Get you gear ready for big fish

Tommy Pelto of Tiverton, RI with one of the striped bass he caught this Saturday when fishing in the upper reaches of the Providence River.  Tom said, “There were tons of pogies in the Providence River.”

Get your gear ready

You might say, “I just use this rig for school bass, the small ones, so the line is fine.” However, you can’t pick the time when a big fish hits. So make sure your gear is in good working order at the start of the season and throughout the year.

The experts suggest checking all reels, rods and line before the season starts and do regular maintenance throughout the season. Replace line, repair line guides on rods and perform reel maintenance twice a season if necessary, particularly on those rigs that get a lot of action.

So, to make sure I do not lose a big fish, I perform the following maintenance routine before the season starts. To paraphrase Vince Lombardi the great football coach who said football games are won in the summer when training is done… big fish are caught in the winter when proper maintenance is done.

Reel maintenance

George Poveromo, host of George Poveromo’s World of Saltwater Fishing said, “As a rule of thumb, a reel should be brought to an authorized reel center at least once a year.” And, with reels that get a lot of action, perhaps twice a year.

Give your reels a good cleaning, particularly when the line is off. Grease where directed by manufacturer, often times, the reel is marked where to do this. If instructions are long gone do not hesitate to stop by your local bait or tackle shop to ask where to grease. Do not grease the drag, it is not meant to be greased, if you do, it will not work. John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle, Riverside, RI, said, “Anglers often forget to put oil on the line guide worm gear on bait caster reels as this is can go a long way allowing the gear to perform properly throughout its lifetime.” It costs about $10 to $15 to clean and grease your average spinning reel.

Check the RISAA website at www.risaa.org for member bait and tackle shops that repair reels, many of them appear on the member discount landing page.

Line

Each year, replace used line. This is a judgment call as to what is meant by “used”. The braid line I spooled on two rigs at the end of the season is still ok, however, I took line off at the beginning of the reel that was showing signs of wear. Experts say a to cross braid line when spooling onto conventional reels to prevent the line from digging into the spool when a big fish is on. Another tip is to re-spool lead line putting the used portion on the reel first, this way you use line that is new as most anglers rarely use more than three to four colors (90’ to 120’) of line. Replace all the monofilament line on reels at the start of the season. Monofilament line has memory so it tangles easily and creates bird nest tangles when it is old or has been sitting in the cold for a while. Also stretch the line, the first 100 feet (of monofilament line) to relax its memory and avoid tangles. When you change any type of line it is important to spool tight or the line may slip on the spool.

Rods

Examine the rods for cracks and stress marks. Closely examine the eyes for chips or cuts that could cause line to snag, rub or break. Do not place hooks on the eyes or they will eventually create cracks that will cut line as it passes through. Place all baits at the base of the reel as those hooked to an eye brace will bang on the rod and may cause microscopic cracks in the rod blank that could lead to a broken rod..

Tackle

I get tackle ready in chronological order when certain species are fished… starting with tautog, striped bass, blue fish, fluke, sea bass, etc. I then go through tautog rigs first, then the striped bass, etc. Make sure you have enough rigs to fish the species. Hooks should be clean and sharp (no rust), and strong enough for the size fish you are going after. Often hooks that come with lures are not quality hooks so I replace them with stronger hooks.

Leaders/Hooks

Use wire leaders for blue fish and monofilament or fluorocarbon for striped bass, fluke, sea bass, etc. Blues won’t bite though the wire and other species will find it harder to see the monofilament or fluorocarbon leaders. As a rule I replace all used leaders at the beginning of the season. During the season make sure leaders have no nicks or stress marks from fish pulling. If they do, replace them. I switched most of my hooks to circle hooks, I did this so I can safely catch and release undersized or unwanted fish (particularly striped bass). Circle hooks are designed to hook the fish at the corner of the mouth and not down in the belly. All hooks should be sharp and rust free.



Time to get your gear ready

Captain Thom Pelletier, an associate at Quaker Lane Outfitters, North Kingstown said, “Monofilament line on reels should be replaced each year” as the line has memory and can become a tangled mess quickly whereas braid line can last for a couple of years. Captain Thom poses with a display of his fluke rigs in the background.

TIME TO GET YOUR GEAR READY

Big fish are caught in early spring when you get your gear ready for the fishing season. When you are out fishing it is too late to make sure your rod, reel, line and fishing tackle is in shape to handle that big fish. And, there is nothing more frustrating than spending an hour or more of fishing time getting the day’s tackle ready.

So, before you start to fish, get your gear ready. Here are some tips from the pros on how to get your gear ready along with the drill that I use every year to prepare for the fishing season.

