I fish all year.  I usually have my boat serviced in February.   For me, at least, COVID 19 changed fishing this year.

The Impact of COVID 19 Changed my Summer

My boat is where I parked it after my last fishing trip in early February.  The motorhome is right in front of the boat and hasn’t moved since late November.  I should tell you that my wife won’t let me take the boat out by myself anymore because I am old.  With COVID 19 made it tough to find someone to fish with.  COVID 19 changed my summer.  We had planned to camp and fish in several different places.  Instead, we stayed home.  I did prepare for fishing next year.

Because COVID 19 Limited My Fishing

Repairing lures

I use lures for years unless I lose them.  This means that paint chips and hooks dull and rust.  Swivels bend.  Treble hooks break.  So this summer, when I couldn’t fish, I repaired lures.  I need to use a fly tying mirror now because the work is tiny.  I replace the split rings at the head and tail and touch up chipped paint.  Sometimes, I even  straighten or sand the depth planes on the lures.  When I find a lure that works, I stick with it and repair.  I did this before COVID 19, but now it gives me something to do.

Replacing line

As much as I love fishing, I love saving money more.  I am one of those people who buy 300 miles of monofilament line for $2.  It’s a pain when it kinks, but its cheap.

Because it’s cheap, I change out all the line on my reels every year.  First, I place a fair bit of heavy cloth line on the real and then fill the spool.  I use 6, 8 and 10 pound test depending on the rod and reel and weighted line for trolling.  That doesn’t get changed every often.  I have 4 pound line on micro tackle for fun with small trout.  To change the line. I simply pound a 8 inch nail into a board, set the spool on the nail and wind away.  I keep tension just above the reel so the line is tight.  If you’re not fishing, you can do this watching others fish on TV.

Tuning up my reels

Reels end up in the drink from time to time.  They are hauled around through brush, mud, dust and sand.  Nuts loosen.  Bails bend.  Brakes don’t brake.  The reel can sound like a coffee grinder.  Line can spin around the spindle and choke the reel.  It’s easy to do a basic reel tune up.  For open bale, remove the drag nut and then the spool. For closed face, just screw off the reel cover.  You can now see the reel guts.

The spindle should be free from line and slightly greased.  The body of the reel where the spool seats should be clean of grit, twigs, goop and old grease.  A rag soaked in some form of grease cutter will clean all the parts. Then “3 in one oil” or light sewing machine oil can be applied to the spindle and other move parts.  When all the nuts are tight and the reel is back together, your tune up is finished.

Fixing my rods

I hate to admit it but sometimes I break a rod tip.  The odd time a line guide will get flattened. If I like the feel of a rod, I would rather repair it that put it aside.  If a few inches of the rod has been broken, in my opinion its junk because the balance for casting is gone.  But when just the tip is broken, it’s a matter of getting the right tip and the proper glue to repair the rod. The glue is heated and spread over the rod tip.  Right away, the new rod tip is slipped on and left to harden.  It’s important to make sure that the eye on the tip is the right position.

There are kits can to repair  rod tips and line guides.  Guides are a bit more tricky to repair install.  Eyes certainly can be glued on, but for a permanent, better looking job, guides secured with thread and lacquer are the best.

Checking Other Equipment

While the Impact of COV19 has curtailed fishing, I figure I might as well check all my equipment.  Although I check some superficial things on the boat, generally I take it to a marina for an annual overhaul.

They make sure the bilge pump, blower and running lights work.  I check and wrap ropes and clean boat bumpers and Life jackets.  I check and clean everything related to fishing when there is no fishing.

Cleaning My Tackle Box

With gum wrappers  and petrified worms, my tackle box is a mess at the end of every season.  I use a cloth tackle bag with plastic inserts for each type of tackle.   This makes it pretty easy to clean.

 

For many of us, this summer has been a disappointment because COVID 19 prevented us from fishing.  I passed the time working on my equipment.  It was fun.  I feel ready for the winter season.  Who knows, even a little less pressure on the fish because of the impact of COVID 19 might make fishing better in the future.

Recuperating

After a full day fishing or  just working on my equipment, my joints ache. I want to relax but sometimes ache so much I can’t.  I have started rubbing CBD on my fingers and elbows for almost instant relief.  If you have joint pain, give this a try.  Its full spectrum CBD extracted from USA grown hemp.  It cures what ails ya.

 

 

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