THE GEAR YOU SAVE MAY BE YOUR OWN

As soon as the weather shuts down fishing action good haul out your gear look it over. Take care of your "stuff" and you can save a lot of money over the years. Let it go --like the buddy who cased and stashed a wet shotgun behind a car seat and forget it for a week -- and you face a rusty mess.

There's quite a lot you can do to modify gear and improve results too. For example, nice shiny fishing rod warn thin-water trout. So some spray their rods with a dull finish. Then too, years ago we did tests with nets and discovered that nets with dull mesh -- not the usual bright green -- and brown or buff metal or wood frames frightened fish less. Incidentally, if you catch and release you should look for a net without knots. British tests show knots knock off scales and raise mortality rates.

Taking tackle out of your box or vest for a lick and polish makes sense. You might even find that half-sandwich that's been missing since Memorial Day. Check hooks. Sharpen up dull models -- I mash down barbs on everything as tests show you land just as many fish. Consider replacing trebles on lures with a larger mashed-barb single hooks. You'll catch and land more fish and lose fewer lures. The last, and the myth that three hooks are better than one, is the reason tackle companies hang trebles on everything.

Before you replace gear in the tackle box or vest, check it too. A bit of auto spray paint can reduce rust on metal boxes, a rub and some lubricant can help with plastic types.

I'd consider disassembling and lubing reels too. If you tote your spare spinning rig in the back of your truck all summer, now's the time to replace the line. Monofiliment line does weaken from UV light.

If you're on a budget, tie some string or twine to the end of your line and reel the string on until you've only a 1/8th inch gap at the spool edge -- this insures maximum casting range after you finish. Cut the string off, tie the string to a tree and walk away as the reel empties. Then cut your old line off the reel. Walk back to the tree and tie on the string and reel in. You'll have unused line at the casting end and a nice pad of string under your monofiliment. Of course, if you anticipate very long running steelhead, you may have to spring for a bulk spool of line instead. TIP: BULK SPOOLS SAVE MONEY.

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