Did you reach all the goals you had set forth to accomplish last year? Now is a great time to set goals you would like to achieve this season.
In your first list of goals, don't skimp. List all that you would like to do and give this a week. Add or subtract as you go. After a week, sit down, get honest with what you have on your list, and remove items you think you don't have a chance to fulfill this year. Take a long hard look at what is left, start to break it down, and think about how you're going to make these goals become a reality.
Ask yourself these questions: "Do I have the resources to make this work?", "What is needed that I don't have," and "Will I have a reasonable chance to make this come true?"
If you question any of the items on your list, move them to the bottom. Don't take them off your list just yet. I want you to make them happen, but they may not be this year.
Prime example, buying a new boat or tow vehicle. This task, for many of us, may not be an easy goal to put on a list and accomplish. It may take a few years to get everything in a position to make this happen. Start now and plan accordingly. Keep this on your list so you can work towards your goal. The year that you can make this happen, make sure it's at the top of that year’s list.
Let me give you a few ideas and examples to move you in the right direction.
Boat or Vehicle Purchase
I'm going to start here. Even if you were considering getting a new boat or vehicle this year, you might have to jump through a few hoops to make this goal come true. Many of the boat companies at the start of this season are already sold out for the year. They are filling dealer and customer orders. Your best hope to make a new boat purchase happen is to visit your local dealer to see what they may have left for the year. I know my dealer is almost sold out for the year already, and they can't order any newer boats other than the number allotted, leaving you to take what they have in stock, and these options are getting slim. If you're a boat dealer, this is a great position to be in, but it's also trying simultaneously. They are turning away customers because they don't have any inventory to make a sale. As fast as boats are coming in, they leave dealers at a record pace. If you are serious about buying a boat this season, visit your local dealer to get on a purchase list or order a boat for delivery later this year.
Vehicles are the same story. Getting some routine maintenance done to my current truck, I asked my salesman how everything was going, and he said, “I would be better if I had some vehicles to sell.” I asked, “Really, what was behind the shortage?” His answer “It was computer chip supplies. The car manufacturers are estimating that it will take all of 2022 to get backlogs filled and supply chain issues solved to where you can go back in and buy a vehicle off a dealer’s lot or order a vehicle and get it in a timely fashion”.
If you want to get a used vehicle or boat, please be aware that it's a seller’s market right now. Boats and vehicles are going for top dollar, so there are very few, if no, deals to be had other than walking away with something to fill your void at a premium cost. Please beware of what is happening before you start. If you have a boat, it may be best to hang onto what you have for another year before you put this back on your list again.
One more note, if you have a boat on order and you have your existing boat up for sale, please make sure you have your new boat in your garage before you let your existing boat travel down the road. My neighbor ordered a boat last year and sold his existing boat only to wait three months past his delivery date before he got his new boat. He spent a big part of last summer without a boat because his boat delivery was delayed three months. Take the proper steps to ensure you have something to fish out of before your existing boat goes to a new owner.
Learn A New Tactic or Two
Have you kept up with the latest tactics that the pros are talking about? Tactics change fast, and if you have a new tactic on your list, now is the time to start to do some research to figure out what you will need and start figuring out how to do it.
It used to be you would have to wait until your local sports show to get a chance to talk to the pros and talk about what equipment is needed and how to fish these tactics. Today we can get many of these answers right in front of us with the Internet. If you have a new tactic on which you need some insight, turn towards YouTube and pick your favorite pro to see what they have online for tactics. What used to take months of waiting can be done in one afternoon, and you won't even have to leave your home. The greatest thing, you can then take your list and pull up Tackle Warehouse, and everything will be on your doorstep before you hit the water this coming weekend.
Attend Your Local Sports Show
This has been tough to do the last few years, and it is the same story again this year. At the time of authoring this article, the news talks about another wave of Covid spreading across America. If it's safe in your area and you feel safe, try to attend a local sports show this Spring. There are a couple of main reasons behind this thinking. It's a terrific way to see destinations, get information, and explore options. Many states and some of your home state resorts depend on sports shows to generate business for their upcoming year. This will be a wonderful place to get a wealth of information in one afternoon. You can set the wheels in motion by picking a destination to take your family to this season.
Many sports shows offer seminars. Some of the speakers are local anglers with experience in fishing your state's local waters, and some of the speakers may be touring pros that fish for a living. Both categories of speakers will answer questions you may have, and I can guarantee that you will walk away with a wealth of knowledge.
Upgrade Your Boat Electronics Or Trolling Motor
Is this the year you have been waiting and saving to upgrade your electronics? Adding forward-looking sonar or a trolling motor that has spot lock on your boat? Sports shows are a perfect place to start.
When it comes to getting information about these purchases, you can turn to company representatives or local dealers to get your questions answered about what you will need and what changes are required before you fill out your purchase. You can also get installation questions answered if you want to tackle it yourself. Or do you want to schedule local installation of your new products when the products can be secured?
One of your next problems is product availability. There was a shortage of these types of units last year, and it will continue this season as well. With all the new boat sales and fishermen electing to keep boats, many opt to upgrade trolling motors and electronics instead of making a new boat purchase.
One option is to look for used electronics and trolling motors, as fishermen buying new units will be selling units that they take off their boats. With the equipment shortages, one thing to be aware of is that these older units will be going for top dollar.
I hope these ideas help you plan how to set goals for yourself this season. These goals will help you plan and get results this year. Don't feel that you have failed if you don't make all your goals come true. Goals are used as a guide to help you accomplish what you have set forth. Use these goals as an encouragement to help you reach your destination—best of luck this year on and off the water.
