Got Spring Fever...bad

[SmokyMtnGrady]

I grew up in Florida and spent 38 years there. Funny when something is so part of you how you just cant let it go easily. Dont get me wrong, I enjoy the mountains of North Carolina a lot especially the spring and summers here. There are few freshwater places I would rather boat than here in the mountains or perhaps on Lake Hartwell or even Lanier.

I do not miss much about Florida other than the water, spent a lot time on the water be it the St. Johns or Atlantic. I definitely do not miss the Saturday afternoon boat ramp follies. Funny how other boaters are great people until you put some liquor in them, bake them in the sun all day and then somehow they magically transform into grade A jerks at the boat ramps (lol). Anyway, I have family and friends there and there aspects of Florida I love and one of them is year round boating. I miss that a lot. You guys up north and I mean waaay up north, if you grow up not having year round boating I suspect ya'll cant miss what you never had, but those of us from Florida in particular, it is hard sometimes watching the snow fall and seeing your Florida friends on Facebook on their boat.

Spring fever has set in for me big time this winter. I look at my Grady under the boat shed in 25 degree weather and long for the days coming up in a few months. I have been sick and the weather has stunk, so I still have that electrical thing to fix and we will get it done shortly. I will start checking the gear and getting things ready for the season. I wonder what others do to pass the time of winter waiting for warmer boating weather to arrive?

I was at my doctor's office and one of the PA's there asked me this question? He said, Bob guess what happens in 75 days or something specific? I was thinking, I dont know you get a new wife? nope, he was as excited about putting his boat in the water as I am. We talked about boating and that cheered my spirits up almost as much as the Z pack for my sinus/bronchitis infection going on. So here is to the song Boat Drinks and winter has a little bit left to go, I feel your cabin boat fever for sure.

So lets hear your spring fever symptoms and your first trip plans of the season. I may tow my boat to Florida for spring break in April and cruise the St. Johns and maybe head off shore out of Port Canaveral for some early dolphin.

 

[onoahimahi]

I thought it is warm in NC, no? - I just bought a boat there and we sea trialed it twice near Hatteras and it was 65 degrees on both days, one in December and one in January. I'm in Boston where I just uncovered my old boat and towed it home to make room for the new boat. There was ice around our piers and now my old boat is in my driveway with an inch of snow in it.

Anyway, boat season starts for me in February at the New England Boat Show. I look forward to that every year. It's great to check out the new boats and gear, see some old boating buddies, and plan a project or two before launching in spring. March is still crappy but the shrink wrap can come off at the end of the month and we can get started. I try to get in May to chase some of the colder water fish while they are still in close. In June we are in full swing and haul in November unless a hurricane threatens. This year I am very anxious to try my new-to-me Sailfish - I can't wait...!

-Scott

 

[Daman858]

Scott, NC is a big state and the mountains of the western part of the state get lots of cold weather and snow.

I too have always been entertained at our local boat ramp. Better then the comedy channel at times. This year saw a guy bring in a nice Yellowfin with trip Mercs. Didn't tilt up the engines and drug the skegs all the way to US17. Sparks flying and all.

We have had days in the high 70s here in coastal SC. I have been out three or four time since Christmas.

 

[onoahimahi]

Definitely Grady country down there on the NC coast - just about every boat on the water those two winter days was a Grady...

-Scott

 

[Strikezone]

Hey Bob, I didn't realize that ya'll have had such a bad winter in the NC mountains. It's been a pretty mild winter in Charleston. We've had a string of temps in the 70s and not much cold in between. I think just last week the high was 78.

 

[Fishtales]

I'm in Massachusetts so I know what it is like.....

My routine is to focus on an outdoor ice rink for the family around Chirstmas after the boat is away and the leaves are up. I have a 35X70 foot sport court with 2X12s hard mounted to the sides of the concrete pad under the tiles except for a 4 foot section where the gate is. I install a 2X12 piece in this area. I install a white tarp liner, screw puck board and a top edge protector strip on the inside and top of boards and flood it with about 4" of water. I have 200' of a firehose material hose and a "manboni" that I made for resurfacing. My winter project is trying to make perfect ice for skating and hockey for the family. I use both cold and hot water as needed to get perfectly smooth ice.
If it is cold, we enjoy the ice and outside fire in the firepit. Lots of kid over skating and lots of dads enjoying libations at the pit.
If it isn't, we enjoy the warm weather. So either way, I win.
My boys play hockey so I'm in rinks a lot over the winter.

Eventually, spring fever sets in no matter what you do.....

Some things to do if you really have spring fever.
- Take apart your reels. Inspect, clean, lube and replace any clickers, springs or needed parts. I have a bunch of penn senators, so there is always something to do and even I can do it.
- Inspect and lube the rollers on your rods if needed.
- Take out the canvas enclosure pieces. Clean an polish the plastic glass. Plexus or Meguiars 2 step have worked well for me.
- Go through your first aid and signal kits. Replace any needed equipment. Inspect and update ditch kits. Be prepared when the CG Aux folks come by so I can get my vessel inspection sticker without having to run up to the marine store.
- Change any cut or damaged shads from your umbrella rigs as well as re-rig as needed. I like the M&M Lure umbrella rigs on THT or www.9erslures.com. The bass and especially bluefish damage them pretty good up here.
- Go through your tackle in general. I try to toss some stuff that either wasn't successful with or never use. Then stock up. I make up my BFT and bass/blue set ups.
- Respool any reel that need it. I like to have some with wire, lead core, mono and braid. So there is always one or two to do. Each year. If you do this every year, you hit them all every 3 years or so.
- Check your props if you didn't at layup on a warm day. If needed, pull and have them touched up at a local prop shop.
- Fishing shows, boat show... Just go smell some fiberglass.
- Review knives, buy some and sharpen others as needed.
- Drink beer, buy a bunch of fishing and boating stuff you really don't need and wait to pop the shrinkwrap.