Tell him how much gear you plan to bring. Most boaters will not have a limit on the amount of gear you bring, but be prepared to minimize your tackle for the day.

Ask if he'll need help unloading and loading the boat, and let him know if you don't have much experience with backing trailers.

Ask about his experience on the lake or how his practice day(s) went. You don't have to pry for exact details, but you may get some idea of how he plans to fish so you can adjust your plan of how you'll be fishing and what tackle you can bring (or leave behind).

Ask about a cooler. Many newer boats have built in coolers and your boater should set aside a little bit of room for his co-angler. If you talk to your boater well in advance of the launch, you can also offer to bring additional drinks and snacks to share.

Talk about if a net will be used. Some anglers do not use a net and some will just use the telltale signal, "Get the net!" Talking this over before that monster fish is on the line will help avoid confusion on the water.

Discuss culling and the livewell arrangements.

Talk some strategy and ask him about his plan. Don't go in thinking you're going to tell your boater how the fish will be caught, because chances are he already knows. If you feel he has less experience on the lake than you do, offer advice, but don't act like you're the local pro. If you had a big practice day and you get the feeling he did not, make sure you let him know how you did. Even though you may not be teammates, you can still help each other make a better plan of attack.

Briefly talk about the end of the day. Decide on a finish time that will get you both back to the weigh-in on time and in one piece.

For as much as I recommend you talk with your boater before you launch, try not to talk his ear off during a tournament day. Some fisherman are clearly focused during a tournament and may not want to chat all day, but you may also be paired with someone that doesn't mind some conversation.

One tackle box or soft-sided tackle bag. Make sure you have enough variety to adapt to the fishing conditions, but do not bring too much. Make sure your box or bag has enough space for some of the smaller items below. If you feel like you're bringing too much gear, you probably are.

3 to 5 rods. Make sure you have a decent variety of actions and line sizes. Also make sure you have them all ready to fish with a variety of lures ready to go. Lure wraps are also a good idea as well.

Rain gear and proper clothing - If rain is likely, you may want to wear your rain gear when you meet your boater that morning. If the water is at all choppy that day, wearing your rain gear to start the day will keep you dry on that long wet run out to your boater's first spot. Remember, you can always shed layers, so it's best to be prepared with enough clothing already on. Pants that zip off into shorts are great items for boaters and non-boaters alike.

Life jacket - Your boater may provide you with one, but you should bring everything that every angler needs except for the boat.

Small cooler with drinks, food & snacks - Ask your boater if they have a cooler onboard and he may offer space for a few items. Take enough of the really good snacks to share with your boater.

Livewell chemicals - These can be a great "just in case" remedy if you have any problems with any fish during the day. Most boaters will not object to using livewell chemicals, but make sure you ask before you put anything into his livewell.

Handheld GPS unit and maps - Your boater may already have these, but if the going gets tough and your boater asks you for suggestions, you can be ready to help with coordinates and hot spots of your own.

Remember to take the basic items like pliers and line cutters. Make sure you also bring culling tags, a culling beam, and a handheld digital scale. Your boater should have a measuring board you can use. Depending on the tournament format, you may need to provide your own bag for transporting the fish.

Sunglasses and sunscreen. You may also want to bring goggles or a face mask if you have them.

An extra hat. Never ask your boater to turn around to go fish out your hat that just blew off. Remember to take your hat off when blasting across the lake.

A towel. This is a simple thing that can be great for a lot of situations. Drying off after a rough water run or simply helping wipe down the boat after the tournament. If you plan on helping wipe down the boat after the tournament, make sure you bring a decent towel that won't damage the finish on the boat.

Money for your boater - Offer your boater some money to help pay for expenses. $20 is average, but make sure you adjust this amount for additional expenses such as ramp costs, lake fees, etc. Don't think that you should not pay if you didn't catch anything.

You are a guest and the boat you are boarding is not yours. Offer to help before you start helping with anything. Don't just sit there quietly waiting for your ride to begin. The non-boater can help the boater with removing the boat cover, undoing straps, and checking the drain plug, but make sure it's okay to do so.

Wipe your feet and make sure your shoes are clean before you get in the boat.

Ask your boater where you can stow your gear. Your boater should have set aside a place or cleared out some room for your gear. Don't climb aboard expecting to get a spot for everything you own, but hopefully your boater will have prepared for the arrival of you and your stuff a little bit. Your gear is your responsibility - make sure you have everything securely stowed.

Offer to help back the boat down the ramp if you have experience backing a trailer. Watch for any hand signals and be careful. Park the truck and get back to the boat right away, unless you're helping with another boat. Your boater should be your number one priority. If you have no experience with backing a trailer down a ramp, make sure your partner knows this before he tosses you the keys. Offer to help hold the boat while he parks the truck as a courtesy, even though he could just tie it off.

Don't make a mess. Keep your gear and trash picked up during the day and make sure you clean out everything you brought onboard. Even if your boater's boat is a mess, treat it like it was a brand new immaculate boat.

When the big motor shuts down and he's dropping in the trolling motor, don't start casting until you've at least talked about what the plan is. He may want to troll a little bit to find a particular spot. Chances are he knows what the plan is… so just be patient. Also, when the boater is getting ready to fire up the big motor to move, reel your line in as fast as possible, stow your gear, grab your life jacket, and sit down. Don't make him wait for you.

