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Whenever you plan on
storing
your spinning reels for a long duration, back off the drag to increase
the life of the internal parts and ensure a consistent drag system for years to
come.
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Fishing logs are great tools to
allow anglers to recap fishing trips, establish patterns, learn and improve their overall
fishing abilities and adaptability. They can be very simple or very complex, start
one today that meets your needs and helps you improve your angling prowess.
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Photographs can tell the whole story. Don’t forget to bring
along the camera so you can share the story and photo with others when you release the big
one. It is best to take pictures in low-light conditions (using a flash), such as
mornings, evenings and overcast days. Keep this in mind to avoid shadows.
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The off-season is a great time to clean and
properly lubricate all of your spinning and baitcasting reels. Proper maintenance
will ensure many years of performance
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Swipe
your rod eyes with a cotton swab (q-tip) to check for burrs or chips that could damage
your line. You don’t want to break off on a four-pound smallie because of it,
trust me, I know (unfortunately). It is best to simply replace the damaged eye
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The
off-season is a great time to replace those rusty hooks and bent split rings on your
favorite crankbaits. It is also a great time to pre-punch out the paint from the eye
of your jigs.
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On
Canadian-shield lakes, such as Rainy Lake, crappies are commonly found suspended over deep
holes or suspended in deep water just off structure such as points. Most fish are
caught in depths of less then forty feet deep and are normally suspended 5-10 feet off
bottom.
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Bluegills are fast becoming a
favorite species of fish to pursue through the ice. They are willing biters
throughout the year and excellent tablefare. Present a horizontal jig
anytime of
the day tipped with a wax worm or euro larvae and you'll get acquainted with a
bluegill. You can increase the odds by using light monofilament or fluorocarbon line
(2-3 # test) and using a sensitive graphite rod. Keep the line taught and get the
jig near bottom amongst vegetation.
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It is well known that smallmouth
bass are vulnerable to a topwater presentation. A properly presented Rapala
Skitterpop can tempt em to the top in almost all conditions. Be quiet when
approaching a location and make long casts to avoid spooking the fish.
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Lipless crankbaits, such as the
Rattlin Rapala, are great search lures for both large and smallmouth bass. They
enable you to cover a tremendous amount of water and will cause reaction strikes from
neutral and aggressive fish. Tie one on, turn the trolling motor up and start
chunking. These baits work themselves so just keep it free of vegetation and hold
on..
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Everyone knows that spinnerbaits
catch bass, but did you know they are one of the best presentations for early season
bass? Spinnerbaits work really well in low light conditions and all day if there is
a little chop on the water.
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Try to be extremely quiet in the
boat when targeting fish in shallow water. Any loud noise will send the fish
scurrying away to a safer haven and will spoil your chances of success.
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Think shallow this year for the
walleye opener and look for walleyes just outside of any major tributary or spawning
area. Crankbaits like the Rapala Shad Rap can work wonders on these fish.
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Whenever you plan on trailering
your boat for a long trip, be sure to inspect your wheel bearings for sufficient grease.
Neglecting proper maintenance of your trailer could end up ruining your
fishing trip and your trailer. It never hurts to keep a grease gun and marine grade
grease in your tow vehicle at all times....you just don't know when you might need it.
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