Tournament Off-Season
Well the holiday season is over, and I hope you all had a safe and wonderful holiday. It is crazy to think that the 2022 kayak tournament season is upon us! How do you prepare for the upcoming season? Organizing, rigging, cleaning, or map study?... Let me take you through my process to prepare for the upcoming season.
Cleaning and Organizing
Once the off season begins, I usually take some time off from fishing to spend time with the family. However, one of the most important processes I take to get ready for the next season is cleaning and organizing. Being able to clean tackle, lures, reels and other kayak accessories really does help in the long run. The worst feeling in the world is to be competing and then have something breakdown because you didn’t take the time out to service your equipment. Especially the anglers with the pedal drives. Fine tuning those pedals only ensures superior function. Once the cleaning is done, its time to get organized. For myself, this process usually takes the longest because I like to thoroughly go through my equipment. My main focus is really trying to restock all that has been used during the season, and then getting rid of extra tackle or lures that are not being used. Remember fishing is one of those sports where you want to be more efficient with the time you have.
Rigging
Once I have gone through the cleaning and organizing phase, I will begin to evaluate how things are rigged on my kayak. Again, being efficient on the water helps eliminate errors while competing and allows more time for my lure to be in the water. I am constantly asking myself, “What can I do to be more efficient, or Is there something I need to move in order to feel more comfortable while on the water?” The main idea is to make your kayak its own office space to be fully functional for your needs. There aren’t a lot of kayak shops out there that can provide precise rigging the way you want it, but Westbrook Supply Co. does a really good job at listening to your needs and makes it look clean.
Event Preparation
Finally, after completing the first two phases, the last thing is to start preparing for the upcoming tournament season. With so many online, club and national trail tournaments, it can be very overwhelming at times. Sitting down and compiling a list of tournaments that you will fish throughout the season will make it easier for map study, practice, travel plans and etc. Another important point is to read the rules of each tournament trail, so you won’t be caught off guard. This may seem tedious but it will definitely save you from getting disqualified.
Hopefully, this blog has given you an idea of preparation during the off season. If you are in need for kayak parts or accessories, head over to Westbrook Supply Co. website and check out what’s available or contact the shop and ask for Fletch!
IAN HAYNES
Ian has the Heart of a Lion. Don’t let the underdog size fool you as he is restless when it comes to putting in the work and the eagerness to learn. Ian is born and raised in Atlanta, Ga but now calls Rome, Ga. home with his wife and children.
