Seasons of all sorts are about to roll out in a steady cadence. Are you ready? We spend all winter with building anticipation for our favorite species to get back within fly range — now that the days are numbered until their return, what are you doing to prepare?

In the insta world of influencing, you’d be amazed to learn that consumerism isn’t the only way you need to get ready for your favorite quarry. Don’t get me wrong buying shit is fun and temporarily rewarding and you should be buying new leader and tipper material annually. The last thing you need when you have on the fish of a lifetime is brittle old leader to pop. You’ll thank your fore-thinking (proactive) self when you get that hero shot. Also, I date my spools with month and year so that I know when they’ve outlived their effectiveness.

There are numerous other ways to prepare that can become meaningful annual rituals. If you fish salt you know gear cleanliness is critical. Even if you’re a freshwater regular, take the time to clean your rods, reels and line. Whether it’s ferrule wax so your rod doesn’t separate at the most inopportune time or that your drag still, you know, works. Cleaning and greasing reels is something that if left undone can really effect performance – even if you’re not tangling ‘poon in the groves.

If you’re one to wrap your leader without a fly around your reel when not in use, then you should definitely remove all line and backing from your reels during this process as the leader wraps under other wraps and will result in cardiac distress when you have a trophy on the line as it screams into the backing and ends in an unceremonious pop. You will cry. Take the time now and avoid tears.

Additionally, look at your terminal tackle. Check your flies, sharpen hooks or replace all together. Similarly, if you’re allowed to fish lead weights and do, reconsider given the environmental impacts. Tungsten is heavier and readily available.

While I implore (!) you to restock your tippet and leader reserves, hopefully these other preseason preparatory rituals will bring you some excitement while also helping your future self land this years fish for the ages.

What did we miss, are there other ways you prepare for your favorite fishing season?