Cabin Fever - Bass Fishing Equipment Repair and Service

      

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A lot of fishing folks have put up the rods and reels. They have packed away the lures and stored the boat for the freeze that is just around the corner. No matter how hard we try and put off the cold weather, it is upon us and we will have to hibernate in our warm cabins or house. All we will be able to do is look at the boat that is covered up and think about all the big ones that got away this past year.

Or do what I do to combat Cabin Fever.

Get Your Fishing Equipment and Tackle Ready For Next Year

Reel Cleaning and Service:

This is catch up time for me to strip all my reels to clean and inspect them. The ones that look like they might need repair I suggest that you bag them up and take them to the Bass Pro shop near you. They have a reel service that can take care of the reels and have them in great working order by next spring. The cost is not bad at all and can be located at the Fishing Department counter or service desk. I know for a fact that the Shimano reels are good for life and Shimano will either fix/repair/or replace.

I do not know how many times you change your line on the reels during the fishing season, but I try and make sure that this is the time of year to replace the line on the reels. When you have finished either get them cleaned up or serviced, you can then install new line and be ready for spring.

Rod Storage:

Okay, we have got the reels taken care of and remember, do not lay your rods down. Either sit them in your closet or if you have a rod rack, place them in it. Most of all, do not leave them in the boat in the rod locker. You just might have some that are bent by next spring and will have to fork out big bucks to replace them because you forgot them.

Tackle Inspection and Repair:

Now is the time to get all of your tackle out and give it a good look over.

I have found that some of my crankbaits need new hooks, some of my plastic lures might need some touch up paint, the blades on the spinner baits need polished and the spinner bait skirts may need replaced.

The soft plastic, like I have said before I have two duffle bags full of soft plastic and on some inspections have found that some have melted in the heat. The heat has made it one big piece of blob. It is time to can them and look at some of the plastic bags that are holding your worms. Are they torn? Falling out of the package? No name on them?

It sounds funny but I spread them out in the den floor and try and see what I have and what I do not need anymore. You just might be surprised to discover that you have packages that you forgot and bought more of the same color and length that have never been used in the bottom of your bag. Not only that but you may find some that have not been used in years and the fish might think it is something new.

I have a bag that I throw all the odd worms in and you would not believe some of the colors I have collected over the years. Colors you would never find at a store these days and just maybe the one wild color the fish go crazy over next spring which is not that far away since you've been busy battling cabin fever.

I like to use the heavy freezer bags they seem to hold together better and longer. With a Magic Marker, write on the bag the size and color. This also gives me a chance to see what I am almost out of and time to restock them before spring.

If all this is done and you still find that you have time on your hands, you can alway enjoy a hot cup of coffee or coco while checking out the tips and stories on-line at  www.basshogfishing.com or www.crappieslabfishing.com to catch up on some reading...who knows, you might learn something new or a different way of fishing that might land you the hog of a lifetime.

Keep The Hooks Wet! 

Steve McGoldrick