Time for a Little Winter Maintenance

When I fished freshwater in Virginia, I cleaned my line when I felt like it or when I sensed one of my buddies might notice the buildup of grime and grit if they happened to take a practice cast. When I moved to Florida, I had to change. Saltwater can ruin a reel and cost you casting distance when you need it the most --- on those windy days of winter when the redfish tails finally start to show. Here’s my method. It’s not the only way, but it works for me.

1.    Find two sinks, preferably side by side. Strip your line off the reel into the sink. Soak the line in warm water with a bit of mild detergent.

2.    Wait at least an hour. Strip the line through a paper towel and into the other sink.

3.    By now, your line should be dry and relatively clean and tangle free.

4.    Grab a clean paper towel or cloth and some Aerospace Protectant, spray the paper towel or cloth. Strip your line through the cloth, and you’re done. Joe Welbourn (Carbon Marine) sells Aerospace Protectant. It’s worth the money.

Big Gun Shootout

A leftover photo from last month's Big Gun Shootout at Picnic Island Park in Tampa. Below is the winning team Chris Homer, Greg Peterson and Dave Chouinard. Chouinard took top individual honors, edging out Homer.

Cathy Beck's Double Haul

Was out working on my double haul today. I tend to haul through the stroke and too early. Here's a video that shows how to get the timing down pat. I tend to overpower the rod while hauling too quickly. If I delay the haul and slow down the rod hand, longer casts require much less effort. The haul hand has to be sharp with good timing and performed near the END of the back cast and forward cast. Makes a big difference if you can get it right. I'll keep trying.

Houston, We Have a Problem

Fished Picnic Island earlier this week and ran into my first Tampa Bay snook on fly. The big fish schooled and nearly spooled me.
I set the hook thinking redfish and prepared for a tough --- but winnable battle --- but got broken off in a matter of seconds.
All of my fly line peeled off my reel, then came the backing. Or so I thought. A tangle, as it turns out, forced the fight to grind to a halt and the leader snapped like a winter twig.
A reminder to all: Check your equipment. Preparation pays. My assumption was no fish on the Tampa Bay flats could get to my backing --- except for a tarpon. And snook, to a large degree, are not willing players in the winter. But it's been warm lately, so a few linesiders have lingered and at least one sparring partner forced me to learn a valuable lesson the hard way.
As for the local fishing, I haven't seen much lately. Took a stroll to Cypress Point Park Monday. Nothing. After getting my butt kicked by the snook, I went back to Picnic lsland, but didn't see a whole lot before the wind kicked up Friday afternoon. Gotta love those South winds that push too much water on the flat.

Freedom of Speech Is Alive and Well

Sometimes the good guys win. Tom Chandler, publisher of The Trout Underground, fends off a libel lawsuit against a former outdoors writer. For more on the story. ...
Chandler has his day in court