Preparing for a day on the water, whether it is from a 19ft fully rigged bass boat, your DIY kick boat or even bank angling, an angler needs to be prepared for his hunt to improve his PB. No angler wants to be caught with his pants around his ankles when he sets the hook and realises that he has a swamp donkey on the other end of the line.
The mere thought of losing the bucket mouth, that you have been day dreaming about since your last fishing expedition, sends a cold shiver down my spine.
A little bit of preparation can save you a lot of time, effort and trouble on the water. Here follows a quick guide to stress reducing techniques:
VENUE: When deciding where your next fishing expedition will be, it is fundamental that you do your research regarding the dam. This is especially important when you wander into unfamiliar waters. A good starting point is to become a member of one of the many excellent online bassing forums. New users are normally encouraged to join in on the current topics and become part of the forum. Remember, when joining an online community the more interactive you are with the existing users, the easier and more enjoyable you will find your stay. Be sure to ask your fellow bass loving friends about unfamiliar waters as the odds are in your favour that someone has fished the dam before and will be able to assist you.
STORAGE: Storage of baits can quickly result in a nightmare as keeping the baits in their original plastic packets can result in bulky disorganised chaos. Storage boxes vary in sizes and offers an angler the opportunity to store a multitude of different baits neatly. These plastic boxes are, for the better part, water resistant, which should keep your baits dry. When you organise your storage boxes, pack them according to the different type of bait. For example, pack all stick baits in one box and only separate them by colour. This will allow you to accurately mark your storage boxes and identify them in the blink of an eye without having to open each box to find that one specific colour or plastic bait.
When storing your fishing tackle and gear try and keep everything that goes together, together. Store all your storage boxes in, for example, a cardboard box and place it in a cupboard. You will be amazed by the huge difference small tactical changes can make especially when loading and offloading your vehicle.
If you choose to fish from a kick boat always make sure that your pontoons are dry before putting them away. Try and store your pontoons in a dry cupboard far away from any sharp objects. If your weapon of choice is a float tube, do not leave it in the sun as the sun will fade and damage the air bladders and the material covering the bladders.
CRAFT & EQUIPMENT: Preparing your float tube or kick boat is essential if you want to be competitive in the bass fishing world. Consider the dam or farm you are fishing and make adjustments to the craft and equipment as needed.
If you are fishing an open dam, long scuba diving fins will give you great speed in open water but they are not advisable for dams or rivers that have significant amounts of grass in them. Personal experience has
PREPARATION
Bass Digest/January, 2014