HOOKED.  Saturday will be the nicest day of the weekend with generally calm conditions turning into light south winds by evening, use it to get outdoors and catch those first runs of fish, but don’t get hooked, things get breezy again tomorrow. As you get set for the season, we have some suggestions and guidelines for hook modification and inspection in today’s Three Things.

Featured Photo: Get the Message!  A sharp hook point will easily scrape a fingernail, letting you know it’s ready to catch fish. Simonson Photo.

 

WEATHER (Bismarck Forecast):
Today: Sat 4/13 – Calm – Hi 49, Lo 27, Wind L&V
Tomorrow:  Sun 4/14 – Southerlies – Hi 47, Lo 29, Wind S@20, G30

 

SOLUNAR (Bismarck Times):

Sunrise        Sunset
7:00AM       8:29PM

Moonrise      Moonset       Overhead    Underfoot
1:22PM        4:05AM       9:10PM        8:41AM

 

Moon Phase: Waxing Gibbous (60% Full)

 

EDGE HOUR:  8:30-9:30PM.  The evening bite will be best as winds turn slightly south and sunset and moon overhead align in the Edge Hour.

DAY RATING:

 

THREE THINGS:

REMOVE.  Barbs on hooks hold fish well but removing or mashing them down will help with quicker releases.  Use a small hook sharpener or file to grind them off or a pliers to smash them flat for quicker turn-backs of fish, as desired or required on some out-of-state waters.

REPAIR.  Use a hook sharpener to hone the points of hooks on well-used lures or that last jig that seems to be the magic color. If a hook point leaves a small white line on your fingernail when scraped across it, it’s generally good to go another round!

 

REPLACE. Spring is a good time to check the hooks on favorite baits and replace as needed.  Either upgrade factory options on crankbaits or add on advanced hooks, like trebles with a single wide-gap hook on them or dressed options.  Make sure they’re sharp and do the fingernail test on new offerings as well.

 

 

Stay Sharp!