We are sliding right into the winter doldrums of trout fishing in the United States. Maybe it is just Mother Nature and US Department of Wildlife teaming up to encourage us to spend more time with our families during the holidays. Who knows?
But this time of year is when the act of fishing takes a back seat for most anglers.
Some people dust off the vise. Others, as we heard on this week’s podcast, plan trips on TroutRoutes for next year.
For me, this time of year is all about the annual review. Yes, similar to the one that you dread attending with your boss or delivering to your subordinates.
But more personal.
Sure there are many beneficial outcomes of doing your own personal annual review (here is the one I personally do).
And while we do encourage you to do that, we are going to suggest going deeper and more personal:
…into your fishing life.
This time of year is perfect to do a review of how your favorite past time, well, passed the time this year.
So grab a piece of paper, a pen and a simple timer (your phone probably has one), and saddle up. In less than 90 minutes of time, you will be ready to slay 2025. These are the 8 questions to ask about 2024 that will change your fishing game:
Best way to work through this is to set a 10 minute timer for each question, and write out as much as you can for each. Once done, don’t read what you wrote. Instead, move on to the next question and restart that timer. At the end, you will have plenty of time to go back and review/change/etc. Good Luck!
What was your best day of fishing?
Let’s start basic. This should be an easy question.
It may come right to the top of your mind. Hell, it may be the only day you fished this year.
Once you have it (and yes it is ok to have a couple that tie, but pick just one for this exercise), take a minute to write down everything you can remember about that day.
What fish you caught? Where it was? Who was with you? What was the weather like?
Who, What, Where, When, Why, that b*tch.
When your hand starts to cramp, or the timer dings, move on to the next question.
What was your worst day of fishing?
I don’t want to have to repeat myself, so see question #1. I believe in you.
How is your gear?
This is the one question that may take a bit longer to review, but for the sake of this exercise, let’s not get out of the chair quite yet. When we have made it through all of these questions I do encourage you to pull everything out and take a look.
Think about times on the water this year that your gear was really working for you. Now think about when it wasn’t. What gear was your favorite to fish with? Is there anything you are out of?
The first that comes to mind for me this year is a 5wt. reel that I absolutely HATE. Almost makes me never want to pick up the 5wt rod, and may have exclusively made me a 3wt. or an 8wt. fly fisherman. The reel’s drag system has a knob that spins and spins, but only three little ticks matter on the resistance.
Maybe this is something I want to replace this year? Maybe I now know how to make 2025 a better fishing year. Back to this later…
When it came to fishing, what fear held you back?
Ok, we just got deep. But let’s keep it a wadeable depth.
Maybe there was a trip you really wanted to go on this year, but something held you back.
“I don’t believe I can cast well enough to target bonefish.” (Take a lesson, or six)
“I don’t think I can afford that adventure.” (Is there a cheaper, more DIY way to do it?)
“I am afraid to reach out to the fly shop to find out where to fish, or if they have any trips they are guiding.” (We hear you, some fly shops can be a bit prickly)
Whatever it is, get it on paper, and once you can see the fear you can start planning an attack or way around it.
#ThisIsAboutFishing #ThisIsNotAboutFishing
Who was your best fishing buddy?
You have carte blanche on how you answer this.
Maybe it is your buddy, who always makes fishing fun and creates a day full of laughter.
Maybe it is your dad who spins tall tales of fish that got away.
Maybe it is a drinking buddy.
Whoever it is, write their name down and what it is you enjoy about fishing with them.
Create more time for them in 2025.
What did you learn and/or change your mind about?
Most fishermen never learn. Or so they say. Too stubborn to admit they didn’t know in the first place.
But this is a question that shows you how far you have come in a year.
You may say to yourself, “oh geez, where to even begin?!” and the pen starts scribbling.
If you can’t think of anything, then you haven’t pushed yourself to new enough adventures, places, or species. Which brings us to our next question…
What is a fishing trip on your bucket list?
What is that trip that will push you out of your comfort zone? That fish species that you have seen on the centerfold of your favorite magazine. I said fish…
Maybe there are a bunch of trips. Your pen, your timer. Write them all down.
If there is only one, write down everything you think you know about this trip. What you want the trip to be like? What would make the trip successful?
Just keep writing until the timer dings. You have permission to dream a little!
What do you want out of fishing?
Again, let’s stay wadeable depth here. If you are feeling confident, go ahead and scale that waterfall.
But what is it you really want out of fishing? Is it an escape from the noise of the city? Is it a memory? Is it a taxidermy of the largest 8-inch Brook Trout you ever caught?
Maybe it is a better fishing buddy? Or an annual trip that you can create lasting bonds around? (Shameless plug for GFW).
Whatever it is, write it down. Try to move towards this in 2025.
…
There you have it! If you did this right, you got the whole thing done in under 90 minutes. Take a break, you earned it.
But come back and review this list in depth. Take some time to think about what would make 2025 the fishiest year yet.
Also, now is probably a good time to go back and actually pull out that gear you have neglected all year and do a real deep dive. There are loads of good deals from local fly shops across the country, so support local for all those stocking stuffers.
See you out there!
Executing Your Annual Fishing Review
- What was your best day of fishing?
- What was your worst day of fishing?
- How is your gear?
- When it came to fishing, what fear held you back?
- Who was your best fishing buddy?
- What did you learn and/or change your mind about?
- What is a fishing trip that is on your bucket list?
- What do you want out of fishing?
