Preparation Pays Off – Mike Williams

Well, it is the offseason for those who do not enjoy fishing the hard water in the cold temperatures that go along with it.  Anglers who don’t partake in ice fishing are probably dreaming of wetting a line and getting anxious for the upcoming spring thaw. 

This is a perfect time to get all of your gear in order and ready for the season. It is time to check and see if you have any issues with any of your equipment, check out your boat, rod and reel. Maybe you are looking to get some new tackle to try or want to research some new techniques for this year – now is the time to get on top of those things and get yourself prepared for the fishing season.

In the off-season, marinas and repair shops are not as busy and you can usually get your repairs done in a timely fashion. If you wait until too late into the spring they are busy un wrapping and delivering boats to their customers and thus may delay your start to the year if you need service.

This is also a great time of year to get your rods and reels organized, lubed and spooled up so they are ready when you are to hit the water. It’s a good time to get your tackle organized, put new hooks on your favorite baits so there will be no stories or excuses of the one that got away.  

Tackle stores are usually stocking up and filling their shelves with all the latest and greatest fish catching lures and the newest rods and reels with the incoming spring season.  If you visit your local tackle shop early you may be able to pick up your new favorite bait or add a new rod and reel to your arsenal at a great deal, as most start clearing out last year’s inventory and having spring sales.

You can also pass the time reading articles or researching on YouTube new techniques you may want to try to catch the big one this year.  

Spring also means the return of show season; hopefully with restrictions being lessened you can get down to one of the shows and check out the latest in fishing products and talk fishing with other anglers and reps in the fishing industry.

Whatever it is you choose to do, I encourage you to do it during this downtime and be prepared when the fishing season starts; as we all know it  goes by very quickly, and if you are prepared you will maximize your time on the water, which will improve your chances of being successful and catching more and bigger fish.

Good luck this upcoming season, and tight lines to all!

Mike Williams, Williams Outfitters
www.williamsoutfitters.com