Valentines Day is a perfect time…
…to enjoy being together by spending a perfect day on the water. Bank fishing, Lake fishing, Pond hopping, Ocean exploration…The sky’s the limit when you’ve got a companion that loves to fish as much as you. Now, I’m not talking about just your husband, boyfriend, significant other, etc. I’m talking about that special person you want to spend your day with. It can be your best friend since grade school, your daughter or son, your niece that has looked up to you since the day she was born, your dog that is always waiting for you when you get home, your special “person” that you have decided to spend the day fishing with. Don’t hamper your opportunities or restrict your options. The two of you can explore adventures you’ve never tried before and make it all about the two of you.
To get you started, we’ve put together 7 date ideas we’ve come to enjoy
1) How about a Bluegill Campfire…
Take your special someone to the creek, a nice little clearing where you know you can catch a few meaty panfish. Stoke a little campfire, boil a bit of water for some tea or coffee, and catch a few little fish nibblets! When you’re done, grill them up with a little veggie mix or some precooked rice and you’ve got a romantic campfire dinner for two. It’s an ideal way to bring a fun and romantic valentines day to a close.
2) Maybe you’re in a Catfish Dinner Date mood
Previous
Next
Rent a boat for the night, take your companion on a night cruise around the local lake. Bring his or her favorite dinner along. Enjoy a quiet dinner for two as you wait for the evening bite. Sip on hot chocolate or mocha between catches. You can even have a little friendly challenge to see who catches the biggest cat!
3) What about a rare catch Guided Outing?
Find a local tour guide for an exotic or rare fish in your area and surprise your special someone with a day on the water. Maybe it’s your son, daughter, or aunt that just started learning to fish. Don’t limit your possibilities. The options for a target are almost limitless. Your date options can be too!
While you’re at it, if you’re interested in fishing for gar, make sure to read our blogs about that adventures we encounter while searching for a massive Alligator Gar!
4) Take a cruise around the lake fishing for bass
Many lakes have boat rentals for the day, weekend, or even longer. Make a weekend out of valentines day and see how many bass you can find. Maybe there’s a glass-bottom boat to see how many different species you can identify or a bass boat that offers a few poles and bait for your adventure. Some rentals offer group packages where you could get a few couples together, maybe even do a friendly team challenge.
Just a starter…some guide services lists
-
Texas Guides List
-
There are companies like this one where you can book different guides
-
Organizations such as trip advisor also link you up to guides and help you plan your trip
I am not affiliated with any of these options. This is strictly a sampling of options available to you. Explore your area, find something that resonates with you, and make this valentines date something special for both of you.
5) You could consider a kayaking adventure for your valentine’s day
If your companion isn’t particularly fond of fishing, perhaps he or she would have fun sightseeing along the river through a national park, or down a special stream. Check out the local kayaking groups, many have articles on the internet about local trips and often break it down into a couple hours, day, or weekend type trips. Of course, if they’re willing to fish with you, all the better!
Previous
Next
6) What about a friendly challenge?
-
- Share one bucket of worms for the day
-
- Each of you fish only with your favorite color for the day
-
- get a platter of snack foods on your way to the water and see who can catch the most fish
If you’re both into fishing, maybe you already have a favorite spot you like to go together. Pick a challenge, go to the store together to get special supplies for your special day, and go for a mini adventure. You could pick to do:
- Do a Single Lure challenge where each of you must pick a lure you feel will catch the big one, then spend a few hours at the local lake fishing together. The one to catch the smallest fish makes dinner.
- Go to the grocery store on your way to the river. Each of you picks a plate of picnic Snacks that you have to use as your lures, fewest fish takes the other to dinner.
- For a more intimate valentines date, get just one jug of worms to share, for the fishing date.
- Everyone has a favorite color. Each of you pick 3 lures that have your favorite color in them. That will be your only lures for fishing all of valentines day. Winner picks the reward.
- Soft plastics vs. hard baits…Get creative with the rules as well as the rewards!
The options are truly unlimited for this kind of valentines day challenge. Let your imagination go wild!
7) Learn a new style of fishing
This one could be a great way to make a weekend out of valentines day. Find a style of fishing both of you have wanted to learn, but never got around to accomplishing. Spend a day in class with a pro and come home with a special dinner you caught. Or you could spend a day in bed watching videos on how to do something new, like a new type of rig or a style of fishing neither of you have done before, then spend the next day out on the water trying out the techniques you just watched.
You could
- Try your hand at fly fishing,
- Learn a new rigging style for plastics,
- Learn to fish with jerkbaits or chatterbaits
- Experiment with jigging for crappie
- How about a noodling class
The options when taking your date to the water are limitless
These are just 7 ideas that AJ and I came up with when considering where we would take a date for valentines day. Add to the list yourself. Make it a regular excursion. The fishing date night doesn’t just have to be a once a year valentines day ordeal. More importantly, it doesn’t just have to be with your “lover.” Take your kid out on a mother-daughter play date. That best friend that you have had in your life since you can remember could use a day of being reminded just how much fun you two can have together. Valentines is about showing and giving your love to those that matter to you, not scoring that once a year “catch.” Make the most of your valentines day, even if your date is you!