Items needed for maintenance and care of tools of the trade: Lysol Disinfecting wipes, Armor All wax wipes, Q-Tips, Rod Sleeves, U-40 Cork Protector (annually)
Rods take a beating during the year whether in the boat, rod tubes, hotel rooms or vehicles. Here are a few ways to help protect your investment and efficiency while fishing.
1. Use rod sleeves at all times when not fishing
2. Remove reels, inspect guides for bent guides (adjust as required)
3. Wipe down entire rod, guide assemblies and eyelets with Lysol wipes monthly unless fishing vegetation, then wipe down daily after fishing to remove any vegetation or residue.
4. Use Q-tips to check for cracked eyelets which may wear your line and cause you to lose the fish of a lifetime.
5. Wipe down entire rod, guide assemblies and eyelets with Armor All wax wipes
6. When rods are not in use store them vertically and separately whenever possible to keep them from being bent for a long period of time.
7. Annually I like to use U-40 Cork Seal on cork handles after cleaning them.
I have watched guys for years change their line nightly, oil their reels, change out hooks on baits, tune crankbaits but never take care of the rods they use. Rod maintenance and care is just as important to your fishing success as everything else.
By Randy “JAR” Hillyer