Displaying items by tag: fall

One of the most frustrating things that can happen to you when you're finally ready to leave the dock is a motor that wont start due to your battery. If you're an avid boater, chances are you have been there and know exactly what I am talking about. Whether you forgot to charge it from the time before or you didn't properly store it in the off season, theres no doubt that it will totally wreck your day. One of the best things you can do for your battery is to properly store it during the winter months to ensure your not dead on the water next spring.

Being a boater in Michigan, you cant really compain about the weather we have had this year. Its now mid November and we are just starting to see the cold winds from the north roll into the state. I mean, an extra month or so out on the water is never a bad thing, but now its time to kick it into gear and winterize the boat for the upcoming months ahead. Winterizing the boat is one of the last things we want to deal with in the fall, well other than raking the leaves, but its essntial to protecting your investment and utilizing all of your days on the water next spring. Boats can be expensive to own but fixing broken parts due to poor winter preparation can get even pricier.

Unless your a duck hunter or fishing the rivers this fall in Michigan, its probably a good time to think about winterizing your outboard and shrink wrapping your boat for winter. Yes, there are still going to be some good days of boating ahead, but when the thermometer drops, getting your boat out of the water is the last thing you will want to take care of. Dealing with the cold, rain, or possibly even snow will just make the task at hand that much harder and unenjoyable. 

For many boaters in the northern states, Labor Day weekend marks the last big hurrah of their boating season before it is time to pull the boat out of the water for the winter months.  Shortly after the holiday weekend schedules get busy, the kids will be back in school, and that north wind starts blowing cold air from the Arctic. But wait a minute. Just because Labor Day basically marks the end of summer that doesn't mean that your boating season has to come to an end too.

Fall is approaching and it will bring the somber end-of-summer vibes with it. Pack away your swimsuit, enjoy your tan while you have it, and kiss the warm weather goodbye - but whatever you do, don't send your boat in for storage just yet. Summer boating is nearly impossible to compete with, but that doesn't mean fall boating should be overlooked completely; it's still good for something. 

It's good for your game
With a change in location and bait, fall can be a great time for bass fishing. The colder weather and water temperatures will coax the bass into shallower waters. It's best to use bait that does well in shallower waters: crankbait, spinner bait, or jerkbait to list a few. Because bass are more aggressive in the fall, preparing for cold months with little feeding ahead, they're willing to work for their food - so it will be especially beneficial to use lures that look like the shad that they're feeding on. Regardless of what type of bait you are using, try and mimic the shad with the color.