Approaching the Starting Line

[A-Jay]

Last October, in a thread titled The Final Push, the discussion centered around the excitement (and sorrow) that is often associated with the last few weeks of bass fishing before hard water.  This is coming at you from the other end.  This current hard water season, like most all of them in the past, has seen me taking necessary steps to have my rods, reels & all things bass tackle related, in preparation for the next fishing season. Clearly not something I’ve cornered the market on.  The following is simply offered as food for thought and hopefully may have some sliver of entertainment value.

 

   Performed in sort of a ritualistic manner, I’ll start slow and continue to pace myself as not to ‘get done’ too early.  Keeping busy with readying the gear seems to ease the temporary void left in my soul, until I can chunk & wind on something again.  Cleaning rods & servicing reels, purchasing & replacing favorite baits, emptying & cleaning out both the Lund & the Old Town and then inspecting, organizing & re-stowing the gear (especially safety purposed stuff) and scrutinizing & replacing worn trebles, all feels therapeutic.   As is the time spent in more of an administrative capacity reviewing & updating registrations and insurance policies, purchasing the next seasons state fishing license(s), and one of my favorites indoor during sub-zero temperature pastimes by a flaming wood stove – pouring over & studying both old & new lake contour maps.

 

 Another good way to usefully occupy some time for me and something that definitely pays off in the long run with less lost early season fishing time, usually includes lunch on the road & a tank of gas.   As the weather slowly warms (relative term) and the access roads to the lakes become passable, I’ll get out & about in the truck to check the condition of them, including the ramps themselves.  Some of these bodies of water are a bit of a hike, making it a major bummer to pull up to a place, boat in tow, full of excitement and ready to fish, only to find the road & / or ramp totally washed out or somehow otherwise unusable.

 

  Some other steps of preparation include truck & trailer(s) tire air pressure, bearing grease level, and trailer hitch & coupler operating condition.  The last thing I usually do is spool on the new line on the reels that need it; and that ALWAYS feels real good.  

 

And so All this leads up the faithful day when the hard water is finally gone and I can hopefully put that Frabil to work.  My early season choice of techniques & possible bait selection are often dictated by the lake I’m on, whether I’m targeting green or brown bass, as well as a many of the common parameters including water temp & clarity.   

 I’d have to anticipate that many of the same deals listed in last years end of season post ‘Most Productive Baits’ will be players again this year – even early season.  And over the winter I’ve added a few new models to my line up. 

 

Although the bait monkey didn’t have quite the same grip on my throat as he has had in the past, he still did a little damage; to the tune of a few Megabass Jerkbaits ( my first) and a different style of bladed jig manufactured in Japan, as well as a couple of GoPro cameras and a YoloTek Boom camera mount.    So I’ll be looking forward to seeing how that works out.

 

Perhaps almost as big an anticipation as the upcoming season itself, is looking forward to using the trolling motor mounted Humminbird 360.  The unit was installed while the Lund was being winterized, so although I’ve almost got the user’s guide committed to memory, I’ve yet to get it wet.  High Hopes. 

 

There you have it, fellow iced in Bassheads, the reality of a shredded thumb may not be that far off.

 

A-Jay

[TnRiver46]

Look forward to seeing some of your fish pics and videos

[BassObsessed]

Hope you can get out on the water sooner than expected. Its unusual for me to have bass thumb this early in the year but not complaining.

[nascar2428]

Some of us a little south of you already started, kinda sort of. It was a bit odd fishing soft water in February here in Michigan last week. However as they say all good things must come to an end, currently snowing and 25 degrees as I write this.

[slonezp]

I'm just about ready. Just have a few hard baits and some terminal tackle that needs to be put in 3700 boxes. Reels are spooled. 4 new batteries in the boat and 1 in the truck. Truck also got new tires shocks and struts. I did notice a busted rear seal on one of the trailer wheels when I greased them last week so that still needs to be addressed. As I said in another thread, the Lund was on the water last Saturday. Made sure all the pumps worked, and opened it up a little. Did that more to shake off my own cobwebs than anything else. 

 

No new tricks up my sleeve this year but some modifications to old presentations are part of the plan. Returning to tournament fishing is a goal of mine, just hoping the shoulder cooperates. Planning on fishing a different trail than I fished from '05 to '12. New trail pays more at the ramp.  

[roadwarrior]

First tournament today. We launch in three hours.

 

[Oregon Native]

Been a nice year already...have fished a small tourney every month...

Tight Lines all

[A-Jay]

3 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

First tournament today. We launch in three hours.

 

Good Luck Kent

A-Jay

["hamma"]

This subject is one I usually have a handle on every year, but this year I'm behind on. The boat needs a battery charger, and a new finder, (helix9 mega chirp si/di, yeah im pumped for a mega chirp), and carpet. And seeing as the boats buttoned up for winter, and March is almost upon us. I wont be unbuttoning it for some time.

