It’s mid-December, and mild fall temperatures have ice anglers’ patience on thin ice! All bad puns aside, with temps. forecasted to be in the mid-50s again before Christmas Eve, many anglers may be leaving ice fishing resolutions off their lists for 2024. With a late start to the hard water season a certainty at this point, this fisherman is hoping the action is fast and furious once we finally start drilling some holes.  

With an abbreviated ice fishing season on the horizon, the open water season can’t arrive fast enough. It’s never too early to start planning a 2024 fishing trip, and there’s nothing better than launching the boat, locating some fish, and watching your crew haul in the catch!

By January, the annual boat, RV, and sports shows converge on the Midwest. As always, Northeast Iowa has a full schedule of events, starting with the Iowa Boat, RV, And Vacation Show on January 26-28 at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls. A few weeks later, the Cedar Rapids Sport Show will be held from February 23-25 at the Alliant Energy Powerhouse Convention Center. Sports show season wraps up in Northeast Iowa with the Eastern Iowa Sport Show coming to the UNI Dome in Cedars Falls from March 8-10. For folks in Central Iowa, the Iowa Deer Classic runs from March 1-3 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. While not fishing specific, there are usually several outfitters on site that offer hunting, fishing, and combination hunting/fishing trips during the show. 

Outdoor enthusiasts from all over the Midwest converge on these shows to gaze at the sparkling line-up of boats and RVs and stare slack-jawed at outfitters’ photo albums of full stringers and trophies. If a fishing trip is on your family’s agenda in 2024, I recommend spending an afternoon at the show nearest you, stopping at as many booths as possible for availability and pricing. Afterwards, narrow down the destinations to your top 5 and spend time reading guest reviews and feedback online. Request reference lists, and if possible, reach out to past customers to get a first hand account of their experience. Nothing is better than getting the true intel from “the horse’s mouth”. Finally, visit outfitters’ websites and social media pages and solicit information from your favorite fishing boards.

Once this process is complete, identify your top 2 locations and sit down as a family to define “success”. This may seem like a novel idea, but each family member could have different goals for the trip. For some, success is defined by the number or size of fish you catch. For others, simply spending time outdoors as a family may be rewarding enough. As a result, to ensure a successful vacation, it's crucial that expectations are discussed and acknowledged as a family.    

The level of intensity for fishing varies in most families, ranging from diehard to fair-weather anglers, and a successful vacation plan must accommodate both. When determining the location for your trip, make sure the area has more to offer than just fishing. Doing so will mitigate boredom from a slow bite, misery from severe weather, and frayed nerves from too much “quality time.” For example, if the destination is Storm Lake, Iowa, make it a priority to take the kids to King's Pointe Indoor Waterpark. Similarly, if you are heading to the Iowa Great Lakes, leave room in the schedule for some shopping around town and rides at Arnolds Park Amusement Park.

Another important consideration when planning is how far you’re willing to travel to get to the honey hole. In my experience, 4-5 hours in the truck is the maximum. In addition, if we’re trekking that far, to maximize enthusiasm fishing for species we can’t easily find locally is crucial. In these parts, perch, trout, northern pike, and walleyes are rare to legendary, so targeting these “unicorns” helps build excitement for everyone.  

While every serious angler imagines fly-in vacations to remote fishing meccas, inflation and the high cost of fuel make journeying to these once-in-a-lifetime destinations challenging. When planning your trip it’s important to avoid tempting 5-star locations if the costs are uncomfortable or too stressful. High cost doesn’t always translate to high success, and spending too much on a trip that doesn’t pan out can be tremendously disappointing. As a result, make sure to factor in all the actual costs involved before booking a trip.  

For example, if you plan to trailer your own boat to the water, make sure to budget not only the extra fuel costs, but also boat and trailer maintenance. The last things you want to worry about are flat tires, broken trailer lights, and worn out bearings. Also, don’t forget to check your rods, reels, and tackle boxes to see what needs replaced, and make sure you have enough space to pack required equipment as well as items your family “can’t live without”. Checking these items in advance can reduce the risk of ruining months of planning and preparation before you make the first cast.

