Prepping the Tackle Box for Spring Fishing

If this stretch of warmer weather has you itching for spring fishing, now is a great time to dust off the tackle box and prepare for a great fishing season. Some ideas for a good spring cleaning of your gear:

Clean Start
Clean your empty tackle box with soapy water and rinse. Wipe it down and let it dry.

Take Inventory
Before restocking your sparkly clean tackle box, check your favorite lures to make sure they are in top shape. Look for cracks or dings in the lure body, replace bent and rusty hooks, and make sure the hooks are sharp. Throw away plastic baits that have dried up.

 

Fresh Line
Fishing line weakens with exposure to sunlight, water and use. Re-spool all your reels.

Back to the Basics

Every tackle box should include these essential items: needle-nose pliers, various size hooks, extra line, bobbers, sinkers, line cutters or fingernail clippers, a sharp knife, a basic first aid kit, a small flashlight with extra batteries, and sunscreen. Be sure to check the batteries to make sure they're still fresh and replace the sunscreen if it's outdated.

Make a Plan
When your gear is ready to go, start planning your first outing with the Iowa DNR places to fish webpages.