Restocking your
tackle box for the New Year
If
you’re like me, I’m sure more than a few people have already asked what you
want for Christmas. Some people have said that it’s hard to buy me presents —
but it’s really not. As far as Christmas, birthday — any day — goes for me; you
can never go wrong with fishing gear. So whether you’re making your wish list
or trying to decide how to spend a gift card to your favorite sporting goods
store, the holidays present an exciting opportunity for you to load up your
tackle box for the upcoming year — arming you with the tools you need to make
2008 the year you catch the big ones.
So,
before you cash in your gift cards on tacky shirts and talking fish, here are
some of the things you’re sure to need in your boat this year.
A
long, cold winter in the closet or the garage can be extremely damaging to
fishing line. The normal wear and tear of scraping the line on rocks and
stumps, the constant straining of the line as you wrench those big bucketmouths into the boat, and sunlight, all work together
to weaken the structural integrity of the toughest, best-made fishing lines.
Most pros re-spool their reels after every day of
competition. Sure, it can be time consuming — especially when you’re tired —
but you don’t want to miss the cut or a paycheck because a fish broke your
line. This year, Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon debuted,
and it is the hottest line on tour. All the pros — including me — use it for
nearly every application that requires getting a bait down in the water. It’s
stronger, more sensitive, and resistant to abrasions, and it has almost no
stretch. It’s a must for going after big, finicky fish.
If
you were really good this year, maybe you’ve got enough money on the gift card
to get a new rod or reel. Abu Garcia released the REVO Premier this year, the
smoothest, fastest, and toughest REVO ever built. The REVO Premier is a heavy
duty, low-profile reel that’s perfect for flipping
jigs or retrieving crank baits, and it has all the features you need to land
even the biggest fish. Also, Berkley’s new TEC Tools came out this year, too,
and they are the toughest and most comfortable to use tools I’ve ever had in
the boat. From the new Pistol Trigger Grips for fish that bite to digital scales
and superline shears (a must when using FireLine), you’ll be using TEC Tools for years because
they’ll last that long.
And,
finally, if you’ve got any money left over, this is a great time of year to
pick up some really good deals on baits. Who knows where you’ll be able to fish
this year or what the fish will be biting when you get there. I like to keep
some various sizes and colors on board. Lately, I’ve been stocking up on pails
of Gulp! Alive! These new baits, packaged in Gulp! Juice, have more flavor and
a better shape and action and are deadly on bass.
A
trip to the sporting goods store is a great way to spend one of the cold winter
days that stand in the way of hitting the water. Take your kids or grandkids
with you and pick up something for them, too; that way you’re sure to have
someone to share the experience with this year.
So
don’t let those gift cards go to waste; turn them into something that will help
you catch the fish of a lifetime in 2008.
Boyd Duckett, from Demopolis, Ala., is the 2007 Bassmaster Classic champion and currently fishes the BASS
Elite Series.