Share Your Fishing Tips -- I'll Go First

We've probably all been fishing a long time and over the years we also probably developed some tips we think help us be better anglers. I come up with many of these ideas on my own that I believe have helped me be a better angler and preserve my tackle investment. So here's my first tip in what I hope come more regular on this awesome board.

1. I'm lucky to be able to store my boat in my attached garage, so after pulling the boat in and hooking up the battery chargers, I release the tension on my wench strap, transom traps and motor toter strap. I don't see any sense in keeping the pulling presure on the hull and straps if it's not necessary. I've done this so long that it's become habit to re-tighten everything before pulling the boat out of the garage again.

2. In the winter time when we're inside watching more UK basketball than casting lures, I change out ALL my hooks on my crankbaits. Warning here: if you don't have spilt ring pliers, your fingernails can get quit sore.

Keep several packets of silica in my tackle box to wick any humidity off my baits so they don't rust. They come in new shoe boxes, any electronics, you can find em anywhere.

Learn how to take your reels apart and clean them. I have had the Old Style Curado reels since 2004 and they work just like knew. I clean them twice a year and oil them regularly in between.

Bring your fishing line and reels inside the house throughout the summer and not leave them outside in the boat or even in a garage that is not climate controlled. You will be amazed at how hot a boat gets out in the sun covered up or even a garage in the summertime with no AC. The heat will not hurt your line if you bring them in the house.

PB blaster works real well on removing rust around the split ring. Just dab it on with a Qtip

[QUOTE=coombro;441456]PB blaster works real well on removing rust around the split ring. Just dab it on with a Qtip[/QUOTE]

What PB?

[QUOTE=12VoltMan;441481]What PB?[/QUOTE]

Brand called PB Blaster, kinda like the ol'knock er loose. To loosen up rusty bolts.

[QUOTE=12VoltMan;441481]What PB?[/QUOTE]
they sell it at automotive stores great for rusted bolts it is penetrating oil

I also use the silica packets. I asked my pharmacy for some, and they saved me about a thousand. It come in all r/x drugs, and they just throw it away. I pit them in my dry boxes, c.b. Jerk bait boxes, in my worm box, i even threw some in my gun safe...

handy items to keep in the boat, (in the grab box for a $1.00) a 12 volt tester light