| Try doing a web search on the words "fishing | | | | What is your realistic budget? |
| lodge" and you will come up with hundreds of | | | | |
| thousands of matches. Visit any major sports | | | | Let's face it; money is a deciding factor for |
| show and you'll find dozens of outfitters, | | | | all of us. You need to be honest about what |
| each offering promises of the trip of a | | | | you're prepared to spend, and also how you |
| lifetime. How on earth do you narrow it down | | | | want to spend it. If you have $1,000 to blow |
| and find the fishing destination that's just | | | | on a trip, do you want a week at Lodge A, or |
| right for you? | | | | three days at Lodge B which might offer more |
| | | | upscale accommodations or a better shot at a |
| Identify Your Priorities for you fishing | | | | trophy fish? |
| trip... | | | | |
| | | | Once you have decided exactly what kinds of |
| The first step in selecting a destination is | | | | fish you want to catch and how you want to |
| to sit down with everyone else going on the | | | | catch them, you need to discuss the |
| trip and discuss what it is that you want out | | | | accommodations. |
| of the experience. It's not enough to decide | | | | |
| you want great fishing, because that can mean | | | | In order to get the kind of fishing your |
| very different things from one person to the | | | | group wants, are you willing to rough it in a |
| next. | | | | tent camp where you have to prepare your own |
| | | | food, or is a certain amount of creature |
| One person in your party might be delighted | | | | comfort also a priority? |
| to catch 20 fish per day, while another might | | | | |
| expect 20 fish an hour. This is the time to | | | | How important is a hot shower at the end of |
| be perfectly clear and up-front, because the | | | | the day, or having someone else deal with the |
| more honestly you communicate your wishes, | | | | cooking and cleaning up? Can you live without |
| the better the chances you will have a great | | | | a flush toilet? Would you rather bring your |
| trip. | | | | own boat? |
| | | | |
| Some important things to decide right from | | | | Again, it's important to be honest and |
| the beginning include: | | | | realistic right up front. |
| | | | |
| What species of fish do you want to catch? | | | | Once you've established clear priorities for |
| | | | the fishing and the accommodations and set a |
| This sounds like a no-brainer, but it | | | | rough budget, it's time to start looking at |
| definitely needs to be discussed. If one | | | | what different lodges have to offer. |
| member of your party really wants to catch | | | | |
| lake trout and the resort you pick has lousy | | | | The species of fish you want to catch, the |
| fishing for them, that person will be very | | | | amount of time you want to be away and the |
| disappointed. If the place you pick has | | | | amount of cash you have to spend should help |
| fishing for multiple species, you should | | | | focus your search to a general geographic |
| decide how much time and effort you want to | | | | area, while the priorities your group |
| apply to each. What matters most, and what | | | | collectively identified should allow you to |
| matters least? Do you want to catch walleye, | | | | narrow your search within that geographic |
| northern pike, bass, char? | | | | area fairly quickly. It's everyone's fishing |
| | | | trip ... so plan it well. |
| Do you want lots of action? Or trophy fish? | | | | |
| | | | Now, it's a matter of contacting fishing |
| Does great fishing mean catching a fish on | | | | lodge operators within that region, and |
| every cast? Or would you go all day for one | | | | seeing what they have to offer. |
| bite, provided that fish was a giant? Of | | | | |
| course we would all like fast action with | | | | Call The Government |
| trophy fish, but it's important to keep your | | | | |
| expectations realistic. So between the two, | | | | State or provincial tourism departments are |
| which is most important? And what honestly | | | | the best way to find fishing lodges within |
| constitutes a big fish for you? Would a | | | | specific areas. If you've decided your group |
| 20-pound salmon make you smile? Or would it | | | | wants to go to Alaska to fish for salmon and |
| have to be a 50? | | | | steelhead, then start with a call to the |
| | | | Alaska department of tourism. They can send |
| How are the fish caught? | | | | you all sorts of information on outfitters, |
| | | | general fishing information, plus stuff on |
| Can you sight-fish? Or is it primarily deep | | | | license requirements, fishing regulations and |
| trolling? Imagine how disappointing it would | | | | such. |
| be to spend all winter watching people on TV | | | | |
| fishing shows hammer big pike on topwaters, | | | | Selecting the right fishing trip destination |
| then find on your trip of a lifetime the only | | | | is probably the single most important aspect |
| way to catch them is by deep trolling in 60 | | | | of planning your fishing trip. Well, choosing |
| feet of water? | | | | the right fishing buddies is pretty |
| | | | important, also. |