Believe it or not, the catfishing season is upon us. Some of you are already out scouting around in rivers for early-season catfish while we “Northerners” are just getting things ready for when we can get in the water over the next weeks.

Now is the perfect time to get your things together and get prepared for the season. Here are a few examples of what I do at the end of the season, and through the off season, to prepare for the next season.

Tackle

I start on tackle preparation as soon as the previous season is over. I go through and make a list of any tackle that I am running low on. I usually have a need and a want column on my list.

When the days begin to get longer and warmer, I start ordering and buying the gear on the list and getting it together to be prepped when the time comes.

I generally start tying hooks up in midwinter while watching TV, just to pass some time and get a few done. I probably tie more snells up than most—about 150 to 200 to start a season—so it does take while to get them all done.

When the weather gets nicer, and I just want some sun, I bring the rods and reels outside. I inspect the reels to see that they are working correctly, tighten any screws or nuts that may have come loose, and lube all the moving parts. I will take the reels off the rods and give the rods a good washing with soap and water. Once I put the reels back on, I spool them up with fresh line for the season.

Boat preparation

Boat preparation for me starts in the fall. I fish right up until the snow flies, meaning that when I change oil and gear lube to winterize it is a frozen-fingers affair. It must be done this way, because if there is any water in the lower unit, I don’t want it freezing and breaking the housing or seals.

I keep a list in the boat of other things that must be done before the first trip of the year. This is usually just inventory of sunscreen, bug spray and other must-haves for good days in the summer.

When the boat comes out of storage, I check and hook up the batteries. I re-install the lithium battery for the electronics and clean and pack my dry storage.

Next, it gets a good top-to-bottom washing. Catfishing is a dirty business, and I am not one to deep clean every day. I remove everything from the inside of the boat and give it a good pressure washing; then I get on the old hands and knees with a sponge and scrub brush to clean the edges and corners where bait and other “ick” collects.

The last thing I do right out of storage is inspect, straighten and tighten the rod racks and rod holders to make sure they are where I want them; they will stay in place for the long, upcoming season.

I also inspect the trailer for loose bearings, clean and lubricate them, and make sure that the lights work all around the trailer. Don’t forget to check that the spare tire has air in it and is ready for use if needed.

Fishing plans

Of course, any good angler would be thinking about how to fish better in an upcoming season. In my case, I always seem to find a pattern or some location that holds fish late in the season; then I have to think about it all winter before I can try it in the spring.

I used to read a lot of books about catfishing, and scour maps over and over for new spots and locations, during the off season. Both are great things to do, and I highly recommend doing so.

I am an avid diary keeper on each day of fishing, and after many years, I find that I like to revisit the logs and remember what really stuck out about conditions, and why fish bit in a certain spot or on certain pattern. Was the sun shining? Was the water rising or falling? Were we in faster water, or out of the current?

I believe that this reflection has helped me more than anything over the years because it has made me quicker to adjust to conditions and decipher bites to be more consistent. A perfect example of this occurred a few years ago, when the fish changed to a deep, off-current bite. I found a spot that I had driven by for decades without a look, but which matched those conditions, and I have since been consistent there in the situation.

Spring is upon us. Are you ready for some catfishing?

For more insight and tips for fishing throughout the year, check out the articles in every issue of MidWest Outdoors, available by subscribing on our website.