Things That Make a great Fishing Partner....

[NETONE]

If you are so luck to have a fishing partner...what makes him or her such...

1. Is it their company
2. Is it their fishing skills
3. Is it because each of you have different boats to share
4. Is it because your married to them???

[fish assassin]

My best fishing partners are the ones that show up on time, bring their own lunch,
and stay afterwards to help clean the boat.

It also helps if they know how to fish and don't get sea-sick!

-assAssin-

[Tacklebuster]

Luckily my wife and I both enjoy fishing and on our day to spend together, that is usually what we choose to do.

I do however have a few other select fishing buddies that I will fish with on Fridays. To me it's all about getting away and relaxing. I like to speak my mind and do my own thing when I am away from the grind. I think anyone you feel comfortable enough to do that with would rank as a fishing buddy.

Sharing boats would be a nice thing but the guy I usually fish with is boatless so I am always the guy doing the boat duties. My wife however insists on anchoring duties and backing the trailer down so that really helps out a ton.

I like a fishing partner that is not afraid to lob out something different from the norm when the Salmon bite is slow.

I like good conversation and a bond that somehow makes the two of you on the same page when it comes to getting things done like netting, trolling, etc.

If anyone is lucky enough to find all the qualities that I mentioned above, hold on to that fishing partner, they are priceless [img]graemlins/hearton.gif[/img]

[ 11-05-2003, 10:45 AM: Message edited by: Tacklebuster ]

[dampainter]

someone who will show up on time.... and if they do have to cancel will call the nite before, not at the time your suppose to be leaving. An OFFER of money for boat or truck gas wouldn`t hurt every great once and awhile either. someone who can go for as long as I go and does not ask " what do ya think? should we be getting home now? .......some of the reasons I like to fish alone.
........I am my best fishing partner. another reason I like my little boat, no problem launching myself and does not cost a fortune to go fishing. tight lines to all with a big one.

[fishchaser]

Let's see now.... Mine are.....

1. Has patients with me.
2. Know that I might not wake up on time, but am on the way.
3. Brings me lunch and drinks.
4. Doesn't mind if I sleep
5. Brings the boat rods and bait
6. Lets me puke all I want & takes me in when needed
7. Lets me pee on land and not in a small little urinating tube that is smaller than a soda bottle
8. Buys me breakfast before going out.
9. Knows what to do incase of a FISH-ON!
10.Lets me complain until he is so sick of me he won't let me fish again in his boat.


:grin: :grin: :grin: [img]graemlins/stupid.gif[/img]

[Mojo]

Heck, if they know some off color jokes, bring smoked fish or jerky or cheese for snacks, know what a Moose Drool is, want to go fishing whenever I do (always) and share their best lures they are about perfect.

The ability to catch a few fish is good too...

Having a nice warm camper to thaw in is a bonus.

I have 2 fishing pards that fit the bill. A couple others aspire to greatness, but fall short on occasion.

I met on of them through ifish :grin:

A 120 quart cooler stuffed full of beer and ice.

[pearl]

I use one word

TRUST

Apply that word in every scenerio you can think of.

# Can trust them to be on time ?
# Can you trust them to net your fish ?
# Can you trust that they will help clean the boat at the end of the day ?
# Can you trust them to run the boat or save your life if need be?
# Can you trust them to keep zipper lip holes to them selves?
# Can you trust their friendship?

[NETONE]

Pearl.....I think your on to something good here.....

[Grits]

1. Brings food to share. (Everything on my boat is there for anyone on board to share. I hate it when someon "guards" their snacks.)
2. Brings enough warm clothes that I don't feel bad enough that I quit fishing.
3. Willing to offer an opinion but also willing to respect mine.
4. Show up on time.
5. Does not give their other half a hard fast time he will be home without telling me until we are already underway. I understand the family thing but an advanced notice of deadlines might changes my strategies.

[Fshklr]

no matter what the weather he says when and where!

always shows on time instead of late or not at all!!

shares expenses on tackle and bait when needed.

every outing is a chance at 1 upmanship

and just the comeraderie of being a good friend!!

