Sort boxes in tackle bag - for the 500th time

Strip last year's line off reels

Examine contour maps of lakes you plan on fishing

Search for catch histories of said lakes

Peruse online stores for lures, accessories to put in your wish list

Keep hitting 'refresh' on the Forum to see if there's any interesting talk

Watch bass fishing videos on YouTube 

Just now, Glaucus said:

Watch bass fishing videos on YouTube 

Especially the instructive ones - I think I've downloaded 20 hours or more of educational fishing videos.

Change out hooks on lures. 

3 minutes ago, Happybeerbuzz said:

Change out hooks on lures. 

Grrr - something else to add to the purchase list...new trebles for some of my older lures.

 

Work on your Hook Set.

A-Jay

Ditto all the above. (Gotta work on A-Jay's suggestion some more though ). Also, tweaking and bathtub-testing lures. Which reminds me... I've got a question to post.

 

Also... making videos. Working hard on my next Largemouth Bass Behavior documentary. This one is on the development of behavior, from egg to adult. Big subject, so I've broken it into three parts. Hope to have part 1 out at the beginning of the new year.

Work on your hookset- real time though, no “simulator” like what A-Jay is using ?

Tie some maribou and hair jigs.

I finally start doing things around the house that don't get done.  December should have been a productive month in that department but open water and about 120 bass said otherwise.

I can't think of anything "around the house" that would take priority over all the wonderful suggestions above.

Move or at least take a vacation.

 

Just now, MickD said:

I can't think of anything "around the house" that would take priority over all the wonderful suggestions above.

Around the house stuff gets fitted in between all the work on rods/reels/lures/storage/gaining info.

Just now, roadwarrior said:

Move or at least take a vacation.

 

Fixed income. Can't move - money. Can't take a vacation - money.

Yes, take a vacation to the Bahamas, to a bonefish camp.  Best idea yet.  Leaving in January.

My winter usually goes like this:

 

- Lakes starts to skim so I put my gear away and get ready for ice fishing

- Over about a week I clean all my gear/reels and organize stuff for next season and take note of what I need to get for    next season

- Inevitable warm spell tempts me back out in my kayak wherever I can find open water

- It gets cold for good and the gear goes away for good

- Ice fish for a couple months

- As march approaches and anticipation of the next open water season builds, and ice becomes unsafe, I make too many tackle purchases to scratch the itch ?

Sweatin' to the oldies. Treadmill 30 minutes, Elliptical machine 20 minutes, Stationary Bike 20 minutes. Two hundred crunches and 60 leg lifts. Lifting starts January 2nd. 

Clean reels, organize tackle bag, sharpen hooks, get some home projects done, and watch YouTube videos of other people catching bass. It’s only eight weeks until the first of March. 

14 minutes ago, Bankbeater said:

It’s only eight weeks until the first of March. 

For us - the average ice-out date is April 14

 

14 weeks - ugh.

Go ice fishing or travel somewhere where there is no hard water. Life is too short to not be enjoying your favorite hobbies.

8 minutes ago, soflabasser said:

Go ice fishing or travel somewhere where there is no hard water. Life is too short to not be enjoying your favorite hobbies.

Post in another topic - I don't do Ice Fishing.

Earlier post in this topic - I don't have money to travel.

I just sit and pray for open water

Drink

20 minutes ago, slonezp said:

Drink

That is what most people do. As for other alternatives, you could write a book, sleep, practice the waltz, organize the coins in your pocket according to size and denomination, play a rousing game of mumbley peg, part your hair differently, yawn a lot, and my personal favorite, play "Guess That Smell".  

2 minutes ago, Gundog said:

That is what most people do. As for other alternatives, you could write a book, sleep, practice the waltz, organize the coins in your pocket according to size and denomination, play a rousing game of mumbley peg, part your hair differently, yawn a lot, and my personal favorite, play "Guess That Smell".  

I could, but all those activities require effort.

Contribute to our "Palomar Knot break or Knot slip - Seaguar Blue Line Flouro Leader" discussion. It might go on all winter