“My Real Favorite Trophies Are Not Even My Own Catches:” How to Have the Perfect Day, Every Time You Fish Reading Time: 5 minutes

Eric Reynolds, a FishingBooker regular, has a lifetime of fishing adventures he could tell. There’s the all-encompassing battle with a 185 lb Tarpon in South Florida. Or the 3′ Carp he battled in Kentucky at the age of 12. Otherwise, he could walk you through his progress toward catching a fish in every state.

But when we talked to Eric, we realized that, for him, fishing isn’t about those big write-home stories – at least not as much as it’s about being in the moment, with the people he loves, and making the most of every minute.

For him, every trip is special – and the way he prepares makes sure of that. We were so impressed by his process that we wanted to share it with you. Follow these steps, and we bet your next trip will be the best one yet.

Step One: Pick the Right Boat

Two men on a boat each holding a Redfish, one’s is much bigger. Two more people are in the background, and one’s fishing.

You get one click, you look for where you’re gonna be fishing and start comparing what options are available.

Eric has fished with different guides all over the South, and even internationally. By now, he knows exactly what makes the difference between a good match with a captain and a disappointing trip.

His advice: do your research. There are a lot of boats out there, and the best one is rarely going to be the first one you see. Eric’s first step to planning a trip is comparing listings on FishingBooker, and he takes this step seriously. “Don’t just stop on that first page,” he says. “There’s a lot of options wherever you happen to be.”

What’s he looking for? First off, it’s the customer reviews. After that, it’s pictures. As he says politely, “If I see a bunch of smallies on their site, it gives me a clue about whether or not I want to use that.”

Finally, and very importantly, he looks at the equipment – particularly the boat. For instance, going out on open water or with a large group won’t be much fun in a small, flat-bottomed boat. Instead, you want to look for something with a deeper gunwale.

This might sound technical, but it’s an important consideration when you’ll be on the boat for several hours. “You wanna make sure you get something that’s gonna be comfortable,” says Eric.

Step Two: Find a Friend

A collage of children fishing. From left to right, they're holding a small fish by a pond, a Jack Crevalle on a boat, and a Sheepshead on a boat.

The other part is the people you go with – spending time with friends and family and people that you like to be with. That’s a pretty good day no matter what you’re doing.

Here’s something we don’t often talk about: a lot of the time you’re fishing, you’re not actually catching fish. But that doesn’t mean that the in-between time is wasted.

We can all agree that fishing is a way to get away from it all. For Eric, it’s also a great excuse to spend quality time with friends and family. That’s why he finds the company onboard just as important as the boat itself. “Bring somebody that you’re gonna like being around and talking to,” he advises. “And even if they don’t fish, they’ll increase your krill limit!”

In fact, it’s the company – even more than the location – that helps him plan his trips in his native Kentucky. “The places I would pick for freshwater fishing – they’re not known for the fish,” he says. “It’s more about the people I was with, the family and friends that I’ve taken to those lakes and streams back home.”

Sharing his favorite pastime with the people he loves is worth a lot more than a big fish to Eric. “My real favorite trophies are not even my own catches!” he explains.

A man in a dark hoodie kneels by a river, smiling as he holds a freshly caught Trout with both hands. A fishing rod and net are nearby.

Instead, he prefers photos of extraordinary moments with more “ordinary” fish. His eldest daughter holding the first fish she caught on a hook she baited herself, for instance, or his middle daughter posing with a Jack Crevalle she battled for 20 minutes. And he can’t help but smile at the photo of his youngest daughter with the Sheepshead whose teeth totally repulsed her.

It makes sense. Fighting a trophy fish might take a couple of hours, but those are the memories that last a lifetime.

Step Three: Prepare for Battle

Using your own skills and tools to make sure you get that fish all the way to the boat is a big accomplishment.

No matter where you fish, you’ll likely need to master a few different techniques. Few fish demonstrate this as much as the South’s favorite inshore catch – the Redfish.

Eric has fished for Redfish all across the Gulf of America and the Atlantic, and he understands that catching a trophy comes down to a lot more than luck. Because these fish behave differently at different times of year, it’s important to be proficient in a range of techniques.

A man in a wide-brimmed hat and blue shirt's standing on a boat, holding a large Redfish and smiling at the camera.

Sometimes, they’ll hit cut bait on the bottom, he explains. Or “you might have to flip and pitch up under some mangroves with an artificial,” or throw a live bait over an oyster bed. Other times, they’ll respond better to a popping cork. “So, being able to use those different techniques, depending on what the fish are doing, is very important.”

Even if you haven’t fished before, you’re still in with a good chance when an experienced guide is showing you the ropes. And because no two days of fishing are the same, there’s always something new to learn – no matter how long you’ve been doing it.

“If you’re not into fishing,” says Frank, “you’re missing out on a good day. First, you battle a fish, then you bring it to the boat and get it landed. Getting that fish landed in the boat is very exciting, especially with the more athletic type fish.”

Step Four: Enjoy the Fruits of Your Labor

There really isn’t much better than having a Redfish swimming in the morning and on your plate in the afternoon.

Because of the way Eric approaches fishing, the enjoyment lasts much longer than the trip itself. He’ll always make time to cast a line when he’s traveling for business, so even work trips become something to look forward to.

A man who's wearing sunglasses and a cap holds a large Redfish while sitting in a boat, with trees in the background.

Fishing is an escape that keeps him resilient. “Get away from work for a few minutes and turn your brain off, and be with people you like,” he advises. “And spend all day just with the water and the air and the outdoors.”

Stepping outside with friends and family and getting away from the day-to-day is a recipe for good mental health. Actually eating the fruits of your labor takes it to the next level. It’s no wonder Eric spends so much time genuinely smiling. We would do the same.

Enjoy Fishing, and Catching Will Be a Bonus

As the saying goes, you can’t control the wind, but you can adjust the sails. Eric’s secret to success is similarly optimistic and relies just as much on preparation.

Yes, fishing techniques are important – and so is finding the right captain and setup to take you to the fish. But what’s most important is who you’re sharing your bait box with. Follow Eric’s advice, and you’ll end up with much more than just a fish or two.

We wish you lots more happy memories to come, Eric!

When you’re this serious about fishing, there’s more than one reason to start your research on FishingBooker. Having used the service for several years, Eric is now a Level Three loyalty customer, which gives him 20% off participating trips. Where would you go if you could get this sort of discount on your next trip?

The post “My Real Favorite Trophies Are Not Even My Own Catches:” How to Have the Perfect Day, Every Time You Fish appeared first on FishingBooker Blog.

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