One of the things that gets me through winter is planning the next years trip or trips. I can just imagine the following spring with the song birds heralding the end of winters icy grip on the northland. Picturing the ice breaking up on the northlands lakes gives me the excitement and anticipation of a child and I cant wait to get up there again. The first thing I do is put together a game plan for fishing. When I choose an area to go, I like to find at least 10 lakes surrounding the lake im going to basecamp on and do alot of research on those lakes. Factors such as weather, water temps, bug hatches and other factors can make me change my fishing plans, so it's nice to know what's available should I need to change lakes. Next is securing the proper permits and then starting to put together lists of what I will need for that particular trip. It seems to change from year to year what I think is important to bring with me on a trip. The last thing I plan is the food and this list changes drastically from year to year. Im just wondering what other peoples game plan is for planning a trip

Sounds like you have this process dialed in. Very detailed in what you do. I have been doing lists on my iPad for my gear I bring, fishing gear, food. Soon after every trip when it’s fresh in my mind I go back to the lists and edit what to add or remove. When trip time comes I just make a copy of my master list in a document, then erase as I pack. When the copy list is gone that means I did not forget anything and I’m ready. I highlight in red if I need to buy anything, then change it to black when it’s filled. This has really worked good for me especially with the gear and fishing tackle.

1) Figure out if someone else is going or not
2) Figure out how long you are going for
3) Figure out how many days you are going for
4) Figure out where you are going
5) Get a permit and make sure outdoor cards haven't expired, if so get new one.
6) Make hotel reservations
7) Figure out the meals
8) Figure out what lures you taking
9) Figure out what needs to be replaced or bought or fixed
10) Make sure the vehicle is in good running order
11) Get a fishing license

The only planning I am doing for next year is to research 3 or 4 loops. Since Iive a couple hours from the BW, I will then just pick a time when the weather looks favorable and try to find one of those loops that has an available permit during the middle of the week.
Being retired may have one big advantage, I am not constrained to the week I have asked off for work in the past. Now I can go when the weather looks good.

Still hoping to hit Gabro on the shoulder seasons, or perhaps see if there is any chance that a permit may be open in the middle of the week during the summer.

I will admit that I love looking at maps and planning is fun, and as awesome as paddling was in Alaska. I'm looking foreward to some BW paddling after being in the land of the midnight sun for 3 years. Gabbro area was my solo trip I had planned in 2015 when I transferred to AK and had to cancel it.

Planning and dreaming of a planned trip is as much a part of any vacation. Be it camping,fishing or hunting we can in some way or other do it year around.

Like you and others, I'm pretty much always dreaming and planning the next trip(s). I follow a process similar to Quetico Mike.

I'm always reading trip reports and thinking about possibilities. I usually have a few general ideas in mind depending on whether I'm doing a solo or someone's joining me. And those may vary depending on who it is and time available.

I usually try to wrap that up and secure a permit when they open in January. I'll usually have a trip plan with shorter and longer options, and possible side trips.

My travel to MN and the BW is a little more involved than driving 2 hours, so I'll usually go ahead and make reservations for motels shortly after that.

Then not much happens until later. I've done quite a few trips now and have a good list (occasionally I make a minor change like Savage Voyageur) and a good idea of things that need done.

Two or three months before the trip, I'll start checking gear, repairing/replacing stuff, making a menu, ordering food and gear. Then I just have to wait until a little before I leave to do the final packing, checking things off the list as I go, then one final check to make sure all those go in the car.

It's pretty simple when it's just me, but gets more complicated when others are involved. It's hard to get them to commit 9 months in advance, hard to get them to do things before the last minute, there's less flexibility in scheduling, more limitations, more changes, etc.

I try to get a route where I can alternate walleye and LT meals.

I'd say I'm always in the planning stage. Problem for me is determining when the trip can happen. I've got lots of different routes all plotted out in Base Camp and the MacKenzie laminated map on the wall by my desk at work. It helps to enable daydreaming.... =)

I'm happy to say that I have a trip in the planning stage for 2018. It may never leave this stage but for the time being it's what I've got to hold on to.

I think back to Amok, I think he was planning thet next canoe trip that never happened. I think he even bought stuff he never really got to use... And two years ago our friend Greg Negard aka paddleman on another site... Was really trying to put together that one more trip. He really loved WCPP, and was trying every angle he could think of to make it happen. He ended up never going... At one point I was going to set him up with one of Bernice's old packs for his dog. It's hard to let go.... We love what we do so much. I'm settled with the idea that my really quality paddling days are over. I still have hope, but things are not the best. But after helping several people make their trips happen this year I was thinking it would be fun to expand that a little. Was thinking if say someone wanted to start out in Ely and paddle to Gunflint I could meet them where they would end up and I'd drive them and gear to put in. Gets me near canoe country and I'd camp and such here and there. I'd get to see people I enjoy, and it would be a little adventure in itself. Mainly the weird stuff that really wouldn't make sense for typical outfitters as they have their service. All I'd care for is a little fuel money and I'd be good to go.

My planning starts on the drive home from my most recent trip. Then it gets into high gear when I start putting my stuff away. Gear is analyzed and replaced if need be.

This year I replaced my OR Sunrunner hat which got some embers on the top and had a hole burn through it while burning some garbage, my Granite gear sink which had sprung a leak, and my ultimate camp shoes which I can't go on a trip without had a sole come loose and had to be replaced.

I am currently in the fishing strategy phase acquiring the required tackle and specialty items such a bait runner reel and crawler keeping capacity. That and new maps from Red Lake Outfitters just arrived.

Did I mention the workout regime? This is the winter of workouts.

I am a huge planner and detail orientated. Success favors the well prepared. Little by little is how I proceed breaking everything down into groups and analyzing each facet for strengths, weaknesses, advantages or disadvantages.

mastertangler as you mention one of the biggest benefits of the BWCA many of us workout to get ready. Otherwise I wonder how much exercise some of us would do.

quote Pinetree: " mastertangler as you mention one of the biggest benefits of the BWCA many of us workout to get ready. Otherwise I wonder how much exercise some of us would do."

Yes I must admit that being able to go on a canoe trip is one of my primary motivators for trying to stay in reasonable shape. That and to keep making a living which is not so easy........setting up shows every weekend helps keep my girlish figure ;-)

This summer I want to not "just make it" trudging along via long hours but it would be nice to go into a trip strong and fit and make great time. Usually I don't get into "tripping shape" until the trip is 1/2 over. BLAH! Not this time.