For Epic Vacations, Avoid the “Fish and Ski”

Do you remember “Fish and Ski” bass boats? They were popular in the 1980s and 1990s, and depending on your perspective, they were either the best or the worst combination of features you could buy.

They were typically marked by a basic bass boat or deep-v shape, a big walk-through windshield, and a smaller front deck than a typical “tournament-ready” bass boat. That’s not to say that you couldn’t be competitive out of one, but rather that they gave up some efficiency in the name of creating a boat built for more than just fishing. The sales pitch was that after you were done chasing bass, the whole family could join you for skiing, tubing and general chilling.

These purchases almost always reeked of desperate compromise. The angler in the family (usually, but not always, dad) would head to the dealership looking for a rocket-like Hydroblaster. The non-angler (usually, but not always, mom) would come along, and seeing this other option, would push for it. It’ll be better for family unity, better for time with the kids, and it will make us all want to go to the lake with you, the latter partner would say.

Ten minutes later, they were signing on the dotted line.

A year later, the angler was still fishing out of the boat, but was deeply disappointed to have been bullied into this purchase, because after one or two trips the family had decided they had other things to do. They’d stopped coming along. Meanwhile, he/she would still strongly prefer the other boat (but with only 162 payments left, that’s not on the table).

If you are planning the fishing trip of a lifetime, and you have a family of committed non-anglers, don’t be pressured into going on the compromise trip.

Yes, there are certainly options – like Costa Rica or Alaska or Cabo or Traverse City – where one family member can have a world-class fishing experience for a few days and those who don’t care to fish can still have a killer vacation. No one needs to sacrifice their preferences and you can still enjoy plenty of togetherness. I’m not talking about those trips. I’m talking about your once-in-a-lifetime, ultra-bucket-list, hard-core fishing deal. Maybe it’s Panama or the Seychelles or Arctic Char in the Northwest Territories, but if it’s something technical and a little off the grid, leave the non-anglers at home.

You cannot make someone enjoy something they don’t like, and if you’ve been waiting 10 or 20 or more years to make a dream happen, anyone who wants to go in early or doesn’t get excited by your big fish is going to be a drag. There will be plenty of time for togetherness in other venues, but when it comes to living out your dreams, choose “social distancing” over compromise.