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Show Angling IM Angles: hold Hi .. Last week, in greeting you fellows fel-lows from coast to coast once more, Old Hi said that, at our next get-together, we would talk about the pre-season "sport" of putting the tackle back in shape for action. After being stored for months, it needs some tinkerm'. So let's open our kits' and get busy. If you've tucked a casting or fly reel in the kit, clean it thoroughly with a toothbrush and wipe it with a white cloth that doesn't give off lint Put a drop or two of reel oil into the mechanism, and work the movable parts. Wipe away any excess oil that may gather in one SP A level wind reel needs special care, to make sure the level-wind v bar works back and for t h smoothly; and is not clogged by dirt or sand particles. This reel gets a great amount of wear from casting, and must be kept in top condition if accurate and reasonable reason-able long casts are to be made. If the parts are worn much, it will pay you to invest in a new reel. Don't spoil your fishing with a worn and jerky moving reel. Examine your lines. If enameled silk fly lines have become hard or tacky, clean them with Ivory soap and lukewarm water then rub them down with a piece of paraffin. par-affin. But if they have become brittle and - cracked, either dis- card such lines or use them as backing for new and dependable lines. The line, you know, is the most important link between lure and rod, so needs to be strong. Look for thin, worn, or rotten spots on the lines, especially the casting or trolling lines, for these get hard usage at the rod tip through strain. Test the ends of your lines for strength, and if weak, cut off two or three feet so that a strong portion will be tied to the leader or lure. If your leaders were used much last year, it's safe to toss them away and get new ones. Many of us have lost some swell fish on 5account of weakened leaders -"-trying to use these leaders just once too often. Get good quality nylon leaders for trout and other fish that don't have sharp teeth; and thin piano wire leaders for pickerel and others that do have sharp teeth. Give your old battered plugs a fresh coat of paint, and the same for the scarred and scraped spoons of striped enamel design. It's the bright and flashing lures that attract at-tract game fish. Polish your brass, nickel, and copper spoons and spinners until they shine. Look over the contents of your tackle kit and find out what lures, lines, etc. need to be replaced, as well as cleaned. It's by no means too early to catch up on this work. About half the battle for success is in being fully ready with proper tackle when opening day of the season gets here. While you're doing this job, drop a penny postcard to Old Hi, in care of this newspaper, and ask for free copies of his illustrated booklets, book-lets, "Fishing for the Millions," "Salt Water Sports Pishing," and "Pacific Coastal Pishing." |
