Northwest Reel Life April 2024 Volume 3 Issue 7 - Flipbook - Page 10
Counting kokanee in
your sleep? As we slowly
transition from winter’s
frosty grip to warmer days,
tee shirts, and flip-flops,
your thoughts may shift to
your local kokanee fishery.
If so it’s time to inventory
your gear and make sure
there is still a boat under
one of those mossy tarps
out back.
First thing on the list, you
may want to give the boat
motor and trailer a quick
once over. Start peeling
back tarps until you find
the boat. You probably
don’t want to mount new
rod holders on the wood
pile or stack of doors from a
past remodel.
Check your fuel system;
regardless if you used a fuel
conditioner or stabilizer in
your portable tanks get rid
of last year’s fuel or not. For
built-in tanks, hopefully,
you treated the fuel with
each fill-up. Even so, it is a
good idea to drain the fuel
filter bowl and replace the
fuel filter/water separator.
Replace any brittle fuel
line, cracked or otherwise
damaged. If you have your
owner’s manual, use it as
your preseason checklist.
Make sure the battery is
topped off with distilled
water. Then bring it up
to full charge. If you find
corrosion on the terminals
remove the battery from
the boat and clean it off
with a mild solution of
baking soda and water.
Once everything is clean it
is also a good idea to use
one of the various corrosion
guard offerings. You should
also go through the rest of
your electrical installation
and look for loose
connections and damaged
wiring.
Give your trailer the once
over. Check the trailer
lights and trailer brake fluid
levels. Also, check the tire
pressure on all the tires
including the spare. Check
your safety chain, winch
strap or cable and tie down
straps and replace if they
are questionable. Ensure
that all bunks and/or rollers
are in good condition. If
your trailer lights are wonky,
consider replacing them
