Sad....

[Zoff]

Went fishing Saturday on SML. Windy... cold... water temp 53. Fish all over the place at 60 feet deep. Fished deep and nothing. Everybody told me to fish skinny with jigs. Nothing there either. Is this the time to start thinking about putting the boat up for the winter? Shift over to full on hunting for a couple of months?

[Traveler2586]

I try not to put the boat up for the winter, cause as soon as I do we get some really nice days and I start with the fishing anxiety where I can't stand being in the house,, or is that cabin fever???

[Zoff]

I was kinds thinking that way as well. What would you recommend as to how to keep the boat "OK" over the winter. I do not have a garage. I am going to store it in my barn but it is not heated. Protected from the snow/rain/ice but not from the cold or mice. (opps.... a rhyme)

[Al Wolbach]

I was kinds thinking that way as well. What would you recommend as to how to keep the boat "OK" over the winter. I do not have a garage. I am going to store it in my barn but it is not heated. Protected from the snow/rain/ice but not from the cold or mice. (opps.... a rhyme)

There are numerous post on winterizing your boat/motor just do a search. I have been told that mothballs will repel mice but I can't say it is fact, never really tried it, but if someone doesn't have a better idea, mothballs are cheap........................Al

[Nitrofreak]

Make sure the engine is straight up and down, the drain plug is removed, moth balls do work very well, at least they have for me.

As for the fishing, were you fishing vertical or casting out past them?

Dropping a jig vertical should have made them bite, vertical would have allowed you to keep the bait in the strike zone a lot longer too, one thing I wish I would have done when we went the last time just never thought about it.

As windy as it was I am suprised you went out, is the lake still down?

[Traveler2586]

I was kinds thinking that way as well. What would you recommend as to how to keep the boat "OK" over the winter. I do not have a garage. I am going to store it in my barn but it is not heated. Protected from the snow/rain/ice but not from the cold or mice. (opps.... a rhyme)

I have to keep mine in the driveway, not what I want to do but it's better than in the yard at the marina.

Keeping the boat dry, inside and out, is the big thing. Keep the drain plug out and jack the front of the trailer high to get the best drainage; I support the center of the trailer tong with a heavy duty automotive jack stand for safety.

I take everything out of my lockers/storage spaces and prop my lockers open with blocks of 2X4 so air circulates freely throughout the boat.

Keep your fuel and oil tanks full.

Keep the batteries charged. Do you have power in the barn?

Does the barn have a hard floor or dirt; if dirt, does it get wet?? I've been told not to park for any length of time on the ground, i.e. a field, because it will speed up tire dry-rot. This may be an old wives tail - I don't know. At one time I was parking in a field at the Marina and did loose two tires to dry-rot.

being in a barn I don't think you'll have to worry about UV light exposure so you good there.

I don't have a good suggestion for mice, you can try mothballs in each locker and area where you think mice will try to make a nest, I've heard of using old socks to hold the mothballs; otherwise you could visit the mouse section at the hardware store.

Man, I wish I had a barn

[Zoff]

There are numerous post on winterizing your boat/motor just do a search. I have been told that mothballs will repel mice but I can't say it is fact, never really tried it, but if someone doesn't have a better idea, mothballs are cheap........................Al

OK... I will use the mothball idea AND throw in the poison for good measure.

Make sure the engine is straight up and down, the drain plug is removed, moth balls do work very well, at least they have for me.

As for the fishing, were you fishing vertical or casting out past them?

Dropping a jig vertical should have made them bite, vertical would have allowed you to keep the bait in the strike zone a lot longer too, one thing I wish I would have done when we went the last time just never thought about it.

As windy as it was I am suprised you went out, is the lake still down?

Yeah... tried vertical jigging, casting, dropshot. We had some (very few) really good hits but all were short bites. Lost some trailers. Never could get a committed hit. The wind was horrible at times and probably contributed to the problem. Couldn't keep the boat in one place even with anchors. But, hey, still fishing. The water is still down where it was when we were there. Here is the site I use for checking the lake level... http://smithmountainlakelevel.com/

I have to keep mine in the driveway, not what I want to do but it's better than in the yard at the marina.

Keeping the boat dry, inside and out, is the big thing. Keep the drain plug out and jack the front of the trailer high to get the best drainage; I support the center of the trailer tong with a heavy duty automotive jack stand for safety.

I take everything out of my lockers/storage spaces and prop my lockers open with blocks of 2X4 so air circulates freely throughout the boat.

Keep your fuel and oil tanks full.

Keep the batteries charged. Do you have power in the barn?

