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It's Been a Long Hard Winter
By: Chris Erwin
As I write this the weather man has
commented that this day could be the first 70-degree day since October, daylight savings
time is about to kick in and the whole idea of seeing daylight to 7:30 in the
evening is a welcome sight.
If you haven't been working on your tackle now is the time to break out the gear and get it
ready for the up coming season, here is a short list of things you should think about.
Along with a few tips and suggestions that will have you ready for the hungry and willing
fish that soon will be active once again.
The one thing that I do each year, and I can tell you it might not set all that good with
your wife or husband, but I feel it is very necessary. It's time to clean all your fishing
lures or at lease all of your "hard baits". I usually take up residence in the bath room,
taking a small folding table along with a spray bottle of a general purpose cleaner,
sponge, paper towels, and plastic tub. I fill the bath tub about half way adding a few
caps of "Dawn" dishing washing liquid, guess what's next! You got it.. All the " baits" go
into the tub where they get to float around until I get to each one.
I pick them up one at a time; and clean each,
checking hooks and the painted finish.
Baits that need to be repaired including replacing hooks, go into a plastic tub while
the baits that pass the inspection are placed on the folding table, this removes all
unwanted scents and makes sure they are free of oil or any other thing that might
affect their fish catching ability.
A note about hook replacement, in the forty years I have been fishing tournaments,
guiding, and just plain fun fishing, I have compared almost every type of hook
that is made. I know that many of the people I meet have little or no preference
for what type hook is on their lure, but for a minute let us take a look at how
important it is to have sharp hooks on your baits and good line on your reel.
When you think about what you spend to be on the water, bass boats today can run
up to 50 thousand dollars, good rods and reels can be in the hundreds of dollars
not counting electronics. With all the gear, you have invested in, the last thing
you want to skimp on is your connection to the fish, namely the hooks and line.
I have seen guys buy a four hundred dollar rod and reel, then put on 98 cent line
and use dull or poorly made hooks.
So.. What are the best hooks and line? As a lure manufacture I have tested every
hook on the market, and I have tested almost every line on the market. I can tell
you they are a lot of difference between them.
My number one choice in treble hooks for "hard bait" lures is the "Triple Grip" hooks
by Mustad. They are some others that are good treble hooks, like some of the cone cut
hooks, but I have proven over and over that the Triple Grip Hooks, hook better,
hold on longer and are as sharp as any hook on the market. I put them on every "hard bait"
I make and everyone I buy, I will strip off the new hooks from a store bought bait and
replace then with Triple Grip hooks. By the way, no one is giving them to me, and
I'm getting nothing for promoting them, they just happen to be the best hook I have
used so far for "hard baits".
What line should you use? They are a lot of good lines, and I think it's a personal choice,
since they are so many that are top of the line. Stren, and Berkley are on the top of the
list for me.
I use three or four lines on different setups, some for bottom dragging baits, for flippin
and for crank baits. The main thing, to remember is to have a good quality line that is changed as
often as necessary for me that's five times a year.
Now that we have covered your fishing lures lets not forget your rod and reel setups. Reels
should be cleaned and oiled and re-spooled with new line, rods should be wipe down
inspecting guides and reel seats for cracks or damaged windings, if you need to fix a
guide they are how to articles on our message board that will
guide you through the repair.
Now that we have covered your fishing lures let us take a look at your rod and reel
setup. Reels need to be cleaned and oiled, reels spooled with the new line, rods
should be wiped down inspecting guides and reel seats for cracks or damaged windings.
If you need to fix a guide they are "how to" articles on the message board that will
guide you through the repair.
Now its time to head out to the boat if you are lucky enough to own one, to do a check
of your fishing machine.
Check the prop, cables, and steering to see they are all working.
Inspect your trolling motor make sure it is still bolted securely to your boat,
check the foot peddle if yours has one, to see that it works
and doesn’t need some repairs.
This is also a good time to re-pack trailer bearing or at lease add some grease if
you are running bearing buddies, look over your tires for dry rot or odd ware, this
is a good time to do an inspection of your upholstery, check seat fixtures, seat pins,
hinges and other moving parts, along with any boards and seat
skins that might need attention.
This is the time of the year that I take everything out of my boat and check my rain gear.
I make sure my fire extinguisher is good and still showing in the green, along with the
rest of my safety gear, life jackets must be readable with all straps and buckles in
working shape, I carry a survival pack in my boat, just in case I happen to get stranded
and need to spend a night on the bank.
I always keep items like lighters, band-aids, flashlight with extra batteries along
with a pocketknife, and a fire starter brick, in case of rain or bad weather when finding
something dry might be an issue. I have it stored in a food saver bag, that way it
doesn’t dry out. This little trick really comes at the right moment when you need to
build a fire to dry out anything that might get wet; spring is when the weather can
be fickle, getting wet can be a real problem.
This is a brick that is compressed sawdust with a wax base use by many people to start a fire place fire, they only take a match or lighter to light and burn for ten to 15 minutes. They are use to help start other woods that might be placed in the fire.
The last thing I usually do before putting my boat on the water is to check all the fluids that my boat uses, two cycle engine oil, lower in grease, and power tilt and trim fluid.
If I see any water in my lower-in grease, I change all the grease in the lower in and make a note that water was in there, if this is the case the lower-end will need checked again in a few weeks to make sure it doesn't need a seal replacement.
It looks like we are about ready for the up coming year I hope to see you on the water.
Good Fishing
Chris "Trimmer" Erwin