It happens to everyone: We get all the way up to the lake, looking forward to a weekend of fishing, and we forget to do, or to bring, something important. Just ahead of the Fishing Opener, here's a checklist to help remember the necessities.
- Charge the boat batteries. Don't forget to charge both your starter and trolling motor batteries. There is nothing worse then getting the boat in water and the motor won't turn over.
- Once your batteries are charged: Turn on your electronics and make sure everything is working.
- Don't forget: Fill your boat with gas and check the oil levels in your motor.
- Make sure: Have a life jacket for everyone who is on your boat. Law Enforcement will give you a ticket if you don't.
- Re-spool your reels with new line. The other day I looked at the line on my spinning reels and could see it was frayed from last year. Better safe than sorry in this case.
- Check your tackle. Make sure you have an assortment of crankbaits. Rapala's new Trolls-To series should be a good new walleye bait, and don't forget the usual Shad Raps, Husky Jerks, and Original floaters and other crankbaits. Have jigs in all weights to make sure you're ready for all depths, as walleyes may be spread out this opener. If you fish with Lindy Rigs, make sure they're ready to go. Also, don't forget a clippers, small scissors or whatever you use to cut line.
- Renew: Your fishing license.
- Dress for any weather. Even though the forecast is good for Saturday, the weatherman isn't always right, so pack you rain gear and insulated jackets to be prepared for the worst.
- Load early: Get your rods, tackle, clothing, gear, and everything else in the truck or boat the day before. When you frantically try to get everything together Friday afternoon, it's easy to forget something
- Be sure: Check slot limits for the lake you will fish. Also check the 2010 DNR fishing regulations synopsis.
Finally
- This early spring has fish spawning weeks ahead of schedule. Usually on opener, walleyes are located on or near spawning flats and by the mouths of rivers. This year, I would suspect fish will be found in those areas, but walleyes will also be spread out in different areas. Look for fish on reefs, flats, and narrow channels adjacent from traditional spawning areas. Depths that fish are holding at will vary greatly from lake to lake and spot to spot, so experiment and use your graph to locate them.
