Winter, agood time to clean and inspect all your fly gear

[Donald Schmotzer]

  I try to keep my fly gear clean and ready to fish all the time. But once a year, I like to really give everything a real good "going-over". Clean (with isopropyl alcohol on a soft cotton patch) the rods,

and the lines. This will clean off any old line dressing and "pond-scum" etc. (inspect the fly lines for any  torn-worn places and for cracks) If you need to replace a line, now is a better time to do it than on the creek bank. Put fresh line dressing on a cotton patch and pull the lines through "twice". Inspect the rods for cracks,dings, bent guides etc. Disassemble the reels and clean out any dirt, mud, sand that remains and grease/oil moving parts as needed. Make sure reel is smooth and nothing is rubbing or bent. Clean the cork grips on the rods with "magic-eraser". I did all this today and also sorted the flies in my boxes to remove any with too much "Battle-Damage" and also put the flies in the correct boxes (It always amazes me how so many different types of flies can wind up in the same box when I am fishing). Also might as well remove any flies that you KNOW you are not going to fish, (why take up room in your fly boxes with flies you don't really intend to use ?) This will also give you "insight" as which of your favorite flies you are low on and need to tie. Once done, you have the confidence of knowing when you get a break in the weather, you will be ready to go. If you take care of your gear, it is much less likely to let you down,

(especially when you get up at 05:00 AM and drive the extra 150 miles to fish somewhere special.)

< Just food for thought, I was so pleased with my results today I thought I would pass along the suggestion...............Good Fishing............Don in SC

[Lord of the Fly , Rods]

That's great advice Donald, I try to keep my tackle ready to go at a moments notice, and now to the outside stuff, I need to replace the waterpump on 2 outboards , check the hubs on the trailers,check tire pressure , inspect wiring on lights , plus I am rebuilding another trailer that went through a tornado, mount a new troll motor on the front of my big boat , replace dust caps on wheels , make sure carbarators on motors are still still good , cricket tubes need repair and find anchors and I'll be ready for spring . LOFR

[Donald Schmotzer]

  Wow, sounds like you have a lot to do. I don't mess with the boats until early April. Oil changes, fresh gas, charge and test batteries....then a good 20 min run in the back yard........etc.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

GREAT stuff, Don. My stuff stays nice, because I dont get to fish nearly enough to get it out of sorts!

But youre right on all counts, especially line inspection.

I noted you keep your flies by type in separate boxes. Thats the way I've decided to go, too.*

Thanks for the good advice.

* GMTA - great minds think alike