The best way to increase your chances of success at Lake El Salto or Picachos is to be an accurate caster — utilizing multiple arm angles to confidently place lures in hard-to-reach places.

Some of our favorite destinations are focused on chasing a particularly desirable, elusive or hard-fighting fish. On the other hand, there’s definitely nothing wrong with a trip to a multi-species Shangri-la. I’d never tell someone NOT to go to a multi-species fishery but as with everything else it pays to have a strategy to make the most of your vacation.

In between long-distance fishing trips? Sitting at home? That doesn’t mean you can’t be using this time productively to get ready for the next incredible angling excursion. Here are five ways to make the most of your “down time.”