Have you recently gone on a fishing trip and want to clean your fishing rods? Then you are at the right place. In this blog post, we’ll discuss everything about proper maintenance. As an angler, you already know that your trusted fishing rod needs tender love and care too.
If you want your rod to last longer, then the easiest way is to clean them after using. However, most people don’t do it, or don’t know how to do it the right way.
So today, you’ll learn about how to properly clean your fishing rod. If you are ready, let’s dive in!
Importance of Maintaining a Rod
Losing a trophy fish due to broken rod or frozen reel can be frustrating. Such an event can be prevented only if you clean your fishing equipment after using it. Proper cleaning maintenance is essential to prolong the life of your fishing rod.
Fishing rods and reels are your primary fishing tools, so they are exposed to salt and sand. This alone can damage your equipment. Knowing how to clean them is important to keep them in good working condition. This also avoids wasting your money in buying new tools every now and then.
Regular Inspection and Cleaning
It is important to remember to do inspection every after use. The sooner your gears are cleaned the better. After cleaning your fishing equipment, they will return to their protective state. Leaving your gears uncleaned for long is when the corrosion begins.
Prevention is always best when maintaining the quality of your rods and reels. So the rule of the thumb is to always bring your cleaning items when fishing.
Common Mistakes Anglers Make
- Not cleaning at all – Not cleaning your rods and reels may expose them to corrosion and rust. The saltwater sitting on the surface will eventually corrode and will ruin your gear.
- Not cleaning quick enough – Do not wait to get home before you clean your gears. The saltwater probably dried by then, so it already started the corrosion process. Instead, do the cleaning right after getting off the water.
- Using high-pressure cleaning – Using high pressure on your rod or reel may further cause damage. The water pressure can even force the salt deeper instead of washing them away. So better to use a light misting to clean up.
- Not drying – Drying is an important stage of cleaning. Excess salt may cling on to the water so it is important to dry them off by soft cloth.
- Using detergent soaps – Never use detergent soaps or bath soaps in cleaning your equipment. The properties of soap may cause grease to break down to your rod and reel, so make sure to use only fresh water.
Things to Avoid When Cleaning Fishing Rods
- Never store your rod with a loaded tip – Different problems arise with different rod materials. If you are using a fiberglass material then you store your rod with a loaded tip, the tip will be bent in the loaded direction. Secondly, when your tip is loaded, it will not move or react to different changes in the environment. This is easily avoidable. Just store your rods unloaded.
- Never store your rods in direct sunlight – Some materials like carbon fiber and fiberglass are more sensitive to heat. It weakens the strand of the rod material so the tip will fold and break off eventually. So avoid keeping your rods in direct sunlight or high temperature areas.
- Avoid Transporting without padding – Having your fishing equipment bouncing up and down during transport creates potential damages. So it is advisable to have a hard rod case that will keep your equipment safe during transport.
Another thing is how you load your rods. You need to make sure that your rod is stored in a horizontal position. This is to avoid the risk of getting bent or broken.
- Do not reel all the way up to your jig or lure – Things like this happen when you go excited about reeling. One advice is to always remember that your rod is fragile and be aware of how much line you have in your reel.
Cleaning Materials Needed
- Mild soaps or specialized cleanser – Use any mild soap to wash away all the dirt and saltwater. However, if your rod has that fish scent that cannot be removed by soap, you might need to get a special rod cleaner.
- Clean soft cloths– Clean rags are used to dry off excess water after rinsing. It is important that your rods and reels are completely dry before you store them to prevent rust build up.
- Soft bristle brush – For tough stains, you can use soft bristle brush together with the mild soap. Use the brush to clean the rod, reels, and handle. Make sure to not over-do.
- Lubricant – Your reel should be lubricated every couple of weeks if you fish often. This will prevent premature corrosion while keeping the reel in good working condition.
Step-by-Step Guide on Cleaning Rods
- Disassemble Rod – Disassemble the rod to check and clean the connecting parts. Make sure all sides and corners are clean.
- Wash off dirt by water and cloth– It is important to only use freshwater when washing off dirt and impurities. Use a light pressure water and a soft cloth for some impurities that are hard to come off. Check the inside parts and connecting parts too. Make sure that they are clean, since most of the dirt and salt are collected in those areas.
- Rinse off and dry – Rinse thoroughly and make sure there is no leftover soaps. Only use mild soaps and not detergent soaps. When drying, use a soft cloth. Wipe down and wax if necessary before you assemble them again. Leave it in an open area to make sure that there is no water left.
Cleaning the Handles
Cork Handles
Cleaning the cork handle is essential. Especially with the material, the salt and dirt on your hands while fishing may cling on to the handle.
To remove all the dirt, use a lukewarm water, detergent, and a soft bristle. Yes you need to use detergent in cleaning this type of handle. But make sure that the bristle to be used is gentle to avoid ruining the material. A soft cloth is another option if soft bristle brush is not available.
If all materials are ready, simply rub the handle and rinse. You can repeat the process if necessary.
