After a long day and a cooler full of fish, your fishing gear is going to be disgusting. Slime, blood, and grime from the bait will collect on your rod, reel, and just about anything it touches. It's a simple fact of life for anglers.
Yes, I know, a dirty rod and reel can still catch fish, but not for long. Eventually, the battered team will let you down. Keeping your gear clean is the best way to ensure you get the most out of it on the water.
What do you need to clean fishing gear?
At a minimum, all you need to clean rods, reels, and most other gear is some warm, soapy water, a rag, and fresh water to rinse everything off. Even if that is the extent of your cleaning throughout the season, your fishing gear will last much longer and perform better.
If you really want to make sure all of your equipment is properly cleaned and maintained, invest in good cleaning products.
- Mild Dishwasher for Fishing Rods and Reels – Either type works as you will be rinsing the rod thoroughly. However, fish have a keen sense of smell and can be turned off by strong odors. Some experts will argue that lemon-scented soap does not deter fish.
- Clean Rags – Almost as important as cleaning your fishing gear is drying it. Use clean rags to blot up excess water after cleaning to prevent rust from forming on rod, reel and tackle guides.
- Soft bristle brush – Dried dirt is difficult to remove. A little extra scrubbing power won't hurt. Use it to clean reel seats, handles and lures.
- Reel Cleaning and Lubrication Kit – Your reels are probably the most expensive fishing gear you own and the most crucial for fishing. Any oil, like WD-40, will help prevent corrosion and keep it running smoothly, but a complete cleaning kit is the way to go. Burning Reel Kleen Cleaning Kits are the best we have found.
How to clean a fishing rod
Once you've gathered all of your cleaning supplies, it's time to start the process. Let's start with the rod. His rod takes the brunt of the abuse of fighting fish, leaving it in the mud and touching it with slime-covered hands. Still, it's easy to clean as long as you don't let it sit too long before washing
Step 1- Wash it
- Quickly rinse your hose cane to remove caked material.
- Prepare a small bucket of warm soapy water and wipe down the entire rod with a clean rag.
- Pay special attention to the reel seat and handle. Use a small soft bristle brush to scrub the grip and reel seat components. Be careful with cork handles. Every cork handle rod I have is sealed with U-40 Cork Seal that I purchased on Amazon. It makes cleaning much easier without damaging the cork.
- Use the soapy cloth to wash the guides.
Step 2 – Rinse well and pat dry
- Hose off the soapy water well.
- If your rod comes in multiple pieces, separate them and lightly rinse the male connecting end of the ferrule with water.
Step 3 – Inspect for damage
- Look for splinters on cork handles or broken pieces on EVA foam handles.
- Seal the cork handles with U-40 if they break and use super glue to reattach the broken foam
- Take a cotton swab and wipe each guide to check for nicks. As you rotate the Q-tip in the guide, keep an eye out for snagging fibers. This indicates a notched guide. The fishing line is easily weakened by abrasions on the nicked guides. Fixing it can save you from losing expensive fish and gear.
- Repair minor nicks with a small piece of super-fine grit sandpaper. Larger cracks or gouges require a complete repair. Home repair kits are available.
- Check the ferrule connection for cracks and apply a thin coat of paraffin wax to prevent buildup of debris from hindering the connection.
Cleaning and lubrication of fishing reels.
The bombproof construction of quality reels will take some harsh punishment. However, even with the exceptional engineering standards of high-quality reels, regular maintenance is required for them to last a lifetime.
If you're going to spend the money on the best equipment, it's worth the little effort it takes to keep it clean and working well. It's also more fun to fight trophy fish with a well-functioning reel.
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