"Preparation
will ensure a safe trip"
Author - John E. Brady, Hanover PA-USA
Copyright 2001
e-mail - jeb@jebswebsite.com
It figures.
We've had a relatively mild winter. Even had a few days last month warm enough to do a little fishing for even the fair weather fisherman. Now that it's time to really get serious about getting out fishing, it turns bitter cold. Oh well, that's March!
I've talked to several fisherman in the past week or two that are chomping at the bit to get their boats out and start fishing. One of them even had planned on fishing a bass tournament the following weekend in upstate Pennsylvania.
I'm hoping that by the time you read this, things will have changed. If it doesn't, maybe instead of complaining about the weather, we should take these last few weeks to make sure all of our equipment is ready to go.
I know, I wrote about winterizing boat's last fall, and doing maintenance and repair on tackle throughout the winter. Well, some people just won't take the hint. For those that have, maybe one more check will be a useful exercise. At the least, help the time pass quickly.
Even though we've winterize out boats, there are still a few things that should be checked in the spring before heading to the water. And the phrase winterizing means exactly how it sounds. We've winterized our boats. Even though we had some maintenance done at that time, there are still some items that need some attention before heading out when spring arrives.
First of all is batteries. Don't wait until the night before you go out to put a new charge on them. If you haven't touched them since last fall, you may have some problems. Bitter cold temperatures over the winter can crack a battery that's not charged properly. Check the batteries throughly for fine cracks. Fill them as suggested by the manufacturer with water. Disconnect the cables and use a wire brush or battery terminal tool to clean the terminals and cable connectors. Then re-attach them securely. If you have a plug that your trolling motor connects with, check it for corrosion. Clean any off with a small wire brush and spray a little electrical contact cleaner into the plug and receptacle.
Next make sure the trolling motor works properly. Check all switches and cables. I know of several instances where guys have gone out for the first time in the spring, and it didn't work. Usually it's just a fuse, sometimes something more serious.
Check your steering. If your steering is remote, check the cables and be certain the wheel or stick operate smoothly. Any jerky motion could be suggesting that you have bad cables. Check the main joint of the motor to be certain it has sufficient grease.
If you have tilt and trim, make sure the pistons raise and lower the motor smoothly.
Check livewell pumps, aerators, bilge pumps, hoses and wiring. Fill the livewell with enough water to allow you to run it. But only if there isn't a possibility of the temperature going below freezing.
I hate water in the bottom of my boat, but I'd rather put it in myself to check the pump, than to have it fill up on the water because I didn't check it. To keep the amount of water to a minimum, jack up the front, so the water stays to the back of the boat.
Check tire pressure, wheel bearing and brakes. The tires may look ok, but not indicate low pressure simply by sight. Jack up the trailer, and spin the tires to be sure they spin freely. While your under there, spray a little lubricant on the trailer springs. This will keep you from going crazy later from squeaky springs when you head down the road.
Check all of your safety equipment. Are vests and throw cushions still in good condition? Sounding device still operative? What's the date on flares?
It's also a good idea to use the Coast Guard safety checklist to be sure you have all of what you must have, as well as some elective items they recommend. Even if your not planning on having your rig go through their safety inspection, the checklist is a good tool to use.
Checking these items won't help you catch more fish, but they will insure that you get to the fishing hole and back without incident.
I hope everyone has a great fishing season this year. Remember...
"They call it fishing, but the goal is catching!"