The holidays are such a great time to spend with loved ones and friends. With us anglers, we become so busy with the fishing season, we sometimes overlook the amazing things our friends and family do for us. This holiday season, take time to thank your family and friends for supporting you. Without them, we could not be our very best. Happy Holidays to everyone!

Many anglers continue fishing right through the winter. If you are not one of them, then here’s what you need to know about winterizing your gear.

Where you store your boat for the winter is important. If you can store it inside you will be far ahead of game. If not there are many more things you must attend to for the coming harsh weather.

Your motor is the most likely problem after sitting up all winter. Gas deteriorates with time and can foul your engine. The newer blends of gas with ethanol in them are bad for outboard motors, too. If possible, buy gas with no ethanol added the last two times you fill up each season so no alcohol is left in the system. It is best to store your boat with a full tank of gas, too.

Lower your motor until it is straight up and down and store in that position so water runs out and does not collect in it. Add a gas stabilizer like Sea Foam to your last two tanks of gas so it works through the motor as you run your boat. It will clean your motor and you are ready to store after the last use.

You can also disconnect your gas line and let the motor run until all the gas in the system is burned up, but this also removes the oil. Once the motor is running stabilized gas, or after it stops if you run it dry, spray an engine fogging oil into the air intake until the motor stops running. If it is already stopped keep turning the motor over until you see the fog coming from the exhaust port.

Remove spark plugs and spray more fogging oil into the cylinders. Turn the flywheel to spread the oil inside. Have a new set of spark plugs ready for the spring, but it is best to wait to install them until you can run your motor one time to burn off the fogging oil. New plugs installed now will be fouled by that first trip.

Drain your lower unit oil and refill with new oil. If you see water in the oil or if there are metal filings in it, you will need to have it checked for new seals or repair work.

Put in a new water pump. Water pumps in outboard motors wear quickly and it is a good idea to replace them often.

Spray all linkages and connectors in your motor with a good oil spray like WD-40. Disconnect manual steering cables and make sure no water is in them, and force grease into them if they don’t have a grease fitting. Grease all fittings for steering and motor mount bearings. Put a light coating of grease on the starter bendix and shaft.

Next, park your boat and raise the front. Pull the drain plug and leave it out. This lets all water drain from it and will keep water from collecting in it during the winter. Disconnect your batteries, make sure they are filled with water, clean the terminals and connectors and put a light coating of grease on them, and charge the batteries. Keep a trickle charge on them or check often to keep fully charged all winter long.

Take all equipment out of the boat and disconnect and store all electronics indoors after cleaning them. Spray all connectors with an oil spray. Clean and store life jackets where vermin won’t chew on them. Check and store expendable equipment like fire extinguishers and flares, making sure they are still good. Put fishing equipment aside for later work.

Take off your prop and grease the prop shaft. Check for damage to the prop and get it serviced if necessary. Replace prop and tighten to specifications for your motor.

Check trolling motor bolts and fittings and tighten. Remove the prop and make sure no line is under it, and the seal is still good. Grease all moving parts of the mounting system and the cable.

Wash and wax your boat and trailer, including the motor cover. This removes dirt and stains that may set over the winter and be almost impossible to remove later, and then the wax protects the finish.

If you have power steering on your boat, check the fluid level. Check the fluid level in your power trim too. Disconnect the speedometer tube and blow the water out of it. Check all cleats and other fittings and tighten all bolts and screws, especially on seats. Spray all seats and other similar surfaces with a good vinyl spray to protect them.

When the boat is clean and dry, put a cover on it if it stays outside. Make sure the cover keeps rain, snow and ice out of the boat, but allows some air circulation so condensation won’t build up inside. Secure and support the cover so it won’t blow off and ice and snow can’t collapse it.

