Softwater Goals -- 2008

[Stick in Mud]

I always like hearing and reading about the goals other guys set for themselves each year. It helps me put my own goals into perspective, and it is just interesting reading!

So, without further ado, my (top) five goals are:

1) To catch fish on 10 lakes that I've never fished before. I fing myself fishing Mille Lacs or the river around St Cloud 90% of the time, so I need to broaden my horizons. Catching fish is fun and all, but I think I need more of a challenge this year (I'm not that good of a fisherman; it's just that Mille Lacs was great last summer and the river isn't particularly difficult.)

2) To fish with two new fishing partners. Not only is it fun and interesting to fish with new people, but I always learn something fishing with new people.

3) To catch largemouth bass in deep water. I love fishing for largies, but I usually have to fish shallow because my deep-water repetoire isn't particularly developed.

4) To float the Mississippi north of St Cloud. I know the river near St Cloud like the back of my hand, but I've never spent much time north of Sartell.

5) To get my girlfriend and her son "hooked" on fishing. I usually fish 5 or 6 days a week, so I figure if I can get her interested, I won't have to feel so guilty when I'm out there all the time.

[mike morris]

-Find a consistent walleye lake.

-Find the crappies just after ice-out

-Find some largemouth with some size!

[Esoxmn]

- Find a way to get the money to pay for gas to go fishing!!

[TrophyEyes]

- Learn/perfect a new method in catching walleyes

- Catch a state record Smallmouth or at least a personal best.

- Catch my first Muskie

[waterwolff]

Have fun

[bassNspear]

caught a 7lb largy

[Random guy]

Find the bigger perch during open water on Upper Red Lake.

Utilize more spider trolling for Crappies (trouble is it takes several poeple in the boat to pull it off)

Try more topwater baits for pike behind planer boards

[bassNspear]

jonny, we have to set something up this year up on red.

[Random guy]

Ya bring up a new boat from Crystal Pierz and we will big wave test it! I know you guys have some rigs that would most likely fit nicely on red

Yet another goal

Find a good boat with lots of room, wash down decks and the wave capabilities of a Coast Gaurd Cutter.

[frogtosser]

break my musky drought from last year. catch a 6 lb smallie and large mouth, get my wife into some big ol pigs.

[shizzy]

since this is only my 3rd season fishing after a 15 year Hiatus Im going to focus on three things

#1 knowledge and techinique.

Again, I was out for 15 years (gave up fishing at about 14-15 years old) so Im still quite a noob. I try to get out anytime I can and I always accept an invite when someone asks me if I want to go drop a line in. I have learned lots from fishing with others. the best thing I do is let them Know that I dont know. they are always willing to give me advice or let me borrow a lure or rod/reel for the day

#2 spend a little money on gear.

At this point I have accumulated basic fishing tackle and a canoe. that gets me out on the lake and a line in the water. I would like to try different types of lures and outfit my canoe a little better. A trolling motor and Finder are top on the list.

#3 I would like to give my Fiancee an opportunity to try fishing. she seems to have some interest in most of the Hobbies I have, and I wouldnt mind having her along.

[Muddog]

(1) Catch a Brook trout with a Flyrod on a fly that I tied.

(2) Catch a bigger fish this year then my big fish for the last year.

(3) Try for a state record Bowfin in May-June (I think this one will be easier then the first two).

(4) To be more tolerant to Walleye only fisherman and not say things like. "If you think Walleye are the best fish So you only fish for Walleye. It doesn't mean you are the best fisherman." Sometimes I think they feel that way.

(5) To have #4 start now.

(6) Last but not least. To take a kid fishing!

[evinrude19]

my goals are caatch a 30"+ walleye and a 6+ lbs bass and maybe buy a new depth finder/gps for the boat

[papabear]

Outfish my daughter just once.

perfect my fly cast

catch a muskie on Bemidji

catch a fish bigger than my daughter's

Numero uno

fish longer and more often

[river rat316]

1. Get my kids out fishing more... actually alot more

2. Have fun

[jigginjim]

I had thought of a wild goal.

