No matter if you’re a recreational angler who heads out for peace and quiet or a professional captain who wants to engage with all kinds of customers, your fishing gear and supplies need the same level of care and attention to get back into pristine condition. Follow these 8 tips to get your fishing gear back in pristine condition and ready for your next fishing trip.
Table of Contents
1- Regularly Inspect Your Gear
It’s easy to forget about your gear after a long day of fishing, especially when the thrill of the water consumes you. But regularly checking your gear will keep it from rusting and developing major issues down the road. Just think about your tackle, for example. It’s an important part of your setup, but it’s always exposed to potential damage from rocks and bites.
2- Clean Your Gear With Freshwater
Many boats have freshwater hoses, but many anglers also keep a bottle of mineral water with them to wash down their gear, especially after it’s spent so much time in saltwater. Wipe down every inch, paying special mind to lures, hooks, and jigs; you might need to use a spare toothbrush to get into every crevice.
3- Dry Your Gear
It sounds silly, but you’d be surprised how often people forget to dry their gear, forgetting that water causes rust on any kind of metal. Rust seriously damages your equipment, and replacing them is costly, so be sure to wipe it all down with a paper towel or cloth.
4- Store Your Gear Properly
Storing your equipment in a warm area is important to keep the rust at bay, avoiding exposure to condensation and dampness. Your best bet will be a bedroom closet or a similar storage area, but any room that doesn’t experience huge swings in temperature will work.
5- Loosen and Clean Your Reels
Be sure to loosen the drag from your reels after each fishing trip so there’s no unnecessary tension to contribute to wear and tear. A quick hot water rinse works here, plus a wipe down to ensure it’s completely dry. Remember, there are plenty of small areas to dig into.
6- Clean Your Fishing Rods
Special rod holders can help you position your equipment to clean it, but laying them down flat on the floor is a perfectly fine solution. Putting them against the wall runs the risk of setting them.
7- Clean Your Tackles and Lures
To clean a hard body lure, use a wet toothbrush to get the cleaner in all the hard-to-reach areas, and then dry it off. Store soft plastics in a cool, dry place to prevent melting or their color from fading. Fishing weights can be stored anywhere that they won’t be bumped around and damage each other.
8- Don’t Forget the Accessories
Make sure to properly rinse your fishing nets with freshwater after every trip so that rust doesn’t form on it. Then be sure to store it off the ground so nothing gets tangled in it.
Perhaps most importantly, never leave bait in your tackle box! Even a small piece will lead to a terrible smell and infestation of maggots.