Date: 03/18/09
Contact: Chris Pietrafeso
Phone: (702) 486-5127 x 3850

GEARING UP YOUR GEAR

Ice has come off of the reservoirs and the fish are getting more active as the weather warms up. You load up your gear and head to your favorite fishing hole. Once you find the perfect spot you make your first cast. A hungry fish hammers your lure. You set the hook and… snap! The line breaks.

You forgot to change the line and now it’s too old and brittle to fish with. Heartbroken, you grab a spare rod and cast again. Oops! The reel jammed because you left behind a bird’s nest the last time you went out.

“We’ve all been there. We’ve all lost fish or fishing opportunities because we found ourselves making repairs or doing routine maintenance in the field when it should have been done before we ever left the house,” said Doug Nielsen, an outdoor educator for the Nevada Department of Wildlife. “When we end up doing these in the field it takes up precious fishing time.”

A small knot can take 15 minutes to untie. Re-spooling a reel can take up to an hour depending on the line and reel. The key is taking care of these chores before ever leaving home. And with the weather is getting nice, now is the time to fix these problems and make sure we are all prepared before the first big fishing trip of the year.

Ivy Santee, an angler educator for NDOW, says the first thing you want to check is your fishing rod. Break down the rod and make sure the guides are clean, the rod ferrules mate properly without cracking, and your rod tip is not broken. Rod tips are the most vulnerable section of a fishing rod. They break easily but also can be quickly repaired with a rod-tip kit purchased from a local fishing tackle store.

Reels should be cleaned and lubricated according to manufacturers’ guidelines to maintain the validity of warranties. This should be done in a comfortable environment with little dust and where you can keep track of small parts. Dropping or bumping reels while fishing can jam their components or clog the gearing with sand and debris.

Monofilament line should be replaced every six to 12 months. If you get into the habit of replacing the line this time every year you can be more confident when playing a big fish. Fly line should be cleaned as often as possible. You can clean fly line with a number of fly line cleaning products or 100% pure silicone. This ensures better accuracy and line shooting consistency, not to mention help your line float higher in the water.

Another thing to check is your hooks, said Santee. After several uses hooks will become dull and sometimes rust in your tackle box. Throw away your rusted hooks and re-sharpen your used hooks. To see if your hook is sharp enough, lightly and carefully rub the hook at a 90 degree angle on your thumb nail. If the hook slides and lightly scratches your nail, it is dull. If the hook sticks and doesn’t scratch your nail, it is sharp.

Follow these tips throughout the season. Doing so will ensure a more successful and less stressful fishing trip.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW’s wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen’s license and conservation fees and a Federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing, or combination license. For more information, visit www.ndow.org.