Thanksgiving weekend has all the ingredients for a great fishing trip.
Family and friends are in town. A lot of people have a few extra days away from work. The refrigerator is packed with leftovers. And after Thanksgiving dinner, spending a quiet morning on the water can sound a whole lot better than fighting the crowds at the mall.
For anglers, late November can also offer something summer doesn't always provide: cooler weather, quieter waterways, and a completely different fishing experience.
But Thanksgiving weekend fishing requires a little preparation. Cooler temperatures, shorter days, changing fish behavior, and equipment that may have been sitting between trips all deserve some attention before you launch.
In Part 3 of our Thankful for Time on the Water series, we covered a complete Thanksgiving boating checklist. Now we're narrowing the focus to anglers.
Before you grab the rods and head for the ramp, let's get your fishing setup ready.
Thanksgiving Weekend Is Made for a Fishing Trip
Summer might be the traditional boating season, but serious anglers know the fishing calendar doesn't end when temperatures start dropping.
Late fall can bring changing water temperatures, seasonal fish movements, different feeding patterns, and less recreational boat traffic on many waterways.
It can also provide something even more valuable: an opportunity to share the boat with someone you don't get to fish with very often.
Maybe your dad is visiting for Thanksgiving. Maybe your brother or sister is back in town. Maybe the kids are out of school. Maybe you've been promising a friend you'd finally take them fishing.
Thanksgiving weekend gives you an excuse to stop saying, "We need to go sometime."
Make this the time.
Start With Your Trolling Motor
For many anglers, the trolling motor is one of the most important pieces of fishing equipment on the boat.
It helps you quietly work shorelines, hold near structure, maneuver through shallow water, and maintain boat position while everyone else focuses on fishing.
Modern GPS-enabled trolling motors can add features such as virtual anchoring, heading control, route following, and integration with compatible marine