If you're anything like me, then you have dreams about bobber downs and chrome fish. The long wait is over, and the time is finally here! Whether this is your first or fiftieth salmon season, preparation is the key to success. Let's go over some tips on how to ensure your boat, trailer, and gear are in tip-top shape for this salmon season.
If you have a boat, you'll want to make sure it's running smoothly and has all the gear you need. Fill up your gas tank, check your batteries, test your downriggers, and fire up your motors. Take a look at your engine hours and take care of any recommended services. Repair shops are busy this time of year, so it's not a bad idea to watch some tutorials and figure out how to do some basic repairs and services yourself. Our boat has both a 2-stroke main motor and a 4-stroke kicker, so my husband and I have had to become adept at both 2-stroke and 4-stroke motor maintenance!
Don't forget to ensure you have all the Coast Guard-required safety equipment aboard your boat. This equipment is required for good reason, and the Coast Guard conducts inspections.
Here's a good checklist to use:
Flares (3 daytime and 3 nighttime, or 3 daytime/nighttime combos)
Life jackets for everyone on board
Throwable flotation device (if boat is 16ft or longer)
Navigation lights (if traveling between sunset and sunrise or during low visibility periods)
Horn/whistle/other sound signal
Fire extinguisher
Carbon monoxide warning sticker/placard
Not Coast Guard required, but good to have:
Manual bilge pump
Marine toolkit
Marine radio
Extra gas cans
Spare motor parts (spark plugs, hose clamps, etc.)
First aid kit
Let's not forget your boat trailer! Make sure to do a thorough visual inspection of the brakes, chains, couplers, straps, wheels, bearings, and tires for damage and wear. It's a good idea to re-grease your wheel bearings every year. Top up the air in your tires if needed. Hook up your trailer lights and verify that your signals are all working. While you're at it, make sure your registration is up to date for both your boat and trailer.
Once you've verified that both your boat and trailer are in good, safe condition, it's time to look at your other gear. Look over your rods and fix any broken guides or tips. Open up your reels and grease any and all moving parts to prepare them for the fights ahead. I like to polish up any spoons or spinners that have corroded during the off-season. This is also a good time to organize tackle boxes and stock up on any swivels, line, etc. Do it now before the season is in full swing and tackle store shelves are empty!
Here are a few other miscellaneous things to check before going out. Make sure you have an up-to-date fishing license and catch record card. You can either use a paper card or use the MyWDFW app. Catch record cards are not added automatically in the app. You need to add them to your cart in the MyWDFW or Fish Washington app for $0. If you're going to an area without cell phone service, the data in your card will be added locally and updated when you come back to an area with service. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the rules of the area where you'll be fishing. Don't forget to pinch your barbs and keep all fish in the water until you are 100% certain it's legal to retain. WDFW has great resources on how to identify each salmon species in both saltwater and freshwater. Please follow the rules and help protect the resource so that future generations can enjoy fresh, local salmon on the dinner table too!
