How To Choose The Fishing Trip Destination That's Right For Your Group

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