Having my hooks and leaders scattered all over the boat during a hot bite used to drive me crazy. Now, to keep everything organized and at the ready, I prepare my leaders at home and store them in an inexpensive plastic pocket file folder. These folders are available at any office supply store, and they hold several pre-tied rigs. The folder takes up very little space, so it’s easy to keep handy. And when fishing conditions change, I simply flip through to select the rig I need.
-Ron Lewis, Galloway, New JerseyEd Luterio
Sportman’s Tips – October 2006
Sunny days made reading the electronics screens on my center console difficult. To cut down on the glare, I purchased a few sheets of black craft foam with an adhesive backing and cut them down to make hoods for my fishfinder and GPS. Since the foam sheets each cost less than a dollar at any crafts store, I don’t mind if the hoods break or blow away. No matter how bright it gets I can see my location and bottom contour, even if I’m fishing at the transom.
-A. Jernigan, Saraland, AlabamaEd Luterio
Sportman’s Tips – October 2006
I always use squid spreader bars to tease up tuna, but after storing them between seasons, the plastic squid bodies would often collapse. Once that happens, they’ll never run correctly or attract fish. That’s exactly why I began stuffing the squids with pieces of 1/2-inch foam pipe insulation before putting them away for the season. The pre-cut slot in the foam allows you to slide the leader through easily. This simple trick stopped the bodies from caving in and saved me from spending a small fortune on new plastic squids every year.
-Scott Colleary, Weymouth, MassachusettsEd Luterio