Looking for something different this summer? Try one of these fast action fighters… on for size!

One saltwater fish found throughout Florida and providing some awesome light tackle angling thrills is none other than the unwavering bluefish. Most fish around the Florida area weigh somewhere around 2 to 6 pounds and any over that are a real treat. In 1972 off the coast of North Carolina, the recognized IGFA record was caught weighing in at 31 pounds, 12 ounces.

Blues are a schooling fish with relatively large heads, powerful jaws and a mouth full of incredibly sharp teeth. Their tapered bodies end in deeply forked tails making them powerful swimmers and fighters. They’re decorated with blue/green backs, silvery sides, and white/silver bellies, but don’t sell them short these beautiful fish have plenty of muscle and speed.

Rigging for Blues is much like rigging for any toothy fish. Wire leaders are a must or at least 60# or better fluorocarbon with long shank hooks. When fishing live baits I use a short piece of 60# Seaguar fluorocarbon tied to my braid then attach a 12” piece of 30# Tyger Leader (black or bronze) and a bright long-shank 1/0 Daiichi hook. I belly hook the greenback at the pectoral fin, cast it out and the bluefish take care of the rest.

Fish can often be caught on any type of fast-moving lure that resembles a baitfish, including metal spoons, jigs, and tube baits. If you like artificial’s try a shinny spoon or old topwater lure tied to your braid with a dark leader wire leader. Make sure it’s an old lure because you might not get it back.

You might also try trolling on the hot, humid, no wind days. Once you hook-up stop and start fan casting around the area. The fish are there you just need to find them.

It’s not uncommon to find schooling bluefish sharing the same bait schools as mackerel, ladyfish and jacks. If you’re using whitebait/greenbacks start by tossing a few around the area you are fishing. If bluefish are present it won’t take long to get them going. Keep the live chums going and the fish will usually stay within casting distance.

If like using a fly rod here’s your chance to tangle with a fish that give no quarter. Extra strong leaders and larger flies that resemble the most popular regional baitfish will do the trick.

This article is owned by Capt. Woody Gore and is copyright protected. Permission to republish this article in print or online must be granted by Capt. Gore. wgore@ix.netcom.com

Why should anglers target them? Although smaller than offshore cousins, inshore gray/mangrove snapper are loads of fun and fairly easy to catch, especially for kids. These terrific little fighters can often save the day when other fish fail to cooperate.

What are the best times of year to fish for them? Where is the best place to catch them? The bite usually kicks off around April and goes right through the summer. You’ll see anglers fishing around docks, rock piles, artificial reefs, fish attractor’s piers and under bridges. It’s a nice relief to pull up under a bridge, set the anchor, and grab a little piece of shade. Now pop the top on a nice cool beverage and prepare for some marvelous light-tackle action.

What tackle and rigs do you prefer to use to catch them? Light tackle means the same rods and reels you use for everyday snook, trout and redfish. Nothing too heavy as it virtually eliminates the awesome rod bending pull of a 14 to 18 inch snapper. I use a medium-light spinning outfit rigged with braided line and 20 inches of Seaguar fluorocarbon leader. Here’s a method I use when fishing snapper inshore using a knocker-rig. First slide a small soft rubber glow bead onto the leader (small enough that it won’t slide over the leader knot), now slide a quarter or three eights ounce oval slip sinker (depending on current and depth), then another glow bead the same size as before and finish it off with a number one Daiichi circle hook, tied to the leader using a loop knot.

How do you prefer them to be prepared? If you’ve ever cleaned a mess of snapper you know there is plenty of fat which sticks to your knife. To prevent constantly cleaning your knife; as you catch them put them into a cooler with slushy ice. This gels the fat in the body cavity and is easily discarded, after the initial cut. Even though a 12 to 18 inch snapper is small by comparison, fillet them anyway, remove the skin and cut out the rib bones. Now you’re left with a single piece of fish about the size of your hand. Perfect!

Gray/Mangrove Snapper are possibly one of the great delicacies when it comes to inshore fish. And of course fried is the only way to go. Certainly other recipes are good but without a doubt fried snapper is awesome especially when served with a pot of grits, tomato gravy and jalapeno hush puppies… could it possibly get any better.

