Interrogating your boater for information

Let me preface this by saying that you are in no way shape or form tying up your boater and torturing them for information. Now with that said, let's move on.

So you meet your boater and try asking him what seem to be some basic questions to solidify the details about the day and to help you plan out what you need to bring, but he avoids answering your question by providing vague answers. This doesn’t tell you anything about what you are going to need and the only tools you have to go by is your internet research of winning weights, patterns, and possibly lures used. Then again, your boater might not fish that last tournament’s winning pattern due to seasonal differences, weather patterns, or their own fishing strengths. This happens all too often at the local club level where boaters and non-boaters compete against one another. So you need a way to convince him to provide you with some information so that you are able to plan a successful attack from the back of the boat.

What do you ask then??

As stated above, asking your boater, “What should I bring?” or “What am I going to need?” is probably are not going to get you much information for you to pack lightly and still be successful. You will probably get a response like “Well, bring whatever you think you are going to need,” or “Pack what you have confidence in.” He wants to win the tournament just as much as you do, so he’s not going to pass out his secret lures and colors. It all comes down to how you phrase your questioning to maximize the information that he gives so you can select your tackle and pack to be successful.

“How long of a run do we have?”

This may not seem like a valuable question, however, it will help you to decide quantity of items to bring. If it is a longer run, the minimalist approach is best. Also, with longer runs, the boater may be more open to share a little bit of information so that you don’t over pack weighing down the boat for the long run.

“What is the primary forage species?”

A small question you should be able to find in your online research but this will help to hone in your color selection as well as rule out some options of lure selection. For example, if the primary forage species of the lake is Threadfin and Gizzard Shad, your color palette is much different than if the primary forage is crayfish. Most times, your lures and techniques change as well.

“What types of structure/cover are we going to be fishing?”

Knowing you are targeting points opposed to fishing grass mats or deep trees is key in your selection of lures. It provides insight into some lure and techniques you are going to be fishing. It allows you to start honing in what your confidence lures for those situations should be.

             

“What depth ranges are we going to target?”

             

Final question to hone in your lure and techniques is to know the depth. Shallow cranks are not going to be the best idea to fish shell beds in 25’ of water, and deep diving cranks and 1 oz spinnerbaits are not going to be best suited for fishing that 0-5’ depth range. Granted, it might be able to be done but its not going be the best idea. 

You want to give yourself the most information possible without asking what to specifically bring. Also, this lets you pick stuff that fishes to your strengths. Where your boater may pick up a spinnerbait, you may pick up a crankbait. Both do similar jobs but your confidence in what you are using is going to be key to your success.