[Grass Hopper]

1. A nice Boat!
2. A sure hand on the net!
3. A killer lunch maker!
4. Shut up and keep your line wet, Ill do the rest!
5. A good lucking lady never hurt!
SMILES

[Silver Hilton]

Able to go fishing is a pretty good trait. I'll start with that. As everyone I know is having kids or has kids, it can be hard to get someone to break free.

After that, I don't want anything more than I do in any other friend. Should be decent people, and not too much of a general screw up. I can get past most anything else.

[Jennie@ifish]

Someone who doesn't consistently outfish you. :smile:

[NETONE]

Ok....since ya'all have defined the traits of the perfect fishing partner....one thing I forgot to ask is I'm in need of one...willing to interview...

[ 11-05-2003, 04:46 PM: Message edited by: NETONE ]

[DriftR]

1. A guy who leaves his cell phone at home
2. A buddy who shares costs, tips ($ and fishing kind).
3. "ON TIMER"
4. Knows how to run your boat(s)
5. Knows how to and when to net a fish
6. Will run the boat(s) after he has limited.
7. Knows how to back a boat trailer down "ANY RAMP"
8. Has functioning gear and good tackle.
9. Shares portions of his catch.
10. Never leaves fish to find fish.
11. Knows ocean and river courtesy and has knowledge on both.
12. Knows how to run a GPS, Fish Finder, VHF, compass and CB correctly.
13. Knows how to rig bait and brings along plenty of it when not fishing in his boat(s)
14. Enjoys a good joke and can take one as well as dish it out.
15. Does not brag about how expensive his outdoor toys cost.
16. Respects his wife, job and family
17. Never would consider doing anything dishonest/unethical or against the law.
18. Respects your fishing abilities and past experience.
19. Doesn't drink enough for anyone to notice.
20. A guy who leaves his cell phone home. Yup, that was mentioned earlier but MAN I HATE IT WHEN SOMEONE CALLS or makes a call to either home, work or buddies to brag.

[I Fred]

A loving wife who loves to fish with me. Just her and I enjoying the day regardless of how we do. Being together and enjoying each others company. :smile:

[finclipped]

1.) The tip should be commensurate to the total cost of the trip. Thus if I spend $100 on gas, oil & bait, I sometimes get the guy who chips in by covering the $3 launch fee.

Although, if they don't have the money I don't mind covering everything. In that case, I just enjoy the company.

2.) Showing up late really irkes me. Nothing worse than missing a morning bit, because someone can't get out of bed.

3.) A good fishing partner will realize there is a reason for the things you do and not question every move you make. It drives me nuts when a guy insists on fishing his "own" 7.5' rod off the side of the boat when I know it will get tangled in the rod at the back of the boat. (trolling)

[Moley Molson]

Tacklebuster Wrote:
"I like a fishing partner that is not afraid to lob out something different from the norm when the Salmon bite is slow."

I totally agree.....I like a fishing buddy that isn't afraid to try new tactics.

Someone that likes to choose their own setup, instead of asking...so, what do you think we should be using today.

A buddy who tries to out fish me, not one that says, "I don't care if we catch anything". Honestly I don't care if we catch anything either, but I don't want that kind of attitude in the boat....it simply makes the bite non-existant.

[Bubzilla]

Top Ten Qualifications of A Fishing Partner:

1) Ability to retrieve items that fall out of the boat.

2) Generally quiet demeanor.

3) Ability to be wet for long periods of time without complaint--even in winter.

4) Lack of desire to complain about poor fishing.

5) Willingness to get up well before dawn and return home well after dark day-after-day.

6) Willingness to eat yesterday's leftover lunch items without hesitation.

7) Ability to confine physical presence to a very small portion of the boat.

8) No desire to laugh when inevitable backlashes, snag-ups, flubbed casts, and missed strikes occur.

9) Ability to exhibit excitement even at 3:00 A.M. when faced with horizontal rain, gale force winds, and dismal fishing prospects.

10) Unceasing loyalty.


Too bad only my Lab has all these qualities! :grin: If he could only row so that I could fish.

