Now is the time to get ready for some great fishing!
February 14th 2008 02:37
Every morning as I scrape the ice off my windshield I get jolted into the reality of how far off fishing season is. I guess TECHNICALLY it IS fishing season but…Things would be different if I ice fished but we won’t go there. Cabin fever??? Ha! Look it up in the dictionary and they have my name! Things have gotten to the point that I’ve even considered watching those fishing shows on TV.
There are a number of things you can do with your down time that will make your fishing more productive. Some I thought up, some were suggestions by friends, and others came from books or magazines. The thing is, they ALL keep you occupied and make for better fishing when you get back out there.
Reel Maintenance
It's that reel we all have. It’s our favorite and has a LOT of memories but... Here’s a chance to get to that reel and get it ready for spring. You finally have time to oil, grease, and respool “old reliable.” While you’re at it, check the drag and make sure it’s working. It’s less hassle to find out it’s not up to speed than to have to deal with it when the weather breaks! If you do find something wrong, need new parts or, (Lord forbid!) a whole new reel, now is the time to take care of it because there is plenty of time to ship new parts or shop around.
Lure Maintenance
At first glance, it doesn’t make much sense-- taking care of the baits that we want fish to abuse. It’s something ya gotta do though. Make sure the hooks are sharp, get rid of the dried grass, and make sure everything is tight. It’s easier to do it now at your leisure than to try and get things ready the night before your first outing of the season.
Storage Adjustment
It sounds like a big deal but all it really means is make sure everything is where it's supposed to be. To put it bluntly, get it together! Organize things so all your similar lures are together and then do the same for the rest of your tackle. How often have you scrambled looking for something as the catch of your life swims by? If you don’t have a particular system of organizing your gear, now would be great time to develop one. Something as simple as labeled boxes or bags may make life on the water a heck of a lot easier. You may even find that lure you thought you lost last summer!
Gear Replacement
Now is the time to shop around for new equipment. Doing it now will give you the opportunity to do things in a relaxed manner and give you a chance to really look around for a good price. If you take inventory now, you’ll have everything you need the first time you hit the water. AND—I say that from experience because it’s always something stupid like a package of a certain size hooks or certain lure that’s missing.
Education
No matter what most anglers say or do, they don’t know everything there is to know about the fishing. I always look at it this way, “If they’re so darned smart, why aren’t they on tour?” This is a good time to brush up on tactics and a maybe learn something new. Perhaps this would be a good time to mention that one of my early fishing gurus blew so much smoke up my butt that I wasted a lot of time on the water using bad advice. It never hurts to take advice from someone in the know but, through that debacle, I discovered that it’s also a good idea to get your information from several different sources. It doesn’t hurt to get some books or magazines that provide good information and study them in preparation for next season. The Internet provides endless hours of material that will make you a better angler. You’d be surprised what you can find! You may even find information about your favorite fishing spot!
I hope I’ve given you some insights or ideas for killing time while things are slow. Trust me, these tips will pay off a whole lot better than wasting time watching most of the guys on TV!
Until next time--watch yourself and watch your line!
There are a number of things you can do with your down time that will make your fishing more productive. Some I thought up, some were suggestions by friends, and others came from books or magazines. The thing is, they ALL keep you occupied and make for better fishing when you get back out there.
Reel Maintenance
It's that reel we all have. It’s our favorite and has a LOT of memories but... Here’s a chance to get to that reel and get it ready for spring. You finally have time to oil, grease, and respool “old reliable.” While you’re at it, check the drag and make sure it’s working. It’s less hassle to find out it’s not up to speed than to have to deal with it when the weather breaks! If you do find something wrong, need new parts or, (Lord forbid!) a whole new reel, now is the time to take care of it because there is plenty of time to ship new parts or shop around.
Lure Maintenance
At first glance, it doesn’t make much sense-- taking care of the baits that we want fish to abuse. It’s something ya gotta do though. Make sure the hooks are sharp, get rid of the dried grass, and make sure everything is tight. It’s easier to do it now at your leisure than to try and get things ready the night before your first outing of the season.
Storage Adjustment
It sounds like a big deal but all it really means is make sure everything is where it's supposed to be. To put it bluntly, get it together! Organize things so all your similar lures are together and then do the same for the rest of your tackle. How often have you scrambled looking for something as the catch of your life swims by? If you don’t have a particular system of organizing your gear, now would be great time to develop one. Something as simple as labeled boxes or bags may make life on the water a heck of a lot easier. You may even find that lure you thought you lost last summer!
Gear Replacement
Now is the time to shop around for new equipment. Doing it now will give you the opportunity to do things in a relaxed manner and give you a chance to really look around for a good price. If you take inventory now, you’ll have everything you need the first time you hit the water. AND—I say that from experience because it’s always something stupid like a package of a certain size hooks or certain lure that’s missing.
Education
No matter what most anglers say or do, they don’t know everything there is to know about the fishing. I always look at it this way, “If they’re so darned smart, why aren’t they on tour?” This is a good time to brush up on tactics and a maybe learn something new. Perhaps this would be a good time to mention that one of my early fishing gurus blew so much smoke up my butt that I wasted a lot of time on the water using bad advice. It never hurts to take advice from someone in the know but, through that debacle, I discovered that it’s also a good idea to get your information from several different sources. It doesn’t hurt to get some books or magazines that provide good information and study them in preparation for next season. The Internet provides endless hours of material that will make you a better angler. You’d be surprised what you can find! You may even find information about your favorite fishing spot!
I hope I’ve given you some insights or ideas for killing time while things are slow. Trust me, these tips will pay off a whole lot better than wasting time watching most of the guys on TV!
Until next time--watch yourself and watch your line!
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