im talking about very refined techniques… for example… spending 3 years fan tieing and refining mushroom head jigs to get the fall 1/3 ft per sec with a rocking motions tipping the jig with a u2 pork strip when the water temperature is X and the hellgramite hatch is beginning understanding that the larger fish will target the smaller jig first and are more prone to attack it when the rod handle is squeezed rather than moving the jig is an entirely different discussion… I wouldn’t want that shared openly with alot of people unless they were turning over rocks or wading the water to find out what was happening in the eco system to discover the combination that produces the most right beside me.

In that example… I can’t show you the technique without showing you the rest because it won’t work except in places the conditions are right. If I show Tetesterone Teddy legend in his own mind… king of the BS frontier… he’ll be compelled to tell everyone because its more important for him to look good than be good… not only will I lose what took me a number of years to refine it will be touted as his idea… call me picky but A. I don’t want my partner sharing it without telling me and B. I like to give people credit for what they discover not have someone else claim it as theirs. Now its true I have confidence in my skills but I don’t have an unlimited number of techniques so those peculiar ones I want to hold on to hahaha! I’d like to at least keep the delusion I have sort of an edge some of the time hahaha!

There’s more to the answer but that will do for now. Guess this wasn’t the short version hehe! Hope that clarifies things.

Curt

Curt..

Thanks for the explanation….I completely understand what you’re talking about . I guess from the above readings, i was more generalizing about what you just said about rolling spinners outside weed edges, wacky style/carolina rigging it in such n such water….Slop fishing …Ya know..the usual run-around you get when asked…lol…