Identify Your Priorities for you fishing trip...

The first step in selecting a destination is to sit down with everyone else going on trip and discuss what it is that you want out of experience. It’s not enough to decide you want great fishing, because that can mean very different things from one person to next.

One person in your party might be delighted to catch 20 fish per day, while another might expect 20 fish an hour. This is time to be perfectly clear and up-front, because more honestly you communicate your wishes, better chances you will have a great trip.

Some important things to decide right from beginning include:

What species of fish do you want to catch? This sounds like a no-brainer, but it definitely needs to be discussed. If one member of your party really wants to catch lake trout and resort you pick has lousy fishing for them, that person will be very disappointed. If place you pick has fishing for multiple species, you should decide how much time and effort you want to apply to each. What matters most, and what matters least? Do you want to catch walleye, northern pike, bass, char?

Do you want lots of action? Or trophy fish? Does great fishing mean catching a fish on every cast? Or would you go all day for one bite, provided that fish was a giant? Of course we would all like fast action with trophy fish, but it’s important to keep your expectations realistic. So between two, which is most important? And what honestly constitutes a big fish for you? Would a 20-pound salmon make you smile? Or would it have to be a 50?