Spring is just around the corner and if you are like me you can’t wait to get the boat out on the water. Here are a few simple things that should be done before you wet a line this spring.

• Proper equipment preparation before the season is the key to a successful summer of tournament fishing. Reels need to be cleaned, inspected, lubed, and reassembled. Test drags and overall operation. You can do this yourself or take if to a qualified tackle shop.

• After cleaning the reels, strip off old line and reline with new. Mono has a shelf life and it is best to be used within 2 yrs. It is also important to buy from a tackle shop that sells a lot of line, assuring you will get a fresh pack.

• Rods need to be cleaned and rod guides inspected. The best way to go about this is with a magnifying glass and a cotton ball. Cotton fragments will stick to a slight crack in the guide. A lot of times an angler will lose a fish and not even think that it could be the guides that caused the lost fish. Inspect the reel seats and clean the cork with rubbing alcohol and a soft rag.

• Go through your tackle boxes-organize your baits for easy retrieval during fishing tips. Most fishermen have dozens of baits that they will never use. Donate these baits to neighbor hood kids or new fishermen. Keep your tackle simple; stick with what you feel best with. Experimenting with new products and colors is great, but you don’t need to carry every bait and color on your boat.

• Inspect your crank-baits for broken bills, re-sharpen hooks or replace with new hooks. My favorites are Mustad triple grips. Sharpen hooks on jigs and check for missing rattles or bad shirts. Spinner-baits and buzz-baits need to have their hooks sharpened and check the wires for straightness. It is also a good idea to polish the blades and check the skirts for replacement.

• Motors, boats, and trailers are a definite must before a season of fishing. You or a qualified mechanic can do this. Here is a list that should be checked or changed: sparkplug replacement, gear case lube, steering cable lube, prop repairs, clean and wax the motor cover and gear case.

• Remove the prop and check the shaft for fishing line or excessive "side to side" wobble. They can cause damage to the seal, which will in turn ruin the gear case by letting water in and lube out. This inspection along with checking the gear case lube level and viscosity should be performed at least once every 2 fishing trips. Failure to do so cold result in serious damage to your gear case. If you suspect a problem or see a small oil slick behind your boat seek help from a qualified mechanic.

• Depending on the number of charge/discharge cycles, your trolling motor batteries could last 1-3 years. Personally I replace mine each year keeping the old set in my truck (fully charged for backup). For fisherman who are on the water over 30 days per season you should be using a premium quality battery.

Replace nicked up trolling motor props or simply file the edges to sharpen and even off. Note excessive filling could result with an out of balance prop