Anyone set out each year with a goal of trying different stuff, different techniques, less livebait, more trolling, better boat control, etc?
Last couple years have really tried to stay aggressive. Run and gunning alot, mostly artificial.
This year probably gonna grind out some more spots I have confidence in. Stay put and keep at it to see if fish were there and just wanting something else, or timing particular spots.
What are you doing? 
Couple things I’d like to cross off the bucket list: catch a 40+” Northern, fish Cass Lake, and a few other specific lakes in the Park Rapids and Ottertail County areas. Oh and even though I hit the 30″ walleye mark last year, doing it again will probably always stay on my list! 
My season goal this year is for sure fishing fall muskies. Im finally graduating from college and will actually have time to chase the fall beasts. I suppose i will also just try to fish the spots where i moved fish last year and hope to solidify them as primary spots 
I would like to catch a sturgeon and get out more. Now my son is older I hope I will at least get out more. Hopefully he won’t break 3 more rods this year. 
30″ walleye, 23″ smallie and 10″ gill. If I hit just one of those I will be happy. I have been very close on all of them, but never hit the mark yet.
My goal is to average 3 separate outings per week from May 1st – August 1st. To make that happen, I’d have to hit a minimum of 39 outings in that timespan. Last season I was close, but a few weddings threw off my average. I’ve been out in the boat a half dozen times so far this Spring, and from shore another 8-10.
Thankfully my work schedule in the Summer is extremely flexible. With the right wind, temperature, and forecast I can take off almost any day I want (as long as my work gets done). It also helps to live 2 miles from the launch for after work evening runs. I try to avoid going out on the weekends, but sometimes it’s inevitable.
My goal this season is to get my daughter to start enjoying the boat so we can spend more family time on the water. She turned 2 today so I won’t spend time fishing when she is with, but I want to start getting her enjoying the outdoors.
My Goals:
1. Get my two oldest to cast and catch their first fish.
2. Finally get the hang of Lindy Rigging (i know, so basic. I just can’t master the feel of it)
3. Open water fish Lake of the Woods
4. Fish at least once a week
5. Boat and Ice fish in the same month (I’m looking at you mother nature!)
6. Break my PB for bass (5lb)
7. Break my PB for walleye (24″)
8. Wear more sunscreen
Catch a fish on every lure in the box. Would also like to hit that 40″ mark for pike.
Catch a PB +8 lb Brook Trout bigger than the two in my avatar.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>sticker wrote:</div>
30″ walleye, 23″ smallie and 10″ gill. If I hit just one of those I will be happy. I have been very close on all of them, but never hit the mark yet.I could get you on that gill @sticker1……
DT
Up there in God’s country is where I have been the closest 
could prolly get the 30″ eye up there too. If only I could quit this silly job and spend more time up there
Just to get out more…
Deep run, make it past the Blackhawks.
Get out fishing more with family and friends
Teach grandson to cast a bait caster
Learn to appreciate my time on the water more and not be so intense about only catching fish
Catch fish on some of this salmon stuff I bought this winter. Hopefully the river comes down to “normal” levels this summer, so I can take my 11 year old casting cranks on wingdams for Walleyes a bunch of times.
Avoid getting a sunburn, being eaten by a gator and being bitten by a cottonmouth. And not necessary on the same day or mutually exclusively.
My Goals:
1. Get my two oldest to cast and catch their first fish.
2. Finally get the hang of Lindy Rigging (i know, so basic. I just can’t master the feel of it)
6. Break my PB for bass (5lb)
7. Break my PB for <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>walleye (24″)
8. Wear more sunscreen
Dan, if I were you I would plan on spending some time on Mille Lacs, as you could easily cross those 5 goals off in one weekend (weather permitting on #8 lol).
too many goals at work. goals for fishing enjoy it and have fun.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Dan Baker wrote:</div>
My Goals:
1. Get my two oldest to cast and catch their first fish.
2. Finally get the hang of Lindy Rigging (i know, so basic. I just can’t master the feel of it)
6. Break my PB for bass (5lb)
7. Break my PB for <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>walleye (24″)
8. Wear more sunscreenDan, if I were you I would plan on spending some time on Mille Lacs, as you could easily cross those 5 goals off in one weekend (weather permitting on #8 lol).
Mille Lacs is definitely in the plans for this summer, but man, that lake has been my white whale. Every time I’m up there it’s like I’m on the set of A Perfect Storm. Hopefully, I can get out there on a day when i can put more thought into holding my rod than I put into holding the rail:)
Technique & Tackle Goals:
1. Win something in Fantasy Fishing or Facebook giveaway/contest.
2. Catch fish on a Lucky Craft Gunfish 117
3. Catch a fish on % of Mystery Tackle Box Lures
3a. 1st Box 100% (5 out of 5)
3b. 2nd Box 60% (3 out of 5)
3c. 3rd Box 110 % (6 out of 6)
4. Catch a fish on the Rapala BX Waking Minnow
5. Catch a bass on the Salmo Bass Bug
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>BigWerm wrote:</div>
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Dan Baker wrote:</div>
My Goals:
1. Get my two oldest to cast and catch their first fish.
2. Finally get the hang of Lindy Rigging (i know, so basic. I just can’t master the feel of it)
6. Break my PB for bass (5lb)
7. Break my PB for <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>walleye (24″)
8. Wear more sunscreenDan, if I were you I would plan on spending some time on Mille Lacs, as you could easily cross those 5 goals off in one weekend (weather permitting on #8 lol).
Mille Lacs is definitely in the plans for this summer, but man, that lake has been my white whale. Every time I’m up there it’s like I’m on the set of A Perfect Storm. Hopefully, I can get out there on a day when i can put more thought into holding my rod than I put into holding the rail:)
Certainly agree with BigWerm on this as you wouldn’t have to try too hard to knock out those goals. Perfect structure to Lindy-rig drifting over the mud flats. Drop to the bottom and then raise it 6-12″ and you shouldn’t have to wait too long! As far as the conditions…try to be flexible and launch you boat on the calm side of the lake. There always is one! That and perhaps plan at least a couple day trip, the wind rarely blows hard for more than a day.
Good luck… 
Catch a fish on every lure in the box. quote]
I don’t think I can live long enough to do that if I tried that. Good luck on your quest.
2017: 250 days in the boat
I’m on pace.
2017: 250 days in the boat
I’m on pace.
So why are you wasting the other 100+ days?
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>FishBlood&RiverMud wrote:</div>
2017: 250 days in the boatI’m on pace.
So why are you wasting the other 100+ days?
Because I don’t want to fish those days.
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u da man