Whenever you hear an interview with an athlete that just won a championship, they often talk about the “long hours at practice and preparing” or something similar along those lines. There is plenty of truth to this, we often hear about how success comes from preparation and lack of preparation can result in failure. The same can be said for fishing, preparation off the water can often lead to success on the water. Today, we take a look at what you can do to prepare yourself for success.
Freshen Up Your Line
Regardless what kind of angler you are, line is the most important aspect to your presentation. Not only does line impact how you are fishing, but it is your most important connection to the fish. Line that is coiled from memory, worn out, frayed or not having enough left on your spool is all a recipe for disaster when on the water, especially when hooked up with a trophy walleye.
Line is relatively inexpensive, but you can certainly get a greater return on your investment depending on the quality of line you buy. Braids or “superlines” are the most expensive option on the market, but their benefits are worth the money. In addition to being incredibly strong, they also lack memory that gives them a life span of what I determine is 3-5 years, depending on use.
If you fish with a monofilament or fluorocarbon main line, the memory is so great that I recommend replacing at the start of each season, if not even throughout the season as well depending on how much you have been using it. While these lines are cheaper in the short term, the need to replace them is often significantly more than superlines or braids.
You can learn more about the pros and cons of each type of line in Fishing Line Simplified. I’ll have a link at the end of this article, so let’s keep rolling!
Stock Up on Snells
Whether you are a bottom bouncing angler or like to Lindy rig, winter is the perfect time to make sure you are stocked up on snells. While in the moment, tying a quick snell on the water may seem like minimal time spent out of the water,but it can really add up over the season! The ability to have a full arsenal of snells ready to go at any moment on the water can result in significant time saved and more fish in the boat!
I take an inventory of what snells I have, then make sure I have an adequate amount of my favorites over the winter. If you fish large mud flats, you can often get away with a fewer number of rigs ready to go. If you fish areas where you encounter snags, heavy cover, or northern pike/muskie, you will often need significantly more.
I share everything you need to know about tying snells and what my favorite rigs are in Snell Tying Basics, but I’ll have that link at the end as well. Let’s keep going!
Stay Sharp
If you are angler who loves casting or trolling crankbaits, this is for you! Every winter, I check the sharpness of my treble hooks and replace them as needed. You can test them by running them along your finger nail, if they stick and leave a mark, you are good to go. If they continue to slide, it is time to replace them. I also visually inspect the hooks as well, as they can frequently bend in and out when reeling in a fish or taking the crankbait out of it’s mouth.
Start of course with the crankbaits you most often use. If it hasn’t hit the water since you bought it, I’m willing to bet you’re pretty safe. If you are new at testing hook sharpness, I do recommend feeling what a brand new hook feels like as opposed to one that has seen significant action.
I order a couple packages of replacement treble hooks each year. It is also worth noting that split-ring pliers are the best investment you can make if you are going to be replacing treble hooks often. Most of my work is done in the winter, but I do have a bag with replacement hooks and a pair of split-ring pliers on the water. If a certain lure is working well and a hook gets mangled, I prefer to just replace the hook as opposed to tie on a new lure.
Preparation is key to success. We took a look at some of the key factors you can do in your winter preparation, but there is of course plenty more you can do. Learn about lakes, learn about the fish themselves and learn about the various approaches you can take to increase your success. Good luck and good fishing!
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