For those fortunate anglers that live in areas where Mother Nature is less harsh during the winter months, their boats and lines never stay dry throughout the year, but for anglers like myself up in Minnesota, I have an “off-season.”
So as I sit here writing this, I realize that hopefully in just a few short weeks (long in my mind!), I’ll be back on the water behind the wheel of my Ranger boat and giving my Mercury Optimax some gas. So now this is when I start getting my fishing gear ready for the season ahead of me.
Some of the things I do to get ready for my next tournament season include:
Cleaning my rods and reels and making sure they are up for another season on the water. It is important to check the insert in the rod guides for any nicks, as this could cost you a fish down the road.
Depending on how you store your rods in the off-season and in your boat, picking up a rod sleeve could be a very valuable investment. Rod sleeves such as The Rod Glove keep your rods protected and organized; keeping you ready to go when open water arrives.
When working on your reels, I take off my old fishing line and discard it properly. Then when I spool my reels up with fresh line, I’ll run the line through a rag with Line and Lure Conditioner on it, this will help the line perform to its full potential.
Most anglers over the winter have already gone through their tackle, sorted it and sorted it again. One thing that I make sure I do during this prep period is check the treble hooks on my crankbaits and topwaters for any damage, or with new baits, I’ll use a split-ring plier to put on some new super sharp Lazer TroKar Treble hooks.
Since safety on the water is so important, I’ll check my life jackets and rain gear for any holes, rips or tears. It is especially important to check your inflatable life jackets to make sure they are properly charged and in working order. With my Onyx In-Sight Inflatable Life Jacket it is easy to see if they are properly charged, with the clear window.
To store the tools that can help keep your day on the water fun and moving forward and first aid supplies, I’ll restock and make sure all these items are kept in a Plano Guide Series waterproof case, so they stay dry and ready for sue.
Well I have about two dozen reels that need line, so I know what project is ahead of me, we’ll see ya on the water (soon hopefully)!
Glenn has been fishing tournaments for over ten years, spreading his passion and knowledge of the sport via articles and videos, for more information check out glennwalkerfishing.com or on his Facebook page.