3 in a boat
MD75
Posted 2/18/2010 7:43 PM (#424573)
Subject: 3 in a boat





Posts: 682


Location: Sycamore, IL
How do you guys approach fishing three out of your boat? My friends and I are heading down south next week and have never fished out of a boat together...any tips/strategies for upping our odds for early spring muskie action? In my mind having an extra guy in the boat gives us an advantage...what has your experience been? Thanks

Matt
Capt bigfish
Posted 2/18/2010 7:48 PM (#424576 - in reply to #424573)
Subject: RE: 3 in a boat




Posts: 480


everybody throws out of the same side of the boat, no exceptions
Tackle Industries
Posted 2/18/2010 7:55 PM (#424579 - in reply to #424573)
Subject: Re: 3 in a boat





Posts: 4053


Location: Land of the Musky
Back to back is more exciting especially if your with a friend who is a newbie! Just don't give him the short rod with the heavy lure. Chin up!
breutzy
Posted 2/18/2010 8:16 PM (#424582 - in reply to #424573)
Subject: RE: 3 in a boat




Posts: 153


Location: Antigo Wi.
We fish 3 in the boat alot . Very seldom do we have two baits the same unless we have established a definite pattern that the fish want to see . As was posted before, all 3 cast out the same side. Spent some time untangling when two guys decide to cast at same time.Caught quite a few fish with the 3rd guy casting out the back of the boat , just changing the casting angle .
Mikes Extreme
Posted 2/18/2010 8:16 PM (#424583 - in reply to #424579)
Subject: Re: 3 in a boat





Posts: 2691


Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin
My rule is to have two people side by side. They work as a team. One casts as the other is just finishing their cast. This way no one can get hooked. Shoulder to shoulder casting also keeps your boatside action going. A lure is almost always being worked boat side. A late follow will get another bait to look at as your partner brings thier bait in.

I will stand by the side of the back client and watch all three work the water. Guide jobs with 4 people can be tricky for the guide even in my 20ft Ranger. The guide is the one who is in harms way then. I then guide from the center of the boat and watch every cast. Sometimes I will lean against the big motor and run the trolling motor pedal from there.

Three people in a small boat can be done but the lone guy in the back has to be carefull. The two side by side in the front are good to go. Team work is critical.

Everyone must cast the same side and a predetermined direction. The guy in the back should not cast backwards. The guy in the front should not cast directly forward either. Everyone should take a slice. Using different baits to cover different depths will give all three people equal chances.

Trade off spots or baits every hourto keep it fair to everyone.

Some days the back is hot and other days the front is key.
edalz
Posted 2/18/2010 8:55 PM (#424589 - in reply to #424573)
Subject: Re: 3 in a boat





Posts: 458


As long as both of the girls are good looking there shouldn't be an issue...I agree it is about the three working together and if you can do that you should be fine. My first trip to Andy Myers Lodge we fished 3 in the boat plus the guide and it worked fine. The real issue is if your buddy standing next to you figure 8's your fish and catches it but that's another story altogether.
Cowboyhannah
Posted 2/18/2010 9:39 PM (#424598 - in reply to #424573)
Subject: Re: 3 in a boat





Posts: 1453


Location: Kronenwetter, WI
One point to remember is that you'll have three baits passing through, so you can increase your boat speed as you work structure. The second two guys need to pay attention to where the bait or baits in front of them are landing and hit spots that haven't been 'hit' yet. You are working as one team trying to comb the water.
Targa01
Posted 2/18/2010 9:52 PM (#424604 - in reply to #424573)
Subject: Re: 3 in a boat





Posts: 742


Location: Grand Rapids MN
Try not to side arm cast even if there is room to cast from the side. One bad backlash and it could look like tetherball X-games. I'm also a lefty (reel that is) so I make sure I'm always next to a righty and that we are positioned to set the hooks away from each other. Helps keep from sword fighting or flogging each other during hooksets.
Baby Mallard
Posted 2/18/2010 9:56 PM (#424605 - in reply to #424604)
Subject: Re: 3 in a boat





As long as you have 3 skilled guys fishing that don't cast like maniacs and actually look behind themselves before each cast, I see no reason to not have one guy chucking off the deep side of the boat. 

Edited by Baby Mallard 2/18/2010 10:19 PM
Top H2O
Posted 2/19/2010 1:40 AM (#424631 - in reply to #424605)
Subject: Re: 3 in a boat




Posts: 4080


Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion
Sorry guys, I 'm going to buck your system,... On Vermilion one guy should fish off the deep end, Switch off and use different lures untill you find the fish..... After 10 yrs of every one going the same side(shallow,95% of the time) Having one casting to deeper water has showed me more action by doing this..... With 3 people in the boat.
Jerome
Netman
Posted 2/19/2010 6:42 AM (#424635 - in reply to #424573)
Subject: Re: 3 in a boat





Posts: 880


Location: New Berlin,Wisconsin,53151
Bump one of the friends in the water and the problem is solved, they'll be wet and cold and want to go back to the hotel. Mike has the right idea with throwing side by side this gives a great angle on watching each others technique of a figure 8. It's easier if you have a left hander but if not just take it easy and remember that you'll ruin the day if someone needs a trip to the ER.