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Fishing is going strong throughout the southeast with people fishing and catching everywhere. That’s a good thing. Enjoying the outdoors and especially a little fishing is fun anytime, but especially now when most of us would like a distraction from things going on in the world. Fishing is an outstanding way to break away from things that concern you. When you’re near the water waiting for a fish to bite, it’s easier to feel better and it usually takes your mind off your problems at least for awhile.

Fishing is a great way to put some of life’s tribulations on hold and a good way to put a tasty meal on the table. People fish for different reasons some for the fun of catching, a few others for dinner, and many for both.

In the past few years the concept of catch and release has become very prominent throughout the fishing world. Catch and release is a great idea because you’re actually recycling fish and people seem to relish the thought of putting them back alive. You catch a fish, then you give someone else a chance to catch that fish. That’s a pretty good deal, and it’s evident that catch and release has improved our fisheries.

However, there are always those who take everything to the extreme. Certain groups and anglers feel that every fish caught should be released. It’s important to remember that catch and release is an option. If you want to put em’ back, that’s great, if you want to keep a few for dinner that’s also ok. There’s nothing wrong with keeping a few fish for the table but there’s no advantage to loading the freezer. Fish always taste better when their fresh, but once they become freezer burned they ruined. When fish are kept in the freezer they loose that wonderful fresh fish taste and wind up in the garbage.

Progressive fish management regulations, mostly slot limits and closed seasons, have created outstanding fisheries throughout the country. Slot limits are simply limits where fish within a certain size “slot” must be released.

The fish are biting. So, if you want to put your catch back, good for you. But if you want to keep a few, don’t hesitate to enjoy a fresh fish dinner.

This article is owned by Capt. Woody Gore and is copyright protected. Permission to republish this article in print or online must be granted by Capt. Gore. wgore@ix.netcom.com

Better - Brighter - Longer Lasting

What is an LED? As lighting technology improves almost everyone has seen or will see this small bright light. Actually they are an electronic light source created from a light-emitting-diode, and so the name LED. Invented in the early 20th century and introduced as a practical electronic component in 1962 these early devices emitted a low-intensity red light, but modern LED’s are now available across the color spectrum and capable of producing a very high brilliance. Applications of LED’s are widely diverse often used as new equipment or as low-energy replacements for traditional lighting.

Without getting into how they’re actually manufactured, let’s say it’s simple but complex. Although small they produce a bright light source with advantages over traditional lighting. Some of these advantages include longer life, improved brightness, smaller size lower amperage draw, and instant-on capability.

To work properly in the marine environment LED’s are hermetically sealed for protection against the environment and other corrosive elements. To ensure long life, the most reliable sealing method is encapsulating the circuit board and LED diodes in a material that is impervious to outside industrial, road and marine environments.

The most common application for LED’s in the boating industry is trailer lighting. However, boat manufacturers around the world are quickly jumping on the LED band wagon. Primarily because of improved intensity, color combinations and low operating amperage draws.

Boat and utility trailers for example, take a tremendous amount of abuse. They are continually exposed to elements including fresh and salt water, rough roads and rougher boat ramps. Therefore, to produce a long-life light source like LED’s means that greater care must be taken during their design and manufacture. While this translates to a higher principal cost it also means lower replacement costs over the life of the trailer. With some research you can find an excellent LED trailer lighting kit priced somewhere between $50 and $75 dollars.

On a personal not and because I trailer my rig over 200 days each year, at night and in heavy stop and go traffic I switched to LED lighting a couple of years ago. I like the added brightness and feel that when towing, especially in stop and go traffic the vehicles behind me can see the brighter lights.

This article is owned by Capt. Woody Gore and is copyright protected. Permission to republish this article in print or online must be granted by Capt. Gore. wgore@ix.netcom.com

Three simple things that might save your life.

In actuality, on the water life insurance comes from money spent on things like VHF radios, life rafts, first aid equipment, navigation equipment and EPIRB’S (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon).

Many times when fishing offshore you’re out there alone. While this is not necessarily a good idea it does happen and being miles offshore can result in tragedy or death should the weather turn bad. Recently, we lost several anglers to just this situation and with the proper planning and equipment it might have been avoided. Remember, just because you fish inshore you still need proper planning and safety equipment.

