Setting Your Angling Goals

With most of the UK now in pretty much the same position when it comes to Covid restrictions, we’re allowed to go fishing! While this is great, it still means that we have missed the first couple of months of the year and who knows what may, or may not, happen in the rest of 2021. With that in mind, maybe it’s time to take a new approach to your angling. 

Are you the type of person who sets goals and objectives for themselves in normal day to day life? If so, then maybe you should translate this to your angling. If not, by the end of this piece, hopefully you will be able to structure your angling a bit more. While angling is still a sport enjoy by many purely for its pleasure and relaxation ability it doesn’t mean you can’t have goals. 

Whenever setting out your objectives for anything, let alone your angling, make sure they follow the SMART acronym. Quite simply this makes sure your goals or objectives are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time Bound.

But how does this translate into your angling we hear you cry!?

Well, with lockdowns, travel restrictions, social distancing and the sad possibility of ill health from Covid without being “SMART” about your angling may leave you a bit disappointed. Especially this year. 

Thinking that you are going to Scotland on a Salmon run, or going to target some unknown mythical carp, or making the Fish O final this year is all well and good. But with the sheer amount of uncertainty in the world, maybe its worth rethinking you plan, and setting some new angling objectives. 

Firstly, whatever it is you want to get out of your angling this year, make it specific. This could be a target species, to visit a certain water or to improve on a certain aspect of your angling skills, such as casting a salmon rod or using a pole. Without specificity you will just trundle back in to comfort and normality and end up in the same place this time next year; wanting to catch a double figure barbel or being able to hit the clip and 90m.

Next, make sure it’s a measurable goal. Luckily, in angling we like working on pounds and ounces. So this should be an easy one!

Always make sure you goal is achievable. If you are fishing for a whacking spring tench, but your water only holds a hand full, you are already up against it. The realistic element has some cross over here and could be seen as the same thing. However, focusing on the outcome here is good. For example, there is little point in trying to target carp at 100 yards if you do not have the skills or tackle to reach them. 

Lastly, give yourself a time frame. Spring tench, winter pike, autumn barbel and so on. Don’t let one creep into the other. Achieving 2 out of the 3 targets isn’t too bad is it? And it gives you an automatic goal for the following season. 

So, make yourself some specific goals that are set in time and ensuring they’re achievable and realistic. Doing this will focus the mind, make you more aware of how much time you have, help with long term planning and ensure you are more effective and efficient. 

Of course, spending a session or two with Dave here at Angling Escapades will ensure that you achieve your angling goals.