Plan a perfect (fishing) holiday

It is that time of the year again....People are starting to get that holiday feeling.  With some careful planning, and enough time spent on the internet doing research, you could plan a perfect vacation, filled with lots of fun activities for the whole family, including fishing.  It is important to consider and involve the whole family during the planning stages so that you know what is needed to keep everybody happy, and avoid huge family fights.

If you are lucky, your whole family will be happy to share your fishing passion, and spend the entire vacation fishing from dawn to dusk.  But unfortunately, not everybody is consumed with that passion, and often mommy is left in the flat/chalet/campsite grumbling while you are out having a whale of a time. Be considerate.

With the extended daylight hours of summer one can get a whole lot of fishing done during the early hours of the morning, while the rest of the family are still snoring under the covers.  By the time they have woken up you could be done, and ready to accompany them to other activities that may interest the family.  Use combined family time to visit the Aquarium, Snake Park, Game Park, Zoo, etc. If mom has spent some quality time with you on the water, you should reciprocate and spend some quality time with her at the mall. Consider the fact that she may enjoy fishing as much as you enjoy the mall; a little bit of compromise goes a long way towards a happy holiday.

This is a good time to try to get the whole family involved or interested in spending some time next to the water with you. Make it fun and exciting. If your kids are young, turn the outing into a game and put their enjoyment first. If your kids are teenagers, turn it into a competition, prizes and all.  Remember, not everybody is as dedicated as you, so do not insist on spending the whole day out on the boat, or next to the water.  If the fishing is slow and the kids, or your wife, show visible signs of boredom, it is time to call it a day!

Here are a couple of tips to help you turn your summer fishing excursions into successful endeavours:
Avoid fishing at midday.  High noon is the most uncomfortable time to be out on the water during summer.  Chances are, you may not catch much at this time of the day either.  Limit your fishing to low-light conditions - dawn, dusk, and cloudy days.

Try your hand at some night fishing.  If you are out in your boat, make sure your running lights are working properly and keep them on ALL the time after dark. Being out on the water after dark is quiet and peaceful, a little bit eerie, but immensely enjoyable.

Do not get burnt!  Wear sunscreen, protective clothing and a hat, especially during overcast conditions.
Keep your bait cool. Heat can destroy fresh bait, and kill live bait within minutes if you do not take care of it properly.

Hydrate all the time.  Make sure you have enough water and cold drinks to keep the whole family hydrated during the heat of the day.

Look for cooler water to fish in. Thick weeds oxygenate water and keep it cooler during the day. Deeper water is also a cool-water haven for fish during the summer heat.