3 Tips to Prepare for the Spring Season

By Ian

When you put down the rods for the winter, sometimes leaving it until a spring fishing trip isn't such as good idea.

During the spring fishing season, it's hard to find time to do the routine maintenance that should be done. With trout stocking beginning (stocked trout disappear - quickly!) all over the state, and the fish start warming up to more bites after the winter, it's hard to find the time to buy a new spool of fishing line, or re oil your fishing reels. And friends calling you up for a trip, and you aching to be on the water again after a long season of inactivity, there really is little time to do some maintenance, and as a result, you lose your prize lunker.

1. The first thing you need to do is to change your fishing line. After a season's wear and tear, there's bound to be some nicks and  tears. It would be terrible to lose that 4lb  wild brown trout in the Patapsco because of line damage. Remember, yor line is only as strong as it's weakest link.

2. When you do replace your fishing line, make sure it's is of good quality. Good mono filament and braided line ay be expsive, but it will save you plenty of time and trouble in the long run.

It also pays to lubricate your fishing reels. Your reel needs oil and grease to run smoothly. Your fishing reel came with factory oil and grease when you bought it, but sometimes it's better to re-oil and re-grease after a long season.

3. Hooks will rust and dull after time. Dull hooks won't set the hook as well as sharp hooks, and lunkers will be spooked after a failed hook-set.

Tight Line,

Ian