11-12-24 REELLIFE digital - Flipbook - Page 13
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. If
you can, protect the tires
from the sun. Assure that
all bunks and or rollers are
in good condition. Check
your safety chain, winch
strap, or cable and tie down
straps and replace them
if they are questionable.
Check your lights and if
they need replacement
consider replacing with
the waterproof LED lights.
Initially, they are more
costly but with increased
reliability, they will pay for
themselves in no time. As
an added safety benefit
the LEDs are much brighter
than the standard 12-volt
incandescent lights. Now is
also a good time to check
your trailer bearings. If they
are oil bath hubs check the
fluid level and condition
of the oil. If it is low, milky
or appears to be foamy
replace as required. If you’re
running standard greasepacked hubs it would be a
good time to repack them,
better safe than sorry.
With the boat drained, fuel
systems in good condition,
all your hydraulic systems
topped off, gear oil serviced,
the electric trolling motor
in tip-top shape, all things
electrical are functioning
as expected and the trailer
serviceable there is one last
thing to do. Unless your
baby is stored in a heated
garage raise the bow so
all rainwater or snow melt
drains out of the boat. Tilt
the lower unit down so
water will not collect in
the lower unit, freeze, and
damage the motor.
I know, all your rods are
piled up safe and sound in
the corner of the garage
and everything worked
fine the last few outings.
Do you have nothing to
worry about? Yes, now is
the time to ensure all your
gear is in good condition.
Come along spring you
don’t want to lose the fish
of a lifetime because your
favorite reel has a case of
the herkie-jerkies. Although
with most reels it is easy
enough to replace the
drag washers, sometimes
getting the replacement
parts can be a challenge.
I am a Shimano guy but
I have to say they can be
very slow in supporting part
orders. There are a number
of websites offering online
reel parts but sometimes
their stock is limited or on
backorder. Now is the time
to order parts, a delay in
getting parts should have
minimal impact on gear
used next season.
When you disassemble
your reels use Simple Green
to thoroughly clean the reel
components. Rinse and
then dry the parts using
the low setting on a blowdrier before reassembly.
Once the parts are clean
inspect everything, look for
unusual wear, and replace
anything suspect. Use
the advanced synthetic
lubricants and reel grease
sparingly during the
reassembly process. If you
are running mono, replace
it with new line. Take your
reels to a high-volume
tackle store like Holiday
Sports in Burlington and
have them bulk-fill your
reels. Their line should be
fresher and they will recycle
your old line.
Also, give all your rods the
once over. Make a point to
verify that each line guide
is not cracked or worn.
You can use a cotton swab
and swirl around in each
guide. If the guide catches
any cotton fibers the guide
needs to be replaced. Years
ago, I lost a bragging rights
fish to a cracked guide
insert.
