Opening Day Check List......

[mr_jman]

Figured it would be a good idea to start a list of things to check or do before opening day to make the day go smoother! I'm hoping more people add to it as there is no way to think of everthing. Things on the list can range from the littlest cabin boats with low h.p. motors, to the top of the line fishing machines! In no particular order, here is a start.

1. GET YOUR NEW LICENSE!

2. Charge all the batteries and test electronics

3. Check and fit lifejackets

4. Make sure the plug is in the boat! (been reading enough stories about this one!)

5. Check tires/receiver/lights/bearings/etc. on trailer.

6. Check batteries in flashlights if you head out at night. Handheld GPS, radio, etc.

7. Dont forget the bait!

8. Grab a bunch of snacks/pop whatever

9. Make sure you have enough clothing and gear for rainy/windy/snowy conditions

10. Check the weather for the area your lake is at

11. Get a lake map if you aren't cool enough to have a GPS or depthfinder with a loaded chip!

12. Check anchor ropes for wear.

13. Get new gas for the motor and check/grease/do other basic maintenance on motor if needed.

14. Check over fishing rods and replace frayed or old lines.

15. Gas up the vehicle

16. Have the radio tuned into the TWINS Vs. YANKEES game Saturday afternoon Or..... whatever music you like (in case the fishing is slow!)

17. Don't forget the camera!

18. Check lights on the boat

GO CATCH FISH! - Please add more to it, I'm sure there a MANY things I didn't think of yet!

[kc0myy]

you forgot the most inportant thing of all. leave your wife at home you have a much better trip lol

[matthothand]

Since this list applies to those who don't fish until walleye/pike/trout opener let's add another 'to do'. Practice launching your boat. Sounds simple enough but it's suprising how many boat owners struggle at public landings. Personally I get a huge kick out of it but it can really cause problems especially at the more popular accesses.

[Nick Kuhn]

Or at least get your boat out and running first, even if you don't need the practice. Took about half an hour before our motor was running correctly this Spring.

[BFJ]

MrJaman, Great list but from dealing with my married/committed fishing partners the last 15 years...Be sure to notify the significant other that there is no Cell service on the LAKE...(Or near by bars)!!! Good luck opener!!!

[PierBridge]

Some extra cash to cover the guy that never ever has any cash or plastic on him at the opener!

[harvey lee]

Leave him at home Pier.

[mr_jman]

Well, I've already made my point clear to the girlfriend on the whole I'll be fishing all day thing probably won't call or answer the phone probably!

Agreed on the boat launching thing. My plan is to get to the lake really early (Isn't this EVERYONES plan????) I'm hoping to beat the guys who launch there boats less than 3 times a year and take 3x longer than it should take to get it off the trailer or even backed in the water LOL!

I've had the boat out about 5 times already and just made the list based on things I have checked or realized I SHOULD HAVE checked sooner than I did.

GOOD LUCK OUT THERE NEXT WEEKEND!

[Grum]

Check net for holes & rot (hard to forget the look on my nephews face change from excitement to shock and disappointment as his first big pike opened it's mouth and bite right through my old net to freedom before I could swing it into the boat)

[Acemac]

19. tell your GIRLFRIENDS that fishing is part of what you do and if she cannot handle it now your relationship is going to be tough!

[CJH]

19. tell your GIRLFRIENDS that fishing is part of what you do and if she cannot handle it now your relationship is going to be tough!

Amen!! (Add in hunting, golf, football or any other activities you enjoy!!!)

[Ed Carlson]

Uh...huh...and I suspect she would quickly provide a list of her own, on what activities she thinks will be critical to make the "Relationship Run Smoothly".

Good luck with that!

.....I hear a...."Yes Dear"... in your not so distant future.

[LMITOUT]

#1 Opening day checklist item: PATIENCE!

That's required for those who forgot any of the items already mentioned, plus for those who are a bit rusty at loading/unloading the boat. No need to get all worked up on a day meant to be fun.

[Jim Almquist]

You have a very good list but the one thing that needs to be done and especially if you are going to travel quite a distance is to check your bearings / repack and have a spare hub prepacked with bearings and seals along with all the tools to replace one and a spare cotter key. It will make getting back on the road that much quicker. While your at it make sure you have the correct air pressure in your trailer tires.