When determining your budget, it’s important that all hard costs are documented and compared to the expense of hiring a guide or charter service. Many folks assume that hiring a guide can’t be budget-friendly, because half-day trips in many areas can cost $250, and full days can sometimes be double. However, the costs (and stress) of a self-guided trip may exceed those of an all inclusive guide service. Moreover, the convenience, peace of mind, and increased odds of success with a guide can add a lot of value, especially when you’re supposed to be on vacation.  

Although Northwoods cold water destinations for exotic species are traditional favorites, year-round guided catfishing charters are gaining popularity. If you’re going to travel, you might as well get the “extra insurance” a catfishing guide/charter service provides. It's the outfitter’s business to know where the trophies are and what equipment is needed in the area you will be fishing. This also increases the odds of a successful trip, because the likelihood of getting bored while fishing with an expert is very low.

If your family is interested in an epic catfishing trip to Texas and learning how to be a better catfish angler, WST Pro Staff Manager Chad Ferguson is your guy. Chad owns and operates North Texas Catfish Guide Service, the premier fishing guide service in Texas (and a few other areas he travels to throughout the year). Chad didn’t earn the nickname “Mr. Catfish” because he finds the big cats hard to catch - his list of professional accomplishments and accolades speaks for itself, and he will put your family on the fish no matter the weather conditions or time of year.  

WST pro staffers Mike and Cindy Houston own Houston Guide Service and operate out of central and north central Texas. This dynamic duo operates a full time, multi-species guiding service for catfish, striped bass, and crappies. However, their passion is hunting trophy blue cats in nearby area reservoirs.    

If your lifelong goals include catching big river blue cats or prehistoric spoonbills, the lower stretches of the Mississippi River and Lake of the Ozarks can be dynamite. WST pro staffer Captain Jason Schneiderhahn operates STL Catfishing Trophy Guide Service, and nobody is better at putting these giants in the boat. Imagine catching your first trophy blue with the St. Louis Arch in the background!  

If your trip involves specific midwest locales, there are several WST pro staff guides just a phone call or email away. Jimmi Brown operates Chasin Cats Guide Service, a Google top-rated guide service operating in Central Iowa, that specializes in full season catfishing from ice-out through the fall. Most importantly, Jimmi will share his 40 years of experience, teaching you tactics that will last well beyond your day trip. For example, he’ll describe trolling and controlled drifting methods, basic sonar strategies and setup, and catfish gear selection and the types of rigs to use when targeting channel catfish.

Ryan Tasler owns and operates Tasler Guide Service in Central Iowa. Ryan’s passion is helping customers catch the biggest, meanest, ugliest catfish possible, and trophy flatheads are his specialty. Whether you’re looking to catch your first flathead, or beat your personal best, Ryan’s years of experience fishing interior rivers will take your game to the next level.

Newest to the WST Pro Staff, Keith Parks owns and operates Messin’ with the Fish guide service in Central Texas. Keith’s goals for every outing are for customers to feel like old friends by the end of each trip and to make lifelong memories. Operating at the top of the catfishing game for more than 2 decades, Keith has been featured multiple times on mainstream outdoor outlets since 2001.    

Planning a family fishing vacation creates enthusiasm and gives families something to look forward to during cold winter months. The research and preparation also provide a convenient distraction to the winter doldrums. It gives anglers the opportunity to check gear prior to the coming fishing season and investigate trending tactics and presentations. By including the entire family in the planning, and making sure everybody owns part of the process, anglers create anticipation which increases the enjoyment for everyone. Making it a team effort also ensures that one person isn’t responsible for both the planning and ultimate success of the trip.

The one wild card that we cannot control is the weather. As a result, if you can bank enough vacation time to spend at least 3 days on the water, in addition to travel time, this should help mitigate a total wash out. For example, when my family travels out of state fishing, we count on at least one day of rain. During these rain delays it’s fun to hit local attractions, restaurants, or taverns for a meal, cold drinks, and the latest fishing intel.  

Wherever you decide to take your family in 2024, do your homework and spend some time planning. Get the whole clan involved, and it may be one of the most rewarding and satisfying vacations your family has ever experienced. Until then, good luck and tight lines!