by Pete Wardlaw

Pete Wardlaw,
Tournament Angler

I know at this time of year it is very hard not to get a touch of cabin fever. To me it is the absolute longest part of the year because the rivers haven’t thawed yet. I have pretty much had enough ice fishing and unless you are heading way down south the boat isn’t coming out for a while yet. I scratch my preseason itch by going over all my equipment and checking everything.

Rods: I start with all my rods and reels. I take a cue tip and go around all the eyes of my rods looking for any nick or cracks. Now is the time to find them, it gives you plenty of time to get them repaired before the season starts.

Reels: Next, I move on to my reels. I pull off any old line and I like to save this line to spool the first part of my reels. The line down on the bottom of your reel never gets used. After that I like to pull my reels apart and give them a good squirt of oil. Remember if you take care of it, it will take care of you.

Tackle: Moving on, the biggest part of the task is the tackle. I like to get all my boxes in order. When I’m out in the boat I like to know exactly where everything is. Even if I’m just out having fun I hate wasting time looking for stuff. I will go through all my top water and crank baits, remove any damaged treble hooks or O-rings and replace them with new ones. It’s always good to keep a file in your tackle box and at this time I like to make sure my hooks are sticky sharp to start the season. Then I get all my soft plastics sorted and put into boxes for easy access. Again, time you don’t spend searching for baits in the boat is time you spend fishing. Sometimes simple planning now, can pay off big time when the season opens. Doing all this prepping does takes some time, so do it over a few days and enjoy it. This is how I like to scratch my preseason itch.

EZ Angler Extra Tips:
Waders: Go into a dark space with your boots, shine a flashlight into the legs searching for light that may seep from the inside. If you find cracks or holes, there are wader / boot repair kits available online and at sporting goods stores. Hooks: Replace rusted or extremely dull hooks. Rod: Wipe down the rod with slightly soapy water and rinse with clean water. And most important: Remember to pick up a new license for the upcoming season.

About Pete Wardlaw
Pete a resident of Little Britain in Ontario, CA has been fishing competitively for several years. He has been a proud member of the Kawartha Lakes Anglers Fishing Club since its inception 2005. That year he began a prostaff member of LUNKERHUNT. Pete’s friends refer to him as Hardcore because as he states “I would go fishing at any time,any where and in any weather condition. Around our house, fishing is not just a sport or a hobby, it’s a way of life !If it swims I’m going to try and catch it.”

This article originally appeared on National Pro Staff (NPS.com) / You can follow Pete at NPS