First thing I’d like to touch-up on is our reels. Reels today can cost upwards of $200. They are machines capable of winching the biggest bass out of the nastiest cover. I have had a great time using the Shimano Curado D and the DHSV. The 7.0:1 are great baitcasting reels for buzzbaits and topwater, while the 6.2:1 is a great choice for jigs, worms, and crankbaits. For spinning gear, I like to use the Shimano Stradic. I love the durability of the reel and their usefulness for light saltwater too. While fishing the Potomac River during the summer we experience brackish to almost saltwater conditions and they are great reels for drop-shot, shaky head, and other finesse presentations. The best way to maintain those reels is to take a damp towel with a dab of Ivory soap and wipe them down and to use reel oil or machine oil which I have used for years for the inside gears. If you are not that savvy on taking reels apart go visit your nearest tackle shop that performs reel repair and I am sure it only costs 10-15 bucks a reel. 10 dollars is a small price for a piece of mind.

Next, after dealing with our reels we should get that same soap solution and wipe down our rod eye guides down and clean the cork handles. This small 1 minute tip also makes our line lasts longer. Abrasion from residual debris lying inside the rod guide eyes can fray line just like fine grit sandpaper. Once you get your reels back from the shop take all the line off if you have not already. Your line is a VERY important link to your success. You do not want to lose a fish of a lifetime due to some old dry-rotten or frayed line. Bass usually live in some of the most gnarly, nasty, weedy, and rocky cover available in the lake or river. ABRASION, ABRASION, ABRASION... This is a big reason why we lose fish not just shake offs. The Potomac River as is the Upper Chesapeake Bay and James River is full of barnacles which can fray line while that lunker tries to power it’s way around docks or other wood structures. Every so often we should re-tie and by season end we can re-spool for that piece of mind. While re-spooling we should make sure line is being wrapped tight enough and in the right direction. One responsibility all anglers have is too properly dispose old line. There are way to much line in the water, trails, and fishing banks that trash our local fishing holes. Also wildlife is killed by it. Every year birds, fish, turtles, and other marine animals are injured or killed by fishing line. Each county that we all live in probably recycles that old mono. Even some tackle shops have drop boxes for old line. Use common sense guys. Think about your son’s and daughter’s future. My favorite right now is Vicious Fishing Line. It is a great line and it is used by many Elite Pros such as Evan Williams. I was a die-hard Stren line angler, but after fishing with Vicious Line I was impressed at the durability and quality. Even the spooling box system is great. Try the fluorocarbon and the saltwater version if you’re into the saltwater scene. Their website is www.vicious-fishing.com. Check out the lures and apparel too. I also like Kevin Van Dam’s Lure and Line Conditioner. It can be applied in drops at ¼ spool intervals or on the top casting layer of the spool.

Last piece of tackle I will cover is hooks and storage. I like to keep my hooks sharp so if the hooks are really rusty I just replace my hooks with replacement Gamakatsu trebles. But for used or lightly rusted hooks I use a hook sharpener like an Electric Berkley Hook Honer/Line Stripper. This tool can also be used to strip old line during any season. It is an all-in-one machine. Your hooks give you the edge you need to keep your prize connected. It only takes a minute to check your hooks and line connections every so often. Bass fishermen usually have an ungodly amount of tackle. I know I do. Storage systems help us divide our tackle into fast and easy to find compartments. Plano Tackle has always been a leader in tackle storage systems and I still love Plano. Wintertime gives the angler time to really survey our lures and terminal gear. I usually look at all my lures and check out the hooks and replace them. Saves a lot of time during spring when we should be hunting for pre-spawn fish.

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