Knapp: As the waters warm up, here’s a list of fishing goals to consider for 2026
As I write this, we are in the midst of a spate of mild weather with temperatures in the 50s.
Spring is on the way, though painstakingly slow perhaps. Now is a good time to find ways you can increase your enjoyment and safety while on the water during the coming season. It’s something I tend to do each year, at times formally in black and white. Other times less formally, just thoughts that appear randomly.
At any rate, here are some objectives to consider for 2026.
If your face looks like the negative of a raccoon by day’s end, you’ve been negligent in the use of sun screen. Pick up a spray bottle of the “tearless” stuff designed for children. It comes in high protection levels, and you can even spray it directly on your face.
Most regions have a list of angling choices. This year, pick out a water you’ve never fished before, and spend some time on it.
It’s easy to get in a rut. But this year, make an effort to fish for a species other than your favorite. For instance, if springtime trout are your game, wade a smallmouth bass stream when the waters warm in summer.
So your ability to take bass on a Texas-rigged plastic worm is a local legend. This season, give a new twist a try, like a drop-shot worm. Fish become conditioned to offerings they commonly see. Throwing them a change-up will often up your success rate.
You think feeling the tug of a fish is a thrill? Try witnessing the joy on someone’s face when they hook up the first few times. Sharing the fishing experience is valuable to all parties involved.
Today’s marketplace provides a head-swirling amount of fishing line options. Rather than be intimidated by it all, do a bit of research to see if there’s a particular line that might benefit certain aspects of your angling efforts. Then give it an honest try.
In many cases there really is something to the flavored/scent enhanced soft baits currently available. If you commonly tip your jig with a store-bought fathead minnow, try a soft-bodied version of the same this year.
If it seems you spend as much time searching for a particular bait or lure as you do fishing, it might be time to consider upping your tackle management system. The vast array of modular tackle boxes and bags provide a means of putting things in their place, especially important if you pursue a variety of species.
Jeff Knapp is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle.
