There are several do’s and don’ts that are good to observe right away.
- Never travel with lures/hooks still attached to your rod. This is an accident waiting to happen. Sooner or later you will hook the upholstery of your car or worse, you will hook yourself or someone else. Put your lure/hook on when you get to the shore and remove it when you leave.
- Your first casts should be gentle in case your line is bound or something in your reel isn’t right. Building up to your full-power casts may save you a rat’s nest or other head ache.
- If you plan to release, handle your fish as little as possible. Small fish can often be unhooked in the water. Larger fish require beaching and a firm approach to minimize time out of the water.
- If the fish are frenzied, use lures with a single hook rather than a treble. Some anglers will file-off or crimp-down the barb for a much easier release.
- If you must put your rod down on the beach, do not allow the reel to touch the sand. Prop the reel up on the crank handle. Sand can get into your reel and cause wear or bind your gears, bail, etc. Sand can also nick your line and scratch your guide rings.
- Alway wash down your rod and reel after fishing – this is primarily a salt water practice, but it is good for sweet water too. With a spinning reel, tighten down the drag before you begin. Hose everything down. Loosen the drag (very loose, but not free-spinning). Then spray a little WD40 into the rotating and articulating joints. I also squirt the hinge of my pliers while I have the WD40 in hand.
- Wash your lures in fresh water and hang them dry. Take special care to wash the buck tail and give it a shake to get most of the water out before you hang it.
