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Norman,
OK – BASS’ announcement that beginning in 2009, there would no longer be co-anglers on the Elite Series, fueled the already heated discussion about the impact co-anglers have on tournaments at the top level of professional bass fishing.
Over the past three years, Mark Jeffreys, founder of The BASS ZONE, has been on-location at every Bassmaster Elite Series event from Lake Champaign in Upstate New York to Clear Lake in Northern California, providing
on-location tournament coverage and analysis.
During the final stop in the 2008 Elite Series season on Oneida Lake, Jeffreys fished as a co-angler in the final Elite Series event featuring the Pro/Co format. Having viewed professional bass fishing from a media perspective, the chance to actually participate as a co-angler allowed Jeffreys the opportunity to understand the co-angler debate from another perspective.
For Jeffreys, his days on the water were all about one thing – learning. “My philosophy is that, yes, the co-angler is paying to fish but at the same time it’s like getting a two or even three day guided trip with some of the best anglers in the world. Where else can you do that and have the opportunity to be in the boat with these guys?” said Jeffreys.
Here is a break down of what Jeffrey’s learned and observed during the two tournament days on Lake Oneida fishing out of the back of boat with two of the best bass anglers in the world – California pro Ish Monroe and
North Carolina pro Dave Wolak:
Day One
Jeffrey’s first day draw was Ish Monroe. Sitting on the bubble to make the 2009 Bassmaster Classic, Monroe needed to put together a solid tournament to solidify a Classic birth.
“I had a game plan on what I wanted to do and I knew a lot was at stake for Ish,” recounts Jeffreys. “The one thing that I have always thought about the co-anglers is that they can really have an impact on their pro angler’s life. That’s the reality of the guy in the back of the boat, especially during the final event of the year with Classic spots on the line.”
A slow morning bite found both Ish and Jeffrey’s fishless at noon. “We still didn’t have a fish except for a few pike when Ish pulled out the frog and started fishing a bank with matted grass and lily pads,” recounts Jeffreys. While working down the bank, Mark had a solid strike on his topwater offering but was unable to hook up. “Instead of throwing back in there, I just put the rod down and waited until Ish worked the area. I thought he might come back later and try and catch that fish,” said Jeffreys.
Returning to the area within the hour, Monroe landed his first keeper of the day from the exact grass patch where Jeffreys had his strike. “That was the type of situation where some say that co-anglers have an impact,” stated Jeffreys. “Did I have an impact on what happened there? Absolutely. I didn’t try and follow up and catch that fish after I had hooked it the first time. He knew that fish was there because I had a strike and the fish went back to where it was.”
While Jeffrey’s was unable to land a keeper the remainder of the day, Ish had four in the livewell as time wound down on the first day of competition. Needing a quality bite, Ish made a last minute stop and scored a four pound largemouth to fill out his limit.
“I learned a lot from Ish’s last minute fish,” said Jeffreys. “Throughout the entire day, he never panicked even though he only had two fish in the boat late in the afternoon. The thought never crossed his mind that he wasn’t going to catch a limit and make it to the Classic.”
For Jeffreys, the ability to watch Monroe in his element was invaluable. “Ish is very studly with a frog and a phenomenal caster. The way he worked the frog and positioned the frog reminded me a lot of Dean Rojas but the way that he skipped it was a little bit different. I’ve been very fortunate to see both of these guys fish a frog and I have to give it up to Ish, because that’s really one of the best tools that he has in his arsenal.”
It
should be noted that Monroe and Jeffreys
made it to back to the check in boat with
only two minutes remaining before Monroe
would have been assessed a late penalty.
Things happen for a reason.
Day Two
Jeffrey’s Day Two partner was Dave Wolak, another angler needing a solid finish for a Classic birth.
“It was great drawing Wolak because Dave and I have worked well together over the past three years. I felt comfortable in the boat with Dave but I knew that there was pressure because he still had to go out and have a good day to make the Classic,” said Jeffreys. “I was once again paired with a guy where if you really wanted to fish hard as a co-angler, you could have an impact on this angler’s life.”
Wolak started out the day punching grass with a large jig and Jeffrey’s took note. “It was very precise on where he had to put the bait,” commented Jeffreys. “I absorbed a tremendous amount of knowledge because I had no idea how he was doing it. Dave was using braid and I thought you could only use fluorocarbon in clear water like on Oneida. The braid would just cut through the grass, so once again, I was learning on the water.”
“The one thing I want to mention about Wolak is, man, I didn’t know this guy had a temper. Off the water, he is the calmest guy you could meet but on the water – major, major intensity,” noted Jeffreys. “The very first fish he hooked up with in the morning was a 3 pounder and he overpowered the fish and it jumped off. Dave wasn’t too happy and there were a few seething comments but he recovered quickly and settled down and realized that the bite was different than on the first day.”
After Wolak scored a limit early in the day, he asked Jeffreys if he would like one of the jigs he had been using to punch grass. “I realized that Dave had a chance to win the tournament and I didn’t want to take any of his fish and have an impact on anything that could happen on the weekend, so I just kept throwing my topwater,” said Jeffreys.
The bass were kinder to Mark on day two and he ended up weighing in a three bass limit to finish the tournament in 93rd place with three fish weighing 4.7 pounds. Wolak eventually ended the tournament in 5th place, comfortably making the 2009 Classic.
Post-Tournament Thoughts from Mark Jeffreys:
“I’ve talked a little bit about co-anglers on the XM Radio show but I’ve never really been vocal about it. I’ll say this much, letting the pros fish alone next season is one of the things that this sport needs to be taken to the next level. The fact that there won’t be anything influencing what happens on the water based upon having someone else in the boat will really allow these pro anglers to showcase their skills.
“Do co-anglers deserve a format and are there co-anglers out there who have skills? Absolutely, but my feeling are that the entire co-angler program should be based on the premise that you are there to learn. It’s like a guided trip with the best anglers in the world and you just can’t get that anywhere else.
“With Ish, I learned what I need to do to become a better angler with a frog. With Dave, I learned how to fish a heavy jig. I also learned how to become a better angler as far as preparation, because both Dave and Ish talked a lot about what they needed to do to get ready for this tournament. It takes so much preparation and mental stability to be able to fish out here as a professional angler.
“The cool thing about being one of these new marshals or observers beginning in 2009 is that it is going to be the opportunity of a lifetime to spend time on the water watching these Elite Series pros work in their element. The observers will be able to learn so much and take that back home and apply a lot of the things they learn by being in the boat observing a pro.
“You can never ever stop learning about what’s going on with the water. It was a great two days and may the
Elite co-angler rest in peace.”
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