2018 Prepping for Spring

[5th Tuition]

So; Winter is beginning to wane. We have daffodils about 3 inches high in the flower garden and tulips are busting through as well. Yesterday was 76* and today is calling for 77* or better

What are you doing with your boat or tackle to get ready for the coming season?

So far, this winter, I have put new line on reels that were getting low. I bought several new reels online and incorporated them into my spread (all board lines are Penn 340 with 40# fluorescent yellow mono). I now have all boat reels the same as well (Penn 345 with 80-100# power pro).

Today; I hope to "dip" some weights. Captain John has always dipped his weights in "plastidip" so I could quickly grab the correct weight when I was working the back of the boat. I will finally follow suit. Last year, a few of my weights were getting beat up and I was guessing (is this a 10oz or 12oz)?
So I bought the three colors (red, yellow,blue) and will dip them later today.

8oz (yellow)
10oz (blue)
12oz (red)
20 oz (green) Have to mix the left over yellow & blue

Besides; Mako Mike swears the colored weights are the reason Capt John catches fish

My next step (not today) will be to get all the rods (21) down, strip about 10 ft off the reel and retie a new snap swivel to each rod (with a red bead added). Then, it's retie my leaders.

So, what are you doing, or getting ready to do??????????
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[5th Tuition]

This might also be fun

Below is my ANTICIPATED spread for Spring 2018. I always "tweek" the spread when on the water. I may fish a cloudy day and add a bar for depth, or it might be a sunny day when fish rise to the surface early (deduct a bar).
Spread always gets adjusted when a couple of fish are caught

Last year, had to compensate for "winter jellies". Seems like you could keep your lines cleaner if light. Heavy rods/lures got more jellies

So remember, this is just a starting place

Check it out; make comments, ask questions, fire away
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[5th Tuition]

For assistance:
Penn 340 reels = 12 ft/bar
Penn 345 reels = 15ft/bar

Daisy chain is 15 ft long
Tandem leaders, 12 ft long (lightest lure)
Umbrellas; no leader

Hope this helps
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[Mako mike]

If it means anything I took the ice tips off my crutches so your boat won’t look like someone was wearing golf shoes !!

[5th Tuition]

Originally Posted by Mako mike

If it means anything I took the ice tips off my crutches so your boat won’t look like someone was wearing golf shoes !!

LoL
That's just like you Mike; always thinking about the "other" guy
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[5th Tuition]

I didn't do any "work" on the boat or tackle today, but it did dry up enough for me to drop the bottoms out of our birdhouses and clean them out so the birds can make new nests.

This was on my "honey-do" list I have to get busy so I have April/May free for the boat

So get to work on your list, time is getting short
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[Fish Nut]

I am getting an early start this year also. Sent the Radar in for service, I was having problems with it powering up last year. Worked perfect on blue bird days, first sign of fog it wouldn’t power up. Ordered oil and myriad of filters for the old girl. Installing a new AFI horn on the boat$$$. Running wires for a lowrance eite9. Purchased the Elite for the skiff but figured what the hell. I’ll get a transducer and power cable and swap it between both boats. The Totalscan transducer is nice.
Going to have the detail crew come in and lay down some wax and heavy duty cleaning


Hopefully I’ll get the retired guy to clean the rods and prep the tackle.


It’s always nice to make up a big spread with a lot of detailed items in it, tell the old man it’s for an order. Then go pick it up and tell him it's for the boat and he can put it on my tab…

If anyone wants to learn some new words you can go with me to pick up my spring spread.

Hopefully I don’t find any show stopper problems along the way.

[5th Tuition]

Took 5th Tuition to Ed Miller yesterday. She stays shrink wrapped in his "yard" until he works on her
Every three years, he does a new water pump kit and changes the thermostats along with the "regular" changing of filters and fluids.
For the first time, he will also be changing out the anodes (zincs) in the powerhead.

I'm looking forward to getting out on Capt. John's "Patent Pending" beginning next week. Hopefully, I'll be in my slip in Deale before April

I'll be slipped there for the Trophy season
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