Prepping for a New Season

Excitement: the feeling you get when you step outside your office at the end of the day and still need to wear sunglasses for the drive home (thanks daylight savings). The sun is still shining at 5 P.M. these days, which means spring fishing is right around the corner and summer hatches are following not far behind. If 7x tippet and frost-bitten fingertips are not your cup of tea during the winter, and you’ve been opting to tear up the slopes or get good use out of your favorite recliner (hey, we don’t judge), it may be time to pull out your fishing gear and get prepared for the upcoming season. Here are some of our tips to get yourself and your gear ready for slingin’ bugs at fish in the upcoming months:

Rods, Reels and Fly Lines

Now is a great time to inspect, clean and if needed, replace your gear before you get out on the water. There’s nothing worse than hooking up and losing a big brown because you didn’t notice the crack in your fly line from last season.

            – Inspect your fly line: If you notice any cracks or wear and tear in your line, it may be time to replace it. If you don’t know how or don’t want to unspool and re-spool your line, take it into your local fly shop and ask them to do it for you. If you are unsure of which kind of line to buy, take a look at our blog about the different kinds of trout fishing fly lines (http://northparkanglers.com/choosing-fly-line/) and see your local fly shop for more tailored information for your needs.

            – Clean your fly line: If your fly line doesn’t need to be replaced, it probably needs to be cleaned. Cleaning your fly line helps restore the color, makes it more buoyant (if you have a floating line) and helps keep it casting and performing smoothly. Cleaning your fly line is a simple task and can be done at home. Simply peel your line off the reel into a sink of soapy water and gently massage it around, specifically focusing on the first 30-40 feet of your line as that is often the most used/dirty part. Rinse your line with clean/fresh water and use a towel to dry it off as you reel it back up.

            – Clean and lubricate your reel: Remove the spool and gently clean off any dirt, sand, mud, or any other grime that may have accumulated during the past season. Once your reel is clean, add some lubricant to the drag system and make sure it is functioning properly. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this on your own, most reel companies offer to service your reel for a small fee, or take it into your local fly shop and ask them to help you.

            – Inspect fly rods: There’s not much you need to do when it comes to servicing your fly rods. Check to make sure your reel seat is clean and secure (you can use a toothbrush to help clean any dirt or accumulated debris) and inspect your rod for any nicks, scratches or cracks. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, contact the manufacturer about repairs or replacement as even the slightest nick or scratch can cause issues.

Apparel and Other Gear

            – Check waders for leaks and patch holes/seams: A simple way to check your waders for leaks is to roll the top of them shut and completely submerge the bottom part of them in a sink or bathtub. If you see any bubbles coming out, they leak. Try to decipher where the leak is coming from and use Aqua-seal and patches to fix the leak. Some companies also offer wader servicing/repairs if you don’t feel like being a do-it-yourselfer.

            – Clean your waders and boots: If your waders/boots are dirty or you notice a foul odor coming from them when you pull them out for the season, you probably need to clean them. Wader and boot companies often give instructions on how to clean and care for your gear properly on their website. Often a simple rinse with a garden hose and air-drying will do the trick. Loon also makes a product called “Fresh Pants” that kills odor-causing bacteria and is safe to use inside waders.

            – Check your net for holes: If you spend a lot of time trudging through the willows or trees, don’t be surprised to find that your net may have some unintentional holes. Inspect your net for large rips/holes and repair or replace the bag as needed. Don’t let the fish in the net be the one that got away.

            – Clean out the fishing pack and fly boxes: Remember that half-eaten PB&J you left in your pack last season? It has new life forms growing on it now. Or those nymphs you threw in your streamer box and told yourself “I’ll reorganize when I get home,” but got distracted by The Office and never quite got around to it? We’re all guilty of it. Fly boxes and gear bags don’t clean and reorganize themselves. Take a few moments to clean out, organize and inspect the gear you have and make a list of the gear you need to acquire before your next outing. If you’ve been saving your Christmas money and tax refund for more fishing gear but aren’t quite sure what to get, take a look at our blog, “A Guide’s Choice Guide” for some inspiration (http://northparkanglers.com/guides-choice-guide/).

After a long and wet winter, we are just as excited as you are to be getting back out on the water this season. Make sure you have all of your ducks in a row so you can spend more time having fish in the net.

Written by: Taylor Martin