Fishing maintenence is complete, bring on Dale..

3 boat batteries, removed, terminals cleaned, filled with distilled water and completely charged

trolling motor prop removed and shaft cleaned

boat completely vaccuumed out

6 baitcasters taken apart, bearings oiled, reel cleaned and greased

6 spinning reels taken apart, bearings oiled, anti reverse gear cleaned and greased

New rod wrap on all rods

Fresh 8lb Fireline in my 3 FNF reels, rigged with 10, 12 and 14 foot leaders

Fresh 6b XPS Flourocarbon in my 3 spinning reels rigged with 1/4 Luhr Jensen Crankbait, Silver Buddy and Finnesse Jig

Fresh 10lb and 12lb XPS Flourocarbon in my baitcasters, rigged with 1/2 and 3/4 football head jigs in 2 different colors each and 1/4 and 3/8 oz Hair jigs

Tackle box re-organized to put in Winter Planos and take out the other stuff

Except for launching and making that first cast, really don't know what else to do to get ready for my favorite season of fishing.

Thanks for the guide for winter fishing, Elwood.

[QUOTE=Bonefish;391517]Thanks for the guide for winter fishing, Elwood.[/QUOTE]

I don't know if it is a guide trip or not but I do know yourself, 3sons and I will have some fun for our 5 days on the water, catching fish or not. But by then, the FNF will be in Full swing so surely we will catch just 1.

Elnut, this doesn't have anything to do with your thread but I am planning on traveling to Dale this winter sometime but will only be able to go for a couple of days and I'd like to go the live bait route. Do you have any suggestions on where to buy bait in dead of winter down there? Also, I don't frequent the board a whole lot but I have kept up with your medical issues on here and have sent up several prayers for you and your family. It's great to hear your excitement for fishing this winter and I hope your doing better now.

[QUOTE=jgevedon;391552]Elnut, this doesn't have anything to do with your thread but I am planning on traveling to Dale this winter sometime but will only be able to go for a couple of days and I'd like to go the live bait route. Do you have any suggestions on where to buy bait in dead of winter down there? Also, I don't frequent the board a whole lot but I have kept up with your medical issues on here and have sent up several prayers for you and your family. It's great to hear your excitement for fishing this winter and I hope your doing better now.[/QUOTE]

I appreciate the prayers and thoughts because everyone of them is/was needed. Having the worst surgery of all the previous ones combined come Feb 2010 so keep them coming. As far as live bait, the One Stop in Celina sells Shiners and Tuffies. They are located on the south side of the lake. Never bought them so I don't know much about them but know Steve Headrick who owns the place like I do, my bet is they are pretty good. Their number is 931-243-2636, hope this helps plus they have some pretty good grub there as well if you need that. I reccommend the Philly Cheese Steak Hoagie, or is it the Pizza, or maybe the Pork Tenderloin Biscuit, or maybe the BBQ, or...................you get the point. Plus look Steve up when you are there and tell him I said to mark the best spots on a map for you.

Sure thing on the prayers. Thanks for the info as well. I've been to Dale once in my life a couple of winters ago when my buddy and I tried the fnf for the first time. We fished a day and a half and only caught a couple but I really enjoyed it even though we really didn't have much of a clue what we were doing. I printed some stuff of the internet and I was ready to go slay em. haha. I do know where the one stop is though as that is where we went to do our stocking up on everything we needed.

I live about 15 minutes from dale, same for cumberland. strange bait in burkesville always has live shiners,give them a call, and they will fix you up. The past few years I did a lot of winter fishing on the river, its not worth this year, so will be haunting dale a lot. One of my friends catches his own bait, [house boat], but he is facing some serious surgery this winter, he does some guiding on dale, and is a live bait guy.I dont have the patience to drag alewives, so its fnf and silver buddys for me.