We are at deer hunting time in our area, but the open water fishing opportunities are still available. The docks have been removed from most public accesses now, so plan for a bit more complicated launch. Wearing waterproof boots can be a trip saver.
For many fishermen this is busy time with hunting and getting late fall projects completed.
If it looks like you aren't going to be able to get out fishing anymore, here are a few tips for winterizing your boat. The easiest is to take your rig to one of the local marine service shops. If you are a do-it-yourselfer, make sure you trim your motor down and drain all the water. Add a fuel stabilizer to your fuel system and run your motor. Those with a remote tank can disconnect the fuel line and run all the gas out of your motor. If it has a carburetor, fog the cylinders.
Make sure all batteries are fully charged, and charge them several times during the winter if you don't pull them out to store them. Most marine batteries will last two to four seasons depending on use, but an abused battery will only last a season. They are expensive so better to take care of them and maximize their life.
Drain and refill your lower unit oil. This is a critical winterizing preparation. Motors don't work well with bad gears in the lower unit!
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Make sure all live/bait wells are drained and pull the plug on the boat to make sure the bilge is dry. Dry run all pumps of a few seconds to make sure pumps and lines are cleared.
Grease the trailer bearings so your trailer is also ready for you in the spring.
Clean out all compartments and make sure tackle boxes are dry and sealed. Adding bounce dryer sheets to compartments can keep the mice infestation down to a minimum.
If you do not store your boat in your garage, we have many seasonal boat storage options available for rent in our area. If you store your boat outside make sure it is covered. You may have to clean the snow and ice from the cover several times over the winter to make sure the tarp is doing its job.
If you are like me and continue to fish until freeze up, make sure you are draining water by trimming down after every trip. Some of your winterizing can be done now and wrap the rest up after your last open water trip.
Stay safe on the water or out in the field, as this can be a dangerous time of year.
