Co-angler- Handheld GPS

[csurp]

I noticed that the Bass Weekend Series bans co-anglers from bringing along a handheld gps.

When I fished BFL and Stren as a Co, I always brought along my handheld to use for a map reference in the back of the boat or, when rarely asked for spot advice, as a source of information.

I never turned it on without asking the boater if he was comfortable with it and never set waypoints and always had "track off".

Has FLW banned handhelds for co's?

[NY Trooper]

Yup. No GPS for the co-angler.

[bjmanley]

You can't use them for the bassmaster marshall either.

[csurp]

gonna answer my own post. I just found the 2012 FLW Tour regs and found:

Co-anglers are not allowed to record GPS waypoints or use any type of handheld GPS during any competition day.

emphasis mine.

Not sure what to think about this. Co's are allowed to help the boaters and with all the ledge fishing going on, a CO's gps could be pretty helpful in a pinch.

No rods longer than 8-ft
Now, no handheld GPS

What's next...no A-rigs?

[Dando]

Guy fished no-boater in our local club (he owns a nice boat also).
He carried a handheld gps during tournaments.
Fished with me, I dropped the trolling motor at the ramp.
An hour later, he asked why.
I told him if he wanted to go somewhere, he could put his gps in his truck.
He said he wasn't gonna put it in his truck.
We fished right there all day, and zero'd.

Entry fee is $10 per. Customary prior to launch that the co-angler, pay the boaters entry fee.
It was a sucky day, but, didn't cost me anything.

[SSNCHIEF]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by csurp &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">gonna answer my own post. I just found the 2012 FLW Tour regs and found:

Co-anglers are not allowed to record GPS waypoints or use any type of handheld GPS during any competition day.

emphasis mine.

Not sure what to think about this. Co's are allowed to help the boaters and with all the ledge fishing going on, a CO's gps could be pretty helpful in a pinch.

No rods longer than 8-ft
Now, no handheld GPS

What's next...no A-rigs?</td></tr></table>

BFL started this last year. They are concerned coanglers are going to record spots and give to boater next day or next tourney.

[13starsinax]

duh? charter captians have the same policy, but with a more forceful approach if you get caught with one.

[DIXIEDOG]

That's a good rule, it makes everyone do their own homework to find spots.

[2bassinbob]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by SkeeterDD22 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Guy fished no-boater in our local club (he owns a nice boat also).
He carried a handheld gps during tournaments.
Fished with me, I dropped the trolling motor at the ramp.
An hour later, he asked why.
I told him if he wanted to go somewhere, he could put his gps in his truck.
He said he wasn't gonna put it in his truck.
We fished right there all day, and zero'd.

Entry fee is $10 per. Customary prior to launch that the co-angler, pay the boaters entry fee.
It was a sucky day, but, didn't cost me anything. </td></tr></table>

+1

[Skeet'r89]

Some of you guys and all of this tourney fish'n bull crap. You act like no one but you has ever fished some spot and if it wasn't for you NOBODY would have ever seen this spot before and there is NO WAY anyone is ever going to know there was fish in that spot ever again. If I was going to be a co angler in someone elses boat the second day of a tourney and had to find that spot, odds are I wouldn't have to have a freak'n GPS to find it.

[DIXIEDOG]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Skeet’r89 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Some of you guys and all of this tourney fish'n bull crap. You act like no one but you has ever fished some spot and if it wasn't for you NOBODY would have ever seen this spot before and there is NO WAY anyone is ever going to know there was fish in that spot ever again. If I was going to be a co angler in someone elses boat the second day of a tourney and had to find that spot, odds are I wouldn't have to have a freak'n GPS to find it. </td></tr></table>

Why would someone want to spend all the $$ on gas to have somebody else just go behind plotting points on a gps? You say you could find spots without a gps but I've had guys fish with me before and try to return only to not locate the cover...I offered gps coordinates but they didn't think they needed them.

It's a common courtesy thing. On a side note I bet co's could make a lot of money selling gps locations at the end of the year if they were on a rotating schedule with all different boaters.

[Skeet'r89]

It really is a shame that such a FUN, RECREATIONAL activity has turned into a cut throat, shoot that S.O.B. for being to close to me, co@k sucker stoll my way point sport.

[csurp]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by SkeeterDD22 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Guy fished no-boater in our local club (he owns a nice boat also).
He carried a handheld gps during tournaments.
Fished with me, I dropped the trolling motor at the ramp.
An hour later, he asked why.
I told him if he wanted to go somewhere, he could put his gps in his truck.
He said he wasn't gonna put it in his truck.
We fished right there all day, and zero'd.

Entry fee is $10 per. Customary prior to launch that the co-angler, pay the boaters entry fee.
It was a sucky day, but, didn't cost me anything. </td></tr></table>

I think you missed my point. I think I stated that the gps would not be used without permission of the boater, not be used to record waypoints or tracks back to spots, but to help both anglers to catch fish if needed.

This is possible given current handheld technology.

In that a gps is just tool to be used appropriately or inappropriately, I think it is possible to allow a co-angler to bring one and turn it on if needed by the boat for the day.

Banning handheld gps by co-anglers solved a tricky problem with a hammer when a more subtle approach was needed.

[BareZ518]

Should be hard to enforce since all smart phones have gps etc

[Team do work]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by DIXIEDOG &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">That's a good rule, it makes everyone do their own homework to find spots. </td></tr></table>

i agree

[Walkabout7781]

What would prevent the Co-Angler from handing the Boater his hand held GPS before launch, putting it into his custody? Then, if they need to go to the Co-Angler's spots, they can do that. The tournamet organization really couldn't control that, could they? The more rules there are, the harder it becomes to enforce the rules!

[pYr8]

What did we all do before GPS? Go fishless? Besides the safety aspect I almost reject GPS in tourneys. I may be an old fart but plenty of fish were caught in T's before GPS, iPhone and all that. I know damned well that technology moves in (I'm a computer guy by trade) but really? Complaining about co-angler GPS rights? Just sayin...

[Legend Chris]

I fished an ABA tournament a few years back and drew a guy whose son was also fishing the tournament but the son was using the boat. I went to my first spot and caught 2 good 3lbers on a frog and I as I kept fishing I looked back of the guy was pluggin in a waypoint. I asked him what he was doing and stated, "I gotta let me son know about this spot."
I told him to put it up or I'd take him back to the launch..
That just really p'd me off, because in the ABA your also fising against the guy that you draw. One reason why I don't do ABA anymore..

[C.C. Bullet]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Triton Chris &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">I fished an ABA tournament a few years back and drew a guy whose son was also fishing the tournament but the son was using the boat. I went to my first spot and caught 2 good 3lbers on a frog and I as I kept fishing I looked back of the guy was pluggin in a waypoint. I asked him what he was doing and stated, "I gotta let me son know about this spot."
I told him to put it up or I'd take him back to the launch..
That just really p'd me off, because in the ABA your also fising against the guy that you draw. One reason why I don't do ABA anymore..</td></tr></table> Man that guy had more nerve than a bad tooth.

[pYr8]

Damn! See what I mean?