Bass Boating:
Preparation: A Pro's Checklist

Psst!

Elite angler Pete Ponds would like to share a "secret" that can spell the difference between good and bad luck for fishermen.

"Boat and tackle preparation," says the veteran Mississippi angler. "I know that's not what people want to hear, but it is the honest truth."

Time spent inspecting and preparing equipment the night before an outing not only serves as breakdown prevention but also provides peace of mind.

Knowing that your boat and gear are squared away reduces the chances of gremlins ruining your day on the water, he adds. More importantly, it frees the mind when your head hits the pillow the night before.

"Reassuring yourself that your gear is ready to go allows you to focus entirely on the fishing," Ponds explains. "That's how pros perform at such an optimum level throughout a grueling four-day tournament."

Here's his routine the night before a long day on the water:

• Hooked up. His boat trailer is attached to the tow vehicle so he's ready to roll when he walks out the door.

• Visual inspection. Ponds walks around his rig to ensure trailer lights are working and tires are properly inflated.

A low tire could lead to a flat the next morning. He confirms batteries are fully charged and electronic gear is functioning.

• Trolling motor test. Ponds recalls discovering a bad on/off switch one evening before the finals of a Bassmaster event.

"The motor worked fine that day and I didn't detect the bad switch until evening," he says. "Had I not made the repair then, it would have cost me valuable time during competition."

• Clean graph screens. Water marks or dirty screens make it difficult to see subtle structure in predawn light. (He uses Krystal Vision Screen Cleaner, www.fraziersstuff.com.)

• Organize tackle. Ponds packs a utility box with lures he expects to use and stores it near the front deck.

"If I anticipate using a lot of soft plastics, I make sure I'm adequately stocked with the right lures and terminal tackle," Ponds advises.

Every reel gets spooled with fresh line to eliminate kinks or nicks that could weaken the line, and filler spools of basic sizes are packed in a storage compartment for on-the-water changes.

A drop of oil is placed on all reel worm gears and bearings. Drags are checked and guides are inspected for damage that may have occurred the day before.

• Fill up. Topping off fuel tanks the night before saves you the trouble of finding an open gas station early in the morning.

However, filling the boat tank isn't always necessary and can work against you.

"Don't take on a full tank unless you know you'll need it," explains Ponds. "Gas adds weight and can affect your hole shot, top-end speed and how well the boat floats in shallow water."

• Pack tools and spare parts. In addition to pertinent tools, Ponds carries an extra outboard trim switch, outboard and trolling motor props, ignition switch, kill switch and trolling motor on/off switch. He also has rigged an extra bilge pump to a hose and a cigarette lighter connector so he can quickly pump lake water into his livewells should his livewell pumps fail.

"Nothing interferes with a day on the water worse than an equipment breakdown," Ponds says. "Preparation often equates to a more efficient angler who makes more casts and concentrates better on the business at hand — finding and catching more bass."

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