Offer to help wipe down the boat after the tournament. Some boaters are very particular about caring for their boat, so make sure it is okay with him before you start working his baby over with your raggedy old towel.

Never cast over your co-angler's fishing line. Imagine there is a line separating the front and back of the boat that extends out into the water. Don't cross that imaginary line with your cast. Accidents happen and some casts just get away from you once in a while. Apologize when that happens and do your best not to let it happen too many times. Some boaters may not even mind if you cast past the imaginary line, just make sure it is okay by asking first. Boaters should not interfere with the co-angler's water as well.

The boater will clearly get the first and usually best casting opportunities. This can be totally frustrating to some anglers, so try to control your emotions and make the best of the spots you have. Don't make a bad cast on purpose to get the attention of a boater who is not giving you any opportunity at all. Fairness should be a goal of both anglers and most of the time the boater will give the non-boater plenty of chances at prime spots.

Depending on the way the boater is fishing, it might be okay to adjust your cast location and cast over the midpoint. For example, your boater is trolling a bank casting a jig at trees, stumps and lay downs. He's fishing and trolling pretty slow and keeping his bait in the strike zone for quite a while. He's casting about 45 degrees in front of the boat. Casting "over the line" is usually acceptable… but make sure you ask first. You should be able to get some idea of what's acceptable by simply talking it out with the boater.

Some tournaments have rules regarding the amount of time the non-boater should be allowed in the front of the boat. Others leave it up to the boater. Most boaters will let the non-boater run the trolling motor for part of the day, but some still may feel the front of the boat is sacred and forbidden territory. Most of the time, the boater will set aside time for you to be in the front of the boat. If that's the case, make sure you are capable of operating a trolling motor. At the very least, your boater will probably let you run the trolling motor when he needs to re-tie. If you don't have any or much experience with a trolling motor, tell your boater as soon as you can and before you launch if possible. Learning how to operate a trolling motor should never be practiced during a tournament.

Boat positioning is a tricky thing at times. Most boaters will be halfway fair in the way they position the boat, giving the non-boater decent areas to fish. Unfortunately, there are a few boaters out there that will nose the non-boater out of the best spots on a regular basis. As a non-boater, just try to make the best of what you have and try not to get too frustrated with the position of the boat.

If your boater has shown you a secret hot spot, do not return to that spot the following day. Two or three day tournaments often pair up anglers differently each day. Your boater was nice enough to share his secret hot spot with you, so return the favor by keeping his secret.

Regardless of how your boater treated you as a non-boater, never say anything bad about him to other anglers in the tournament. Most tournaments and clubs are very close knit when it comes to their members and participants. Saying something bad about another angler will only return to make you look just as bad for saying it in the first place. Non-boaters and boaters alike should always try to be respectful, trustworthy, and fair. Most fishermen you’ll encounter are pretty good people and will treat you fairly as long you return the favor.

Fair play is essential for both of you enjoying the day. Catching a boatload of fish during a tournament is a great thing, but it's not so great when the majority of the fish were landed in the front of the boat. If everyone is being fair, it really shouldn't matter where you were in the boat for most of the day.

The most important strategy for the non-boater is to have a good attitude. If your boater is catching the majority of the fish, don't get frustrated. Keep a positive attitude at all times. Like the old saying goes, a bad day fishing is better than a good day working. Many non-boaters assume they're destined for a bad day since they're in the back of the boat. Regardless of where you're standing in the boat, confidence means everything.

If your boater is landing a lot more fish than you are, you may want to start throwing something very similar to what he's using. Since you're probably following up in some of the same spots he's already fished, you may try using the same type of lure, but downsize for a more subtle presentation. Using a different color of the same lure can be very effective for both of you.

Whether your boater is catching fish or not, it's a good idea to throw something completely different, especially if neither one of you have figured out a decent pattern yet.

Try to use different baits that can be fished about the same speed and depth. For example, you don't want to slowly fish a jig while your boater is burning crankbaits. Switch to a spinnerbait or a different type of crankbait.

Fish slower or faster depending on how your boater is fishing. If your boater is cruising fast, covering a lot of water with a crankbait, you may be able to throw one slowly presented cast for every few casts he makes. This can be challenging since the boat is moving so fast, but you may be able to catch the quality fish while he’s catching the quantity. On the other hand, if he’s slowly fishing every little spot with his jig or finesse bait, you may be able to cover a lot of water behind you with faster baits like spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, crankbaits, etc.

If you’re fishing a lot of the same structure and cover that your boater has already covered, try to throw good follow-up baits. Follow up his buzz bait with your spinnerbait, jerkbait, or topwater lure. If he’s slowly fishing a jig, follow it up with a Texas rigged creature bait or a Carolina rigged worm. Give the fish that didn’t want his bait a little something different.

As a non-boater, you need to concentrate and focus on how both of you are fishing. You can develop a good pattern from his success and you can greatly improve your own chances by covering the area he has missed or overlooked. Keep an eye on what lures he’s throwing and especially where he’s throwing them. Watch for anything and everything that he may have passed up. Do not constantly ask him what he’s using, but don’t be afraid to occasionally ask for a few pointers. Even though it’s a competition, most boaters will be more than happy to share information with you. This is one area that can make or break the success of the guy in the back of the boat.

Keep it simple. Regardless of what your boater is using and regardless of how many fish he's caught, the best way to be successful is to use what works best for you.