VHF Radio - Although recreational vessels less than 65 ½ feet in length are not required to have VHF radios it still should be your first purchase before anything else. Also mobile satellite telephones provide easier and clearer communications if you plan to travel more than a few miles offshore and are becoming more common and less costly. You should strongly consider purchasing mobile satellite telephone, an EPIRB (emergency position indicating radio beacon), and a second VHF radio or cellular telephone as backup. If you frequently boat of fish offshore you might consider having an HF radiotelephone, simply because they will receive high seas marine weather warnings.

Cellular phone or Marine Radio - While the Coast Guard does not advocate cellular phones as a substitute for the regular maritime radio distress and safety systems they do understand that cellular phones can have a place on board as an added measure of safety. Never rely exclusively on a cellular phone as there is no comparison between cellular phones and a VHF marine radio. If you have a portable or hand-held cellular telephone, by all means take it aboard. If you are boating far off shore, a cellular phone is no substitute for a VHF radio. But, if you are within cellular range, it may provide an additional means of communication.

Cellular phones have limitations during an emergency. Generally they cannot provide ship to ship communications or communications with other rescue vessels. If you make a distress call on a cellular phone, only the party you call will be able to hear you. Since cellular phones are designed for a land-based service, their limited offshore coverage could create a communications problem in the event of an emergency.

On the other hand, VHF marine radios were designed with safety in mind and can be used anywhere in the United States or around the world. If you are in distress, calls can be received not only by the Coast Guard but by ships or other vessels which may be in position to give immediate assistance. A VHF marine radio also helps ensure that storm warnings announced by the Coast Guard on VHF channel 16 are received. The timely receipt of such information may save your life.

EPIRB’s - A small battery-powered transmitting device that is carried on board and as the name implies, it is used only in case of a true emergency when your marine radio is inoperable or out of range.

There are several types of EPIRB’s. If disaster strikes, some float free and automatically activate; others must be activated manually. All EPIRB’s will float and send out a continual signal for 48 hours. Once you activate the EPIRB leave it on to make sure the signal is available for detection by passing satellites and for purposes of homing in on your location.

EPIRB’s that operate on 121.5/243 MHz (Category II) are the least expensive and least capable of saving your life. They cost around $400.00 and were designed in the 1970’s to alert passing aircraft. Often, multiple passes by satellites are required to identify the signal, which can definitely delay any rescue attempt. (I do not recommend this unit.)

On the other hand the 406 MHz EPIRB (Category I) which includes a 121.5 MHz signal which is mainly used for homing and cost around $1400.00. I know what you’re thinking, $1400.00… think of all the tackle I could buy for that much money.  My question to you; what is your life worth? And remember, you could have your family, the most precious thing in the world, onboard when tragedy strikes and that’s when you need immediate emergency response.
Response time to the 406 EPIRB is significantly reduced and the position information it provides is much more precise. In a recent test of the 406 MHz model, a Naval Academy midshipman found out how effective it was. The test signal was identified within four minutes and pinpointed within 15 minutes. This should help convince you that when trying to save a few dollars you could be betting against your life

When you purchase a 406 EPIRB’s can register your it and part of the coded signal will include your name, address, phone number, vessel description, and an emergency contact onshore who should know your plans and capabilities. Once the satellite picks up the signal and transmits it back, the search and rescue team knows where you are and who you are.

A Float Plan could save your life… always leave a float plan and give it to a friend or relative. Tell them where you’re boating or fishing, who’s with you and when you expect to return. Give a detailed description of you vessel – including the name, year, make, model, hull color and registration numbers and any other identifying markings. Also indicate whether you trailer your boat or keep it at a marina. If you trailer, leave the information about where you launched giving the color, make, model, and license plate number of your tow vehicle. If you keep the vessel at a marina give the phone number and address of the marina.

A good float plan details what safety, communications, and survival equipment you have onboard. It tells how many passengers, their names, addresses, and contact information. It also details the destination, departure date, departure time, departure location and expected time of arrival.
Here are a few ideas that might also be helpful: If you go out alone and do not have friends or family members nearby, you can still file a float plan. If you trailer your boat and launch from a boat ramp, leave the information in your vehicle. If you keep your boat in a marina, file a float plan with a fellow boater or with the dock-master.