[SKP]

Great fishing partner does or doesn't do these:

1. Does meet me on time.
2. Does offer to chip in on gas, bait, tackle, boat launch fees etc, and does not mooch and go for the free ride.
3. Does follow fishing coaching. For example when a fish is hooked, "pull the anchor" or "reel in" or ".........". Does give out the same fishing coaching to me.
4. Does bait their own hook or tie their own rigs.
5. Listens.
6. Does not give out my secret weapons or tactics or secret holes.
7. Does experiment with tactics.
8. And so on and so on......

SKP

The ON TIME thing is important!

[ 11-05-2003, 02:17 PM: Message edited by: Stew ]

[Rubber Hooks]

I am very lucky. My partner and I have been fishing together since 1983. He was the experienced Steelheader and I was the rookie.. Chuck was able to impart alot of his expertise into me. We used to live 3 doors apart. Our wives said "Our husbands, the fishermen, Every ***** weekend. Having a great partner means having some one you can relax with and trust. We never had to worry about what the other one was going to do. We have taken other people out with us and you are concerned about their fishing skills and general know how. The proof comes when you go to net a partner's huge steelhead or salmon. We never worried about each others netting ability because we knew what each other was going to do. Our daughters grew up together and are still best of friends. So our partner ship goes alot deeper than just fishing. Thanks Chuck for all the great times together.
Tom AKA "Rubber Hooks"

[FishingNewbie]

My hubby is the only fishing partner I have ever had. Things that make him great.....

If the fish has swallowed the hook, he'll take it off for me.

He NEVER laughs at my bad casts.

He never gets mad if I cross his line.

He never gets mad if I am just tired of fishing and want to go read a book in the car.

He is quiet when we fish. No loud talking. Just relaxing.

He will stop the car anywhere if I "gotta go".

He cleans the fish.

[crabbait]

All good points. One more:

Can take the little bumps that go along with a day of fishing, like losing a nice fish, without having a significant emotional event. [img]graemlins/berry.gif[/img]

[BrokeItOff]

Good fishing partner.

If I am successful I will tell them and make available the same rig/bait/fly etc... if there is not enough to go around then I will hand off the rod to share in the fun and I expect the same.

Food is good, unless explicitly stated bring your own, though I always bring enough to share.

We will talk about the schedule and plan for the outing so we BOTH know what to expect. The time and scheduling issues usually come up because of a lack of communication.

If we are banking it, I have no problem dispersing and expect my partner to have no problem with us getting some separation, and if we are right on top of each other that is fine too.

I will be open to suggestions as to how/and where to go and I expect my partner to be.

Tag-a-longs are fine, just let me know in advance so I can plan accordingly.


What I expect out of myself, if I invite someone to come along.

1. Tolerance, everyone is different.
2. I will not be the "Great White Fisherman". If I have fished the water more than my partner so be it, but that does not entitle me to behave in a superior manner. Besides a person that is new to an area may have some good ideas about location that are novel.
3. I will not be my partners keeper, if he/she engages in activity I don't agree with I won't invite them again I will not scold them. The exception is illegal behavior.
4. I will do my best to keep us both safe.
5. I will do my best to make sure we both have fun.

[sparkleboy]

Originally posted by BrokeItOff:

4. I will do my best to keep us both safe.
5. I will do my best to make sure we both have fun.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">That's what it's all about, with being safe the number one priority.
Nice post, BIO.

[SpinnerMan]

Can take the little bumps that go along with a day of fishing, like losing a nice fish, without having a significant emotional event.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">Thanks Crabbait:

[img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

I laughed so hard I still have tears in my eyes!!

Perfect Partner:

Someone you are compatible with, or have learned to overlook their shortcomings!

SM

Ontime and cares if you catch fish too. Expense sharing ain't a big deal - was going anyway, first time offer to help, is a free pass. The first, biggest, most, I am best of all the rest, means nothing. Outside on the river means everything.

It's just fishing.

[ 11-06-2003, 05:45 PM: Message edited by: ****** ]

[Flatfish]

Wife. Best fishing partner I ever kissed. Best fishing partner I ever had.

