Effective Maintenance Will Maximise The Life Of Your Fishing Rods

1. August 16, 2017 Effective Maintenance Will Maximise The Life Of Your Fishing Rods As a new convert to the wonderful world of angling, you may well be looking at the maintenance required to keep your tackle in good condition and maximise its life. Reels need stripping, cleaning, and to be lightly greased. Lures and spinners cleaned and checked. Hooks checked for bluntness or damage, and traces and line checked for weakness. A good maintenance regime is doubly important if your choice of angling is sea fishing. Page | 1

2. The vast majority of both fresh and sea water fishing rods these days are made of carbon fibre, fibreglass, or graphite, so what’s there to go wrong? With the rod itself, hopefully, nothing - very few crack or snap - but it has been known! When fishing from beach, rocky headland or boat, rods get dropped and knocked about. GRP or carbon can get chipped, and guides bent or split. Just 30 minutes checking your equipment after a weekend’s fishing will ensure your kit is up to the job next time out. Although most important for rods that have been used for sea fishing, getting into this routine will help extend the life of your freshwater rods as well. Give It a Bath Once home, break your rod down if it’s telescopic, and immerse in 6” of tepid water. The bath’s great for this. If you’re shower only – well, you can always take the rod in the shower with you. Failing that, use a large bowl of water and old hand towel to give the rod a thorough washing to remove the salt and anything else that may have stuck to it. When you’re sure all salt residue has been removed, use wads of kitchen roll to dry your rod. Check for Damage Carefully check the reel seat and grips for damage. If your rod has cork grips it doesn’t take long for them to become stained and damaged. Over longer periods, unless looked after, the cork can begin to smell. Most camping and fishing shops in Western Australia carry a product named U40 or similar. It’s a good idea to give the cork grips a coat or two of this sealant from the beginning, and then include additional treatment as part of your regular maintenance programme. Inspect the Line Guides The next and most important things to check are the line guides. Even the smallest crack, split or nick will begin to damage the fishing line, and may be enough to cause the line to break just as you’re about to land the big one. Make sure all the guides line up, gently straightening any that may have got bent. Finally, it you have a telescopic rod, a little light oil such as 3in1 rubbed over the ferrules, will help keep the possibility of rusting at bay. Page | 2

3. Although rod maintenance is easily carried out by even the novice angler, replacing damaged guides may cause concern. Replacement guides are available mail order or obtainable from your favourite fishing tackle store. If you are concerned about fitting them, most good tackle stores will bind them for you for a small fee. Remember, keeping your fishing rods and tackle in good condition may make the difference between landing the big one, and telling another fishy story to the lads on a Friday evening out. About Getaway Outdoors: We understand the irresistible appeal of the outdoors. That’s why, as the leading outdoor leisure retailer, we stock a wide range of products and equipment that you can use to boost your enjoyment of the outdoors. We have seven independently owned and operated stores across Western Australia, and one might be near you! Sources: Rod and Reel Care, britishseafishing.co.uk How Can You Preserve Cork Handles?, bassresource.com Rod & Reel Maintenance You are here, tackleworldbundy.com.au Page | 3