A Surfcaster's Spring Tune Up
by Ray Sasso
Author with a nice bass
Every year we should all take some time to go over our gear to make sure it is in top working order. What I have done is prepare a basic outline of a few things which could help make this coming year more successful.
CHECKING YOUR ROD Start at the tip of your rod and work your way down. Use a cotton swab to check your tip and each guide for cracks or burrs. Wipe the swab around the guide and if any strands of cotton get caught in the guide then it must be replaced.
You should also check your guide wrappings. If the finish is cracking and peeling off of the thread, you should apply new finish over the thread or have a qualified rod builder do this for you. Should your thread be unwinding or your guide be moving under the thread, then the guide needs to be rewrapped.
If you have a two piece rod, it is important to check the ferrule. First examine both the male and the female ends for cracks. You certainly don't want your rod to at this connection while fighting the season's first big fish. Use a clean cotton swab to gently clean both ends of the connection. Often, dirt can work its way in and build up causing poor connections. Do not use a strong hand when cleaning the inside of the female part of the connection as you don't want to scratch the inside of the ferrule. If your rod is stuck together, don't try to force it apart. Often icing down the connection will allow the two ends to contract enough to seperate them.
Work your way down to the reel seat and butt cap. If you have a reel seat, make sure it sits in line with the guides. If the reel seat is loose, you can reglue it by drilling small holes in the reel seat and injecting two part epoxy into the holes. You won't have a pretty reel seat but it will function properly. Assure that the housings holding your reel on are not cracked and that the locking nut used to tighten the seat around your reel is working properly. Salt will build up in the threads making it tough to tighten. Also replace any butt caps that are craced or torn. Caps that slide around could cause cork tape to unwrap or tear.
YOUR REEL IS A MACHINE JUST LIKE YOUR CAR, TREAT IT THE SAME WAY. Regular preventative maintenance on your reel will add years to its useful life. Always wash down your rod and reel after each use. Don't use a forceful spray as it could push deposits deeper into your reel. A light spray should do the trick. I recommend giving your reel a light mistine of WD40 or one of the new reel and line care products after you hose them down. Follow your reels owners manual for suggested maintenance and lubing. At least once every couple of years, your reels should be serviced by an authorized service center. It is well worth the cost.
If you don't have a spare spool for your reel, get one! They allow you much more flexability as you can have different line strengths if you move from place to place during your trip. A spare spool can often save the day if you lose a large amount of line due to a hung up lure or a big fish that clears your spool.
A CHAIN IS ONLY AS STRONG AS ITS WEAKEST LINK. YOUR FISHING LINE IS THE LINK BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR FISH Too many fish are lost to old or poor quality line. Change your line often and don't skimp. Talk to your local tackle dealer or post a question on one of the many fine message boards located on the internet to help you find the line that best suits your fishing needs. Before you replace your line, clean your spool. Dirt, salt, and other foreign substances can cause damage to your new line. Also, take time to learn several fishing knots to suit different lines or terminal tackle.
LITTLE THINGS MAKE A DIFFERENCE.... CHECK YOUR ACCESSORIES Now is the time to check your accessories and make sure they are functioning properly. Waders and foul weather gear should be checked for leaks. Check your Korkers for broken straps and missing cleats. Replacement parts are available from a number of fine tackle shops. Don't overlook your surf bag. Make sure buckles and Velcro closures are functioning. Fill your bag with plugs and turn it upside down. This will simulate a simple fall that we all take from time to time. (Especially my cousin Bob!) If your closure system fails, replace it or the bag. It is much easier to find plugs that fall on the living room carpet than those that fall on a dark beach at night.
KEEP YOUR LURES CATCHING Take some time to go through each and every lure in your arsenal. Check the hooks and replace any rusted hooks and sharpen the rest. Try replacing some tail hooks with a single siwash adorned with bucktail or feathers. It might change the action of the lure and make it a more productive plug.
Take an inventory of your lures and make sure you have all the bases covered. You should have lures to cover all levels of the water column in sizes that match the bait present each season of the year. These are only a few suggestions for a properly stocked surfbag.
Red Gill Teasers, popping plugs, pencil poppers, Metal lipped swimmers such as Dannys or Atom Jr's, minnow style swimmers (don't just settle for one style, Redfins swim high in the water column then comes Mambos then Bombers)n darters, bottle plugs, tins, jigs, and an assortment of soft bodied lures such as shad bodies, worms, eels, grubs, minnows, etc.
Don't overlook terminal tackle. Make sure you have a good supply of hooks, bait rigs, sinkers, snaps, split rings, swivels in an assortment of sizes to fit your needs.
EXPAND YOUR HORIZONS Spend some time reading books and checking charts. (Charts are useful to surf fishermen too!) Scout out potential spots at various stages of the tide. Visit town halls and police departments to locate public right of ways and legal parking. Start a fishing log. It will enable you to learn where the fish are and perhaps why they are there. Include things like date, location, time, tide, wind, weather and water conditions, your presentation and catch. If you keep a fish, check its stomach contents to see what it had been feeding on and make a note of it.
YOUR FISHING TRIP CAN LAST ONLY AS LONG AS YOU CAN Take some time NOW to improve your physical condition. Walking twenty minutes a day will make a world of difference.
By taking a little time now, you can maximize the quality of this years fishing trips. Don't forget to e-mail us a note about those trips that will make this year a year to remember!