Guide for Non-Boaters

Welcome to Aurora BassMasters. You are about to embark on your best fishing season ever, but as a non-boater we would like to offer a few tips to make your experience the best it can be.

For each tournament you will be randomly matched with a boater. The fishing skill-level of your host is usually very high, with some Aurora BassMasters fishermen being members of Team Canada and representing our country in International BassMasters tournaments. The boat owner is the captain.

Your fishing host has a stake in your success, but he is not your personal fishing guide. Your boat-owning host has first and final say on fishing locations.

Bass fishing boats are not big, usually between 17-21 feet long and less than 8 feet wide. The bow of a bass fishing boat is flat and usually takes up about half the length of a boat. This is also the place where your host stores his rods and bait, and controls his trolling motor from.  

Typically, the front of the boat is the ‘boaters space” and you will be fishing from the pilot area or back of the boat. 

You will be on the water all day each tournament. Bring with you food, snacks, and non-alcoholic refreshments. As already mentioned, fishing boats are not big and storage space is at a premium. Do not bring a picnic cooler on board. A large cooler bag that can hold a couple of sandwiches, a few snacks, and three bottles is best.

You are going out for a day of fishing, not a family picnic. Pack your food and refreshments accordingly. 

Do not bring more than three rods on the boat with you. Typically, it will be either two spinning rods and a baitcaster or three spinning rods. You don’t need more than three rods, and besides, where would you put them? Along the same lines, you don’t need to bring every single fishing lure and artificial bait you own. Limit yourself to a single large tackle bag/box or two smaller ones.

Three rods are enough for a successful day of fishing. 

During a fishing tournament you will be out on the water for about eight hours. When nature calls do not expect your captain to make a pit stop for you at a marina or even on shore. You can pee off the side or back of the boat, but that comes with risks (think of wind or being jostled by a wave). To avoid “sprinkling” on yourself or the boat, you may want to bring a container that can be poured out and rinsed after every use.

When nature calls… 

You must provide your own life jacket or Personal Flotation Device (PFD) with a label that says the device has been approved by any of the organizations below: 

  • Transport Canada. 
  • Canadian Coast Guard. 
  • Fisheries and Oceans Canada. 

When the boat is moving you must wear your life jacket. You can remove it when fishing. If it is windy or the water is choppy, the tournament director may instruct all fishermen to wear their life jacket at all times.

Water safety is not an option.