Pre season preparation rant.

[Rob G.]

Hi all, hopefully some of you can relate to this. Most years during the Winter I clean, lube, and maintain my reels. Last year I skimped and only lubed the reels. So, reels are extra dirty. Anyways, as I do most/some years I purchased some new equipment. Slowly replacing all bc's with Revo STX, got a couple new Falcons and Fenwicks, etc. Anyways, last year I was satisfied with my equipment, a mixed hodge podge of Falcon, Shimano, St. Croix, and Fenwick rods. Mixed reels of Shimano, ABU, one flooger, and a couple BPS. So anyways, cleaning and lubing each reel takes at least 30 mins, a couple minutes per rod. Now I look at all this equipment, and I was a bit overwhelmed. Which rod and reel for which technique? Well, after much time I have 12 rigs ready to roll. Only after I had decided what rod/reel for each technique did I spool them up. Some I use co-poly, some flouro, some braid. I am gonna finally get out on the Mississippi tomorrow, and fully expect to catch some nice fat, early Spring LMB and SMB. Now it dawns on me, I have not yet touched my tackle, and it is going to take some time to organize it into what stays in the boat, and what I store in the garage. LOL. More work and a rush to get some done. Thank goodness we are taking a buddy's boat tomorrow, as we need to work on the break in procedure for his new motor. We have a tourney in LAX WI, pool 8 coming up quickly. At least my boat is ready to go, except for organizing the tackle. Thanks for letting me get this off my chest. It will be worth it. It has become apparent to me how much less free time I have anymore. I gotta remember to pull rod socks over my reels to keep them as clean as possible when not using them.  I guess the moral of this rant is that a little preventative maintenance goes and long way.  And, there comes a point when maybe a guy has enough stuff........or not?

[FishGuitBeer]

When your penchant for fishing tackle, starts being compared to Imelda Marco's shoe addiction, you have enough stuff

[Triangle Sport]

What do you use to spool up all of your reels? Sounds like a candidate for one of our Cyclone Pro Line Winders!

Have a great  season! ;D

[roadwarrior]

To prepare for the Guntersville trip I packed and repacked my tackle bag down to the stuff I thought I might "possibly use". As a round number, let's call that 20% of my gear.

Next, in a two sided plastic box I gathered the tackle I would keep on the boat for "ready access". Then I rigged my rods. From Sunday through Friday I opened that box twice, but only once on the boat to change out the color of a RatlN' Vibe.

So, I will fish more tackle throughout the year, but on a given trip, there are probably only a few things you actually need and might use. Everything else is "just in case".

BTW, All the fish caught in the boats I was in were caught on Rat-L-Trap type lures and a 6" Senko. A few largemouth were caught on spinnerbaits, jigs and a frog by other members, but that was about it, as far as I know.

8-)

[Raul]

And, there comes a point when maybe a guy has enough stuff........or not?

Nah, I don 't think you can ever have enuff tackle.  

[scott k]

Hey Rob good luck at the upcoming tournament!  Lacrosse is my home and Pool 8 Clinton St boat landing is my main launch site, I entered as a non-boater... so see you there!

[Rob G.]

Scott,  sounds good, who are you fishing with?

[scott k]

Rob, I just got the letter from FLW yesterday stating that I'm on the waiting list, of course they dont tell me how far down the list I am.  I didn't have a boater to register with for "guaranteed status".

[Uncle Leo]

Wait a minute, you may not be done. Unless I am an oddball, oh what yes I am, you still need to reorganize. I do about the same. Switch rods and reels, use them, not staified, switch again, not satified, change line, on and on. Then before you know it it's time for the hard water season and the routine starts again.  Things were so much easier when I had one baitcast and one spinning setup. I JUST LOVE IT, thus I am an oddball.

[Dean]

And, there comes a point when maybe a guy has enough stuff........or not?

Nah, I don 't think you can ever have enuff tackle.

Tackle....craving....some GYCB senkos.. ...must resist but can't :-/

[JT Bagwell]

Rob,

Just remember, "Do not drink beer until after your lures are tied on." Don't think I forgot about that. Was that last year or 2 years ago?

Later man,

JT Bagwell

[Rob G.]

JT, Actually drinking beer had nothing to do with my line/knot breaking probs.  I think I finally figured out what was going on.  Each year I buy a filler spool of my favorite line.  Last year I spooled up with a spool that was a few years old and had gone bad.  After I respooled with new line, life was good.