Warmer days are coming, and planning to go back to fishing should definitely be on the horizon! Along with longer and sunnier days, one can expect to take part in outdoor activities should definitely be one of them, but before the season starts, it would be good to take advantage of preparing for it sooner rather than later. The best way to have fun, is to make sure you are well-equipped and ready for what is in store!
Here are a few tips on how to prepare well as we approach the fishing season.
- Pick a Spot
First, make sure that you have chosen a spot for your fishing. You may have your favorite spot, where you have been lucky in and it may be convenient for you and your buddies. The truth is you never know what to expect in a new fishing season. Sometimes, it is a good idea to go a little bit of venue shopping, you may never know what else is in store for you. Going through more spots, and talking with other fishing enthusiasts may help you find new areas that you may eventually want to check out, especially if you are looking for something new. Either way, you can select more than one spot, and take some time to strategically plan out when you will be going fishing with your buddies.
Picking out the spot ahead of time is especially important if you are fishing for walleye in Sturgeon Bay. The walleye are an elusive fish and your best chances of catching may be to start off with a guide to show you the best spots in the area and the best times to catch. Fishing for walleye incorrectly and in wrong conditions can make this fish seemingly impossible to catch. Do yourself a favor and do some research before you fish to make sure you are setting yourself up for a big catch.
- Obtain Licenses
Next, once you have your identified fishing spots, you may want to start collecting the respective licenses in those locations. While some locations may not require a license, it would still be good, and part of early preparation to initiate the inquiry about licensing before the fishing season starts. This is a good approach, because you will be able to learn more information about the terrain, and you will also be able to be provided a slot, in the case that some locations may have limited licensing. This can also be an opportunity to communicate with the local authorities about the terrain, and what kind of expected marine life there can be.
- Inventory Content in Tackle Box
Okay, so you have location spotted, the third thing you have to do now is to make sure that you have your supplies updated. Look at your tackle box. Surely, some of your things will have been depleted because you have consumed some of them from the previous fishing season. Make sure that you have cleaned your tackle box and have taken out anything that is unusable already. Having labels on your trays helps to identify the content of each tray. When you have been able to identify the content, you will also be able to enlist what additional supplies need to be purchased. Inventory what needs to be updated, and then hold on to the list, as you go through your other items.
- Update Fishing Reel
Speaking of items, the fourth thing you may want to think about is updating your fishing reel. With this, you may want to think about how to go about choosing a baitcasting reel. With having a baitcasting reel, you can look at a lot of advantages, including being more accurate, lighter in weight, have more drag, and better line handling. Many fisherman tend to prefer baitcasting reels over spinning reels, because they have a better grasp at their fishing gear. If you haven’t yet started on updating your reels, you definitely want to consider getting a baitcasting reel.
- Inventory Lost Tools
Enlisting for new reels, and getting prepared, the fifth thing you want to think about aside from the content of your tackle box, and your reel, are all the other tools that come with you as you prepare for fishing, and on the fishing expedition itself. Some people tend to lend out tools to their peers, and then forget to receive it back. Or, some tools may get lost along the fishing journey, or even get unusable. So, do enlist them down, and make sure you do a thorough list of tools you want to replace, or hunt back down for. There is not many more things that can be annoying than to not have a tool you want, or need, when you are out fishing. It ruins a lot of the fishing experience.
- Prepare Clothing
Sixth thing to note, what kind of clothing do you like to have with you? And, what other apparel do you usually include in your list? Some people would tend towards always having their favorite pair of boots or a lucky charm with them, they feel it enhances their fishing experience, and brings them a better catch. If you do have such a thing, put it down, and make sure that it is ready for another fishing season! If you’ve caught on a hole in your fishing hat, and need to get it prepared, then, by all means, do so, before the season starts! Or perhaps, you also need to get a new fishing jacket, well, then that is something else to go shopping for.
- Check Transportation
The seventh thing, is to make sure your boat is ready. Have you been able to inspect it since the last season? You may not be looking at fishing from a boat, but perhaps you have another mode of transportation that makes sure you also are at your fishing destination. Inspect it as well, to make sure that this vehicle is also ready, when you are.
- Go Shopping to complete Gear
Now that you have a thorough list of things to buy, to update, and to get anew, you already almost ready, except that you have to now purchase and pay for all these things! Set a date to go shopping, and make sure your thorough list is available with you. Now, sometimes the tendency is to go all out shopping, and forget the necessities, or spend too much. You can avoid that by having estimates for each item you want to get, and that helps make sure that you are able to stick to a budget. You also want to have some ample time to do the shopping, so that you can also wait out for some potential sales that may significantly reduce the price of many of the items you want to have.
- Schedule Your Fishing Trip
Later on, as the season approaches, the ninth thing is to also make sure that your scheduled times to go fishing also suit well with the overall environment during that week, and even better if you can measure it to the day. The temperature and weather conditions should be ideal, you definitely want to avoid a hail, or thunderstorm during the days you intend to go fishing, because your day will definitely be cancelled even before it starts. Avoid days when it is rainy, and when there is an expected storm, because they definitely will cancel out a good fishing trip. Knowing then, better, that the weather is suitable for fishing, make sure to also bring the appropriate weather gear with you, be prepared for a sunny or a cool day.
- Make a Checklist before you go!
Finally as the final item, create a checklist of items to bring as well. Make sure that sunscreen and water are staples in the list, aside from your fishing gear as well, of course. Pack your things a day or two before, to make sure that you do not leave out anything important. Now that you also have your gear updated, yourself prepared, your location spotted, you’re ready to go out and fish!