Vermin( niece).

Dog.

Anyone else with:

1- gas money( and you had better offer no matter what the captain says. Every time. Even in a rowboat.Always offer. Got it? Point taken?).

2-Someone who does what they are told. Women and kids listen well. Men are generally too proud to listen. Even if you know a lot more about it then they do.

3-Someone who realizes that you do not fish for fish. Because I fish for fishing. The fish are a bonus. If you complain about a lack of fish, it is your fault for not catching them, not mine.

4- Get there on time. But don't throw a fit if someone who is reliable most of the time misses the clock by 15 minutes. Someday you will sleep in too you know. Paybacks...

5-Bring what you are told to. No more of less. If I want you to bring 3 extra tackle boxes and a 72 quart cooler full of beer pop and ice, I will tell you to. Otherwise leave your crap at home.

6- If you do not bring what you are told to repeatedly, do not ask me to take you back to the dock. Just because you did not figure you really needed raingear in December. And now you are cold. My father in law is very guilty of this. The last trip out, I let him turn whiteish gray because he is too stupid/proud/ optimistic/slow learner, to bring rain gear 5 trips in a row. Tough woofies for him. My wife and I wore raingear and were both very warm and comfy. I guess he thinks part of the fun in fishing is hypothermia.

7- If I supply bait, and you do not, the eggs stay with me.

8- Do not tell me at 9am that you need to be at home for your kids' ballgame at 10am. When you fish with someone else, don't make any plans for the rest of that day.

9-Roll with the punches. I have 2 places I can fish this weekend. I am inviting people now to go. I still do not know where yet. But that really does not matter( since I am supplying all the gear, rigging and tackle is my problem this weekend).

10-Watch the sunrise. Or listen to the wind in a flight of ducks' wings as they sail over. Be happy for the folks woho do catch a lot of fish. They have probably earned it. Look at the leaves as they change color. Enjoy the elk on the roadside on the ride there. Have fun. That is really why I fish. Because it is fun.

I can't describe what a person should actually be like to be a good fishing partner. As long as they love to be on the water, I will probably get along with them.

Mark and the dog.

[Spoiled Daddy]

My favorite fishing partners know how to fish, are willing to cut their own bait, can run the downriggers without my help and can net a fish without being coached. If it is a women, she must be able to pee in a bucket, cause I hate running them back and forth to shore. All of my girls have learned this trick, but very few of my buddies wives will fish with me because of this!!! :blush: :shocked: :blush:

I also like the ones who will help with the fish, pay for some of the gas and the clean up of the boat. That's always a plus. [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] I even have one very good fishing partner who can use my boat at any time, with or without me. But only one! (Mrs. Spoiled Daddy [img]graemlins/hearton.gif[/img] )

I have several that meet this criteria and I am thankful for each one. SD

[Green Willie]

My view on this is simple. It boils down to friendship. The best fishing partner is one who is a true friend. Friends learn with you and the two of you are better fishers because of each other. True friends know that sharing is the basic rule. Share costs. Share techniques. Share thoughts. Share success. Share failure. A true friend listens when you need to vent, talk through trouble, confess, ask advice. A true friend says, "you know, you might want to check that knot". A true friend hands his rod over and says, "you enjoy this one, let me net it for you". When you step back from the "now", and look at your life's walk, the best fishing partner is the friend that's always there for you, and growing with you. I consider myself blessed to have such a "partner". One of my fondest recent memory was a trip in August to the "jaws" at Tilliamook. We did the "your turn, my turn" routine ("who's rod is it" is immaterial) and boat limited on silvers. The "whoooohoooo's" were the best. If I were to die tonight, I would consider it an honor to have my fishing partner "carry me home". Catching fish is the bonus, friendship is the what it truly is "all about".