To fish 15-20 new lakes each year. And catch at least 3 species of fish from each.

[Grant]

 Originally Posted By: papabear

Outfish my daughter just once.

...

catch a fish bigger than my daughter's...

I can sympathize... my daughter's a fishing machine... taught her how to fish a few years ago, and she seems to catch just one bigger than me every time!

[Fisherman For a Lifetime]

Being Laid Off It's ok), I may actually be able to achieve all of these:

1) Fish Rainy Lake

2) Catch several Catfish on the Croix & Mississippi

3) Fish Vermilion more often

4) Catch a large Muskie

5) Catch a large Sturgeon

6) Try 6 more new lakes

...now someone needs to hold us accountable for these & we need to post the results at the end of the Year !!!

[papabear]

sorry to hear your laid off

Hope you do have time to fish, after i was laid off I had so many projects going I didnt fish for over six months

[Eric Wettschreck]

1) Fish for a day without having boat problems.

2) Catch a pike bigger than my leg.

3) Catch my first muskie.

4) Get my boys in the boat more often.

[upnorth]

 Quote:

1) Fish for a day without having boat problems.

I feel your pain Dang boats eh?

[TroyMcClure]

Major goal for the year. The Deitz challenge.

Go bass fishing and use a lure until it catches something. Then immediately switch to a different lure.

Never catch more than one fish on each lure.

It takes a lot of willpower to put away a bait that works and switch to something else. I think it will force me to build confidence and use up some of those lures in my tackle box.

[TrophyEyes]

I love to do that, but I usually don't put it down until I have a few in the boat. It makes you learn new methods. I did that with lake trout once, we were catching them on jigs, but we were starting to drift a little too fast so I threw a three way rig down with a rapala and yep biggest laker of the trip. Trying new lures, set ups, and in a variety of different circumstances can be the best part of fishing. It also comes in handy when times are tough and so you are not one dementional like those bass guys. Key to catching bass, through on a spinner and pull it through the weeds. I am just kidding. I am expanding my bass knowledge as well. I have recently explored top water and next I am going to learn Texas rigging and drop shotting. Sorry I am traditionally a walleye, pike, and lake trout guy.

[Coach1310]

1. Take my son out as much as possible.

2. Fish Mille Lacs for Smallies a lot more

3. Find a few new spots on the Mississippi

4. Find time while fishing to just "take it all in" and relax

5. Make a serious attempt to get out of my comfort zone by fishing new waters with new tactics.

[Sandmannd]

I want to get my daughter out a couple of times - She's two.

I want to do a couple of trips to Mille Lacs

I want to spend most of my time on the Croix and really learn it.

[Cody Lubeley]

I want to catch a brown over 20" on my fly rod

[LEECH21]

1. To buy a boat

2. To catch a 21 inch smallie to get a replica made to put next to my 22" Largemouth.

3. To catch a new personal best walleye, northern, and musky

[Coach1310]

I hear ya Sand... my son is 2 and a half. All he wants to do is go fishing and "roll 'em" his term for reel them in!! Gotta love kids

[Lunker]

1) Work on deep water largemouth techniques

2)Catch personal best smallie(over 20) or largemouth(over 22)

3)Float the root river, and the upper st.croix(again).

4)Spend two weeks at the cabin, and fish new lakes in that area(Itasca County)

5)Catch mounter crappie(16"+)

[Down Deep]

Fish more local lakes. I have access to lots of good fishing around Duluth, but I always seem to be on the road. Rainy, Vermillion and many lakes in Canada are all within 4 hours.

Go back to Mille Lacs - I haven't been there for 15 years.

Go to Ashland, WI for Smallies - This trip is on the schedule

Crack the 50 inch mark

Start seeing some new faces in the boat. I fish with the same two guys 99% of the time. Theses guys are my best friends and we catch lots of fish, but I'd really like to learn some new tricks.