Line
Each year, replace most used line. This is a judgment call as to what is meant by “used”. Three out of eight of my rigs with braid line are showing signs of wear… they are a bit frayed. Two of them need all the line replaced, one of them which has plenty of line on it just needs the worn line at the beginning of the spool taken off. Ken Ferrara of Ray’s Bait & Tackle, Warwick said, “A lot of guys cross braid line when spooling onto conventional reels to prevent the line from digging into the spool when a big fish is on.” Ken also suggests re-spooling lead line putting the used portion on the reel first, “This way you use line that is new as most anglers rarely use more than three to four colors (90’ to 120’) of line.” I plan to replace all of my reels with monofilament line. Some anglers put new line on two to three times a season depending on use. Monofilament line has memory so it tangles easily and creates bird nest tangles when it is old or has been sitting in the cold for a while. Also stretch the line, the first 100 feet (of monofilament line) to relax its memory and avoid tangles. When you change any type of line it is important to spool tight or the line may slip on the spool.

Reels
Give your reels a good cleaning, particularly when the line is off. Grease where directed by manufacturer, often times, the reel is marked where to do this. If instructions are long gone do not hesitate to stop by your local bait or tackle shop to ask where to grease. Do not be afraid to ask questions, that is what they are there for. By the way, do not grease the drag, it is not meant to be greased, if you do, it will not work. John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle, Riverside, RI, said, “Anglers often forget to put oil on the line guide worm gear on bait caster reels as this is can go a long way allowing the gear to perform properly throughout its lifetime.” John says that he charges $10 to $15 to clean and grease your average spinning reel. Archie's Bait & Tackle has a new location this year at 292 Bullocks Point Road, Riverside, RI. This time of year the store is open for business 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. most days. Call 401.437.2630 if you have any questions.

Rods
Examine the rods for cracks and stress marks. Closely examine the eyes for chips or cuts that could cause line to snag, rub or break. Do not place hooks on the eyes or they will eventually create cracks that will cut line as it passes through.

Tackle
I get tackle ready in chronological order when certain species are fished… starting with tautog, striped bass, blue fish, fluke, tuna, etc. I then go through tautog rigs first, then the striped bass, etc. Make sure you have enough rigs to fish the species. Hooks should be clean and sharp (no rust), and strong enough for the size fish you are going after. Often hooks that come with lures are not quality hooks so I replace them with stronger hooks.

Leaders/Hooks
Use wire leaders for blue fish and monofilament or fluorocarbon for striped bass. Blues won’t bite though the wire and striped bass will find it harder to see the monofilament or fluorocarbon leaders. Make sure leaders have no nicks or stress marks from fish pulling. If they do, replace them. I switched most of my hooks to circle hooks, I did this so I can safely catch and release undersized or unwanted fish (particularly striped bass). Circle hooks are designed to hook the fish at the corner of the mouth and not down in the belly. All hooks should be sharp and rust free. Ken at Ray’s Bait recommends VMC hooks as they do not rust and come in all types and sizes.

Opening Day for freshwater season
Opening day is Saturday, April 9, 6:00 a.m. for salmon, trout and charr. Get you gear ready. Licenses are required for anglers fifteen (15) years of age and older. You can purchase a fishing license at city and town halls as well as at license agents. Visit the Department of Environmental Management’s web site for a list of agents, a list of trout waters that have been stocked, “Kids Only” ponds and much more at http://www.dem.ri.gov/ .

First annual recreational fishing tournament out of the Port of New Bedford
The first annual recreational fishing tournament to be held out of the port city of New Bedford is scheduled for June 17-18, 2011, with Pope’s Island Marina serving as home base. Proceeds from the charity tournament, called Fishing for a Cause, will benefit the Schwartz Center for Children. Complimentary boat slips will be provided on a first-come, first served basis and early registration is encouraged. Registration deadline is June 1, 2011. For more information visit www.schwartzcenter.org/fish-on.

Striper University
Shallow Water Striper University is March 25, 26, and 27 at the Sheraton Airport Motor Inn, Warwick, RI. This weekend long event features some of the best local professionals who make their living catching big striped bass. Registration for this event is $89. for the entire weekend. There will also be charter trip give-a-ways, raffles, prizes, and more. Contact Debbie Wood at Wood Boat & Motor, 401-739-4040 or visit http://www.shallowwaterstripers.com/ .


