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