By Jerry Fournier
(published in Bass Anglers Guide)
This year in tournaments I had an opportunity to fish with six non boaters. I have to say that all the non boaters I fished with this year made me think about writing this article. Some of the guys that fished from the back of my boat this year left, not only having a great day, as I will share with you later on, but also left that day as one of my friends. I will share with you about four guys that stood out in my mind. Two of these four I fished against all day. Two of these non boaters where in my boat in a shared weight format in this past WON Bass Delta event. I know that when the tournament organizers who established this great sport created rules they had to have creating great friendships in mind.
A few years ago in a B.A.S.S tournament on Clear Lake I had one non boater almost make me give up on competitive fishing. He was best friends with all the greatest bass fishing living legends, and he let me know it at least one hundred times during the event. He also let me know that they were not fishing the same lure I was fishing. They were in different parts of the Lake, not where we were fishing. They also were throwing reaction baits covering water fast and not flipping and moving slow covering the water carefully. All that he shared with me was unsolicited and all the talking or sharing of information he gave me was against the rules. He also let me know within the first hour that you Jerry Fournier don’t know what you are doing. It was so bad listening to this guy, whose name I won’t mention, but have not forgotten, that I truly wanted to quit the sport that I have been passionate about for over forty years.
This year I had more than one non boater that really left an impact on me. I fished against two of the non boater this year in Federation events. I have to say that this organization truly brings out guys who can fish, and can really appreciate what the guy in the front of the boat has to offer. This year every guy I was paired up with gave me the green light to run the boat and go where I wanted to all day. The rules state that we each have control of the boat for half the day.
One of the guys I paired up with started following what I was doing first thing in the morning. I was throwing swim baits at first light in an area where I had been getting at least one good fish each time I went there. What I noticed about this guy was how fast he changed swim baits. He did not throw the same one I was throwing but constantly changed types, sizes, and actions. I looked back at him and thought man this guy is wasting a lot of time and is losing the low light conditions. I want to say a half hour went by and he gets one over six in the boat. I couldn’t get bit on the swim bait that has worked best for me in that area. This got me to thinking about how I never make enough changes during the day. I then flipped a small limit to at least get five in the boat. He did the same thing he started with something different that me and caught a couple more. I asked him to reel in we are going to another area where I have been getting really big fish on a regular basis. He said great and quickly got his life jacket on and we were off. When we got to our next location I started throwing swim bait different than the one I had started with. He started throwing something different and began to connect with one fish after another. He was culling four and a half pound fish like they were little ones. I didn’t change up until it was too late. He ended up going into the scales with over twenty eight pounds and ended up winning the tournament. He thanked me and stated that this was the greatest day of bass fishing he has ever experienced. What did I learn from him that day? Stop being locked on to one lure. Learn to adjust and try other types, sizes, and colors or lures when you are not getting bit.
Another tournament the same format I drew a guy who said take the front of the boat all day. I will go where ever you want I have nothing going. I stared out getting a small limit while I was waiting for the tide to go out. I had a place that was kicking out some real big fish. I started out on this spot getting one over six and then other over six. He was sticking to what he thought was the right lure and wasn’t catching anything at all. Then all of sudden he sticks one over ten and that was it with just an hour to go before we had to go to the scales. I shared with him what I was throwing he picked up four more and ended up in seventh place taking home a check. I ended up in third place taking home a nice check. He caught the biggest bass of his life and he was very grateful. What did I learn from this? Change lures and don’t be so locked in on one lure. Try something different when things aren’t going well for you.
During a pro am on the delta I drew Chris Ricci a professional non boater who has been fishing from the back of the boat for thirteen years. What a kick it is to fish with him. Again we go and do what I want all day. I told him we would go into an area for about an hour and pick up a limit. After that we will wait for the tide to drop and then go in to an area where I had been getting some big bags. He was all for it and we did just that. The first place we went took about an hour and we had a limit. We then went to my second spot and I shared with him the size of the fish I have been getting out of this area. I left it alone all through pre fish and sure enough we started to get them. I picked up one about six and then one over eleven. Chris was going through his tackle mixing things up trying to show these fish something different. He did and he caught some nice fish. We ended up with almost twenty five pounds. Chris shared with me he loves fishing with a pro who has a plan and sticks to it. We truly enjoyed fishing together that day. He was grateful for the day we spent together. I left him with another new friendship. What did I learn from fishing with Chris? Stop getting locked on to one lure.
The last guy I want to talk about was fishing his first ever Delta event. He started off his first day with catching all five fish for about six or seven pounds. He drove up from southern California to fish the famous delta. He was pretty new at bass fishing but he had a great spirit and attitude. He started out throw something different than I was and stayed with it for awhile. He hadn’t caught anything and I was putting fish in the boat. He again was locked on to one lure. This is a shared weight format and I needed help. I asked him if he would like to throw what I have been using and he said yes. In about a half hour and some instructions he ended up catching one over five and this was the biggest bass of his career at this time. He was very excited and we went to the scales with another good bag. He was very happy with his decision to come up and fish the delta. We had a great day together and again another friend ship. What did I learn from fishing with this guy that day? Don’t get locked on to one lure.
Not getting locked on to one lure is something we all get caught up on. I hope that you and I both learn from this. Be open minded and use
I hope to see you on the water.
If you would like more information, you can visit my website www.jerryfournier.com.
Jerry Fournier started in club tournaments in 1969. He is one of the founders of the Santa Clara Bass Busters, He has worked the Honor Bound Tournament for over ten years, was on the board of directors for Christian Bass Angler Fellowship, Promotional director for The Toys for the Troops kids bass tournament. Participates in Pro Am and team events all over Northern California. Team member winning the Won Bass Tri State TOC at Clear Lake in 2002, 3rd Place Citgo Bass Masters Tour am in 2003 Clear Lake. Jerry is a Life member of B.A.S.S. Licensed guide.
Jerry Fournier is a pro staff member for G-Loomis, P-Line, Snag Proof, Rodstrainer, Promar, Costal Del Mar, Western Wildlife Adventures, Prop Cover and Coyote Bait and Tackle.
