Pre-Trip Planning and Goals

[tackleboat]

I like to make a game plan before my trip. I make sure my rods have enough line and reels are smooth. I usually have a couple colors and weight tied on based on what worked the last trip. I then base where to fish base on the success or failure of previous trip. Then I set a plan on how I wanna fish.
Then I try to set a plan on how many I think I can catch with that game plan. Doing these things keeps me from being lazy and fishing too slow. I usually stay with the plan for 2-3 hours if it ain’t workin!!! I’m changing!! Yes, sometimes I’m late changing and I’ve wasted time “beating a dead horse”. Even so wasting time is good info for the next trip on something I should avoid. Yesterday’s Plan was to fish brush and hit 25 piles based on I was tired of chasing schools in open water and running the TM on 80 percent. The last few weeks I had some success on a few piles that I checked. I figured if I could catch 2-3 per pile on 25 that would be a good day. Last minute plan I contacted Uncle Remus to see if he was willing to beat the brush. We launched at B. Allison bout 0730 and the race was on!! We stayed the course and fished fast. Ended the Day bout 2:30 and had fished 30 piles. My goal of 2-3 was a bit too optimistic. We finished with 51 with 31 kept and a Biggun released. Was satisfied on the day since I haven’t fished the lower end in over six months. I’m sure Remus met his goal of beating me on some piles. We got to where every pile was a new game. He beat me on 2-3 straight and I had to play dirty to break his streak. Wow what a great day, two old codger chasing panfish. Life is Good.


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[SuperDave336]

Good post and glad you guys had fun and caught fish.

[happycaster58]

I always have a game plan too. Rigged and ready is my motto. 31 in a day is good in my book. Keep at 'em on those piles TB!

[fishfinder8]

I'm glad to hear that you got Uncle Remus out on the water. I hope that he learned some things from you today so he can teach me next time we get a chance to go.
Thank you for sharing your trip with us.

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[91tiger]

Hitting 30 piles by 2:30 is beyond impressive. I know in my mind to not spend too much time per pile. Once you catch the first couple fast, if you make two casts without a hit, I know I need to move on. But I see all those fish there and get obsessed with seeing if I can make them hit. I also spend a lot of time getting positioned exactly the way I want, coming in slow so the trolling motor doesn’t turn around backwards and send a blast of current right at the pile when I hit spot lock. I’ve watched that blow them off the pile quite a few times. It doesn’t seem to bother them once you are some what stationary and the motor isn’t running as fast. But if it bumps up on high to stop the boat it seems to spook crappie and stripers both.