The first warm day of spring brings visions of happy days on the lake with your favorite rod. Then there to your wondering eyes appears your fishing rod with a bow in it. Leaning against the wall for the winter has caused the blank to take on a permanent bow. It is ruined. A good rod can last a lifetime if properly cared for and maintained. A few simple precautions and you avoid the problem previously mentioned.
Basic to the maintenance of all rods and reels is to keep them clean. Even the most well meaning anglers can forget about daily care of a rod and reel. It is best you wipe the rod down with a light coat of Reel Magic. It counteracts fish oils and keeps sheen on the rod finish.
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Carnauba car wax on the shaft will help clean and protect it from further damage and grime.
Handles of the rods require special care. For the foam handles use soap and water to clean then without causing the handle to expand. For a rod with a cork handle Comet Cleanser and water in a paste form does the trick.
Windex is good for cleaning the reel seats. It will get into the threads and really give them a good cleaning.
Moving to the guides of the rod, it has long been known that passing a Q-tip through the guides will cause cotton strands to be caught on any nicks or chips in the rings. Look for loose rings at the same time. Most loose rings go back into place with a little hand pressure. Continue reading….
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