Practice tying knots, leaders to braid, leaders to hooks, braid to hooks? Go over their reels, clean them, check all of the line, go through bags of soft plastics and sort them even more detailed than you'll ever be able to maintain on the water? Use paint to touch up hard plastics? Pretty much anything you can to be as close to fishing without catching fish? As I type this I'm tying knots over and over again.
Spend too much money, that's what I do
I've done all of the things you mentioned. Last winter I worked on rigging my canoe. This winter I've spent restoring and re rigging the canoe. Can't wait for spring.
On 2/7/2016 at 6:06 AM, Fishin' Fool said:Spend too much money, that's what I do
I just got back from Gander and Cabelas after placing two orders on TW last week that will be here Monday and Tuesday lol.
I sit at my desk and tie knots and leader knots. Put random baits like jigs in the sink and see what they look like underwater. Change the hooks on my jerkbaits lol
im from WI, makes for a long winter, especially when you're not that into ice fishing.
i usually do a tackle inventory and restock. i still need to do some reel pm, install my new Garmin, sink a couple dozen trees, and clean/pm the boat and trailer. another three weeks or so and i'm gonna be back on 'em. not much time left.
I have been tinkering all winter. Made 50 jigs, taken care of plastics, picked up 7 spinnerbaits, picked up hooks, tungsten, cleaned all my reels, cleaned all my guides, turned two full grip 0mens into split grip, looked at maps, read articles and reviews, anything I can do to get through to spring.
Haha I do all of those things as well. I also like to take my reels apart and clean everything.
Ha. I was sharpening hooks today. Again. New ones, even
I have some new tackle to put into service. I'm thinking about putting into place a new tackle protocol so that I have less clutter in the boat and be able to find things easier.
When I took the boat out of service I made a list of things to do in the spring. I'm putting a new sonar at the console, doing some TM maintence, putting in a bigger stern platform, trailer work and a bicycle seat at the bow. I'm also looking at making a few rod holders.
I'm going to put a lot of effort into my home pond this year. It's a challenge and I basically suck at this but I'm going to give it my all. So for now I'm putting together a plan of attack. I think if the weather stays like it has been so far ice out will be earlier this year, in any case we are at this point about 10 weeks from launch.
I do all of this and then watch YouTube fishing videos before bed. Think about how many fish I'll catch in the spring and then wake up tired the next morning.
I've reorganized my tackle box twice now since fishing ended in the fall...contemplating another change. I also spend money, just received another DX 744C HP last Thursday and placed a TW order yesterday.
On 2/7/2016 at 5:56 AM, Fishinthefish said:Practice tying knots, leaders to braid, leaders to hooks, braid to hooks? Go over their reels, clean them, check all of the line, go through bags of soft plastics and sort them even more detailed than you'll ever be able to maintain on the water? Use paint to touch up hard plastics? Pretty much anything you can to be as close to fishing without catching fish? As I type this I'm tying knots over and over again.
Well, I live in the South, real South, so far South that Texas is, well, 500 miles up North for me .....
For me it's a neverending routine of organizing and moving tackle around, and some basic upkeep. I replace some rusted out hooks, re-glue some new eyes to hardbaits that lost them, respool some line if needed, clean the guides on my rods, re-lube any reels, cleaning out my Plano of old/faded/torn up plastics, etc.
Yes I try to get everything organized, cleaned and ready to go for spring. Do my best to get all the tackle work done first since my boat gets stored in my neighbors garage over the winter and there's no electric in it. In the spring when there is more light I'm outside getting it all ready to go.
Read my old back issues of Bassmaster magazine, Fishing Facts, In Fisherman, and Pro Bass, now called Bassin magazine.
Hootie
I've reorganized several boxes of lures,even bought more boxes to better be able to separate lures even better. Instead of a box of frogs for example,I've got several boxes for different makes of frogs. Same with plastics. I'll change all my lines next and I'll be ready to go.
Now,if old man winter will give up we can get this show on the road!
Pull out the old & bring in the new! Reorganize everything twice for more products The down fall about the winter months....I spend way to much money cause I'm not fishing Read & Watch more articles on bass fishing than I ever had but in all honesty, you actually gain good knowledge on threads, articles, & videos over those horrible months!
On 2/7/2016 at 11:00 AM, stk44 said:I do all of this and then watch YouTube fishing videos before bed. Think about how many fish I'll catch in the spring and then wake up tired the next
I dont have cable so I watch old BASS and FLW tournaments either on my phone or smart TV so I can relate. Always studying, always learning!!
Well, I thought I was alone but I'm glad to hear others are as crazy as I am. I'm re-organizing soft plastics by color and then I change my mind and do it by type. Then I'll move to swimbaits, then re-arrange the cranks, etc. My wife thinks I'm losing it but she just doesn't understand.
So ... so glad I can at least get out once or twice a week. But in between can be tough if weather is real nasty. Do like reorganizing tackle and thinking about what going to try next on the local lake. This year I'm going to work more with jerk baits. Never used them much out west and am sure enjoying them this winter. Just added three inches to shorter rod handle (not pretty you understand) to make a better rod for the application. Also going through all my old baits and adding new.
I go through and clean up reels, reorganize lures, buy too much stuff, etc.. when its colder out. Im in alabama so we can basicly fish year round if you have cold weather gear and/or pick nicer days. Hunting season also helps bass fever for me, well til i get enough deer to fill freezer for the year anyway.
I just buy a lot more stuff......
I just go fishing lol now i do have to change species most of the time but i do fish all year round pretty much.
You can never have enough pre-tied dropshot rigs....
On 2/7/2016 at 8:51 AM, JustinU1X said:I sit at my desk and tie knots and leader knots. Put random baits like jigs in the sink and see what they look like underwater. Change the hooks on my jerkbaits lol
im from WI, makes for a long winter, especially when you're not that into ice fishing.
You know, here in Florida I complain all summer long about the stifling heat, and pretty much won't go outside from 10 AM to 5 PM, between July 1 and October 1. But when I think about serious anglers in the north reduced to fishing in the kitchen sink, I start to feel a whole lot better about my wacky state.
I usually spend too much money. I used to be very organized, then I got more baits than boxes. I want to try tying jigs during this season, but that's a bit of an investment I'd rather make on a new rod or reel.
I do a lot of these things...and tie flies.
Now I have it in my mind to buy another flipping/frog/toad rod. When will it end?
Yeah I'm looking at a few rods and reels. Not sure the wife is okay with the idea.
On 2/10/2016 at 2:46 PM, Fishinthefish said:Yeah I'm looking at a few rods and reels. Not sure the wife is okay with the idea.
I'm picking up a Dobyn's Fury 795 and a BPS Titanium 8 next week and preordering a Scorpion 70HG and Curado 70XG this week so don't feel bad.