[Clackamas Drifter]

To get a good fishing partner, you have to be a good fishing partner. Always remember, you are not perfect, so don't be critical of all the little stuff. If you don't like someone who acts the same way fishing, as they always do while not fishing, you shouldn't be fishing with them. The essentials to a great fishing partner are laughing at everything one another does wrong, giving each other a hard time, making sure you point out every mistake, criticize every fish they catch...even if it is bigger than yours, make sure you always let them know that they are bad luck, and always blame your mistakes on them... Just make sure that this is all done with a smile on your face and they know that fishing with them makes it that much more enjoyable. And if its your sweetheart, make sure you do all the stuff for her she can't or is scared too, because you have to remember, you can take a fish home with you, but she's alot better for kissin'. Just always remember, fish come and go, and more will be back next year. Good friends and fishing partners are alot harder to find and don't come around all the time/

[Plum Crazy]

My favorate fishing buddies are my 2 boy's "Chief" 8yrs and "Bull" 4yrs. Neither pay for gas, keep their lines in the water, back my trailer down the ramp, or understand the boat can't always go Mach I. But when they catch fish or see a sealion chasing fish, yell when the Osprey is going in for the killer dive.
It's priceless.
I spend alot of money just so they can fish with me so I must love My Fishin Buddies. :grin:
Fire

Originally posted by Jennie@ifish:
Someone who doesn't consistently outfish you. :smile:

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">Well...I fish with Mark Anderson of First Cast Jigs so this doesn't bother me because he almost always outfishes me.
Doesn't matter though because the other things that make Mark a good fishing partner is worth watching him limit out on two casts for summer steelhead :shocked: while I'm trying to untangle my line out of a tree.

[sparkleboy]

My two favorite people to fish with: My dad and my grandpa. My grandpa's mobility has dramatically decreased in the past few years, so fishing with him is a treat all in itself.
I have taken a few of my friends to go fishing with me this year.
These are some things that I really hate disliked about it:
If I invite you, that means YOU and not your roommate or other friends who overhear our conversation on the phone about going. I hate people who invite themselves. It's happened to me three times this year, and I am seriously considering not taking these people again.
If I invite you, and I know the river we're going to fish, we fish were I decide, and we fish it however long I decide. If you haven't told me a certain time you need to be back home by, you're on my schedule, not one of your own. One of those same friends almost always starts hinting after a while he wants to get home. I still want to fish. I drive, we stay.
If you only bring a certain setup and I'm catching fish on a totally different setup, and you don't have the equipment or tackle, and I can't give you everything you need for the setup, don't get mad. I've invested a lot more money in fishing setups than you have, and I'm a lot more experienced, I'm probably going to catch more fish than you will.
You fish with me, especially on "my" river, you go by my rules, period. I know what I'm doing, don't tell me how to fish.
Don't brag about other types of fishing, or anything for that matter. I love to hear about techniques and how you catch other fish, but I don't want you pulling out your tag and telling me all about each one of them.
If you don't eat fish, you don't keep fish. Period.
Don't abuse the fish or the river. Rough handling of any fish, but especially natives, and you'll find yourself with a stern lecture, and I don't care who hears. If you litter, you'll never go fishing with me again.
If I hook a fish, you help me land it. If you hook one, I'll help you land it. If I've caught 5 fish, and hook another one, and you haven't touched one, and while I'm fighting the fish, you start casting to where I hooked it, you will not be coming with me again.
Don't complain about the time we're leaving, ESPECIALLY if you invited yourself. If I say we're leaving at 4:30 am, that means 4:30. Too early? Stay home. I want to leave by that time, too. It doesn't mean get up then.
I usually bank fish, if you're making all sorts of noise and disturbing the water, we're not going to catch fish. Slow down. Be patient, don't be in such a rush you spook everything for a mile in either direction.
I really appreciate it when my fishing partners don't start walking up and fishing every hole before I do. Bank fishing again, the polite way to fish, if I don't ask you which slot you'd like to fish first, or tell you you should be fishing a certain area first, then we switch off at every slot.
If it's going to rain, wear rain gear. If it's going to be cold, wear more clothes. If it's raining, please roll up my window. It really ticks me off when we get back to the truck and I find the passenger seat is soaking wet. Common sense. I wish some of my friends could read this...
I could probably think of a few more things, but this is getting way too long. It probably won't do too much good, because most of the people on this board are those who follow what everyone has been posting.