Dock Talk - How Big Of A Boat Do I Need?




An angler recently asked other bass anglers about fishing a BFL Cowboy Division Bass Tournament in 2021. He was concerned that his boat might not be good enough for his co-angler …

“I am considering fishing the Cowboy division this year. I have never fished these events before, however I have fished several other tournament trails (team trails). I have an older, smaller boat with outdated electronics.

"My question is, if I sign up as a "pro" will I be doing my co-angler a disservice because I don't have the technology or capabilities of 90% of the field.

“I am not a novice angler. I have a couple 2nd place finishes, several top 10s, and have won a regional championship, but it was always with a buddy who knew what he was getting into.”

Our questioning angler is fishing out of an 18.5' fiberglass Triton. The tournaments he has fished have been on Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend. “I am familiar with big water. Sure, it’s not a 21' Ranger, but it ain't a 16' john boat either.”

Another angler responded, “Would you want to draw someone like that after you have paid you hard earned dollars? Just being Devils advocate here, not bashing.”

What would you respond to angler number 1?

Bass Karma: “Fish it. There are plenty of guys with top of the line equipment that can’t fish their way out of a bath tub. BFL is a beginner level tourny anyway. Go do it and just have fun!”

Champion 1, who I bet is a Champion boat owner agreed. “Heck yea fish it. FIrst time I fished an open (as a co-angler) my very first "Pro" showed up drunk and puking from drinking all night. You can’t possibly be any worse than that guy!”

B.Dill commented … “I drew a Z7, in a 30 MPH north wind in about 30 degrees weather on Rayburn once. Wet, cold, hurting, zeroed, and front lasted all day. I considered it part of paying my dues. Ain't gonna lie though, that tournament was likely the catalyst for me entering as a boater moving forward... And buying a good Gore Tex suit.

“An 18.5 is fine. If they don't like it, they can buy a bigger boat than yours, pay a little more entry and enter as a pro.”

Like John Cox recently said, "If your boat is holding you back, you don't love it enough". Sign up and go fish.” Look at Cox or Keith Poche, small boats, older electronics or even no electronics, no spot locks and they do just fine on a much larger scale than a BFL. “Look at it like this. Eighty percent of the field with the best stuff money can buy goes home empty handed.”

Red Raider39 sums it up. “Agree 100%. Don't let a 200+ boat field stacked with $75k+ rigs deter you from entering. I generally cut any field size in half and that is the actual competition. If you are capable of getting on fish and giving your co-angler the opportunity at bites, then don't worry about what you are fishing out of.”

Go fish. The boat doesn’t make the angler. I have seen anglers who had bass rigs with all the latest gadgetry but didn’t know a Texas from a Carolina Rigged worm. From reading your fishing background, I think a non-boater is getting a good trip.




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Lake Fork

Fishing Report from TPWD (Mar. 22)

GOOD. Water Stained; 55-62 degrees; 1.64 feet below pool. The cold front dropped the water temperature down 10 degrees in some areas slowing the bass bite. Use a slow bait presentation with Texas rigs, baby brush hogs or beaver type baits on the outside edge of the grass. Darker colored baits like V & M chopsticks in Texas smoke have been fair in 3-6 feet. Look for the bite to improve by the weekend as the water temperature warms and bass return to beds. Frogs and baits worked on top of the grass and in the pockets of grass should be great by the weekend. Report by Marc Mitchell, Lake Fork Pro. Cooler weather is affecting the movement of the black bass, as the water cools the females are not committing to the beds, but as the water warms activity will increase. Search warmer clearer water in the backs of coves and creeks for active fish. Crappie are beginning to move towards the banks, try small bead heads fished slowly 3-4 feet. Carp and gar are spawning in shallow water. Report by Guide Alex Guthrie, Fly Fish Fork Guide Service. The crappie fishing on Lake Fork is getting really hot. Seeing great numbers and lots of big fish each day. The fish are making huge moves shallow this week and will for the next month. Areas in 2-13 feet are finally beginning to see more fish that are spawning. The 14-32 feet staging areas are also still loaded with fish and reloading daily now. Seeing lots of fish roaming in open water but the best luck is still coming on fish on timber or brush. Small hand tied jigs in chartreuse or orange are getting crushed right now, and you can still catch fish well on soft plastics and minnows. Report by Jacky Wiggins, Jacky Wiggins’ Guide Service. The crappie are biting in the main creek channels about halfway back in the creek. With the cooler weather most of the crappie are laying on the bottom. Once the sun comes out fish suspend up in the water column around 15 feet. Success with Snacky lures FS200 matched with the eye hole jig or crappie

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