How To Prepare Your Best Ever Fishing Trip In 10 Easy Steps

1. What are your fishing priorities?

Identifying your priorities is one of the first things you must do to plan a great fishing trip. Just saying you want great fishing is not good enough; you need to be more specific. Great fishing may be perceived differently by each person in your fishing party. One person might be happy with catching 15 fish per day, while another might be expecting 25 fish per hour. So, you need to decide this up front.

2. What type of fish do you want to catch?

While this may seem obvious, it is something that needs to be discussed. One person may want to fish for Grouper and Snapper, while others may want to go bass fishing. Since Grouper and Snapper are salt water fishes, this will really disappoint the bass fisherman as bass are fresh water fishes.

3. What is the weight of the fishing line you be using?

Depending on the type and the size of fish you want to catch you will buy the fishing line of the right weight. If the line is too light, it will snap when the fish is ‘fighting’ with you when it gets hooked or when you haul onto dry land

4. What is the mode of your fishing trip?

Some anglers simply enjoy catching many fish (most any size) hoping to get a few big ones. Other fishermen prefer to catch the biggest fish they can find through minimizing the number of fish caught. You need to decide which is more important to your fishing group... many fish that are not the biggest or less fish which gives a greater chance of a huge one. It should be noted that there are many places where you can do both... catch lots of fish and get some big ones.

5. What is the technique used when you fish?

Do you like to troll? Or drift? Fish in ponds? Deep sea fish? We have witness people wading in 50 feet of water thinking the fish were only a few centimeters from the surface. Unlikely to catch anything this way. Be sure you know the type of fishing your group prefers and that the lake/pond/sea will offer it.

6. Do you need other accessories for fishing?

If you prefer to have your line deep under water, it will be advisable to get a sinker. If you prefer your line not deep under water, a normal size float will be sufficient. If you going to do spinning then you have to look at various fly tackles.

7. What will you do with the fish after it is caught?

Do you want to cook the fish and have a delicious meal with your family or continue to rear it in your fish tank? Some people let the fish go when they are not the recommended size for capture.

8. How long is this fishing trip?

If you fish in the fishing pond there will be a fixed number of hours where you can spend at the ponds. Typically the pond operates two sessions, the day (e.g. 8am-8pm) and the night session (e.g. 8pm-8am). If you rent a fishing boat and go out sea fishing, you will typically spend two-three days on the boat. Make sure you bring with you sufficient fishing equipment, food and drinks and bathing products.

9. How much are you willing to spend for this fishing trip?

Depending on how much you pay will definitely impact on the type of fishing trip you'll have. Be honest. How much do you really want to spend? Are you comfortable renting a fishing boat for great sea fishing? Or would you prefer just to fish in a neighbourhood fishing pond or reservoir?

10. What is the weather going to be like?

Check out the news for the weather forecasts for the next few days. You wouldn’t want bad weather to dampen your well planned fishing trip.

So, if you really want to have a fabulous fishing trip, get started by planning just exactly what you want out of the trip and how much you are willing to spend. Do this right and you can have the fishing trip of a lifetime.

References Dave Cushion, Choosing The Perfect Fishing Trip Destination