4 Skills to Practice While Your Boat Trailer is Out of Commission

All across America, folks are getting creative indoors and sharing it with neighbors and social media connections. Be that as it may, some of us just want to fish. If you can’t get out there, here are a few things you can do to buff up your skills while your boat trailer is in the garage and those fish are getting very comfortable without too many anglers on the prowl.

1. Backing Up Your Boat Trailer

If you’re a newbie or just want to get the boat in the water quicker, practice makes perfect. If you are just cozying up at home for quarantine, now is the perfect time to practice backing your boat trailer into the garage or around a corner. If you’ve got it down pat, perhaps teaching someone else in your family would be helpful. It can be a frustrating yet bonding experience to teach a child or significant other how to help with family fishing trips.

2. Tying Knots

The faster you rig up, the more fish you will catch. You can also teach family members some of your favorite set ups or send a video to a fellow angler. Create a knot-tying station in a well-lit area with the following supplies:

• Fluorocarbon leaders – Either cut new ones or dig through your tackle for those shorties you saved.
• Hooks and lures – Make sure to include a variety, as knotting around various hooks and lures will place different demands on your dexterity.
• Braid or monofilament line – Whichever you typically use, or both, will suit your purposes. Clip it into 1- or 2-foot pieces.
• Nail Clippers – You’ll be wanting to trim tags and cut off practice knots so you can re-use the line.
• Weights, beads, swivels, bobbers, and other tackle – The idea is to get “real world” experience and improve your speed. So practice your rigs as if you were standing on the deck, clutching the rod between your knees. Use all the gear you normally would.
• A fishing rod – Tying a line not attached to a rod and reel can sometimes be a bit different, so why not keep your best buddy in the loop (no pun intended).
• A well-illustrated knot tying guide – You might want to learn some new knots too! Fort Myers local fly fishing instructor, Joe Mahler, wrote and illustrated this handy guide: Essential Knots & Rigs for Salt Water.

Already a master at fishing line knots? How about practicing some boat line knots with a few yards of spare rope and a wooden pole (a propped-up broom works nicely). Try some of our favorite knots such as the Buntline Hitch or the Alpine Butterfly Knot.

3. Throwing Your Cast Net

If you haven’t perfected your near and far net casts, why not work on that. It just might prevent muscle atrophy as well. Try casting from ground level, but also try boarding your boat on your boat trailer to make the experience more realistic (and perhaps gratifying).

4. Fly Casting

While casting a surf rod with a squid on the end into the neighbor’s yard may not be appreciated, fly casting can easily be practiced in a fairly small space without injury or insult. Seasoned fly casters and those who are intrigued by the concept would do well to use this time to perfect their roll cast and increase their distance. A few strands of yarn tied at the middle can serve as a fly so that you do not hook the neighbor’s cat. Windy out? That is the perfect time to learn to adjust your cast to the conditions!

Keep these suggestions in mind when your boat or trailer is out of commission and is in the shop for repairs.  

Watch out, fish. When this quarantine is over, you will be backing up that boat trailer and hitting the water with honed fishing skills.