Foam Handles
When cleaning foam handles, a simple cloth and water won’t do the job. With the material properties, it has the tendency to absorb all the saltwater and impurities. You may need to have a soft cleaning brush or a soft toothbrush to have this type of handle clean. Use only gentle rod safe soap or a mild home soap will do. Dilute the soap with water then brush the dirt away.
Take your time rinsing. Make sure that all the soap and dirt are washed off.
Cleaning the Reels
You also need to check your fishing reel and rinse it with freshwater after using it. Do not directly spray water on the reel, instead soak the reel into a bucket full of water to remove all the dirt or algae.
After cleaning and drying, lubricate the reel if needed. Lubrication ensures that all the moving parts of the reel are working. If you fish quite often, then you need to lubricate your reel every couple of weeks.
Cleaning the Tackle and Lures
When cleaning the lures use a soft toothbrush and apply the cleaner. After cleaning, store it in a cool and dry place inside a soft plastic. This is to ensure that the colors won’t fade or melt during the storing process.
Hooks become dull after repeated uses. To keep the sharpness of the hook use a small sharpening stone. Make sure that before using your hook, it is sharp enough to catch a fish.
Proper Storage to Avoid Damage
After cleaning your rod and other fishing equipment, it is important to store them properly. The first thing you need to do is to disassemble the reel from the rod to prevent tangles. Then, store them in a cool and dry place. Avoid storing them in hot temperature areas or with direct sunlight as it will ruin the quality of your equipment. The final step is to wrap the tools in a towel or dry cloth to protect them against rust or scratches.
Another tip is to always store your fishing rod in an upright position. This vertical position helps prevent the tip from being weighed down.
Fixing Minor Fishing Rods Issues
If your fishing rod is bent or broken you need to know how to keep them working. Below are some tips on fixing minor issues:
Straighten bent rods:
Here’s what you need to do if you have bent rods:
- Find the bent area – Find the deformed area by running your hands along the rod and mark them.
- Apply gentle pressure – With the marked spot, use both of your hands to gently press until straightened.
- Check and repeat – Once the area is straightened, check the entire rod. Repeat the same process if you can see some bend areas.
Do note that when you bending your rod too often can weaken the material.
Replace Broken Guides
Replace damaged guides to prevent lines from breaking. Here are the basic steps on how to replace broken guides:
- Take off the broken guide with pliers
- Use acetone to clean off glue marks
- Place the new guide close to the old one
- Thinly cover the new guide with an epoxy layer and let air dry for 24 hours
- Get rid of excess glue by using a razor blade or sandpaper
Professional Assistance
Some rod problems cannot simply be seen on the surface. When such an event occurs, it is advisable to call professional help. Professionals can help you detect issues with your rod, lines, reels, or even handles.
If you encounter any difficulties such as bend rods or broken guides, you can follow the steps above. If you are unsure about the process of repair, or you have experienced other defects, it is best to call for repair services, specializing in fishing gears.
When is the Right Time to Get a Replacement
Before deciding whether to get a rod replacement or have a rod repair, do an assessment of the damage first. Such damages include, broken tip, missing or broken guides.
If the breakage happens far from the end of the rod, it can still be repaired. However if the damage occurs close to the base, a replacement is advisable.
Broken or missing guides can easily be repaired. A fine-grit sandpaper will do the job.
In assessing if your fishing equipment needs a replacement or repair, depends on the degree of wear. A repair job may be more economical compared to buying a new rod altogether. You can choose to have your equipment repaired by yourself or with a trusted rod specialist. Choosing to call a specialist may cost extra but it could save you from further damaging your rod. Especially if you are unsure if you could handle the repair alone.
Conclusion
Fishing is not just about catching a fish, it’s about enjoying the experience. But how can you find fulfillment in your angling journey if your equipment and tools are not in good shape? Rods and reels take a lot of beating especially during the fishing season.
If you forget to clean up after a good fishing session, the saltwater and dirt will dry up and eventually corrode. Taking care of your equipment is an important step to ensure a safe and enjoyable fishing experience. By cleaning your fishing rods and keeping them in shape, you are guaranteed to perform well.
By ending this blog, we hope that you find some useful tips on how to keep your fishing rods in good shape. If you have any reactions or suggestions feel free to leave a comment down below! We’d love to hear from you.
Additional Resources:
- Best way to maintain your fishing rod: https://seafishingadventurer.com/the-best-way-to-maintain-your-fishing-rod/
- Proper maintenance of rods and reels: https://wd40.africa/tips-tricks/fishing-reels-and-rods-proper-maintenance
- How to care for your fly fishing rod and reel: https://keoutfitters.com/blogs/news/how-to-care-for-your-new-fly-fishing-rod-and-reel
- How to store your fishing equipment: https://www.storwell.com/how-to-store-your-fishing-equipment
- Fishing gear maintenance: Clean and dry: https://www.takemefishing.org/blog/october-2011/fishing-gear-maintenance-clean-and-dry-your-reels/
