Goals for the 2016 Fishing Season

[WI_Angler1989]

1 hour ago, Derekbass02 said:

Catch a 4.5 pound or bigger largemouth and a 4 or bigger smallmouth. Also would like to catch a big pike. Biggest one I've caught is only 29 inches.

I think that's a good goal for me too. And I know this is "bass" resource, but pike are one of my absolute favorite fish to catch. They put up a hell of a fight, hit your lure like a train, and just look sweet. My biggest is about 32 or so.

52 minutes ago, BaitMonkey1984 said:

My goal is not to have the boat trailer come off the ball. No damage other than having the safety chains snap. Been trailering boots for 6+ years on an almost daily basis and that still gets to me almost 4 months later. 

 

In all seriousness, my goal is to learn presentations I set out to learn last year and quickly abandoned. Specifically drop shot, carolina rig, and deep cranking. My small lake has one deep area 22-30 feet. I know it hold the big girls seeing the rest of the lake is avg 12 ft depth and there is a rock ledge and several points nearby. But I just love fishing docks and shallow cover. I want to beat my PB, caught 2 years ago at 6lbs even and up here I think I really need to move deep to have a shot at that. 

Agreed, actually commit to learning the techniques I plan to. That's a problem for me. I'll get all the tackle, start doing it and fall back to the familiar if it isn't a home run early. Time to change that.

[no39]

Same as always, to crush my enemies, to see them driven before me, and to hear the lamentations of their women.  Realistically, improve on boating skills, improve casting accuracy, learn to read situations a bit better, and give New York state less money.

[A-Jay]

There's a strong possibility that some time come early summer, I'll be fishing from a new and more capable platform.  This will mean access to several new & bigger bodies of water.  Once this happens,  one of my immediate priorities will include becoming proficient with the new equipment.  And it's been a while since I've fished new (and especially larger lakes) and had the ability move from spot to spot & cover water, so  I'll need to hone my chart / graph reading skills in advance of getting on the water and then apply effective & solid bass holding habitat locating skills.     Should be fun.

 However, well before any of that deal takes place, there's going to be a matter of getting out into the first open water available with the Old Town and finding my first Michigan 6 lb plus smallie . . . .    

A-Jay

 

[WI_Angler1989]

33 minutes ago, no39 said:

Same as always, to crush my enemies, to see them driven before me, and to hear the lamentations of their women.  Realistically, improve on boating skills, improve casting accuracy, learn to read situations a bit better, and give New York state less money.

Hahaha very nice. Not many people throw out a Conan reference.

[warrior1]

I sure would like to get better at jig fishing.  My years of ocean and trout fishing has my brain set on the nibble and yank for hook up and it seems with two years of bass fishing under my belt, I still have a problem with those soft bites.  

[Bankbeater]

My goal is to fish in some different spots.  I always make plans to fish this lake, or that lake, but I usually end up back at the same old water.

[Bruce424]

Get comfortable with more techniques. Starting with the jerkbait. Tidy up my football jigging. Been awhile since I used it. Then start drop shotting. Get confidence in that.

And also catch state record bass. Haha.

[blckshirt98]

17 hours ago, Basspro3106 said:

I know must guys don't want to hear this but I need to take it easy with buying tackle I think I only use 15% of the things I buy.

15% is commendable!

[SE PA Pete]

My goals are catch 10 lb'er on chickamagua in March. Win or place in Tuesday night buddy tourney with my daughter in blue marsh tourney. Catch musky during our annual kinzua trip (while avoiding bears around tent). Break 6 lbs on Lake Erie trip. Find new lake to fish. Learn to fish swimming jigs. 

[Landis Carrier]

To fish more!!! 

 

I'd also like to "slow down" some of my techniques and to learn how to fish jigs. 

[scaleface]

17 hours ago, Landis Carrier said:

To fish more!!! 

 

I'd also like to "slow down" some of my techniques and to learn how to fish jigs. 

If you know how to fish a Texas rig then you already know hot to fish a jig .

[Preytorien]

I just jumped into the realm of kayak fishing this last weekend, so my goal is to learn the in's and out's of fishing from a kayak. I'm pretty excited about it. Opens up about twice as many places for me to effectively fish that I couldn't fish before.

[WI_Angler1989]

Just now, Preytorien said:

I just jumped into the realm of kayak fishing this last weekend, so my goal is to learn the in's and out's of fishing from a kayak. I'm pretty excited about it. Opens up about twice as many places for me to effectively fish that I couldn't fish before.

That's great! I've had a few chances to use a friends kayak and its always a lot of fun and, like you said, opens up so much. I feel so much more peaceful in one too. I hope to be able to afford my own someday.

