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How To Keep Your Fishing Gear In Great Condition – Everything You Must Know!
Whether you’re a professional captain or a recreational angler, your fishing gear is what makes your adventures a success. Learning how to look after your fishing gears the right way will not only increase your chances of landing that fish but also ensure that you have the best possible experience.
Whether you’re a professional skipper or a recreational angler, your fishing gear is what makes your adventures a success. Learning how to look after your fishing gear the right way will not only increase your chances of landing that fish but also ensure that you have the best possible experience.
That’s why keeping your fishing gear in good condition is extremely important for every angler. It also saves you thousands of dollars in the long run. So, if you are an avid angler and want to know how to keep your fishing gear in prime condition you’re at the right place.
Here in this guide, I will give you some great tips for keeping your gear in tip-top shape to knowing when to replace your lures and reels. I will also explain a few basic steps and habits that you should implement to get as much use from it as possible.
So what are you waiting for? Without further ado, let’s get started!
Pro Tips To Keep Your Fishing Gear In Good Condition
There are several important factors to consider when it comes to keeping your fishing gear in good condition. They include;
1. Inspect Your Gear Regularly
Most people overlook this vital aspect at the end of a fishing day. Keeping an eye on your gear more often will save you from big issues down the road.
Every once in a while you should look over all of your gear. Check all of the hooks, lures, lines, and reels. Be sure to look at each item carefully. You should make sure that the hooks and lures are secure.
2. Clean Your Gear with Fresh Water
After a long day in saltwater, you should clean your gear with fresh water to prevent rusting and corrosion. Once the gears have been cleaned and dried thoroughly, lubricate them with oil. It will keep your gear smooth and clean.
Pro Tip – In addition, if you have a lot of lures to clean, you can put them in the dishwasher for a quick rinse if you don’t have enough time. Make sure to take them out as soon as possible after the cycle is over.
3. Store Your Gears In A Warm Area
When you store your equipment, make sure that the space you use has a constant temperature. If your storage area is very cold, it will affect the life of your equipment. You should store your gear in a warm area that protects it from dampness.
Thereby, you should use a dry place to keep your gear in good condition. Don’t let the moisture soak into your gear. Make sure that you cover your equipment with a tarp when you are not using it.
4. Dry Your Gear Thoroughly
Aromatically, if you’re a seasoned pro, it may sound silly. Despite this, many people fail to dry their gear after they clean it! Every type of metal rusts when it is exposed to water. When it comes to fishing gear, rust is a serious problem.
It’s therefore important to dry your gear to prevent corrosion. After washing, just wipe down your gear with a cloth or paper towel.
Even so, it is not recommended to leave fishing gear exposed to direct sunlight because it can damage the material. You should put your gear somewhere that is not damp to keep it dry. This is a good way to keep your gear protected. You should put it in a dry area that will protect it from moisture.
5. Fishing Tackle Care And Maintenance
Primarily, the tackle is an essential part of any angler’s equipment. It’s also one of the most vulnerable items in the tackle box, especially if you fish for hours on end. In addition to being exposed to water, rocks, bites, and other hazards, tackle can get dirty and damaged throughout a fishing trip.
Before taking your boat out again, check your tackle thoroughly and make sure everything is working properly. Use white spirit to clean off any dirt and grease, then wipe down each piece to keep them in good condition.
Once again, sunlight is a big factor in causing equipment failure. don’t leave it in direct sunlight any longer than necessary. put all small items (leader line, swivels, etc) back into the tackle box, or at least out of the sun.
6. Rod Care and Maintenance
It’s true, fishing rod care is very important. You must maintain your rod to keep it in good condition. There are various techniques that you can use to help you to maintain your rod. A dry and away from direct sunlight area is the best place to store rods, as mentioned earlier.
Moreover, rods should never be stored on top of anything or with any flex in the rod. The best way to store rods is with a rod rack, and the rods can be stored vertically or horizontally. Rod gloves are another great piece of added protection for your rods. They help protect the lines and guides.
7. Reel Care And Maintenance
When it comes to your reel care and maintenance, you need to make sure that you clean your reel after every outing. There are many moving parts on reels, including gears, ball bearings, and many other components that can wear out over time. With proper cleaning and lubrication, a good quality reel can be easily maintained.
That’s why cleaning your reel is important to ensure that you have the right amount of lubricant and anti-seize agent. If you want to clean the reel quickly, you can use a reel cleaner. This will help you to prevent any damage from occurring.
Pro Tip – Try to always de-rig after every trip. If leaving your rod and reel rigged up, loosen the drag to release the pressure off the drag system. This will also help to increase the life of your reel.
How Often Should Replace Fishing Line?
How often you should replace the fishing line depends on how often you use your reel. If you use it very rarely, you might want to change your line once a year. Nevertheless, if you use it frequently, you should change it more than once per year.
As a result of frequent use and exposure to the elements, even the finest-quality line will deteriorate and fray over time. But that does not mean you cannot prolong the lifespan of your fishing lines.
You can increase the lifespan of your fishing line by checking it after every trip. Make sure to wash off all salt, and store it out of direct sunlight.
If you follow the above-mentioned tips, not only will your reel remain intact, but all your gear will remain safe and functional for a very long time.
Generally, fishermen use three kinds of lines.
1. Braided line
3. Monofilament line
Fluorocarbon and monofilament lines will need to be replaced more frequently than braided lines, but braided lines should be checked for frays and knots periodically.
To see a detailed explanation of each and a comparison between them, check my posts at
Fluorocarbon vs Monofilament Lines
Braided vs Fluorocarbon Fishing Line
Benefits Of Keeping Fishing Gears In Good Condition
The benefits of keeping fishing equipment in good condition are numerous.
- Improves the life of the fishing line
- Improves the durability of the reel
- Keeps the fishhooks sharp
- Keeps the hook points and barbs clean
- Increases the lifespan of the reel
- Protects the surface of the fishing rod from wear and tear
- Reduce Injuries and Fatalities
- You will not have to pay thousands of dollars for repairs
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What’s the best way to clean my fishing gear?
To clean your fishing gear, first, you should remove any lures or hooks from the equipment. Then, you should take the gear apart and wash it with soap and water. If you notice rust on your gear, you can use a little bit of oil to help prevent it from rusting further. After you finish cleaning the gear, you can put it back together.
How often should I clean my equipment?
If you want to maintain the quality of your fishing gear, you should clean it at least once a week. If you use your equipment for several days at a time, you should clean it more frequently. Cleaning your gear regularly will help to keep it in good condition and to prolong its useful life.
How should fishing rods be stored?
If you are going to use your fishing equipment, you should make sure that you store it properly. The best place to store your gear is in a dry location. Don’t store your equipment in a damp basement. Also, hang your fishing rod holders or your vertical fishing rod rack at least a foot above the garage floor.
That’s A Wrap
All in all, Fishing gear is essential to every angler. Without a doubt, it’s one of the most valuable items in your tackle box. For that reason, it’s important to take the necessary precautions to keep it in good condition.
There are several simple ways to maintain your fishing gear, but the best way to do it is by following the tips that I have provided here. You should remember that when you catch fish, you are improving your chances of catching more. So, make sure that you keep your fishing gear in good shape!
I hope now you have a clear understanding of how you can keep your fishing gear in perfect condition. Still, if you have any questions don’t forget to drop a comment below. Thanks for reading this article! As Always
Tight Lines
Tony, Creator of Get Reel Fishin