Checking All the Boxes

A wise man once told me, “Plan your work and work your plan, that’s the key to consistent success.” For many years I have adopted that slogan and it’s never let me down, in fact it has saved me on more occasions than I can remember.

We have all been in situations where we made a decision to take a shortcut or choose the easy way out, only to have it bite us in the “end, both literally and figuratively. I must admit, personally, I wasn’t always the guy who planned ahead or had all my ducks in a row, I skated by on many occasions but eventually I learned my lesson. At this point in my life being properly prepared for a particular activity, such as fishing or hunting, is almost as important as the activity itself. As we head into the much anticipated early spring fishing season it’s critical to take a look at the things that will help ensure safe and successful time on the water.

It goes without saying that many fishermen will emerge from the deep winter slumber like a bear coming out of hibernation. Those first gorgeous days of March will have many anglers scurrying around trying to knock the dust off gear that was stowed away during hunting season. In the rush to get on the water many things will be overlooked and that certainly will contribute to the outcome of the day. Very few things will cause fisherman heartache like the regret of not taking care of their business and knowing that everything wasn’t exactly right before they hit the water. From boat trouble to losing a career fish, most of these things can be prevented and all it takes is a little preparation. Everything from the boat, motor, trailer, tackle, and electronics all need to be ready to ensure that the day on the water will be the best it can be.

Easily the largest piece of gear that needs to be checked before even thinking about heading for the water is your boat motor. The absolute worst thing that can happen to a boat motor is to sit up and not be run for long periods of time. We all know the trials and tribulations caused by bad gas and ethanol, so fresh fuel is imperative, especially if you didn’t treat the fuel already in the tank before putting the boat away for the winter. Check all your controls, such as tilt and trim, bilge and livewell pumps, to make sure they function properly and then run your motor. Take your boat down to a ramp away from the crowds and just run the motor while the boat sits on the trailer, or put the motor flushing muffs on and run it at home. However you go about it, just run it before you get ready to make your first trip of the season. I can promise you nothing ruins a day on the water like motor issues that could’ve been prevented.

Next in line on the list of “preventable issues” has to be batteries, this is one of the leading causes for many of the problems that boaters and anglers face. If you didn’t stow your boat with some sort of battery maintainer taking care of cranking and trolling motor batteries you could be in for an expensive surprise before you even leave the garage. Battery maintenance is critical and should be near the top of the list of things to be checked before every trip. Corroded battery terminals, dry cells, faulty charging practices as well as others all contribute to poor battery performance and can all be prevented with just a little time and effort. Keeping your electrical system in top notch shape is a must so don’t skimp out when it comes to your batteries.

Now that you have made a thorough inspection of all the mechanical and electrical systems, take some time to look at your tackle. One of the things on top of my own personal list is inspecting the line on all my reels and changing out anything that is suspect. Fresh line matched with new leader material and quality knots are essential parts of your gear that are too easy to control. The look on an anglers face when they lose that fish of a lifetime due to deteriorated line or a frayed leader they didn’t want to replace says it all. The only other look on a fisherman’s face that is more easily read is the one that says, “My waders are leaking,” so inspect those as well. A great way to do it is getting in a swimming pool. It’s certainly worth the effort to make sure everything you can control is taken care of and ready for the task at hand. There are things out of the angler’s control that will happen, that goes without question, but there is no worse feeling than realizing you could have prevented something but chose to not take the time or effort to do so.

While on the subject of tackle and gear I wanted to share a couple of items that I recently put my hands on and really like. The great folks over at Laguna Custom Rods will debut some new rods at the annual Houston Fishing Show March 1-5 and they have plenty to be proud of, for sure. New for 2023 will be the debut of their 100% American made blanks for the Light Texas 1, Trident, and Latis models. The new blanks are incredibly light and well balanced as well as more durable than you might think based on how little they weigh. As always the finish and detail on these rods meet the high standards of the guys at Laguna, they make as good a rod as one can find on any market and now they have American-made blanks to go along with that quality. Certainly do yourself a favor and give them a look.

There are also a couple of soft plastics to be sure and check out from both Z-Man and Down South Lures. Both of these manufacturers have done a fantastic job keeping their baits flexible and lifelike as well as insanely durable. The “pinfish” color on the Z-Man MinnowZ is a top notch bait, especially for flounder. I have also been very impressed with the new color Down South Lures added to their lineup called Big Poppa Pearl, it has a very natural look to it and it’s done well for me so far this year. If you have not already tried these lures give them a look, I’m sure you will be as impressed with them as I have been.

I’d like to add one last thing to this column and it certainly deserves more than a passing thought, and that’s being safe during this unpredictable time of the year. The weather in early-spring can get bad in a hurry and it’s certainly not anything to be taken lightly. The excitement of the day on the water can often times lure us into a false sense of security. Water temps will still be very cold and that spells trouble if you end up taking a plunge for whatever reason. Being aware of your surroundings, wearing a quality Personal Flotation Device, and keeping an eye on the weather are all very important factors for anyone enjoying the water. Make sure you have some sort of communication device with you and always let someone know where you plan to be and when you should be back. If you don’t prepare for anything else, at least prepare for that because it could the difference in a successful day on the water or one you would like to forget.