[CJH]

Uh...huh...and I suspect she would quickly provide a list of her own, on what activities she thinks will be critical to make the "Relationship Run Smoothly".

Good luck with that!

.....I hear a...."Yes Dear"... in your not so distant future.

Guess I found the right girl then!!

[coombia21]

Make sure not to unhook the front of the boat before you get into the water for the final time. Last year I watched 2 different people dump their boats down on the tar ramp because they unhooked the front of the boat before they had the trailer in the water properly.

[Fish Head]

you forgot the most inportant thing of all. leave your wife at home you have a much better trip lol

[Maverick]

My list:

Minnows: Check

Night Crawlers: Check

Leeches: Check

Rods and reels: Check

Camera: Check

Best group of guys that have been part of opening for 20 years: Check and double check.

[Northlander]

I guess I would say do and get all this stuff at least a week before opener so your not tieing up the landing because you were to foolish to do your work ahead of time and then you will also have time to fix what you may need to.

I hate when people show up on opening morning with a boat that wont start and they tie up a dock for 1/2 hour before they finally have to pull their boat out because it wont start.

[mr_jman]

I hate when people show up on opening morning with a boat that wont start and they tie up a dock for 1/2 hour before they finally have to pull their boat out because it wont start.

Or when this happens in mid June and they tie it up for 45 minutes and have boats on the water waiting to load up and a line of 3 or 4 people trying to unload. With only 1 public (un)loading dock total on the lake. FRUSTRATING!!!

[bikeoutback]

Originally Posted By: Northlander

I hate when people show up on opening morning with a boat that wont start and they tie up a dock for 1/2 hour before they finally have to pull their boat out because it wont start.

Or when this happens in mid June and they tie it up for 45 minutes and have boats on the water waiting to load up and a line of 3 or 4 people trying to unload. With only 1 public (un)loading dock total on the lake. FRUSTRATING!!!

Boy you guys are brutal. I'm sure glad you have never had the mis-fortune to have anything go wrong with your boats, trucks, cars or anything else that may have held somebody else up. I'm also betting those guys with the boats that won't start are having fantastic stress free days worrying first about why their machine's won't start but second about all you impatient boaters out there that they may be holding up. I don't own a boat yet but being around half you guys I'd hate to make any of the rookie mistakes like having to learn how to back up a boat, forgetting the plug and having to pull it back out or god forbid it doesn't start. Reading some of this stuff sure seems like it sucks all the fun out of it completely.

[Jim Almquist]

All it takes is a little common sense that if your rig is not ready to launch or run because of a problem you need to get it out of the way of others. There is no reason why your problem should have a affect on perfect strangers. At some point and time we will all have some sort of snafu but its how you handle it that tells other what type of person you are. It should NEVER take longer then 2-3 minutes to launch or load. If it does you are not ready.

[fishinfey8]

I always have a trolling motor that works and fully charged when launching so that I can use that to get out of the way at the launch. It's not that hard to just zip out of the way, then get settled once your waiting for your buddy to park the trailer.

[Nick Kuhn]

I always have a trolling motor that works and fully charged when launching so that I can use that to get out of the way at the launch. It's not that hard to just zip out of the way, then get settled once your waiting for your buddy to park the trailer.

I did this my first launch. Boat wouldn't stay running (probably bad gas from over the winter) but I knew I didn't need to really go anywhere so I used the trolling motor to move about 100 yards. We then proceeded to get the motor running in the middle of the lake.

[BoxMN]

I took the "back up" boat out for a test spin the other day, and I forgot your #13.... doh!!!! I had the gas can empty and the correct amount of oil, all ready for the gas, but forgot to stop at the station - went right by it! hahaha! What a goof. Oh well, it was just test day. After the gas, ol' smokey fired on the first turn of the key.

I don't think anybody mentioned the beer. Not I am not saying tons of it or get loaded, but with nice weather, it sure goes good with opening day and your favorite can cooler Though, it could fall into your #8

Happy Opener to you all!