Getting Ready

Semi-Professional Co-Angler
Todd “Maggs” Magnuson

    Hi, my name is Todd Magnuson, but everyone calls me Maggs. Let’s get a little history about myself out of the way first; I am a 13 year United States Air Force Veteran. I was a Tactical Aircraft Mechanic (kind of like a Crew Chief in NHRA) who has worked on U-2 and A-10 aircraft. I have been fishing my entire life but only on the tournament side for the last two years. I own a small Jon boat and a single inflatable pontoon boat. I have fished predominantly on the west coast (California). I will be moving back east this summer so I can’t wait to try these west coast tactics on east coast waters.

   Today, I’m starting a series of articles on what it takes to be a Semi-Pro Co-Angler or non-boater if you will. I’m going to start with the basics and move on to more advanced things. As fishing is an evolutionally sport, I hope this series will become one as well and give you all an inside view from the back of the boat. Boat owners or “pros” as we call you, please take a minute to read these as well; maybe you will learn something as well. Let’s get started:

   Before we even get on the water, let’s talk equipment and tackle. First, how many rods and reels should a co-angler bring on the boat? Well, the answer is what ever you feel comfortable with. But, I can tell you that if you bring more than 6 rods, the Pro is most likely going to ask you to keep some on shore. Let’s think about it. You are a non-boat owner, you are fishing on someone else’s boat (whether you know them or not) and you are afforded limited space to store your gear on “his” boat. Does a co-angler really need 15 rods and reels? Do you need a rod for every style of fishing? No! I only carry 4 rods. I have a 7’ 6” swimbait rod, (2) 6’6” general purpose rods, and a finesse spinning rod. Now I do carry extra reels in my bag. Why? Well, to me it is easier and cheaper to keep a few (reminder I said a few, like in 2 reels MAX) in my tackle bag, than two extra rods and reels on the deck. Reels are compact and can be easily placed in your bag without losing a ton of space for tackle. And those reels usually go on my swimbait stick. Why? Well, that stick can be very and I mean very versatile. I can toss huge soft plastic trout baits that weigh 7 or 8 oz at Clear Lake or I can change the reel and use it as a flipping stick for punching those soft plastic crawdad baits through heavy cover on the Delta.

   Your rods don’t have to be the top of the line sticks out there but, they should be of GREAT quality. Why? Again, you are utilizing someone else’s boat. The pro has lockers that protect his gear; you have the seat next to you on the boat and usually transport your stuff in your car or truck. So you rods get a pretty good beating. If, you don’t have good QUAILTY rods they may break a tip or get tossed around while heading to the pros spot the day of the tourney.

   Now, let’s talk TACKLE! My favorite subject. Being from California, I am a Tackle Junkie. I have at least one of the latest craze in my garage at home (notice I said garage at home, NOT my tackle bag). My tournament tackle bag is small, only about 5 boxes and a few soft plastic zipper bags. In my garage at home I have peg board after box of tackle but when I hit a tournament I only bring what I need for that trip. What works on the Delta usually doesn’t work on an impoundment, so in my garage I have my tackle separated into different lakes or bodies of water and a general section. I always carry two (2) boxes for every lake; box one (1) has all my terminal tackle, hooks, weights, split rings, etc. My second (2) box carries what I call my confidence hard baits; lipless crankbaits, lipped crankbaits, top water baits like spooks, and some floating frogs. That box is the box that I have the most confidence in and know I can catch fish with at almost every lake from Massachusetts to California. Next, I have maybe 2 or 3 other boxes for that specific body of water I’m fishing. If, I’m fishing an impoundment I will most likely have a box with finesses worms, jigs and spinner baits. Then I’m going to have a few bags of soft plastics, like Senkos, PowerWorms and twin tailed grubs for my jigs. Nothing too fancy, this is my “confidence bag” for an impoundment body of water. Now, if I’m fishing Clear Lake in California, I’m going to pack a little different. I’m going replace my finesse worms and spinner baits with soft plastic swimbaits and hard swimbaits. I also might pull out some of my smaller hooks in my terminal tackle box and replace them with bigger hooks for those BIG soft swimbaits.

   I also carry a small fanny pack when I’m fishing tournaments as well. I like that fanny pack because it enables me to quickly access my pliers, a bag of worms that might be working (we all know worms don’t last too long when the bite is good) and maybe a bottle of water. Why? Well, it’s all about keeping your line in the water to get fish in the boat. The longer you spend hunting around for stuff in your big tackle bag is time without your line in front of the fish.

   I can’t tell you how many times I see a co-angler walk up to a boat an hour before blast off with 10 rods in his hands and two HUGE tackle bags and the Pro just rolling his eyes in disbelief. I look at fishing, as a co-angler, as a guided fishing trip and you should too. (How much is an eight hour guided tour of your local lake cost? Now let’s say a co-angler spot on an Elite BASS event is $750 and you fish 3 days, well that’s $250 per day. Does your local guide charge $250 for a eight hour trip?) If the Pro is on a pattern and you don’t happen to have that specific lure in your bag, most times they are going to offer you one. Don’t worry about having every lure under the sun in your tackle bag every tournament. Just, pack your bag with baits you have CONFIDENCE in. I promise it will make the day a lot better for you and your Pro.

   Well, I hope this helps you prep for you upcoming event and gives you a pleasurable day on the lake with your Pro. If you have any questions please feel free to get in touch with me at the email below. Next week we’re going to talk about etiquette at the dock and on the lake from the back of the boat.

   Till then; “Fish outside the Lake!”