Bruce
Herb_b
Posted 2/19/2010 11:48 AM (#424669 - in reply to #424573)
Subject: Re: 3 in a boat





Posts: 829


Location: Maple Grove, MN
3 in a boat? We've been doing that for 20 years. Don't see many issues with it. Just watch so you don't hook each other. I even fish Muskies with my 6 and 9 year old daughters and have had no major problems. (Besides the standard kid things like patience and the requirement for extra snacks and ice-cream if available.)

What we generally do is have the person up front running the boat, usually myself, fish in front of the boat and the other two people each take a side of the boat. That way each person has some water of their own to work and more water gets covered that way. If you're working an edge, the person up front works the edge and one person fishes shallow and the other deep.

How to position three people depends on the boat. The more deck space you have, the more options you have. Depending on your boat, you may need to put two on the back deck, two on the front deck, or one in the middle. We just try to space people out so everyone has some room.

I have a 1750 Fishhawk which has a large deck up front and a smaller deck in back. So, we usually fish two up front and one in the back. We have fished four with two up front and two in the back, but that gets quite busy.

The main thing is to be careful and have fun. Having more people in the boat will require everyone to watch when and where they cast. But you can still catch fish and have fun.

Edited by Herb_b 2/19/2010 11:49 AM
brmusky
Posted 2/19/2010 12:26 PM (#424677 - in reply to #424573)
Subject: Re: 3 in a boat




Posts: 335


Location: Minnesota
I would rather fish 3 in the boat than 2 as long as all 3 are skilled musky fishermen. The 3 presentations helps to pattern fish faster. The third person can film or take photos of the fish as it is being reeled in, the netjob, etc... The person in the back of the boat could easily fish the deep side. It is easier to fish the deep side if they cast forward at an angle since fishing deeper usually takes a little longer and you don't have to drag the lure in against the moving boat.
The three people in the boat have to work as a team though to make the most out of it.
Steve Jonesi
Posted 2/19/2010 12:42 PM (#424681 - in reply to #424573)
Subject: Re: 3 in a boat




Posts: 2089


Wear a helmet! Oh, and keep the Knipex handy! LOL.

Edited by Steve Jonesi 2/19/2010 12:44 PM
Joe Vancora
Posted 2/19/2010 12:58 PM (#424683 - in reply to #424573)
Subject: Re: 3 in a boat




Posts: 59


Location: Aurora IL
No problem.All overhand casts.Same side of boat.We run three different lures unless we find a pattern.In summer a bucktail,topwater,and a jerk bait.
Wolf0503
Posted 2/20/2010 5:49 PM (#424842 - in reply to #424573)
Subject: Re: 3 in a boat




Posts: 7


We've done for a few years, like a few have said overhand cast, depending on the size of your boat you have to be very careful. The middle guy will get wet on casts. We crammed 3 into a 16 rental with few problems. You really have to have your head on a swivel when casting or good timing. Best of luck to ya.
Netman
Posted 2/20/2010 7:24 PM (#424863 - in reply to #424573)
Subject: RE: 3 in a boat





Posts: 880


Location: New Berlin,Wisconsin,53151
This should also go to the horrors of having 3 in the boat. I can still see the look on my buddy's face as his stocking hat is on the end of my bucktail. I had some explanning to do, but I was also lucky not to hook him in the head. If you look at the benefits of the 3 casting you'll learn to do it without having problems.
Just be on the safe side and pay attention to what is going on, if you see someone doing something wrong stop and correct the situation before you get into trouble. I'm sure there's other stories that people could tell you about to help you stay out of this trouble.

Bruce
sorenson
Posted 2/20/2010 8:09 PM (#424870 - in reply to #424573)
Subject: Re: 3 in a boat





Posts: 1764


Location: Ogden, Ut
I think it's going to depend a lot on the layout and size of the boat. I fished out of an X-190 w/ 2 other (not exactly small) guys and didn't feel cramped in the least. I do agree w/ Jerome too - on some waters, it's prudent to give the deep side enough attention.
SJ-didn't we reasonably effectively fish 5 out of your boat on Mille lacs? Two fish that night - not bad at all I'd say.
S.
Brian
Posted 2/22/2010 12:39 PM (#425140 - in reply to #424573)
Subject: RE: 3 in a boat


Consider taking turns controlling the boat and not fishing. This will be especially important if resting from throwing twin 10s, or fishing in rough water or hazardous structure.

With better boat control, you all may catch more fish.

Prearrange the net man approach and maybe the third guy can grab the video camera.

Brian
Slim
Posted 2/22/2010 12:41 PM (#425141 - in reply to #424573)
Subject: RE: 3 in a boat





Posts: 59


Spread out and pay attention when casting.