How do you get back in the zone after not fishing for a few months?

[fishhound]

How do you get back in the zone after not fishing for a few months? Do you practice your casts in the back yard or do you just jump right in and start going after the big ones?

[Got Fish??]

I try to catch  several  weekly shows, on  the Fishing Channel   and Fox Sports. Just to keep  a mental  vision  of  presentation and see what's new on the market. GO though  my tackle , change  line, sharpen or change  hooks. Have my rods repaired,Pack all the tackle  away  that I said,I was not going to buy at the fishing show.  GO to Bass pro  spring  sale. Pick up all my soft  bait for the season . Buy new gear to replace the old gear I could not repair. Take in  a Few seminars.Then in the spring, jump up in to   the saddle  and go!!

[djkimmel]

I just go whenever I can, try to remember the right way to tie a drop shot, avoid using it if I can catch them on a spinnerbait or Deposit Swim Jig or a crankbait instead!

I also sometimes reenact scenes from goofy movies because I fish better with humor in fishing. That's my zone, and I'm sticking to it!

[Got Fish??]

I bought   a few new t-shirts to wear   fishing next season. One of  them has Curly Howard on the front  of it. Dose that count?

[TimH]

My way is to try and not get out of the zone to begin with, but obviously living in Michigan, fishing year round isn't an option.  Here is what I do to keep "fishing focused" year round.  

January: Attend the Ultimate Fishing Show. Attend seminars, look at and buy tackle and gear.
February: Outdoorrama and Bass Pro Shops Spring Classic.  Attend seminars, look at a buy tackle and gear...(I might have a tackle buying problem)
March: Do spring maintenance on boat at home.  Take boat in for yearly check up at marine mechanic.  Service and clean all of my reels. Starting practicing pitching and flipping in my back yard.
April:  Spool up reels, go through final tackle prep, load boat, and get ready for the last weekend in April!
May: Fish
June: Fish
July: Fish/reorganize entire boat
August: Fish
September: Fish
October: Fish
November: Fish/winterize/prep boat for winter storage
December: Strip line off all reels, go through all gear carefully and create of list of what needs to be replaced or repaired.

Another thing I do year round is read about bass fishing.  I get both FLW and Bassmaster Magazine, plus websites like this help out a lot too.  I also watch fishing related shows whenever I can.  I have my DVR set to record all Bassmaster, FLW, MLF, Hook and Look, Zona's show, Mercer's show, and occasional another show like Timmy Horton Outdoors.  I also listen to "Dock Talk", a really good Michigan fishing podcast.  This past year I have started tying my own jig skirts and painting crankbaits and top water lures, so that has been helpful as well.
Just trying to do something every week that is fishing related really helps and its easy to do even if you don't have a lot of time which I don't.  The podcast can be listened to while driving to and from work.  Reading magazines can be done whenever you are attending to business in the bathroom. And as for watching TV shows and tying jigs or painting crankbaits, I get up way early on my days off, just so I can watch those shows and work on the various projects I have going.

[dartag]

Spend as much time on the water as I can.  You can pick up tips at seminars and TV but nothing beats practicing on the water.  Hopefully we will be able to start earlier this spring.

[fishstick]

Never leave the "zone" in the first place, hunt/ice fish/do something outside that causes you to react to different situations or conditions. Fishing is more about making decisions than anything, and staying active in the outdoors always has me feeling ready to go.

[djkimmel]

TimH you are detail-oriented, aren't you?

I've been using my birding time when I can't go to water to feel the outdoors. It actually helps. I can still 'blend in'... a little.

[TCook]

I actually look at our winter as a positive when it comes to improving on your game so to say. I reflect on how tournaments (or just normal days or trips on the lake) played out and the decisions I made from the previous year almost on a daily basis. It's important to dissect those gameplans to be better prepared next time. The offseason is also an ideal time to do inventory on your tackle, restock, and organize. You should maintenance your equipment as well to keep everything tip top.