Lockdown Strategies for Success/Sanity

By Shane Beliue

Unprecedented times we’re living in lately, with many communities locked down with “shelter in place” recommendations, work from home strategies and schools shut down indefinitely.  With so many jobs impacted via layoffs and lives negatively impacted from the virus, the following is in no way intended to make light of the heavy burden of finding work or dealing with health concerns caused from this virus.

Even so, many are using the down time by finding opportunity to “social distance” from the deck of a bass boat, while others find fishing opportunities limited due to boat ramp closures from state and local authorities.  If you fall within the latter category, perhaps you can still find some ways to scratch the fishing itch between video conference calls by adopting some of the suggestions that follow.

LEARN TO SKIP A JIG

There are countless dock-skipping videos online from some world-class jig skippers, which I don’t claim to be; however, a hollow bodied frog and a few square feet of concrete drive or patio can yield dramatic improvements to this skill once on the water.  Even if you don’t fish a lot of wooden docks, skipping a bait can be beneficial for placing a lure deep into the heart of a bush or overhanging limb.  If you can skip the hollow bodied frog across the driveway without bounce or backlash, you can do it on the water, as well.  Don’t mention any of this to your buddies, just nonchalantly skip that jig/Zako trailer 5 feet under an overhanging limb next time you’re in the boat together.  It’s sure to draw some comments.

TIE A FASTER KNOT

The combination of 15# braid with an 8-10# fluorocarbon leader has become standard operating procedure for many when reaching for the spinning gear; however, we all fear the dreaded task of re-tying the braid to fluoro knot when the pressure’s on — you know, when you just broke off the last usable length of fluoro and the fish are biting a wacky rigged Senko.  This exact scenario happened to me quite recently and in my excitement, I couldn’t get the dang knot to stick if my life depended on it.  I was ready to tie a square-knot just to get a bait back in the water.  Again, countless videos and opinions online for the FG knot (excellent thin-diameter knot but seems to require hands of a surgeon) and the Albright knot (another great knot, though not quite as thin as the FG, but much easier for me to tie when hands are shaking).  Practice whatever knot you prefer until you can do it while your fishing partner is yelling, “hurry up”!

ORGANIZE YOUR TACKLE

This is on everyone’s to-do list throughout the season, but rarely does it get done.  Well, here’s your chance.  I recently moved all soft plastics scattered throughout the various boat compartments and organized them into Plano boxes according to technique: Flappin’ Hawgs and Senkos get their own box – too many to share with other soft plastic bodies.  The Carolina rig box gets lizards and Kreature baits, the finesse box gets Shad-shaped worms, Thin Senkos and smaller Kut Tails.  However you decide to organize make it a system you can mentally recall quickly when you need to reach for that specific bait.  Label makers are your friend, here.

OIL YOUR REELS

Though a little time consuming and somewhat messy, this task is much like brushing out a horse after a long ride, a little TLC makes the horse (and your reels) just a little less cranky on your next outing.  Most of the time, a complete reel breakdown isn’t necessary.  It’s surprising the reward of a few drops of oil between the spool and frame, the worm gear and even a rattling reel handle.  Also, check your rod guides for splits and cracks.  We all read the same advice from various articles every winter, but now may be your chance to finally do it!

Finally, “This too shall pass” are words we’ve all heard and repeated about this hated virus.  I believe it to be true and know we all look forward to the return of normalcy to our daily lives.