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 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 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?

The easiest method of selecting a fishing destination is to begin by identifying your priorities. Do you want to fish Saltwater (surf, deep sea, reef) or Freshwater (lake, stream, river, etc.)? Are you going by yourself, or is this to be a group adventure?

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 exactly what it is that each person wants out of trip. 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 trophy size? And what constitutes a "giant" fish to you? Would a 30-pound chinook salmon make you happy, or would it have to be a 50-pounder?

What fish species are you interested in trying to catch? 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 group have different ideas, you should pick a location that has multiple species available.