When a person or vessel is reported as overdue, be prepared to give as much information as possible. The Coast Guard and rescue workers need to know as much information as possible. If you’re not prepared to relay pertinent enough information it could result in an ineffective search and possibly in the wrong direction or location. After being reported overdue and you’re fortunate enough to return safely call to the Coast Guard, so they can close the case and bring their rescue crews home.

We are often our own worst enemy’s and not being prepared could cost you, a loved one or your friend their life.

This article is owned by Capt. Woody Gore and is copyright protected. Permission to republish this article in print or online must be granted by Capt. Gore. wgore@ix.netcom.com

Instead of purchasing a new spinning reel sometimes opting for a good cleaning makes the old one look and feel like new.

Serious anglers use their equipment often which means it frequently takes a beating, especially around saltwater. And you can be assured sooner or later its getting dunked. With the increasing price of fishing tackle particularly rods and reels people tend to take exceptional care of their equipment by washing and properly storing it after each trip. But regardless of how careful it’s treated for some reason and at exactly the wrong time the reel handle begins sticking and the gears sound like they are full of sand. Right away you’re thinking about a shinny new reel but the thought of convincing the wife why you need a new one makes you shudder.

A good cleaning and some maintenance is a solution that usually takes care of those dirty fishing reel blues, which by the way sounds like an old jazz song. And a cold winter day is a great time to do it.

If you lack the basic mechanical abilities or are not the “Do it yourself” type there are plenty of reputable repair facilities willing to do it for you. However, if you prefer doing it yourself, read on.

Here’s a quick tip I often give… Practically everyone today, has a digital camera so why not take advantage of it. If you’re not sure you’ll remember how things go back together, take a few close-up digital photographs before and during disassembly, print them and use during reassembly.

Over the years, fishing reel lubricants have evolved from barely refined motor oils to technologically advanced lubricants containing superior adhesion and bonding properties. This new generation of oils and greases greatly reduces friction and dispels water. Although cost is appreciably higher these added performance lubricants are worth the investment, so keep some on hand and in the tackle box.

Alright let’s get started, it’s going to take about an hour or two depending on how many reels you’re cleaning. Find a clean hard surface preferably in the garage with good lighting. Next gather a few old rags, an old white hand towel, and a chair. Get a couple of small straight blade and Phillips head screwdrivers, a small pair of needle nose pliers, an old toothbrush or thick artist brush and some alcohol or mineral sprits. You’ll also need a couple of small containers for securing small parts removed from the reel. This is important and I suggest working over a small white hand towel because those miniature washers and screws are virtually impossible to find if dropped on the floor.

Begin by removing the spool and reel handle, clean them and set aside. Remove the rotor nut retaining screw, nut and remove the rotor. On the rotor, loosen the line roller assembly located on the bail, lubricate bearing and roller and retighten. Also oil the opposite end of the bail where it connects to the rotor housing and set aside.

From this point and using the small brushes and cleaning solutions you’re going to remove and clean parts and housings as necessary.

Next remove the side plate taking care not to loose the small, usually plastic washers located on the screws. When possible, remove and clean the main gear and its two bearings, clean each one and set aside. Now remove and clean only the remaining readily accessible parts and gear case. You’re ready to put it back together.

Start by air drying the parts or using very low air pressure. With the newest lubricants apply a light coating of reel grease to the main and worm gear teeth. Oil the main gear, anti reverse and main shaft bearings and reassemble into the gear case. Remember, grease gets sticky so use oil whenever possible. Install the gear case cover and oil the main shaft before installing rotor. If necessary, re-spool with new line and reset the drag tension. Finally, test everything making certain its operating correctly.

Now all that’s left is getting out on the water for that next great fishing adventure; with a reel that probably feels and looks like new.

This article is owned by Capt. Woody Gore and is copyright protected. Permission to republish this article in print or online must be granted by Capt. Gore. wgore@ix.netcom.com

Not just another pretty face, a pretty fish…

Spotted Sea Trout… Speckled Trout as us crackers call them are on fire along the west coast of Florida. The Southern Region opened January 1^st and high numbers including some really large fish are being caught daily.

It’s not often I get a chance to fun fish, but recently my son Capt. Mike and I took a morning to toss some artificial lures around a few inter-coastal docks. Starting early we pitched jigs under and around some promising looking docks in hopes of hooking a couple of redfish.

