Pro Tip: Lubricate (saliva works well) all your knots and pull hard on them before fishing them to ensure they are solid before tossing them in the water.

Pro Tip: Prepare as much as you can in a staging area/an area away from the ramp. Don’t go to the ramp until you are prepared to launch. While many days on Nova Scotia boat ramps aren’t particularly busy, be cognizant of not tying up the ramp to do things that can be done away from the ramp. That way, if someone comes who is ready to launch or if the launch does happen to be busy, others who are ready to launch are able to access to the ramp, while you’re still prepping.

Pro Tip: Keep this checklist on your phone to easily refer to it when you are getting ready to trailer your boat.

Pro Tip: When fishing a dry fly or dry dropper rig (or any other Topwater rig), look carefully to ensure that you no longer see your fly or lure on the water.  If it’s disappeared, set the hook.  If not, wait until you can’t see it before setting the hook.  Fish will often swirl or hover near it before actually taking it. Make sure they have it before setting the hook!

Pro Tip: Invite a friend or bring kids in small, manageable-sized groups and they will help keep each other engaged, if the fishing is slow.