Winter time = maintenance

Winter time is not the greatest time to go fishing, and most people prefer to stay indoors watching fishing shows to satisfy the craving when it gets too strong.
Fortunately, in most parts of SA, winter does not mean that all fishing activities have to come to a complete halt, but it is usually only the most dedicated to the sport that willingly suffer the cold and endure the tough bite of winter fishing.
Traditionally, fishermen use their time indoors doing routine maintenance and repairs to fishing equipment, like rods, reels, lures, boat, boat trailer, trolling motor and outboard motor.

Tackle
This is the time to find a spot where you can peacefully unpack your tackle box. Make sure sharp hooks and lures with trebles are not accessible to pets or young children.
Systematically inspect each lure for external damage. A little bit of clear nail varnish or lacquer does a great job when you need to seal a minor crack or paint chip. 
Check and sharpen each hook.  If there are any that are rusted, bent or straightened, replace them. Check your split rings and line ties. Replace anything that looks a bit suspect. Check that your crankbaits and jerkbaits swim true. If not, you can ‘tune’ them by gently bending the line tie on the bill in the opposite direction you want it to swim.
Perishing spinnerbait and jig skirt rubbers can be replaced with tiny cable ties.  Replacement skirts are available at most tackle stores. Make sure you always have a couple of your favourite colours available, should the need arise to replace the skirt.  Sharpen the hooks!  Check all swivels - does the blade still spin effortlessly when you blow on it?  Replace all inferior swivels with ball bearing swivels.  Remove any blemishes or abrasions on silver and gold spinnerbait blades with really fine steel wool and polish with a little Brasso.  Sharpen the hooks!

Rods and Reels
Remove all the reels from the rods.  Systematically check the rod from butt to tip.  Look for nicks, cracks and chipped line guides.  Minor damage can be fixed at home, but any serious repairs, like hairline cracks and damaged guides, are best left to the specialists.  Your closest tackle dealer should have a list of rod ‘doctors’ in your area.
Just as it is important to regularly service your vehicle, so it is important to regularly service your reels.  Most tackle stores will know of someone who will service them for you, but it is cheaper to do it yourself and really not that difficult.  There are plenty of ‘How To’ guides on the Internet.  Do a little bit of homework and teach yourself to service your own reels.
Once your reels are serviced and cleaned, it would be advisable to replace your line.  If you are a regular angler who fishes once or twice a week, you would need to replace your line at least every 3 months.  If you only get on the water once a month, you could get away with a 6-monthly line replacement and if you are only an occasional angler, once a year should do.
Hang in there.  Spend your off time wisely.  Spring is just around the corner, and before you know it, we will be fishing for lunker bass again!