Now, jack up your trailer and block it so the tires are off the ground, and leave it that way. Pump up tires to recommended inflation, and if you can store tires inside, do so. Repack wheel bearings and check surge brakes for wear. Check tires for uneven wear and get them balanced or aligned as needed. Cover your tires to protect them from the sun if they are outside. Grease your tongue jack and hitch connector, and spray oil spray into both male and female light connectors.

Make sure all lights are working and sealed, with no water inside. If you see water, take the cover off, dry them out and spray with an oil spray. Replace bad bulbs and cracked lenses, and secure all wires to the trailer that may have worked loose.

With all the talk about the Alabama Rig, I want to discuss about a couple of other baits that can be configured very similarly to The Alabama Rig. The QuickStrike and Sidearm Spinnerbaits by Secret Weapon Lures www.secretweaponlures.com are a great alternative!

The Secret Weapon Sidearm Spinnerbaits employs free-floating, interchangeable, in-line spinner blades. It creates a unique flash and vibration with its two side-by-side spinner blades. This arrangement creates even more fish-attracting commotion in the water than tandem blades mounted in series. And it creates additional lift, enabling you to retrieve this lure at slower speeds than is possible with conventional spinnerbaits. Great for fishing above submerged vegetation or slow-rolling along the bottom, the blades twirl at the slightest turn of your reel handle. The Secret Weapon Sidearm offers more options than ever before. A removable V-frame blade bar supports dual, side-by-side spinner blade attachments. Not only can these Quick-clip, inline blades be removed and replaced in seconds, but the entire blade bar can be un-clipped and the bait converted to a single- or tandem-blade short-arm spinnerbait.

The Secret Weapon Quickstrike spinnerbaits are engineered and built to last for many years; a rugged lure for anglers who reach back into heavy cover for trophy fish. Free-floating, quick-clip blade attachments make blade reconfiguration a snap. In seconds, without tools, anglers can radically change the sound, speed depth, and flash of their lure. A few bodies and handful of blades yields hundreds of fish catching combinations.

Every Secret Weapon Quickstrike Spinnerbait combines innovative design, bleeding-edge technology, superior materials, and handcrafted beauty. The Quickstrike is engineered for performance, built to endure, with versatility that means better value and better results. Feel the difference from the very first cast. Tie one on and be convinced that no finer spinnerbait exists anywhere.

This lure is available in two weights (5/16- and 9/16-ounce) and ten popular patterns for stained or clear water.

Check out www.secretweaponlures.com to order yours today!

With all the talk about the Alabama Rig, I want to discuss about a couple of other baits that can be configured very similarly to The Alabama Rig. The QuickStrike and Sidearm Spinnerbaits by Secret Weapon Lures www.secretweaponlures.com are a great alternative!

The Secret Weapon Sidearm Spinnerbaits employs free-floating, interchangeable, in-line spinner blades. It creates a unique flash and vibration with its two side-by-side spinner blades. This arrangement creates even more fish-attracting commotion in the water than tandem blades mounted in series. And it creates additional lift, enabling you to retrieve this lure at slower speeds than is possible with conventional spinnerbaits. Great for fishing above submerged vegetation or slow-rolling along the bottom, the blades twirl at the slightest turn of your reel handle. The Secret Weapon Sidearm offers more options than ever before. A removable V-frame blade bar supports dual, side-by-side spinner blade attachments. Not only can these Quick-clip, inline blades be removed and replaced in seconds, but the entire blade bar can be un-clipped and the bait converted to a single- or tandem-blade short-arm spinnerbait.

The Secret Weapon Quickstrike spinnerbaits are engineered and built to last for many years; a rugged lure for anglers who reach back into heavy cover for trophy fish. Free-floating, quick-clip blade attachments make blade reconfiguration a snap. In seconds, without tools, anglers can radically change the sound, speed depth, and flash of their lure. A few bodies and handful of blades yields hundreds of fish catching combinations.