Good luck! 

[stk]

My fishing goals for 2016:

01.  Break personal best of 6lbs LM (I have three at 6lbs).
02.  Catch 250 fish.
03.  Place at least top 5 in all of my kayak bass club tourneys.
04.  Get more friends into kayak fishing.
 

[WI_Angler1989]

11 minutes ago, stk said:

My fishing goals for 2016:

01.  Break personal best of 6lbs LM (I have three at 6lbs).
02.  Catch 250 fish.
03.  Place at least top 5 in all of my kayak bass club tourneys.
04.  Get more friends into kayak fishing.
 

Very nhce. I'm assuming you keep track of all your catches?

You can add me to wanting to kayak fish, sadly I can't afford a decent one but I wanna!

[stk]

4 minutes ago, WI_Angler1989 said:

Very nhce. I'm assuming you keep track of all your catches?

You can add me to wanting to kayak fish, sadly I can't afford a decent one but I wanna!

Yeah, I don't get out all that often maybe 40 outings last year in the spring/summer/fall.  I keep a small log of outings which includes temp, weather conditions, water clarity and number of fish and what lure worked.  If you're interested my club has a couple of outings in southern WI this year and we're doing an online tournament.  And it doesn't matter what kayak you have, whatever it takes to get you out on the water.

www.kayakbassleague.com

Edited February 10, 2016 by stk

[WI_Angler1989]

4 minutes ago, stk said:

Yeah, I don't get out all that often maybe 40 outings last year in the spring/summer/fall.  I keep a small log of outings which includes temp, weather conditions, water clarity and number of fish and what lure worked.  If you're interested my club has a couple of outings in southern WI this year and we're doing an online tournament.  And it doesn't matter what kayak you have, whatever it takes to get you out on the water.

www.kayakbassleague.com

I should start keeping a small log too. Anything to help me learn, right. Not to mention going over it in the winter sounds pretty fun, like right now it would be nice haha.

Heck yeah, man! When/if I get a kayak Id love to make a trip. Fun but nerve wracking, I've never fished a tourney.

[WPCfishing]

I'm after our large mouth state record.

 

[Landis Carrier]

5 hours ago, WI_Angler1989 said:

That's great! I've had a few chances to use a friends kayak and its always a lot of fun and, like you said, opens up so much. I feel so much more peaceful in one too. I hope to be able to afford my own someday.

Good luck! 

Look for sales! I picked up my first yak, a 12ft future beach SOT, at Dicks last Feb for $350. The bad part.....its so addictive that I already bought another one! 

[WI_Angler1989]

1 minute ago, Landis Carrier said:

Look for sales! I picked up my first yak, a 12ft future beach SOT, at Dicks last Feb for $350. The bad part.....its so addictive that I already bought another one! 

I'm keeping my eyes peeled. I don't have many stores around here sadly, just scheels and gander which have next to nothing yak wise. 

[Last_Cast]

I want to set a new PB for LMB..and to finally catch a mermaid.

[Junk Fisherman]

It's surprising that I don't already have this list made up since this is something I do every year.  Now is as good a time as any.

1)  Fish a couple more new lakes.  During spring I plan on fishing Little Grassy in So IL and for my big June vacation I want to hit Lake Charlevoix for a day or two in addition to the other lakes I fish in the area.  

2)  Learn, learn, learn about fishing Lake Michigan in the Chicagoland area.  I just ordered a new boat that is much better for the big water so it will allow me to go out more often.  Every time I go out I want to learn about a new spot and what it has to offer.  Use my electronics better.  Maybe even dust off the old Aqua View to check things out.  

3)  Get back into club fishing.  After taking a 5 year break, I rejoined my old club and plan on fishing a few events.  I also want to become more involved in the Jr. Bassmaster club.

4)  Continue to improve on techniques and using my graphs.  This is kinda a given since every year I look to improve my arsenal and get better at different techniques.   

[jignfule]

Have fun and enjoy  The only real fishing goal I've ever had.

[River Dave]

My main goal for the year, other than enjoying it, is to fish some new water. I swear I fish the same spots so many times each year the local fish know me by sight. This year I really want to fish some of the smaller local lakes which will also allow me to work on some new techniques. 

#2 would be to learn how to fish deeper water.

#3 is to break 5lbs (green or brown). Almost impossible to do where I usually go but sounds very realistic for some of the new lakes I've been trying up. I've done it several times in the past but its probably been over ten years now because I always fish the same place.

[Airman4754]

I think we have 22 tourneys this year. I'd like to break even in my entry fees with my winnings.