Whenever I fish, for whatever species, I have goals for the day. When I fish for or guide for catfish, I have three specific goals each day. There is a fourth mixed in if needed, when things go off the rails, and when things get off to a good start. These three goals are: #1 Catch a fish; #2 catch a big fish; and #3 catch six fish. #4a is to catch 12 fish in a full day when fishing is on track. Should we be in a dry spell, #4b is to simply break the ice.

All of these seem to be pretty basic goals, but I find they keep the day in line and keep the people fishing with me interested, especially if they are kids. With the exception of #1—catch a fish—the others may not occur in any particular order.

#1 Catch a fish

The goal for everyone who goes fishing is to catch a fish. It is sometimes a lofty goal, but none the less is the main goal of any fishing trip. You are on the water, baits are set, and the anticipation of catching fish is high. Right here, you could insert goal #4b—break the ice—because the tension is building until that first bite.

Over years of guiding, I have noticed that the first stop always has my guests staring at the rods, just waiting for one to bend. I always tell them to, “Quit looking at the rods, it scares the fish.” This generally breaks the tension and gets the conversations of the day started.

As soon as a rod bends and a fish is on and landed, I announce to the boat that goal #1 is complete. I could care less at this point if the fish is big or little; it is just to ensure no skunk for the day.

On a side note of being skunked: Not being skunked is a huge thing for me, as I have only ever been skunked on one guide trip—ever. It was September 18, 2011, and after 13 years of not being skunked again, I would like to keep it that way.

Catch a big fish

Goal #2 of catching a big fish is possible to be wrapped up into goal #1. Fishing the famed trophy waters of the Red River, everyone wants a giant. Most days, we get many, but sometimes, it just does not happen. This is why the goal of catching a big fish is #2 on the list.

Many people I fish with (especially the first time) have never caught a fish of any kind over about 5 or 6 pounds, so the pure energy of catching a huge fish can drive the day and keep the excitement high.

Catch six fish

Goal #3 of catching six fish comes from years of keeping records. In my nearly two decades of keeping records, catching1.5 fish per hour is a great average. Of course, we all want to exceed this, and many years we do when the dust settles, but every day is different. The goal of six fish comes from the 1.5 fish per hour based on four hours of fishing. Some days, four hours is our trip, and others, it is the first half of our trip.

Catch twelve fish

Once you catch six fish, it is logical to set another goal: 12 fish. This is always the goal for an 8-hour trip, but you have to build up to it with 6 fish then move on. If fishing a full day and meeting the goals happens, we just keep extending the goal. Heck, some springs when the stars align, we have had the goal for the day extended to 25 or even 40. Just keep building new goals and trying to get there before the time runs out.

Break the ice

Break the ice could be mixed in with #1 to catch a fish, but I save it for when things start out OK for the day and then go south. Something changes in the bite or conditions, and we have to get back on the hunt to find fish. This is when we have to “break” the ice again to keep the day rolling.

I wish I could say that this one never gets used, but it does. Everything is moving along nicely, and the wind changes or the sun gets high, and it’s suddenly back to the drawing board for a while. Sometimes, it is as simple as whose turn it is. That one has never made sense to me, but everyone catches a fish after that one person takes forever to break the ice. Finally, they do, and the others get quick fish again.

On a side note, this step recently worked into deer hunting for me. I quit hunting for about ten years. Two years ago, I bought into some property in Minnesota and came back to hunting. I started out with a bad shot right at the opening of the 2022 season and did not see a deer for the remainder of the season and the entire 2023 season. I came into the 2024 season with the two goals in a break the ice category: #1 was to see a deer, which happened the first morning, but no shot presented itself. But I was very happy with that. Goal #2 was to harvest a deer, which happened toward the end of the first evening. It is amazing what breaking the ice has done for my deer hunting attitude. I am now more excited for the 2025 season, knowing that it is possible to harvest deer.

You might be reading this thinking that these are all valid goals for a day on the water. You might also be thinking, “How stupid; you are out fishing and that is all that matters.” It matters to me in the boat, whether I am fishing with my kid or with paying customers. We are always trying to reach these goals all day, every day. Maybe it is to gauge success and maybe it is to set expectations. Actually, it is both, and it plays into my superstitions as well. I’ll leave that for another article.