Getting the Ride Ready and Getting Ready to Ride

I have already started with the typical resolutions of eating better and exercising. That means I had a salad for lunch and did a light workout on the treadmill. This is an absolute must to be ready for the Bassmaster Elite Series beginning in 75 days. The trick is all of the promotional days that come with the turf. I will be doing 35-40 days on the road between now and then! It is so hard to eat right and add exercise while on the road. I have done it before. Hopefully I can manage again. I don’t have a weekend off until the first of April! I will do my best not to eat fries, burgers, and pizza.

 

Tomorrow will see the rise of my Skeeter Boat. Everything has arrived for my (office) rig. That includes Lowrance HDS 10’s, twin Power Poles, Northstar Batteries, Stay-N-Charge charging system, and my new Hydrowave. My friends at The Old Baithouse and I will start on this project. You see, I have zero mechanical skills! It is a heavy price to pay for asking for help on the rigging. I’ll become the “greenhorn” of the shop for the duration of the rigging. My skin is pretty tough from 20 years of Bassmaster competition. I just hope I can handle the rain of comments headed my way!

 

I made the resolution to charge batteries after each day’s use as soon as I am off the water. There is more damage done to batteries by neglect than abuse. I will make it a point to plug in my charger as soon as I park my boat. Regardless if it is a wet cell or a Northstar AGM Battery, recharging them back to the proper level will make them preform at top efficiency. Batteries last longer if they are maintained. Wet cell batteries need to be refilled with distilled water monthly to give them longevity. If your rig has been parked for the winter, give your batteries a charge every 3-4 weeks to keep them at peak capacity.

 

I always check all safety equipment on board my boat before the first trip of the year. Fire extinguishers, life jackets, and throwable devices must be inspected. Anglers need to have all of the proper documentation on board. I have found insurance documentation is always a good thing to carry as well. The first aid kits must be replenished. Always have antacids, stomach medications, and lots of band aids inside your kit. New sunscreen, a spare pair of sunglasses, and extra hats will be needed for proper sun care. I have added to my fishing gear a pair fishing gloves (50SPF) and a Buff Head Gear to ensure better sun care. It is very important to take care of your skin!

 

Tackle organization is the hardest part of my job. I have found a system that has worked well for me. Line Rite Tackle and Rod Tabs make this job very easy. The Tackle Tabs help anglers sort all the categories of baits in specific boxes. This will allow the angler more time for fishing instead of hunting that secret bait! The Rod Tabs give anglers the freedom of not worrying about what size line is on their rod. These brightly colored Rod Tabs are labeled with the size and type of line on them. Anglers will never again pick up the wrong rod again! I made that mistake in a tournament. I thought I picked up a rod that had 20lb line on it. After the five pound bass broke the 12lb line, I realized that cost me a pile of dollars. I missed the Top 12 by ounces!

 

During the heart of the winter is a great time to check and replace all hooks on baits. This can be a “sticky task." Proper split ring pliers are an absolute necessity for safety. The replacement of hooks will up the chances for landing a higher percentage of bass in the coming season. I am really picky about hooks. We will discuss hook choices on a later date.

 

Adhering to these ideas will help your upcoming fishing season. It will also make your time on the water much more enjoyable. Today’s world is full of complexities. Time on the water needs to be simple as possible in order to get the next bite. Hopefully next season will be your best!