How to Maintain Your Fishing Rods & Reels
By Debbie Hanson
Aug 12, 2016
Save time and money by learning how to take proper care of your fishing rods & reels. Read this for tips on how to keep your gear in prime working order!
Your fishing rods & reels are your primary fish catching tools, so knowing how to keep them in good working order is important. There's nothing more frustrating than losing a trophy fish due to a frozen reel or broken rod tip when the situation could have been prevented. Fishing gear and tackle will last considerably longer if you take a little extra time to properly care for it -- both when in use and when in storage.
Fishing Rod Storage and Maintenance Tips
• Use mesh rod covers when transporting your fishing rods to the boat ramp and when storing them in your boat's rod locker. Not only do fishing rod covers prevent your lines from getting tangled together, but they also provide cushioning to help protect your blanks and guides. Mesh fishing rod covers come in a number of different colors so that you can color code each rod and quickly find the one you need.
• When on the boat, keep your rods straight and side-by-side. Put them in rod holders or inside of your rod lockers. Blanks, guides and reels can get scratched, nicked, and bounced around due to the vibration that occurs while your boat is running.
• When you are done using your fishing rods & reels for the day, remove any hooks or lures that might get tangled in your lines, caught on your vehicle upholstery, or caught on you.
• Rinse off your fishing gear thoroughly with fresh water to remove any dirt, grit, sand or saltwater residue. Once dry, you can wipe off your fishing rod with a soft cloth and use reel lubricant to clean your reel components.
• Store your fishing gear in a proper rod storage rack that keeps your rods from curving and the components from bumping against each other. Avoid leaning your rods up against each other and storing them upright in a corner of your garage -- the reels, blanks, guides and tips are much more susceptible to damage when stored that way.
• If you are storing your reels for more than a day or two, it's a good idea to loosen the drags so that the fishing line doesn't break or pull on your rods.
When you apply these tips for maintaining your fishing rods & reels, you will save time and money on unnecessary repairs. Fishing rod storage can also be an important factor when considering the type of boat that best suits the type of fishing you plan to do. Use the boat comparison tool to help you narrow down your options and choose the right boat for your freshwater or saltwater fishing trips.
Fishing Rod Storage and Maintenance Tips
• Use mesh rod covers when transporting your fishing rods to the boat ramp and when storing them in your boat's rod locker. Not only do fishing rod covers prevent your lines from getting tangled together, but they also provide cushioning to help protect your blanks and guides. Mesh fishing rod covers come in a number of different colors so that you can color code each rod and quickly find the one you need.
• When on the boat, keep your rods straight and side-by-side. Put them in rod holders or inside of your rod lockers. Blanks, guides and reels can get scratched, nicked, and bounced around due to the vibration that occurs while your boat is running.
• When you are done using your fishing rods & reels for the day, remove any hooks or lures that might get tangled in your lines, caught on your vehicle upholstery, or caught on you.
• Rinse off your fishing gear thoroughly with fresh water to remove any dirt, grit, sand or saltwater residue. Once dry, you can wipe off your fishing rod with a soft cloth and use reel lubricant to clean your reel components.
• Store your fishing gear in a proper rod storage rack that keeps your rods from curving and the components from bumping against each other. Avoid leaning your rods up against each other and storing them upright in a corner of your garage -- the reels, blanks, guides and tips are much more susceptible to damage when stored that way.
• If you are storing your reels for more than a day or two, it's a good idea to loosen the drags so that the fishing line doesn't break or pull on your rods.
When you apply these tips for maintaining your fishing rods & reels, you will save time and money on unnecessary repairs. Fishing rod storage can also be an important factor when considering the type of boat that best suits the type of fishing you plan to do. Use the boat comparison tool to help you narrow down your options and choose the right boat for your freshwater or saltwater fishing trips.
Debbie Hanson is an award-winning outdoor writer, women’s sport fishing advocate, IGFA world record holder, and freshwater guide living in Southwest Florida. Hanson’s written work has appeared in publications such as Florida Game & Fish Magazine, BoatUS Magazine, and USA Today Hunt & Fish. To learn more about her work, visit shefishes2.com or follow her on Instagram @shefishes2.
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