The Fishing Line Jan. 17

Hello all. I hope everyone made it through the storm and its aftermath safe and sound. The shrieking wind of the storm and the days after put us in the deepfreeze. That led to some jobs not opening, schools being closed and more time around the house. Once you knew everyone was warm and safe, there wasn’t much else to do but sit back, enjoy the woodstove and make the most of the time off. The paradox was that even though there was extra time, it couldn’t be used to fish. It seemed like we were trapped in a re-run of the old Twilight Zone television series. Where was Rod Serling? You could almost expect to hear him, but never did.
With the extra time this week, I was looking around and found something that all anglers need to do, but don’t always do, and something that some like to do that also benefits our tackle boxes and bottom line.
The first thing I did was wash down the fishing poles we used the previous week during our recent tog trip. Usually as soon as we get home, the rods and reels are rinsed down. The cold weather made it a little harder than normal to use the outside hose, but not impossible. During the extra break, I took the reels off the poles and individually washed each one. Reels in the sink, an old toothbrush to get into tight spaces and an old cloth to wipe down the reel for extra cleaning. I moved any parts that were designed to move so any saltwater that got behind or under them could be flushed away. This extra cleaning could add seasons to your reels. A little reel oil doesn’t hurt either.
Next, the poles went into the shower. Yes, a little different, but it works. Align them near the shower head to get the most coverage. Close the curtain, reach in and turn on the water, and give them a minute or two to rinse. Then grab the rag from before and wipe the poles down with a concentration around each eye. Another minute under the shower to re-rinse and they should be good to go.
This could be a little awkward, but putting up with the annoyance now will allow you to remove any salt that would damage your pole if allowed to remain.
One final thing to do if you’re storing your reels for the winter or any extended period is to loosen the drag all the way. The line should be able to peel off freely. By doing this, you can avoid creating flat spots on your drag washers. These can form when the drag is left in a tightened position for any long period. A former employee of Penn Reels that I know passed this bit of information on to me. Until learning the benefit of loosening the drag, I would just store them away tightened down. Just remember to tighten the drag the next time you use the reel for fishing. It can be frustrating when you go to set the hook with no drag engaged and you miss that fish.
After the poles were back where they’re stored, I realized there was another activity to fill some more time. I grabbed some hooks and leader material and tied some rigs for tog fishing. I made some dropper loop rigs, Snafu rigs and Slider rigs. Rigs can be made for any fish that you like to target, so you just need to have your design in mind. Buying your hooks, leader line and any necessary terminal tackle in bulk can lead to savings down the line.
To me, the real benefit is the feeling of satisfaction from being able to tie your own rigs, then go out and catch fish with them. You can also make your own teasers, paint your own jig heads or tie some deer hair on them and make your own buck tails. One more thing to do, involving a little more planning and time, would be to get some plug kits, pick your colors, then paint and assemble your own plugs. I wasn’t that adventurous over the few extra days off, but I have made them in the past.
I hope these few ideas help fill some of your down time between trips or during your winter if you’re totally done fishing for the season.
For those who are still enjoying fishing, it appears that the severe cold snap has let up. It would seem that anglers were able to hit the water this past weekend. The spell of cabin fever has hopefully ended, but the mystery is how this recent weather affected your favorite type of fishing, and if anything was there when you dropped your bait down.
Word of another show drifted in this week. The Ocean City Intermediate School will hold its annual Fishing Flea Market on March 3 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Up to 90 tables of new and used saltwater and freshwater gear will be offered. There is a small door fee, and all proceeds go to benefit the OCIS Fishing Club that supports the seventh and eighth grade fishing club.
Well, let’s hope things have returned to normal. Whether you’re still fishing or have packed it in for the winter, hopefully you will be able to use the ideas covered this week. Spruce up your gear for a late winter push, or clean it up and store it away till the spring. Tie some rigs, learn some new knots or make some new plugs for your fresh or salt outings. And don’t forget to get out and check out a show or flea market near you. If you go fishing locally or down in some southerly climes, let me know how you do.
Submit your fishing news and photos to mrobbins@cmcherald.com.