Going fishing should be fun. Planning a day of fishing or an extended trip should also be fun. But like every great adventure on water or on land, a certain amount of planning for the essentials is crucial to success on the water. Whether success means catching fish on a water near or you simply just some time away from the hustle of every day life, there are some essential things that need to happen on every fishing trip. Here are Five Essential Things to do Before Every Fishing Trip

Choose where you want to go fishing. The easiest but yet the hardest part of the whole thing. From trout fishing in the Rockies to smallmouth bass fishing in the Midwest or small streams in the East, there are a lot more places to fish close to your home than you think. The tools in onWater help unlock thousands of places to fish.

Go with the flow. Check local conditions using onWater and learn about streamflows and how they may affect your fishing. Nearly every river in the country has a federal, state, or private streamflow gauging station. Our detailed hand-curated maps provide real-time streamflow data for thousands of river miles across the country.

Have the right flies for the water you a fishing. Do some research ahead of time. Call your local fly shop. Ask a buddy. There are lots of ways to ensure you are armed with the best flies for the best fishing. This shouldn't be a daunting task, but you do need to put in a little time ahead of your fishing so you can be more efficient while you are fishing and are not left scratching your head but instead you are found fishing a fish.

If you are floating be sure to plan for your vehicle shuttle. Ensuring your shuttle is complete and your rig is at the boat ramp at the end of the day...??? Don't be left in the lurch on your next fishing trip by a shuttle mistake. From our friends at Flylab, here are Seven Tips to Ensure Your Boat Shuttle Goes Smoothly.

Have a backup plan. You can E-Scout till your hearts content. You can check flows and weather and be packed with the best flies and best gear possible. But part of the fun of a day of fishing is the variable of knowing that anything can happen. Whether that back up plan requires you to target a different species because of water temps or access issues, always think one or two steps ahead.

Few things in life are as enjoyable as a fishing trip. Regardless of your destination, or what happens along the way, you're going to have a good time if you intend to. So start planning and let onWater help you take the guess-work out of the prep-work. Once you have everything ready, the only thing left to do is go fishing.

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