Cures for Cabin Fever

For anglers in the off season, especially those that don’t ice fish, dealing with cabin fever can be difficult, and this year even more so with COVID limiting many activities. After a summer of lock downs and social distancing etc. anglers are now faced with a winter without club meetings, film tours, sportsman shows and other events that help pass the time in the winter. Fortunately there are many hobbies that anglers can take up to not only help pass the time but also to add to their tackle arsenal and remain connected to the sport. Tying up your own Walleye rigs, pouring and painting your own jigs, learning to tie flies and making your own wire worms are a few of the hobbies that can help pass the time. Many of these hobbies can also have side hobbies, tying flies can spark an interest in entomology, and tying rigs will improve your knot tying skills. It is also a great time to clean up your neglected equipment and patch those leaky waders.

Cleaning your equipment should be done regularly but it is often "over looked" by many anglers. Take some warm water and a Q tip and clean your guides and tip top. If any of them snag the Q tip it may be time to get them replaced as they can being doing damage to your line or fly line. Clean your reels and oil or grease them according to the manufactures instructions, which can be found on the internet. Fly lines can be cleaned with one of the cleaners from the line manufactures such as RIOs' Agent X or Scientific Anglers Fly Line cleaner. Spin fishermen should be in the habit of putting on new line every spring because monofilament deteriorates over time and changing it every year is a good habit to get into. One way to make sure this happens is to strip the line off of your reels and discard it before putting them away for the winter, this ensures that you will have to re-spool them with new line in the spring. Also remember to loosen the drag on your reels, spin or fly, when not in use. It's easy to ignore small leaks in waders during the warm summer months but come next spring you'll be glad if you get them patched this winter. Many wader manufacturers have tips on line on how to find leaks and the best way to patch them.

Fly tying is a hobby that, while an extension of fly fishing, is a hobby that can be enjoyed even by those that have no intention of ever wetting a line. People get satisfaction from fly tying for many different reasons. Some want to the satisfaction of catching a fish on something they have tied themselves, others want the challenge of a hobby that you can constantly challenge yourself with increasingly difficult patterns. Others see it as a way to both save money and perhaps make money, both possible but not likely. Fly tying can also lead to other "sideline" hobbies, Entomology, the study of insects, often can become another hobby as you research the bugs you are imitating with your fly tying. During your fishing trips during the summer you may find yourself turning over rocks and carrying an insect net to collect insect nymphs for reference when tying. Fly tying isn't limited to only flies, you can use the same tools, techniques and materials to tie custom jigs or make your own wire worms.

Spinner rigs that are trolled or cast are one the most effective ways to fish for walleye and pike. In the Prairie Provinces a spinner rig trolled behind a bottom bouncer has probably accounted for more walleye than any other method. Tying up your own Walleye rigs for trolling is another way to pass some time while creating the "ultimate" walleye catching rigs. Tying your own allows you to choose your components to achieve an original rig. Line can be mono or Fluorocarbon in whatever breaking strength you want. Beads, blades and hooks can all be various styles and colors to make up a truly custom rig, and as a bonus you get to practice your knots! There are many articles available on the internet about tying your own rigs that include knots, spacing and other info to help guide you along.

Pouring your own jigs is another thing for the "do It Yourself" angler, molds are available in many sizes and styles. Once poured you can paint them in either powder paint or vinyl paint in whatever colors you want. You can also grab some fly tying supplies and customize them even further with buck tail, tinsel or whatever else strikes your fancy. Another advantage of pouring your own jigs is that you can upgrade your hooks. There are many grades of jig hooks available and you choose to use a finer hook, heavier hook or even a different color of hook. Molds are also available for sizes and styles of sinkers.

Reading a book or two, whether it be a "how to", fishing fiction or a collection of short stories it can be a great way to spend some time at home during the cold winter months. While books have slowly slipped from favor for many anglers, with everything being available on the internet, many people including myself still like to read books. There's something immensely satisfying about holding an actual book in your hand. Sure if I want to know how to tie a Palomar Knot or where to launch a boat on the Bow River, the internet is just fine, and I use it. If I want to enjoy Hunting and Fishing adventures, from the comfort of my couch I'll grab my copy of Ken Baileys' book "No Place Like Home" or imagine floating down the Bow River with Barry White while reading his book, "My Bow River".

Researching new destinations can also be very enjoyable. One of the parts of a fishing trip further from home, or to a new piece of water, is the research and planning. Finding out where and when to go as well as what you’ll need when you get there can be a lot of fun. Researching what line or rod or reel would be best can be entertaining, even if the trip never comes to fruition. Where to stay, what guides to use, fish species that are available and all the other components that make up a successful trip can all help to pass the time, and when things open back up you'll be ready.

There are many ways to pass the winter months away while remaining connected to the wonderful sport of fishing. Build a rod or a net, refinish an old Bamboo rod or a boat or a canoe. Stay busy and it might surprise you how quickly the winter months with slip away and before you know it you will be getting ready for your first spring trip by researching "Tactics for Spring Walleye" or "Flies for Early Season Trout".