Winterize or not?

[Kspilot]

I live in the midwest where some days in the winter months we might see temps in the 50s and 60s and could go fishing without being to uncomfortable and sometimes the lake don't freeze all winter, im not saying its very many days but we have them,do you winterize the boat or not if using year round?

[Mechanic Bob]

We can get a week of freezing temps, but I fish year around.
Could not deploy my trolling motor last January as it was frozen in place. Had to pour river water over it to thaw it out.
Had the water pressure tube freeze up on me, but no big deal.
I will keep the motor down, as to not allow any water to collect in the hub exhaust.
Change lower unit oil before any freezing temps might occur.
Other than that, FISH ON!

[Chuck H.]

I've never winterized a boat in 30+ years of owning one. I fish all winter and we get plenty of below freezing days. Even if we get a period of real bad weather for several weeks and I can't get out, it's no problem.

[Ranger391v]

Winterize!!!!! ......... take the topwater baits out and put the jigging spoons back in!

[rtfishn]

Fish all winter.

[Spinnerb8]

I fish all winter and have never winterized a boat.

[218_fishing]

Read your manual my Mercury says not to fog, so just clean non oxy and drain/run with rv fluid.

My season ends in November and opens in March, might have to dodge some ice chunks

[BassmanZF6]

What do you call winterizing? It's really nothing more than basic maintenance that you should be doing anyway.

[FES313]

To "winterize" my boat, I add a dry bag with a change of clothes, handwarmers and a towel just in case me or whoever is fishing with me takes an unexpected dunk. The only extra step I take is when I pull out I will lower the motor to let it drain while I do the rest of the prep for travel. I have come home with several inches of snow on the deck of the boat. You want to be on the "bite", fish in a snow storm.

[unknown angler]

Check your lower unit for water, should change gear oil once a year anyway

[rudapa]

I change the LU and run stabil through the gas trying to get it as empty as I can. We sometimes get to fish in late Dec, Jan, and Feb. Worse case is froze from mid Dec - early March. Never a issue with my garage kept boat.

[Fishysam]

Replace your lower unit gear lube late in the year but before it gets below freezing. If it's not water saturated your good to go. Make sure to drain the motor good then raise it up and drain it again maybe a third time even.

[trashmanssd]

I am close to cape cod Mass, and luckily I have had all my boats garaged so I never winterize. If lakes don't freeze (cape cod ponds are the last around here to) and its forecasted to be above 40 and dry we go fishing. Winter fishing is my favorite, almost zero other fishing boats and zero pleasure boats or jet skies. Also almost no one out in the yards it is super peaceful and quiet a totally different experience then in the summer. Also I have a few different propane heaters to take the chill off when I take a break.

[DaveBrabec]

Whats Winter?

[rudapa]

The rainy season for you? Mudslides? HA HA

[Fishysam]

The rainy season for you? Mudslides? HA HA

But they are in a drought for the last 1 year.

[rudapa]

Fire season?