Do you want a fish story...about the one that got away... OR do you want a picture holding your trophy ?

Attention to detail re: your equipment can make all the difference. Dull hooks are the number one cause of lost fish...especially the biggies. A simple hook file and a few minutes of your time are all that is required to rectify the fact that factory hooks are NEVER sharp enough out of the box, your hook points need to be sticky sharp....that means they should stick when dragged across your thumbnail. Your snap swivel and leader are the next components in your connection to your trophy. Whether you use flourocarbon, single strand or twisted wire your leader needs to be in top condition, kinked, scraped, nicked or other wise damaged leaders need to be replace BEFORE they cost you a fish so don't let a $2-3 dollar part let you down. Replace your snaps when the paint begins to wear off or if they loose their spring, some anglers go so far as to use a split ring to attach their lures instead of snaps to insure a solid attachment. The line you use is important... a no stretch braid in 100lb test will do the job for most applications... the new "super lines " can last for years if they are not abused but if it starts to fray or is nicked replace it or cry later when a backlash sends your $20 bait flying or a big one breaks you off. Rod guides should be checked for cracking, often a crack is un-noticed until the weight of a fish cuts your line.

Now is the time to get your gear ready, once you get on the water excitement causes anglers to ignore and hope....hope is never a solid plan for success. Remember you are often looking for one good bite when you chase the freshwater queen so make sure you are ready when it happens...you'll be taking a picture instead of telling the story about the one that got away.

Bob Turgeon

www.fishwithbob.com