safety

If you're finished eating, watch these videos for educational purposes.

We all can't wait to get our boats in the water and start fishing this year. The extremely cold winter has taken its toll on us and possibly our boats as well. When you launch your boat for the first time this season it is a good idea to wait a few minutes to inspect your boat for possible leaks. Bilge pump hoses and or livewell hoses or the pumps themselves are susceptible to splitting due to colder temps especially if water was left in them. ( one year I had a battery shift and broke the PVC collar in cold weather) . I was glad I had taken my time that day, I could hear the water rushing in!! If I would have ran straight up the lake I would never had heard it,until possibly too late. So take all of the possible precautions,wear life jackets take extra clothing and let someone know where you are fishing.Be Safe!

With temperatures in the 90s  it does not take long to wear your mind and body down. With all of the talk of keeping our fish alive  ( very important ) it is also essential that we take care of ourselves. Here are a few things that I do to keep my mind on the fish and off of the heat.

1. Take more than enough water that my fishing partner and I can drink. 
2. Take more than enough ice that you and your fish will use.
3. Eating and snacking on the way to different spots.  You are not wasting any time, plus you don't feel like eating when sitting in hot stagnant air.
4. Don't wait until you are hungry or feel bad to eat or snack.
 5.Eating more in the first part of the day, because the hotter it gets the less likely you will feel like eating. Plus your body needs the fuel to stay healthy and focused.
6. I like to keep clean tee shirt type rags soaked in water in a gallon ziplock bag in my cooler to put over my head and or under my hat when the temps start to get unbearable. This is very refreshing.
7. Drink , Drink, Drink. Water that is.
8. Fly spray. The flies in this area have teeth, and swatting them all day will also make your temperature rise.
9. Always keep a eye open for your fishing partner to make sure he or she is also eating and staying hydrated. This is also very important, you do want them to be ready to net your fish , right?
10. Boat ride. Sometimes just moving off one non producing spot and getting the air flowing  will cool you down  and help you refocus.
Good Luck, Stay Safe.

With just over a month to the tournaments begin it is time to prepare my boat and tackle for tournament fishing. Put balance beam, weigh- in bag, scale etc in boat. Check and or replace oxygen bottle for live well. If you are thinking about adding this system to your boat now is the time. Check trolling motor and Ray motor props  for burrs and nicks also fishing line wound up behind them. Condense tackle boxes for seasonal patterns. Respool reels that I will not use until one week before tournament. ( I like to use them to make sure everything works properly ). Check battery connections and water levels as well. Trailer tires and wheel bearings. I also put a 4- way lug wrench in my truck. Trailer lugs are different than truck. Also maybe to help fellow angler if needed. I better get started since I am not fishing this weekend. Good Luck.