We’re hoping for a December striped bass bite, the tautog are eating, and pickerel are just cranking up, but in the coming months there will likely be some period of time—be it a week or a month—when fishing will become virtually impossible. Skim ice, winter winds, or blizzards can temporarily shut us down and even the heartiest anglers among us may suddenly find ourselves sitting on the couch, staring out the window in a winter shut-down daze. What will you do if and when this moment arises? Savvy anglers will have some winter fishing tackle projects lined up, and now’s the time to get prepped so you’re ready to survive that (hopefully) brief angling interlude. What are some top potential projects to prepare for? How about:
Building a Custom Fishing Rod
This is a long-term endeavor that’s perfect for those times when a major storm shuts you down for a significant stretch of time. It’s also a project that provides an excellent reward—a new rod that you’ll likely use and love for years to come. But if you don’t get all the ducks in line right now you won’t be ready to get started when the time comes.
Rodbuilding may seem like an overwhelming endeavor, and the first time or two you give it a shot there may be a few imperfect wraps or you might solidify a chunk of carpet with dripped epoxy. But this is the type of project that you can learn on your own, at your own pace, and by the time spring arrives you’ll pridefully be casting your custom creation tweaked and tailored to fit the way you most like to fish.
Step number one is getting an idea of how the process works, which is a piece of cake in this day and age thanks to the great and awesome internets. There are YouTube videos galore which demo the process of wrapping threads and securing or modifying grips. One of the best resources out there is Angler’s Resource (which just so happens to be a FishTalk supporter—thanks guys!), which has a huge library of blogs, podcasts, articles, and videos you’ll find helpful; just check out the Mastering Rod Building podcast, their blog, watch the videos, and read their articles and you'll learn everything you need to know to build a magnificant custom fish-catching creation.
Once you’re familiar with the process you’ll want to identify the specific rod type you want to get started with, and then order in the pieces and parts. Key components include the blank, guides, threads, and grips. You can order a kit that has everything you need, or order the pieces-parts separately to get a higher level of customization. Note: if you’re making your very first attempt, ordering a kit is a good move since there are a number of items (like burnishing tools and mixing cups) you might not realize you’ll need on your initial endeavor.
You’ve taken advantage of a rainy day to study up, chose the rod you’ll start with, and ordered in all the parts? Excellent—when the big storm barrels through and fishing is not an option you’ll be ready to hunker down and get to work.
Tip: Remember that when you build a custom rod the quality of the pieces-parts you order will ultimately determine the overall quality of the end product, even if it’s made with a primo blank. If you get cheap guides then use the rod in the Bay brine, for example, corrosion will likely be an issue. But if you choose topnotch Fuji guides with Corrosion Control frames they’ll resist that saltwater attack for five times longer. The quality level of each individual component matters.
Reel Repairs and Maintenance
Next up: let’s be ready to get those reels into tip-top shape for next season. You’ll want to give them a thorough cleaning and a lube job, of course (see Winter Fishing Gear Maintenance for a step-by-step), which doesn’t require much prep beyond making sure you have plenty of clean rags and reel lube. But on top of that it’s time to consider the line those reels are holding.
Reels with mono should be stripped and respooled at least every third season. Even rigs that don’t get much use need such treatment, because monofilament degrades over time due to UV exposure. ID the pound-test lines you need, and order those spools now so you’re ready to go when the wind is howling and the snow is blowing.
Braid isn’t nearly as sensitive and can last for many seasons, but it’s wise to trim off the first 10’ of line on every reel. This is the portion of line most likely to be exposed to chaffing against structure, and it’s usually where weak points appear. If a reel has lost a significant amount of line due to a break-off or a tangled knot, strip it down and respool it fully with fresh stuff. Remember, a partially filled spool won’t cast as far as a full one.
Tip: use partially filled reels to spool smaller ones. If you have a 3500 that’s missing a quarter of its capacity, for example, you can tie the end of the line to a 2000, crank it on, and fill it all the way up. Most of the line at the bottom of the 3500 was probably never exposed, so it’s almost like starting fresh with new line.
Now consider any reels that may be sitting on a shelf after a part failure. Bail springs, roller bearings, and other parts can give out and ruin an otherwise perfect reel, and now’s the time to address the issue. But if you don’t order in replacement parts today, you won’t be ready to do all that disassembling and fixing when the time comes.
Terminating Trebles
You already know you should have replaced the treble hooks on all your lures with singles… if you haven’t done so yet, what are you waiting for? Order up an assortment of inline singles (which have the eye inline with the shank) right now, have those split ring pliers at the ready, and eliminate the treble trouble issue once and for all while winter weather has you landlocked.
Try to match hook weight so the lure’s action isn’t altered, which usually means moving up a couple of sizes. Use this chart as a guideline; you’ll be shocked to discover you really don’t miss many strikes as compared with trebles.
Treble Hook Size Inline Single Hook Size
#6 1/0
#4 1/0 – 2/0
#2 2/0 – 3/0
1/0 3/0 – 4/0
2/0 5/0 – 7/0
Tip: If you find it tough to get the old hooks off and the new ones on, consider upgrading your split ring pliers. The teeth don't always line up properly on cheap pairs and they may flex a bit, either of which will turn this easy job into a chore.
Okay people, winter weather is on the way—there’s bound to be a day or three when fishing is simply impossible. Be ready to take on one or all of these projects, however, and you’ll stay sane until the snow melts away. Hopefully…