The wind was light and except for the gin clear water it was a good time to fish docks. Moving along the outside edges, Mike kept saying, “Look at the size of that trout.” Finally I moved up to bow and he was absolutely right. Big trout after big trout would scoot out of potholes then bury into the grass. When I say big, what I really mean is huge I estimated many upwards of five to seven pounds.

As expected these shallow water fish were weary of any noise or motion but we started fishing away from the docks toward the broken bottom grass flats. We did manage to land several fish on a Gulp Shad. Of course dad landed the big one and it took some convincing before Mike took the picture. Every father knows how competitive a son can be, but after years of fishing with dad, he’s getting used to it. Although I will admit, he occasionally gets lucky and whips the old man good.

If you’re interested in this marvelous fish here are a few thoughts on catching one of the most beautiful fish in our waters.

Looking for gators: Many anglers’ fish over deep water grass, but here’s secret most giant hunters won’t tell you? If you’re looking really big gator’s… the ones with bright big yellow mouths the size of a coffee can – “go shallow” and fish broken bottom potholes. Keep in mind, shallow water fish get real spooky to noise and commotion which sends them running. Depending on the time of year and water conditions sometimes it’s better to just get out and wade.

Light to medium weight tackle: A 7 or 7 ½ foot light to medium action spinning combination spooled with 10 to 15 lb braid is the preferred choice of most inshore anglers. You get good casting distance and the braid is very sensitive to strikes. It’s also a good idea to use a leader. Not the store bought wire variety with swivels and weights but a single length of 20 to 30 lb. monofilament about 18 inches long and tied to your braid using a Double-Uni or Triple Surgeons knot.

Live shrimp, small pinfish or greenbacks free lined or under a popping cork constantly produce fish. On the other hand, at times they are not actively feeding or seem restless, so switch to dead bait, a little slower fishing but it usually produces.

For some “reel” excitement: Learn to use artificial lures. Fished correctly artificial’s on average out fish live baits. Here’s the premise behind that statement. By continually casting lures you cover a larger area thus exposing it to more fish. In theory you end up taking the bait to the fish, rather than waiting for a fish to find the bait.

Check an artificial angler tackle box and you’ll find lures of various shapes, sizes and colors. Topwater, suspending, and diving plugs, and spoons are all time favorites but soft plastics are essential for trout. Whether you rig them on a jighead or weedless they require a twitch and retrieve action that triggers the strike, between twitches as the lure falls. We usually get a first-class trout bite during the winter months, so keep in mind as water temperatures drop so should your presentation. To maximize cold water presentations slow it down often working it along the bottom.

Larger fish in our future: The past years of Red Tide certainly took its toll on trout killing thousands in Tampa Bay alone. In fact it wasn’t until a couple of years ago we where lucky to even see a trout let alone catch one.

Hopefully, over the next few years provided we can avoid any serious bouts of Red Tide. It could be possible to see some our west coast sea trout equaling their east coast cousins.

Fish for dinner: Nothing beats a fresh fish dinner especially the day it’s caught. Try taking only what you can eat at one time. Most fish especially trout do not freeze well and not stocking the freezer gives you a good reason to go fishing.

Take a Kid Fishing: One of the most significant things we can do as adults is teach our children about fishing and take them. So with patience, teach in such a way they learn to respect for our resources and comprehend the essentials necessary to understand the future benefits.

Everyone should consider fishing as a privilege not a right and we should never take it for granted… whenever possible practice catch and safe release.

This article is owned by Capt. Woody Gore and is copyright protected. Permission to republish this article in print or online must be granted by Capt. Gore. wgore@ix.netcom.com

Tying knots began before the dawn of history when man tied a stone to a stick. Through the years knots have been associated with primitive religion, folklore, magic, and superstitions. Tying knots have numerous of uses and a biological study found that man is not the only species to use knots. Gorillas use them to hold saplings down in their nests. In one nest two dozen knots were counted, most were granny knots but some were square knots. There is a particular species of bird that ties knots in the construction of its nest. And there are still primitive races that fasten their huts, traps and even clothing with knots.

