Prepare Now, Fish More Later
All of us at FishVault wish we had more time to go fishing. We all have busy schedules nowadays. Between work, family time, and running errands, it seems that the time to go fishing can lessen more and more. So, when you finally do get the time to get out on the water, make sure you make the best of it. A little preparation ahead of time can allow you to spend more time fishing and less time dealing with tackle and gear issues. Try some of these tips before your next fishing adventure…
Pre-rigging rods to save time. The reason MLF and FLW Pros have 6+ rigged rods in the boat isn’t because they can, it is because they need to be efficient with their time on the water. If you only get out a few times a month, why waste time tying and retying baits when on the water? Rigging rods at home allows more focused and practiced knots and forethought to the gear you will bring. Have a few rods pre-rigged with different baits and tackle for different techniques to quickly switch between them at a moment’s notice!
Check your drag… Your reels rely on drag to hold fish. A drag that slips is not likely to perform well on bigger fish. Before each season, I check my drags at all levels of strength and compression. I put on a heavy line (often braid) and pull the line at the lowest strength of drag, all the way to the max strength the reel allows. If there is any slipping or weakness at a certain point, I disassemble my reel and clean it. I also store my reels completely drag free, to prevent the disks from compressing over time. This isn’t necessary, and only applies to disk drag reels.
Practice your knots…. I get it. Nobody like practicing knots. However, so much frustration can be avoided with a little practice tying knots. This is especially true with certain knots you don’t tie as frequently. This is an essential skill and I like to group it into my tackle prep tips as a friendly reminder.
Old or dull hooks don’t land as many fish! If you are someone that feels every fish matters, then change your hooks out. Many factory hooks that come on baits are okay, but it would greatly improve the bait’s performance to change out hooks. This is typically true with treble hooks on even some well known baits. Sharp hooks “stick” better to fish and if the hook doesn’t pass the fingernail test, consider swapping it out.
Be sure you’re covered. Literally. The weather is moody and can change at the flip of a coin. Be sure your weather specific clothing is ready and in good shape! I never leave home without a good set of rain clothes (like the Frogg Toggs rain suit in this months box)!
Is your line any good? Any monofilament line (or other plastic lines) deteriorate in UV light. This means that storing your lines in a lit room will not prevent the lines from going bad and getting weaker. The molecular structure of the line weakens when exposed to UV light. I store my lines in a dark box, and away from extreme heat or cold. You may find yourself like me, and replace your line on each rod regularly to avoid unnecessary breakoffs. It would be a shame to lose a great fish due to laziness.
Hopefully this helps with your preparation, and these tips will give you peace of mind when on the water this upcoming fishing season. Also, remember that your FishVault fishing subscription box is going to have some of the latest fishing gear and tackle in it. This will also allow you to try some of the hottest and most popular gear without spending time at the sporting good store. So, when you finally do get out on the water, make the best of it and send us a photo of your coolest catch.
Tight lines and good luck!