There are approximately about six million anglers across the United States. This is the time of the year when those six million amateurs and pros get busy with their equipment. A clean up is absolutely essential before embarking on another fishing trip.
It is now that you should make sure that all the equipment that you had tugged away are in good condition and will be able to support another fishing season.
Check out the condition of your tackle box. Because it will not do if you discover your lures to be all rusty when you reach location.
Do some cleaning and take a complete inventory of what you have at hand. Make out a list of which tackle you think still functions well and which you think might work well if given a good brush up.
Identify those equipment that are more or less lost and must be replaced. Being methodical always pays in the end.
While going about cleaning, first empty your tackle box and neatly arrange it’s contents on the floors. Clean the box with liquid soap and warm water. Clean the hinges, swab the individual compartments. Then dry out the box with a dry piece of cloth.
Some people suggest that, while you go about rearranging and cleaning your tackle box, you should avoid your equipment from getting too much human scent. Fish, they maintain, have a clean sense of smell.
The human smell might turn your potential catch away from the lure. To avoid this, you should squirt on your hands some artificial fish scent before cleaning the tackle.
While you check the lure, make sure that the hooks are sharp enough. If not, sharpen them with a hook file. Make sure that your lures are properly arranged in the tackle box and your lucky piece is handy in case you need it. Check out your lures to find out if they are in perfect condition.
One of most important things in your tackle box that you should check with care is the fishing line. The line is, probably, the most susceptible of all to aging. Check out it’s full length to detect if anywhere it has frazzled or weakened.
A line that might break during fishing is, of course, something completely unacceptable in a tackle box. Ideally, you should change the line at a certain interval. Yearly, if you think it is affordable.
When you are using a monoline, a yearly change is advised. Keep in mind that, the job of changing the line is not as monotonous a job nowadays as it used to be. Big fishing hobby shops have machines that wind up a reel in a matter of minutes.
While checking your reels, do not need to tear down the whole thing. Unless you have neglected the reel for sometime and if it had been submerged in saltwater, you do not need to take it apart and clean it.
If its in good condition, a superficial servicing will do as well. Just check out if the winding mechanism of the reel is working fine and if the line is firmly held. To clean the reel, you should use soap and water. Use a soft bristle brush.
You should use a soft bristle brush when you are cleaning your fishing rod too.
Keep in mind that, you should tune up your rods and reels together. Check out the line guides on the rod to see if the rod is straight. If your rod is broken, do not throw it away immediately. Check out with your local shop, most probably they will be able to mend it.
When you have arranged for everything in your tackle box, do not forget to pack in your fishing permit! There is nothing more important!