 Other gear? Rods and reels im good with. Actually just spooled up some light braid/flouro leader on my dropshot rod yesterday

 Tackle? Im happy to say I will be pouring my own non-lead jigs soon. I have the pot, and my first mold and its accessories showed up yesterday. I have most of the safety stuff and will be finishing off the loose ends this week sometime., I kinda feel like a kid in a candy store, the good lord knows where this may lead. Whether its a beneficial, or fruitless attempt? At the least, I'm attempting to provide the jigs I need for presentations I've had to abandon due to the lead ban. Add in there that Ive been attending fly-tyers meetings to learn some of the tricks and tips to tying. The tying for me isnt so I can tie flies, but hairjigs. A fly pattern here or there wont hurt, if I can tie that pattern on a jig,.., so Im optimistic. I have tied some jigs up from u-tube, and videos from jigcraft.com, and they look great, but I'll assess their effectiveness this spring.

 Winter in the north can be a tough time, Many of you southern anglers dont get the cabin fever thing, and anticipation of iceout. Its kinda like Tiny Tim looking thru the window at the butchers shop at the giant goose. He can see it, almost taste it, but its not within his reach as of yet. Time and weather "may" offer relief from this torture. Northern bass anglers will eventually get out on open water every year, but until then its a long slow burn. Ice may not be safe enough to icefish, but still thick enough to keep boats on their trailers. If your one of the northern anglers that has a heated garage? Im sure your ready to go. But If you dont have a heated garage? Winters icey grip owns your progress, determines what gets done, when it gets done., and thats "if" Jack Frost allows it. 

 Starting Line? When the gun goes off? Are you ready?

 So far? I'm not, but within a month or so, I should be good to go.

[A-Jay]

@"hamma" Nice ~

 

My boat garage is not heated so I can certainly relate.  As an attached part of my dwelling it doesn't get much below 40 degrees out there. 

Working in & on the boat is doable but still not exactly very comfortable and so how it does feel a lot colder. 

I really need to add hair / marabou jigs to my arsenal as well; especially around the cool water brown bass.

I'm looking forward to seeing a few of your "hamma" hair jigs and more importantly the Fatties they will no doubt choke them down.

A-Jay

 

 

 

[Catt]

For us southern boys there is no off season which means we periodically have to schedule routine maintenance between trips.

 

Our boat trailer is 16 yrs old & was used in saltwater, so the last couple weeks my brother & I started replacing trailer leaf springs, hubs, & bunk boards brackets.

 

The trolling motor is a RipTide & I got tired of turning it on/off with the handle so we installed two Big Foot switches!

[A-Jay]

32 minutes ago, Catt said:

For us southern boys there is no off season which means we periodically have to schedule routine maintenance between trips.

 

Our boat trailer is 16 yrs old & was used in saltwater, so the last couple weeks my brother & I started replacing trailer leaf springs, hubs, & bunk boards brackets.

 

The trolling motor is a RipTide & I got tired of turning it on/off with the handle so we installed two Big Foot switches!

 

No Doubt periodic equiptment maintenance is critical ~

My personal availability schedule is seasonally "built in"  -  Not really seen as a benefit however. 

A-Jay

[Sam]

Can't wait for the gun to sound.

On your marks.....

Get ready........

Geaux!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[CTBassin860]

Just finished spooling up and tying a few on.5 rods to fill out this years arsenal.I think I'm going to keep it at 5 and sell off/upgrade as needed.Ready to get this season going!

 

1. Abu Garcia Vigilante 7'MM/Abu Garcia Orra Winch 5.4:1 spooled with 12# Yo-Zuri Hybrid for all my cranking needs.

 

2. *** fishing OhMan 2 Black 6'7"/*** In Ception 8.1:1 spooled with 13# Sunline Defier Armilo for topwater and jerkbaits.

 

3. Berkley Lightning Shock 7'ML/Browning Stalker spooled with 30# Sufix 832 for worms/light jig heads/swimbaits

 

4. St.Croix Mojo Bass 7'1" MHF/Daiwa Tatula CT 7.3:1 spooled with 12# Yo-Zuri Hybrid for jigs 3/8 to 3/4 oz.

 

5.Abu Garcia Veritas 7'MHF/BPS PQ 7.1:1 spooled with 50# Sufix 832 for frogs and jigs up to 1 1/2 oz.(1st in line for an upgrade as the rod is down to 6'8" from 2 tip breaks)

[jimf]

I get a little jealous when I read about folks that have no true down season.  I'm not sure it's a terrible thing, to have a few months to get the boat fixed up, the tackle in order, tie a few flies etc...    I think I went out once in November, and then just shut down completely.   New Years Day I started cleaning reels etc..., and then just last weekend finished all of the maintenance on the boat.   Everything is clean and ready to go, I'm taking off for week in Mexico Thursday and when I get back it should be time to start fishing.  

My two passions in life are fishing and baseball, and they both start at the same time.  I am as excited now for both at 53 as I ever have been.   There are the two things in life that I will have had with me more or less from cradle to grave.

[NYWayfarer]

The only good thing about having a true down season is the clearance sales. I stock up on a lot of baits and tackle during that time at ridiculously low prices.

 

As far as approaching the starting line I will be purchasing a battery for my new canoe's trolling motor as soon as I get her registered. I have all the other essentials, oars, anchor, rod holders, sonar, etc. So it is shaping up to be an epic season for my son and I.

 

I was able to fish from shore on Saturday. My sonarphone gave me readings of low 40's to mid 30's water temp. Nothing was biting so my first skunk of the season.