Winter Preps - sorry......a bit wordy!

[Crestliner08]

It was 3 degrees this morning when I went out to get the paper - around 5 am. Moderate snow pack covering the ground. Most water ways are solid ice. What to do? Besides going bonkers, there are many excellent videos on YouTube and here on Crappie.com to occupy your frustrated hours & days, until spring arrives.

However, if you are semi-OCD (not sure there is such a thing!) as I am, you just can't sit still that long. Not only that, but what follows could give you the confidence in your gear to make a significant difference come spring.

I start off with removing lures, hooks and jigs from all your rigs. Put them in one of those plastic food containers for later when the "itch" becomes unbearable.

I am very fortunate to have a local guy that specializes in cleaning, lubing and repairing reels at a reasonable cost. These 75 yo eyes and arthritic fingers just can't do what use to be a very pleasurable winter activity for me in years past. If you are a bit younger and dexterous with your fingers, then by all means, this is the time to disassemble, clean and re-lube your reels.

The rods are what this post mainly focuses on. They look a mess, don't they? At least mine do after a season of catching many crappie, perch, bass and whatever else comes my way. Once the reels are off, break apart the two piece models. Clean the rods thoroughly with paper towels and Dawn dish detergent (use whatever your wife has, with her permission of course!). Don't bother with the cork at this point. Focus on the blank and rod guides. Rinse and dry.

This next step is very important. Take a Q-tip and run it around each rod guide. If you have any "hangs" of the cotton, replace that guide immediately! That can make or break a day on the water.

Now that your rod blanks and guides are in good shape, the cork handles come next. If you have synthetic handles, skip this section, obviously. Some of us old timers will never renege our prized cork! Get yourself a pack of Mr. Clean Magic Erasers. Wet one and rub the cork lovingly. This will clean your handles back to their pristine condition. Let dry thoroughly.

Next, get yourself a jar of U-40 Cork Sealant. This is available for about $10.00 on Amazon.com (shipped free if you're a Prime Member). I use a folded paper towel to dip and spread this stuff lightly over the cork. Will seal and protect your cork for the entire season - and longer in most cases. I reapply it - just because - (OCD remember!). Let dry thoroughly over night.

Finally I take a spray bottle of AmorAll and spray a piece of old t-shirt with it. I coat the rod blanks, eyes and yes, even the prepped cork handles with the stuff. I do this a couple of times before declaring the project to be complete. Now the rods are rip rarin' to go! Before I put the reels back though, I usually replace the line. Most of you know I'm a staunch believer in Fireline Crystal. It will last several seasons, with only a leader change to start off with. However, I don't like the "looks" of it sometimes, as it gets "dingy" looking a bit. And again, Amazon.com comes through for me with excellent pricing, so I just do it.

Now you're all set up for the coming ice out and spring thaw. It just makes me feel better doing all this and it occupies those long, cold days of winter for me. Try it.....you'll like it!

[SuperDave336]

Sounds like a very useful and excellent way to spend the time. Thanks for sharing.

[DockShootinJack]

Always a good time for equipment Maintenance

[Special K]

I hear ya Brother Crestliner. I believe every sportsman has some level of OCD when it comes to his gear. I too just finished cleaning, lubing and re-lining 10 baitcaster and 10 spinning reel combos. I also took the opportunity to go through all of my terminal tackle, hard and soft baits, spinners and top water baits inventorying, cleaning and reorganizing everything and also launching a couple of online orders to BassPro and some other sources, including a couple of visits to Wally World to replace and replenish anything that I needed. Although the process took me a week or two (an hour here and an hour there); the job did give me multiple hours of tinkering enjoyment during some rough, rainy and windy weather periods that are the norm in the winter months in North Carolina when there is just nothing else much to do.
Like you say: Now, it is done and everything is 'sittin' on ready' for another action packed season of chasin' multiple species of tail. I have always enjoyed chasin' tail.

[ET Fish]

Sound advice!

[catchNgrease]

Awesome post

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[Redge]

Nice post, thanks for the reminder!


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[Jamesdean]

Yep, Thank you sir...I brought my stuff in from my truck the first of the week. We had a bit of snow on the ground, and I knew with the forecast of more coming their was little chance for me to go. Snowed again last night, not much just enough to cover the ground. By the time I go again everything will be back like it should be. Since I put that Shell on the back of the old truck, and keep it locked, i keep a couple 5 gal. buckets, a couple comprtmented tackle trays in one and and a couple rods, I'm always ready to go fishing now...May even make me a bed back there, just in case the fish are biting real good and I stay longer than I should...might take me a couple days to get back home...