MAINELY OUTDOORS – According to my calendar, March 20, 2017 was the first day of spring, and my copy of Maine’s fishing regulations states that the season begins on April 1, 2017.
As I gaze out my window at the snowdrifts in the front yard and listen to the chilly wind whistling against the glass, I sadly realize two facts. Neither of those dates really apply to Aroostook County and as a winter-worn forlorn fisherman, it’s just a big April Fool’s joke on me.
Trying to repair a reel along the stream or in a boat seldom ends well and wastes precious fishing time. It takes only a short time and a few tools to check over favorite fishing reels and prepare them for a season of faultless performance. (Contributed photos/Bill Graves)
Most years, the Crown of Maine simply runs about a month behind the rest of the Pine Tree State regarding spring weather conditions and outdoor opportunities. Most lakes and ponds clear of ice and become fishable closer to Mother’s Day in May, and the few April rivers and streams flowing and fishable present mud, snow banks, icy edges and cold weather conditions as obstacles. A few hale and hearty anglers brave the elements, but action is usually terribly slow and uncomfortable.
I’ve come to the conclusion that late-March and early-April are cruel weeks, high on promise but low on rewards for area sportsmen. My personal answer is to take solace by staying warm and keeping myself occupied by preparing all my gear and equipment for more acceptable weather and water conditions. I dig out my boxes of flies first, although I try to tie patterns throughout the winter, there are always a few sizes and colors that need replacing.
Flies that have been heavily used can be cleaned, shaped and returned to original colors by carefully cleaning them over a stream of steam from a tea kettle. Use long-handled forceps and be careful. (Contributed photos/Bill Graves)
There are plenty of boxes — dry, wet, streamer and nymph for trout, bass bugs and Atlantic salmon too. I remove ones too beaten and bedraggled by age and fish abuse and replace them. A few can be repaired and another handful just need to be steam cleaned over a boiling tea kettle spout. Use long-handled vise grips or forceps and watch your fingers, then smooth them on a paper towel to air dry bright and clean as new. If you don’t tie flies, visit the local sporting goods store for replacements. Assortments are good now, later in the season pickings may be sparse.
Next come my lures, spoons, and plugs for inspection. Bent hooks may need to be straightened and barbs touched up for sharpness with a fine file. Often a quick rub with steel wool or an emery cloth can remove a dull finish or even a quick dip in silverware or jewelry cleaning liquid will work. For favorite plastic or wooden plugs, I’ll often give them a coat of clear fingernail polish or top coat to protect the colorful finish from fish teeth and bottom structure rubs and bumps.
I go over my fly rods and spinning reels next, cleaning and greasing the fly lines and attaching new leaders and replacing the monofilament on the spinning rigs. Any reel gears get a touch of light grease after being cleaned and wiped dry to remove dust and debris and the drag mechanism should be tested and adjusted if necessary, but never place lubricant directly on the drag component. When my reels are stored, I keep them in a reel bag or zipped fleece-lined cover and when they’re attached to the rod, I use a neoprene Velcro closure cover for protection and to keep them clean.
Rods should be checked for loose guides and to be sure their inside edges show no grooves or line wear that might cut a fly line coating or sever monofilament. Most folks don’t realize that WD40 can be used as a cleaner for cork or synthetic rod grips as well as its main use as a lubricant and rust preventative. Lightweight rod cases are good for storage in the off season, but even better for transport in the trunk or back of a vehicle where bent guides and broken rod tips of unprotected rods often ruin an outing.
Hip and chest waders should be checked for leaks, nets and creels located and inspected and tackle boxes inventoried for leaders, sinkers, bobbers and any other terminal equipment requirements. Don’t forget to locate and stock your fishing vest as well. Every angler has a few pieces of special gear — line nippers, hook degougers, dry fly floatant, sunglasses, and hopefully small bottles of insect repellant and sunscreen.
When snow cover allows, I’ll make my way to my boat and canoe to inspect and ready each craft and motor for the water. Charge batteries, locate and store floatation vests, extra paddles and a small tool kit with extra spark plugs and of course fill portable tanks with fresh gas. It never hurts to look at boat trailers as well to assure good tire pressure and proper wheel bearing grease. Nothing stops a trip quicker than a flat tire or frozen bearing. Try out all the trailer lights and boat navigational lights if your watercraft needs them.
Last but certainly not least, register your boat, trailer, and buy your 2017 fishing license. These can all be done online now to save time and even on weekends when you forget and the town office or city hall is closed. When it’s finally time to go fishing, having all the gear at hand and in working order saves a great deal of time and frustration. Regardless of what the calendar and regulations say, Mother Nature says fishing season isn’t here yet, but it’s just around the corner so get prepared.
