I will be storing my boat in a unheated shelter this year. Will I need to take all my plastic baits out to keep them from damage? What other prcautions do you guys take when it is time button up the ride?
Reeler
freezing plastic
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mofish
- Posts: 570
- Joined: Thu Nov 29, 2001 5:00 pm
freezing plastic
RW wish I could help you out on this one but I"Ve never had to put my boat up for the winter!
I think that I would take my tackle out of the boat and move it inside. If for nothing else it would give you a chance, on those bad days that you cant do nothing else, to go through your tackle and get rid of stuff that is not any good. Make sure when you store you tackle that all your worms are stored were they will lay straight or you will end up with a bunch of kinked and curled up worms that just dont work right. Replace any hooks on cranks that are rusted or bent. You could also work on all your reels oiling and cleaning them up and getting them ready for when the lake softens up.
You may already know this but when you take your reels apart take the barrings out and and put them in a glass jar with some lighter fluid. Let them soak for a while then take them out and use a nice clean rag and dry them out. Use your finger to spin them around to make sure all the old oil, grease and dirt is worked out of them. PUT ONE drop of some really good oil on the barring and replace them in the reel. YOU would not believe how much difference this makes in the way your reels perform. I also do this with new reels that I buy. Alot of companies over oil their reels because there is no telling how long they will set of a shelf.
Remember to put some kind of batter tender on the batteries to keep them fully charged over the winter. Make sure all water is drained from the boat and the lower unit of the motor so that the pumps are not broke by the frozen water.
Take time to organize you boat. IF you are like me you always end up with a bunch of stuff in the boat that you dont ever use. Take this time to get it out there and out of the way. Organize your stuff so that you know were everything is and you waist no time on the water looking for it.
There are alot things you can do to keep you in the fishing spirit even when you cant get out on the lake and fish.
I think that I would take my tackle out of the boat and move it inside. If for nothing else it would give you a chance, on those bad days that you cant do nothing else, to go through your tackle and get rid of stuff that is not any good. Make sure when you store you tackle that all your worms are stored were they will lay straight or you will end up with a bunch of kinked and curled up worms that just dont work right. Replace any hooks on cranks that are rusted or bent. You could also work on all your reels oiling and cleaning them up and getting them ready for when the lake softens up.
You may already know this but when you take your reels apart take the barrings out and and put them in a glass jar with some lighter fluid. Let them soak for a while then take them out and use a nice clean rag and dry them out. Use your finger to spin them around to make sure all the old oil, grease and dirt is worked out of them. PUT ONE drop of some really good oil on the barring and replace them in the reel. YOU would not believe how much difference this makes in the way your reels perform. I also do this with new reels that I buy. Alot of companies over oil their reels because there is no telling how long they will set of a shelf.
Remember to put some kind of batter tender on the batteries to keep them fully charged over the winter. Make sure all water is drained from the boat and the lower unit of the motor so that the pumps are not broke by the frozen water.
Take time to organize you boat. IF you are like me you always end up with a bunch of stuff in the boat that you dont ever use. Take this time to get it out there and out of the way. Organize your stuff so that you know were everything is and you waist no time on the water looking for it.
There are alot things you can do to keep you in the fishing spirit even when you cant get out on the lake and fish.
Thanks,
Conley Staley
Conley Staley
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johnnie crain outdoors
- Posts: 1504
- Joined: Sat Apr 06, 2002 5:00 pm
freezing plastic
RW, Good advice from Conley as usual. You can leave your plastics outdoors, it won't hurt them at all. However; if you bag them up individually, be sure to not mix colors, they will bleed over time and you'll have some weird looking baits, which isn't all that bad at times.
You really should bring any pork or pork/plastic baits indoors. The pork, even in salt water may freeze and ruin. In some extreme cases, the jar or bottle can freeze and burst and the brine can ruin your boats carpeted areas. All other baits are safe to leave outside and some with garlic or other added scents can stink up the house at times. I know we don't mind that, but I'm married and "she" doesn't like fishy smells. Something wrong with that woman!! Good luck. Johnnie
You really should bring any pork or pork/plastic baits indoors. The pork, even in salt water may freeze and ruin. In some extreme cases, the jar or bottle can freeze and burst and the brine can ruin your boats carpeted areas. All other baits are safe to leave outside and some with garlic or other added scents can stink up the house at times. I know we don't mind that, but I'm married and "she" doesn't like fishy smells. Something wrong with that woman!! Good luck. Johnnie
Johnnie Crain