🎣🐠 Fishing Expedition
Dive into our project waters, casting lines on what to start, dropping tangled hooks to stop, and keeping the best catches rolling forward.
Template Columns
🎣 Cast New Lines
Identify fresh practices to begin, like casting new lines into the project waters.
Base column: Start🚫 Reel In Bad Hooks
Pinpoint habits to drop that are snagging our progress.
Base column: Stop✅ Keep the Catch Fresh
Highlight successful tactics to keep reeling in value.
Base column: ContinueAbout this template
A playful start‑stop‑continue style retrospective that uses a fishing theme to surface fresh ideas, drop unproductive habits, and keep successful practices rolling.
When to use this template
Best when the team needs a clear, action‑focused review and wants to energize discussion with a simple metaphor. Works well after a sprint or project phase to reset priorities.
How to facilitate
Begin with a brief warm‑up, reminding the team of the fishing metaphor and the goal of the session
Ask participants to add virtual sticky notes to each column: Cast New Lines, Reel In Bad Hooks, Keep the Catch Fresh
Group similar notes together, encouraging brief discussion to clarify each suggestion
Vote on the most impactful items in each column using dot voting or emoji reactions
Summarize the top‑voted items, assign owners for follow‑up actions, and close with a quick reflection on the session
Pro Tips
Encourage participants to think in concrete actions rather than abstract ideas to keep the output actionable
Use a timer for each phase to maintain momentum and respect the allotted time
After the session, capture the agreed actions in a shared board and review progress in the next retrospective
FAQ
What if the team struggles to generate ideas for the 'Cast New Lines' column?
Prompt with specific questions like 'What could we try to improve our workflow?' or share recent observations to spark thinking.
How do we handle dominant voices during discussion?
Set a ground rule that each person speaks for a maximum of one minute per item and use a virtual hand‑raise feature to manage turn‑taking.
Can this format be used for longer projects with many stakeholders?
Yes, but consider splitting the session into two halves—one for internal team insights and another for cross‑functional input—to keep it focused.
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At a glance
- Duration
45–60 min
- Team Size
4-12 people
- Columns
3 columns
- Base Format
Start, Stop, Continue
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective