Spring is here and for 60 million anglers across America its is not time to thing about cleaning out the gutters but about cleaning out the fishing gear and getting ready for a great new season of open water fishing!
Time to organize and make sure all of your fishing equipment is in tip top shape. No one wants to be out on the water only to find out that they are out of split shots or that their trusty favorite lure is all dull and rusty.
Its smart to plan ahead and take a careful inventory of your tackle box – evaluate what you have, what you need, what you want for the fishing season ahead.
It makes sense to take a few minutes to reorganize your tackle box, and Rapala, makers of world famous Rapala lures, offers the following "Spring Cleaning" ideas to help you make the most of your time on the water.
1. Empty and clean your tackle box. Use warm, soapy water and a small sponge or dish rag to swab out the lure compartments. Clean and re-oil the hinges. Adjust selected compartments for new lures, or to group lures by species. Dry the inside with paper towels.
2. Squirt your hands with fish scent. Jim Moynagh, a member of the Rapala Fishing Team, says fish have a keen sense of smell. As you organize your tackle box, he recommends squirting a few drops of Dr. Juice® fish scent in your hands to cut down on the human scents you naturally leave on a lure.
3. Find your winners. Pick out your most successful lures and store them on the top drawer of your box, or if you have one of the new soft tackle boxes, in your "Go To" lure tray. When it's time to go for your lucky lure, you'll be able to find it with ease.
4. Check your lures. Sharpen the hooks of your lures with a hook file. Check lures for wear and tear received from use during the previous fishing season.
5. Check your other gear. Carefully look through your other gear, such as pliers, flashlights, scales, fillet knives, etc., to make sure they're in good shape.
6. Stock up on terminal tackle and new lures. Check your terminal tackle - do you have enough split shot, sinkers, snaps, swivels, leaders, hooks, bobbers, etc? As for new lures - check with your favorite sporting goods store or bait and tackle shop to see what's new (hey, this is the fun part, right?) You also may want to stock up on some of your favorite lures, maybe having two or three of one that produces for you time and time again (there's nothing more depressing than losing your favorite lure).
7. Change your line. If you use mono, plan to change it at least once a year. Line can become scuffed and frazzled. After a year on a reel, it can become so coiled it will give a "Slinky" a run for its money. Many bait and tackle stores now have machines that can wind new line on your reels in a matter of minutes.
8. Tune-up your rods and reels. Carefully follow the instructions that came with your fishing reel (if you saved them), to clean and oil it. If you feel uncomfortable with your own fishing reel parts, check with your favorite sporting goods store to see if they offer a tune-up service. Also, check your fishing rods to make sure the line guides are straight. If you broke the tip off a favorite rod, don't toss your rod out just yet. A local custom rod making shop may be able to repair it, or show you how to do it yourself.
9. Get a fishing license. Don't forget to pick up a new fishing license. The law states it must be current and be with you when you fish.
10. A few other items to think about. Now's the time to prepare for the worst, like when you lock your keys in the car. You may want to store an extra car key in your tackle box, or at least, some spare change to make an emergency phone call. Other items to consider are sunscreen, an extra pair of sunglasses, a shoelace (to pull out hooks that become embedded in your skin), aspirin, bandages, an extra roll of film (or one of those disposable cameras), a kitchen-size garbage bag, toilet paper, etc.
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