March is here and the time is right to get after the first bass of 2026. However, before hitting the water each year, there is ample preparation to cover ahead of those initial casts. I will explore these preseason tasks over a pair of submissions that detail the work behind the scenes. Today’s post covers the general aspects of inventory, repair, and getting in fishing shape. The second post will cover more specific tasks.

Tackle Inventory
Based on when, where, and how I am fishing, I gear up a bit differently prior to each trip. Lure selection changes over the course of the year and the types of water that I am fishing also dictate what I am casting. In addition, I alter the amount of tackle that I haul depending on whether I am hiking, biking, rowing the little boat, or trolling the big boat. As the year progresses this makes for a mess in my tackle bag and tubs. The offseason gives me a chance to organize, determine what needs to be replaced, and discard any broken-down baits.

The Canal’s Lost and Found
As I made my way through my tackle clutter, I came across a collection of lures that I had gathered over the last couple of  years on the Hennepin Canal. In fishing out of a johnboat, I have access to many lures that bank bound anglers have lost to trees and logs. The collection makes for a solid batch of lures and clues me in to what fellow anglers are casting. Although a few of the lures that I have gathered over the last four years have left me scratching my head. But what do I know after forty plus years of thinking that I am a bass fisherman.

A reel in need of repair or replacement

Three new reels for 2026 at the low, low price of only $50.10 combined (even cheaper than the sticker prices listed below)

And the listed retail price of the above three reels is…$150.89, for a whopping savings of $100.79

Reel Assessment
I do not have to replace reels on an annual basis but every once in a while one will give out. In some instances, I have had them repaired at a local tackle shop. In other cases, I have decommissioned them in favor of a new reel. This year, I found some great deals at the local department store that were too good to pass up. I purchased two spinning reels and one casting reel for the low combined price of $50.10. Total retail price of the trio was $150.89 so the savings were significant. I am putting the casting reel to use as I have a reel with a thumb bar that fails to reset when I engage the reel handle. As far as the two spinning reels are concerned, I have yet to determine if they are in the starting lineup this year or to be stashed away as spares.

Before picture #1 of the damaged and unusable rear bench in my little johnboat

Before picture #2 showing that that seat was no longer attached to the side of the boat

Welded and back in business, feels as solid as a rock

Boat Repair
This year featured a new task as the back bench seat of my little johnboat needed repair. It had come detached on one side as the mounting bracket had snapped away from the side of the boat. I was clueless on an approach to fixing it but lucked into a conversation with a co-worker who mentioned that her boyfriend was a welder. A few days later, I had a solidly repaired boat seat meaning that Brent, Julie, or the kids can hop aboard with me once again. Next up is a trolling motor issue on Dad’s boat that I need to see if me and Brent can fix. In this case, the contact on the thrust pedal is broken meaning that the trolling motor is either continuously running or not running at all. It is not a make-or-break deal when fishing but is a considerable hindrance when it comes to boat control.

Hopefully can keep up this pace to help me tackle that strip mine terrain

Exercise
The final task for this list involves getting in shape as the bulk of my fishing involves walking, pedaling, or rowing. I am way behind schedule on this goal and carrying about twenty-five more pounds than I would like. I’ve got no problem hauling that much gear as I have been known to over pack. However, packing it around on my gut is not as appealing.

Coming your way next is part two of this series. In that submission I will look at the remaining tasks needed in pursuit of another successful, legal, and documented year on the water. Talk to you later. Troy

Read on for the second of two posts intent on wrapping up some loose ends from 2025. This batch of notes, pics, and video covers details on fish, lures, and fellow anglers that deserve more mention than what was offered in earlier posts.

Old Dog, New Tricks
For better or worse, I am a creature of habit when it comes to fishing. Actually, that is my general lifestyle but that’s a whole different story. Anyway, in terms of fishing, I have what I call my confidence baits, and I rely on them heavily as I like the way they fish and usually, they work. However, during 2025 I did step out of my comfort zone to employ three new presentations as detailed below.

Dark Sleeper
My friend, Jim Junk, submitted the bass pictured below, caught on April 6, 2025, as his second Top 5 entry of 2025. A bass of that size will get your attention, and it also piqued my curiosity as Jim reported that it was landed on a Dark Sleeper swimbait. This prompted me to pick one up as I had never tried the lure before. I made two casts with the bait on a strip pit before I broke it off on a hookset. I was proud of myself for giving it shot (albeit quite brief) but have yet to catch a bass on the lure as I have not purchased a replacement.

Jim Junk Dark Sleeper Bass caught on 4/6/25

 

Dice Bait
Another friend, John Kirkemo, initiated a text conversation last summer regarding a new lure fad known as a dice bait. Basically, these baits are spheres or cubes riddled with strands or tentacles. What sort of forage they are supposed to mimic is a source of debate, but they have caught plenty of anglers and even a few bass. John took to making his own versions and I followed his lead as the real deal can be very expensive. I did give my homemade model a shot on a clear, deep strip pit and had success in catching several bluegill but have yet to fool any bass.

A pair of John Kirkemo’s designs

And the suggested retail price for this dice bait is…nope

My first catch on one of my homemade dice baits, still seeking my first bass

Shaky Head
During the heat of summer, I found myself on some deeper strip pits when fishing from my little johnboat. I wanted a backup plan in case my frog pattern in the shoreline weed beds and lily pads faded after the early morning bite. Insert the shaky head worm presentation pairing a ball head jig and the old reliable plastic worm. The bait did exactly what I was seeking in landing twenty bass throughout the year and giving me some confidence to employ it again.

Shaky head success and yes, I did fool bass that were bigger than the lure

Species Title
It is a rarity that I fish for something other than largemouth bass. Even so, there are instances when an “accident” occurs and another species is landed while targeting bass. After all, if you have a lure in the water, anything can happen. Over the years, when fishing with Dad or Brent, we would have an unofficial “species title” designation if we inadvertently ran into something other than a bass. So, the following are a shout out to those other fish that Brent and I encountered in 2025. We tied with four species apiece as Brent lost a muskie at boatside (is kayakside a word?) in April that would have given him the title. However, I believe that I may have won courtesy of an obscure, and made-up tiebreaker rule. You decide from the photos below.

Species One – Largemouth Bass – Troy (3/14/25), Brent (4/6/25)

Species Two – Brent Walleye (4/13/25), Troy Crappie (4/19/25)

Species Three – Smallmouth Bass (5/18/25)

Species Four – Brent Channel Catfish (9/22/25), Troy Bluegill (6/7/25)

And for the Species Title win…I caught a sock

In Memoriam – Blue Glimmer (1994-2025)
The 2026 fishing season will be dedicated to an old 3/8 oz. Stanley Vibra Shaft Spinnerbait in the blue glimmer pattern. I broke out this classic bait from the 1990s at Lake Storey on October 6, 2025, and it proceeded to fool eight bass in less than two hours, just like old times. Shortly after landing that eighth bass, I broke off the lure on a hookset, possibly on a muskie. Such is the danger of using a “one of a kind lure” on Lake Storey. It was a tough pill to swallow as I thought it was the last bass that I would ever land on a “Blue Glimmer.” However, while doing a tackle inventory earlier this month, I found two more. One featured a skirt that was a replacement from the original model but the other was a bait still in the original packaging. While I may employ the first of these two baits, the packaged bait will remain tucked away.

One more piece of 2025 housekeeping to add later this week before the posts turn to 2026 fishing. Talk to you later. Troy