Every Secret Weapon Quickstrike Spinnerbait combines innovative design, bleeding-edge technology, superior materials, and handcrafted beauty. The Quickstrike is engineered for performance, built to endure, with versatility that means better value and better results. Feel the difference from the very first cast. Tie one on and be convinced that no finer spinnerbait exists anywhere.

This lure is available in two weights (5/16- and 9/16-ounce) and ten popular patterns for stained or clear water.

Check out www.secretweaponlures.com to order yours today!

Recently, I was invited to serve on the Pro Staff for Dig In Anchors, as well as, install the Shallow Water Anchor System on my Stratos. What is the Dig In Shallow Water Anchor System, you ask? Well here is an informative review.

The Dig IN Shallow Water Anchor is a pole style boat anchor. This (patent pending) product, is the perfect addition to any bass boat, flats boat or shallow water skiff. It was developed by boaters for boaters to replace a rope and claw style anchor.

With three models to choose from, 5" Offset Classic Mount, 10" Offset Extended Mount and the Bow Mount, The Dig IN Shallow Water Anchor System will fit on any boat setup. Each unit is constructed with aircraft grade aluminum. Anchor Systems are available starting at $179.99 much less than other systems which retail for over $1,600.

It has been installed on boats all over the United States and Canada. From Maine to Georgia and Florida to Texas. Out west in California too. Dig in works along the Coast, on Lakes and in Rivers. No longer will you have to use a noisy trolling motor to keep your boat positioned while trying to fish or a heavy anchor on the sandbar. No more drifting all over the place.

Developed for Boaters by Boaters

Once you get a Pole Style Shallow Water Anchor, you will wonder how you have gone without it! Dig IN is the best way to, anchor easily, control your boat position and keep silent when needed. No more dealing with the splash, mess and wasted storage space that rope and claw anchors require.

It is never a good time to have the engine give out! Well it did it again today as clients, Mike and Rick are fishing with me on an all day trip. We were running down the lake around 45 MPH and the motor kicked up, made a noise, and shut down. Luckily, we were near a boat ramp. The lower unit blew up and cracked the lower unit housing. The boat is at C & O Marine getting fixed.

What a beautiful day on Old Hickory to have the Fall Bass Tournament! Had three keepers to get me into 7th Place. Caught over 40 bass today, but they were mostly a half an inch short. Did have a bass around 4 pounds that short struck at my buzz bait. I am blessed to have had the opportunity to fish the tournament with a great bunch of fishermen.

Well the Thursday Night Summer Series has come to an end. What a great tournament trail and most importantly, great fellowship and brotherhood. I am proud and honored to have won the Boater Division among great competitors in a pretty tight race. Congratulations to my very good friend, Robert Hunter for winning the Non Boater Division.

Fall Fishing and Competing. Only a few more tournaments left this season. As I reflect on the year, it has been a great one! Sitting in a very tight race in first place in my Thursday Night Summer Series tournament, I have one more Thursday night to do my very best. Fishing, or should I say catching, has slowed down since Tropical Storm Lee came through the area and cooled the water temperatures off nearly twenty degrees. Now we are having cold fronts come through the area now, dropping temperatures even more and making the fish even more tight lipped. Hopefully with some homework and patience, I will be able to find fish this week and finish well. Wish me luck!

Having the privilege to fish with several new friends and customers has been great, not to mention several fishing tournaments. Having my boat out for nearly eight weeks put a hurting on my guiding, so now making up for lost time. Just very blessed to have the opportunity and ability to guide and compete!

Spent an absolutely great weekend with our Wounded Vets! Drove to Mineral, VA and helped my good friend out, Ken Kirk with hosting the American Wounded Heroes Fall Bass Classic this weekend. Met some awesome new friends and proud Veterans. It was a great event, and gives me motivation to bring the event to Tennessee.

Well my Stratos is back and she is running great. So glad to have it back. Now to take out customers for some great fishing fun, but also have several tournaments coming up. Will be a very busy next couple of months. Thanks to C and O for their great work.