Shark fishing and DEM Law Enforcement featured at RISAA Seminar Monday
Captain Mike Pierdinock of CPF Charters will speak on shark fishing and his great adventure of tagging a 16 foot great white shark last year that was captured in a 20 minute video. Also the Rhode Island DEM Division of Law Enforcement will speak on the duties and mission of environmental police. Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA) members can bring a guest to this meeting at no charge. Non-member donation is $10. The seminar is Monday, March 28, 7:00 p.m. at the West Valley Inn, West Warwick. Food served 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Finally, a trophy bass… and then snap…your line breaks

No one wants to lose a big fish. Not me, yet time and time again I lose fish because the gear is not right for the job, the tackle is faulty or because I wasn’t ready. Last year I lost a monster fluke (summer flounder) under the Jamestown Bridge. I was fishing for that doormat-sized fluke, yet the rig I was using just didn’t have enough muscle. I keep telling myself “You have to be ready, prepare before you drop your hook, before your fishing trip and before the season starts.” So this article focuses on getting your gear ready for the fishing season now so you don’t lose that big fish.

Here’s a guide on what to do to prepare for the season.

Line
Each year, replace most used line. This is a judgment call as to what is meant by “used”. For example I have reels spooled with 40 lb. test monofilament line for fishing live bait. I used them infrequently last year. So I checked the line, it looked good… no nicks, snags or apparent stress so I did not change it. However, I changed just about every other rig with new monofilament, braid, lead or wire. Spool tight enough and then stretch the line, the first 100 feet (of monofilament line) to relax its memory to avoid bird’s nest tangles.

Reels
Give your reels a good cleaning, particularly when the line is off. Grease where directed by manufacturer, often times, the reel is marked where to do this. If instructions are long gone do not hesitate to stop by your local bait or tackle shop to ask where to grease. Do not be afraid to ask questions, that is what they are there for, and they want your business. By the way, do not grease the drag, It is not meant to be greased, if you do, it will not work.

Rods
Examine the rods for cracks and stress marks. Closely examine the eyes for chips or cuts that could cause line to snag, rub or break. Do not place hooks on the eyes or they will eventually create cracks that will cut line as it passes through.

Tackle
I get tackle ready in chronological order when certain species are fished… starting with tautog, striped bass, blue fish, fluke, tuna, etc. I then go through tautog rigs first, then the striped bass, etc. Make sure you have enough rigs to fish the species. Hooks should be clean and sharp (no rust), and strong enough for the size fish you are going after. Often hooks that come with lures are not quality hooks so I replace them with stronger hooks.

Leaders/Circle Hooks
Use wire leaders for blue fish and monofilament or fluorocarbon for striped bass. Blues won’t bite though the wire and striped bass will find it harder to see the monofilament or fluorocarbon leaders. Make sure leaders have no nicks or stress marks from fish pulling. If they do, replace them. I switched most of my leader hooks to circle hooks, I did this so I can safely catch and release undersized or unwanted fish (particularly striped bass). Circle hooks are designed to hook the fish at the corner of the mouth and not down in the belly.


Where’s the Bite

Freshwater fishing: Opening day is Saturday, April 10. Get you gear ready. Kim Bissonnette of Portsmouth, RI reported a healthy largemouth bass bite this weekend. On Saturday Kim landed nine largemouths in about 3 ½ hours of fishing. Kim will be reporting regularly on the freshwater bite this season. throughout the season.

Saltwater fishing regulations and license. DEM director Michael Sullivan is expected to announce 2010 saltwater fishing regulations in the next week or two. Rhode Island will also likely institute its saltwater fishing license requirement this year. If they do not a federal license will be required. Stay tuned for 2010 regulations and details on the license law roll-out.

Tautog. Spring tautog season opens, April 15 (if tautog regulations stay the same). The tautog proposal presented by the RI Fisheries Council was status quo with 2009… a minimum size of 16” with a split season… April 15 to May 31 (three fish/person/day), July 1 to October 16 (three fish/person/day) and October 17 to December 15 (eight fish/person/day).

Striped Bass. We still have holdover striped bass in the upper reaches of rivers and bays. The only other news I heard was from Rich Back of On The Water magazine on line (http://www.onthewater.com/ ). Rich reports
Osprey sightings which traditionally follow the herring up North. And, if the herring are coming north, the striped bass are right behind them. So this is a good sign.

Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association successfully completed their
annual New England Saltwater Fishing show at the Convention Center in RI and is now preparing for their March 29, 7:00 p.m. monthly seminar. The seminar will feature two topics… Light Tackle Fishing in Narragansett Bay with Captain James White (owner of White Ghost Charters) and a discussion of the R.I. ocean Special Area Management Plan (SAMP) which aims to define zones for RI’s ocean waters. David Beutel of the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council will speak about RI’s ongoing SAMP initiative.