"Reel In" the Perfect Fishing Vacation
Do a web search to plan a fishing vacation and you will find
hundreds of thousands of sites. Planning a fishing vacation,
whether to your local lake for a day or off to Belize for a 15
day exotic excursion, can be a trying experience. How do you
narrow down the choices to find the fishing destination that is
right for you?
After all, "fishing is not a matter of life and death, it is
much more important than that."
The best way to select a fishing destination is to begin by
identifying your priorities. Is this to be a warm weather
experience, or do you prefer to go ice fishing? Do you want to
fish Saltwater (surf, deep sea, reef) or Freshwater (lake,
stream, river, etc.)? How many anglers are joining you, or are
you a single angler?
If you are going as part of a group, it would be a good idea to
sit down with everyone else who is going and discuss precisely
what it is that each person wants out of the experience. It is
not enough to simply decide you want great fishing, because that
can mean very different things to different people.
Does great fishing mean catching a fish on nearly every cast, or
catching only one fish all day--provided that one fish was a
giant? And what constitutes a "giant" to you? Would a 20-pound
chinook salmon make you happy, or would it have to be a
50-pounder?
What fish species are you interested in fishing for? Although
this sounds like an overly simplistic question, it definitely
needs to be discussed if this is to be a successful group
outing. Do you want to catch lake trout, walleye, northern pike,
bass, salmon? If members of the group have different ideas, you
should pick a location with multiple species.
What is your preferred method of fishing? (trolling, spin/bait
casting, light tackle, fly fishing, etc.) Do you want to fish
from shore, from a drift boat or raft, or wear full length
waders?
Your level of fishing experience is also a crucial
consideration. Choosing the right guide to help with equipment
choices and techniques is critical. The more experience you
have, obviously the less advice and help you will need.
Other considerations include, will any non-fishing companions be
joining you, and is this strictly a fishing trip or will other
leisure or even business activities be involved?
A final consideration--what is your realistic budget? Let's face
it, money is a deciding factor for most of us. You need to be
honest about how much you are prepared to spend--and how to
spend it. If you have $1,500 to spend on a trip, do you want 3
days at Lodge X with most of the comforts of home, or 7 days in
a tent camp where you cook your own meals, but have a better
shot at a trophy fish?
Once you have established clear priorities about the fishing and
accommodations, and roughed out a budget, it's time to start
looking at what individual venues have to offer. Search the
Internet to find exciting and affordable locations. State or
provincial tourism departments or fish/wildlife agencies are
excellent resources to find fishing lodges within specific
areas. Even the U.S. Forest Service website has valuable and
free information about thousands of fishing locales within the
U.S.
Before you go, you need to check to make certain that all of
your equipment is in safe working order. You might be a long
ways from the nearest tackle shop. First, check your rod and
reel. Both of these pieces need to be in top condition. Also
check the type of line you should be using (you will probably
want to take several different types).
Finally, check your tackle box, especially hooks, flies, sinkers
and lures depending on the species of fish you are after and the
conditions you expect to encounter.
Best wishes for a great trip, whether it be steelheads in Alaska
or giant snakeheads in Thailand, you're ready for the ultimate
fishing experience!