With the hundreds of knots available today anglers put too much emphasis on knowing how to tie every one. In fact when it comes to fishing whether it’s fresh or saltwater, inshore or offshore the average angler only needs to master four or five knots relating directly to their methods of fishing. Learning to effectively tie a few simple knots enables you to catch whatever species you’re targeting. For example, on inshore charters I only use five knots, a Uni Knot, Double-Uni Knot, Triple Surgeons, Loop Knot and the occasional Spider Hitch.

After you’ve chosen the knots for your particular application and regardless which knot you prefer, tying it correctly is essential for achieving fish catching success. A large proportion of losses can be blamed on poorly tied knots. Therefore, it’s essential that you spend an extra second or two to insure your knots are tied properly. By using the elements listed below your knots should retain their breaking strength.

1. Practice, Practice, Practice… Take a length of fishing line, a hook with the point cut off, and practice until you can tie each knot correctly 25 time.
2. Always lubricate your knots with saliva as you pull them tight. This prevents damage to the line and allows the knot to pull tight.
3. Trim knots closely. A good knot, pulled tight, will not come loose. Close trimming prevents the knot from catching snags or weeds.
4. When you’re learning knots, the “tag end” sometimes called the working end is the end of the line used to tie the knot. The “standing end” is that part of the line coming from your fishing reel.
5. Always leave plenty of the tag end for tying knots so that you can tie them properly.
6. Pull up all ends when tightening the knot cinching them as tight as possible. If it slips in your hand, it will slip when you’re hooked up.
7. Once you find a knot that’s working for your particular type of fishing don’t forget it.

Originally designed to keep hooks attached to fishing line knots soon took on another aspect with the onset of artificial lures. They became more than just means of keeping a hook or lure on the line. They actually made a difference in how baits and lures performed. Fishing fresh or saltwater, with artificial lures your are trying to immolate the actions of a natural food source; so stands to reason that everything we can do to add realistic actions should help us catch fish.

There are many excellent knots in use today, especially when t here is a need to catch fish but one stands out as an intelligent choice. It provides artificial lures and natural baits the most realistic approach and appeal and it’s called a Loop Knot.

Actually loop knots have been use for decades but now with swim baits, top waters, diving and suspending lures along with a variety of soft plastics this knot has emerged as the go-to method of attaching lures to your fishing line.

When properly tied loop knots give lures and natural baits an element of free swimming action. An action you otherwise loose when using knots that secure your lure or hook directly to the line. Because it’s imperative to imitate a natural and lively food source this is an important knot and one you should learn to tie and use.

Perfecting the skill of proper casting and retrieve takes plenty of practice and sometimes years to master however, something as simple as a knot can have a discernible result on your overall success. With so many knots in use today often the slightest difference makes your bait seem more lively or natural… this subtle little different often triggers the strike you’ve waited for all day.

This article is owned by Capt. Woody Gore and is copyright protected. Permission to republish this article in print or online must be granted by Capt. Gore. wgore@ix.netcom.com

As a kid who grew up with a passion for fishing always meant looking forward to Christmas because of the new tackle I would receive. Every Christmas morning, I would wade through the obligatory shirts, pants, and other clothes from aunts and grandparents, looking for the present that had my Dad’s distinctive handwriting on it. I learned very early to recognize his writing; as a Tampa police detective he wrote in a clear precise style, probably from all the reports he hated writing.

“To Woody” From Santa”, it would say, and it was always in his distinctive style. For reasons known only to my dad and Santa, Santa would have my Dad address the packages which I eagerly accepted without question.

On one particular Christmas in 1955, I was about eight and had opened everything but not yet found my fishing stuff. Had I been paying attention, I probably would have seen my Dad watching for my expressions. As it was and coming to the end of the presents and was beginning to get disappointed. Dad finally said, “I thought I saw something sticking up in the hedge when I got the paper this morning, why don’t you see what it was?”

Almost breaking the door down I raced outside toward the hedge and there it was. Sticking up in the hedge was a new rod and reel. Not just a kid’s model but a Shakespeare rod and Zebco 33 spin-cast reel, just like my dads. Christmas was now complete!

After Christmas dinner I spent the afternoon on my bike fishing the banks of the Hillsborough River. Bass, bream, snook and jacks could always be found in the warmer river waters. I caught some fish that day… I caught them on my new rod and reel with new line… the one my Dad addressed for Santa.

