This is a follow-up post
from my “To Fish With or Without Someone” post. Today I thought I would discuss
the following characteristics that I think make a good fishing partner. I
realize this may not be that important to some of you guys, but for me, as I get
older it is something that I tend to focus on when I am fishing with someone else.
So I will start with the one I consider the most important for me:
I really enjoy fishing
with someone who loves the sport as much as I do.
I prefer to fish with fly
fishermen, this is especially true if I am fishing from my boat or fishing from
the boat of another individual. It really makes it difficult if the individual
in the boat with you is baitcasting and you are trying to fly fish. The speed
difference is tremendous between the baitcasting reel versus the fly reel.
A fishing partner with a good personality can go a long way in determining whether or not you have an
enjoyable trip.
Someone who is very
knowledgeable of the sport and is willing to share information about the sport
as well.
Fishing etiquette, by that
I mean someone who is not selfless in sharing fishing space on a stream or
fishing from a boat; if you are fishing in the front of the boat leave water
for your partner to land fish as well. I always try to share any productive spot
I am fishing with my fishing partner, especially if that individual isn’t
landing fish; an example of what I am referring to is my last fishing trip on Walker County Lake this year:
Ivan one of my fishing
buddies was fishing with me that morning. He decided to fish the west side of
the lake in his little aluminum boat and I decided to fish the east side of the
lake in my Pelican. We both knew that the spawn was coming to a close, so we
needed all the advantage we could muster. I found spawning bluegill first and wanted
to share my find with him, especially after learning he had not landed any big
bull bluegills. I pulled his aluminum boat to the spot and he was able to land
some super size gills from the spot as well.
Over the years I have
fished with lots of individuals who I consider great fishing partners, but there are a
few I would have left behind.