Does the barn have a hard floor or dirt; if dirt, does it get wet?? I've been told not to park for any length of time on the ground, i.e. a field, because it will speed up tire dry-rot. This may be an old wives tail - I don't know. At one time I was parking in a field at the Marina and did loose two tires to dry-rot.

being in a barn I don't think you'll have to worry about UV light exposure so you good there.

I don't have a good suggestion for mice, you can try mothballs in each locker and area where you think mice will try to make a nest, I've heard of using old socks to hold the mothballs; otherwise you could visit the mouse section at the hardware store.

Man, I wish I had a barn

Good advice on the oil/gas levels. Yup... tilt high enough for water to drain out... crack the compartments for airing out... Never though of supporting the trailer center but I have an ratchet jack i will use for that. Dirt floor on the barn but I park the tires on some short blocks. Just don't like it sitting in all that red dirt. Won't be able to get it in there until Mid December when I get some of the hay out during feeding. Got to make room. I do have power in the barn but I am going to bring the batteries in the basement if I park it. I have a portable charger/maintainer I will hook them up to. I have been told to set the batteries on a wood or plastic pallet because concrete floors do something to them. I am not sure what. Anybody have any insight? Does our resident master mechanic/shop foreman... Nitrofreak... have expert advice on battery care? (Yeah... Pal... I am putting you on the spot. Some free advice? )

[Nitrofreak]

That chart is wrong, it is down more than any 5 feet, when we were fishing, we could have litterally fished under the boat docks, I am 6 foot tall and the water line on the dock was at eye level and that was standing on the bow of the boat yet, I would be FUMEING as a property owner.

[Zoff]

When we went it was about 8 feet down. It is about 5 feet now but not getting better.

[J Francho]

If it gets below freezing, you'll want to fog the engine, and a few other things:

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/Winter_boat.html

[Traveler2586]

I do have power in the barn but I am going to bring the batteries in the basement if I park it. I have a portable charger/maintainer I will hook them up to. I have been told to set the batteries on a wood or plastic pallet because concrete floors do something to them. Yes - that's what I've always heard too. I am not sure what.

If you have an "on-board" charger you don't have to remove them, just leave them plugged in and the charger will trickle-charge the batteries to keep them up; just don't forget to turn off all circuit breakers. Then you'll be ready for that one good day that may come along.

Make sure the water level is correct (you know to use only distilled water) and all connections are clean, tight, and have Dielectric grease on all surfaces. Most people never think about the trailers electrical connectors, they also need a good coat of Dielectric grease on all contacts, including your tow vehicle; you can pick up a small tube of it at any auto store or hardware.

[gar-tracker]

Went fishing Saturday on SML. Windy... cold... water temp 53. Fish all over the place at 60 feet deep. Fished deep and nothing. Everybody told me to fish skinny with jigs. Nothing there either. Is this the time to start thinking about putting the boat up for the winter? Shift over to full on hunting for a couple of months?

I dont know how you guys do it, I haven't been fishing in a week and I'm going crazy.

[Bigbarge50]

I say keep fishing..... a day in the 50's without a ton of wind sounds like a very do able fishing trip and we are sure to have a few random ones of those pop up here in December at least.

[Traveler2586]

I say keep fishing..... a day in the 50's without a ton of wind sounds like a very do able fishing trip and we are sure to have a few random ones of those pop up here in December at least.

X2

Get some good Foul Weather Gear and dress in layers and you'll be fine, just don't fall in - then your done for

I want to try the power plant at Lake Anna one day, I was told last year they were hitting in the winter on drop shots and jiggin spoons.

[Traveler2586]

Hay Zoff,

Just had an epiphany, do you have birds roosting in your barn? If so, cover your boat/boat cover with a plastic tarp. D**m birds will mess up a boat cover.

[Zoff]

Hay Zoff,

Just had an epiphany, do you have birds roosting in your barn? If so, cover your boat/boat cover with a plastic tarp. D**m birds will mess up a boat cover.

I do some but we keep them put as best we can. lol

Thanks to everybody who commented. Lots of good advice.

[Nitrofreak]

X2

Get some good Foul Weather Gear and dress in layers and you'll be fine, just don't fall in - then your done for

I want to try the power plant at Lake Anna one day, I was told last year they were hitting in the winter on drop shots and jiggin spoons.

We might be able to make that happen if you are really interested !!! it's one he## of a cold ride but one usually worth taking !!!

[J Francho]

You southern guys are soft.....

[Nitrofreak]

You southern guys are soft.....

Easy there now big boy LOL !!!

I have fished that lake with ice on my fishing rod, temps in the teens, and snot cicle's hanging from my stache LOL !!!

Nice vid by the way !!!

[Bigbarge50]

Ohh how I sometimes do not miss western NY.