I hope all of you have a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy Holiday, wherever you are. May you be fortunate enough to receive a gift that will instill a lifetime memory! And may we always remember the reason we celebrate this wonderful time of year.

This article is owned by Capt. Woody Gore and is copyright protected. Permission to republish this article in print or online must be granted by Capt. Gore. wgore@ix.netcom.com

The main objective for winter clean-up is getting things in order for next spring and summer. So why not take time check your rods, reels and tackle while old man winter discourages or at best diminishes our passion for fishing. Winter is also a great time to go through your tackle box. If you’re like me living near saltwater you have two different boxes one for salt and another for freshwater.

When was the last time you thoroughly cleaned your rods and reels? I’m talking the $19.95 special all the way up to the higher-end stuff everyone seems to want. Since fishing rods range in price from a few dollars to several hundred and reels even higher, it stands to reason that it’s important to keep them operating properly. Some high end reels will require special technical abilities to disassemble, clean and reassemble properly. Other less expensive models might only require some minor cleaning, oiling and maintenance. If you’re mechanically inclined do it yourself if not find an expert.

Rods are not as difficult as reels. Start with a through cleaning and checking for damage to the rod, handle or guides. A quick way to check guides is using a cotton swab. Run it through and around the guide if it’s cracked or chipped the cotton will find it. Clean the handles and lightly lubricate the reel seat assembly with a dry silicone lubricant.

Corrosion, dirt and grime are not your friend especially when it comes to your fishing reels. Dirty and corroded reels have ruined more than one fishing trip and preventative maintenance is the key. Spinning reels seem to be the most likely choice for saltwater anglers, however some still prefer baitcasters. Spinning reels are not that difficult to take down and reassemble. I’m not talking about removing every screw, gear, and bearing but, a field strip or just enough to clean out the old grease and oil then add new.

You can do it yourself but be certain to watch how things come apart so you can get it back together. I’m going to share a tip with you that can save hours of frustration and agony. It’s called the Digital Camera…. This handy little tool offers tremendous advantages particularly for us do ourselves types. When you get into new territory like cleaning a fishing reel, shotgun or anything else for that matter, make certain to take plenty of quality, close-up and in focus photos along the way. When it comes to putting it back together and you’re not sure where something goes just print the photos and your set. I’ve even go so far as to photograph the wiring on my television, VCR, disk player, and stereo system just in case I have to move it… I’ll know where the wires go.

The rods and reels are done but what about that old mono or braid fishing line? At least once a year, strip the old line off and re-spool with new. If using braid be sure to strip off the old backing, clean the spool and re-install new backing and line. Here’s a tip when using braid: Put a few drops of corrosion guard on the spool before you install the monofilament backing. Once the braid is installed, soak it thoroughly with Reel Magic before storing.

When using braided line be sure to consider your target species, remembering that braid is very strong for its size. Don’t over-kill your reel with heavy braid unless you need it. By using lighter line you’ll find casting distances will improve.If you’re a monofilament user wait keep in mind that mono has memory so wait until the season starts to install your line.

Open any tackle box especially us saltwater types, and it looks like an old gull nested in it. Dump everything out, clean the box, remove the rust stains, and install new lining. If you don’t need it and most of it we don’t’… get rid of it, the rusty hooks, swivels, sinkers, lures, or whatever is taking up space. I’ve heard it before because we’re all the same and our standard answer is “I can’t throw it out I might need it someday.” Yea, just like me… I haven’t used it in two years but I might need it. Just get rid of it!

Occasionally we need to bite the bullet and buy some new stuff. New stuff is always good and it gives us a chance to browse the tackle stores. Buy new hooks, sinkers, swivels, lures bobbers, line, leader, etc and you’ll be ready for next season. If your lures still have paint and are in fairly good shape buy some new trebles and split rings, it’s cheaper than replacing a perfectly good plug.

Once you have straightened out, cleaned out and emptied that old 40 pound tackle box, it should come in somewhere around 5 pounds and things are much easier to find. Now all you need is spring.

This article is owned by Capt. Woody Gore and is copyright protected. Permission to republish this article in print or online must be granted by Capt. Gore. wgore@ix.netcom.com