Rod Maintenence/storage

[NavyVet]

Still fishing here in Iowa, but ice will be covering the lakes here in a very short while and would like to get my rods cleaned up and stored for the winter. I use a Magic Eraser as suggested on this forum on the cork and seems to to the job, but what about the blanks themselves?

 

A mild soap and water? A light application of car, furniture, or some type of wax? Want them looking as good as possible. Any suggestions would be welcome. The rods will be stored indoors.

 

 

[kickerfish1]

You are on the right track. I do the same thing each year once the season is over. Magic Eraser for the cork handles. The foam handle rods I used warm water with a few sprays of 409 and an old tooth brush. For blank and guides I usually use a towel or a paper towel and for the solution it is usually a warm water, and a small amount of dish soap. Once clean I will dry off the blank and guides with a paper towel. I also inspect the guides to make sure they are in good shape. I have never applied any wax to the blank but may try a light coating of wax this year.

 

If your cork handles are severely pitted and the pitting bothers you, you can use wood filler to fill the holes and then use some sand paper to smooth it out. A product like U40 cork sealant applied in 1 light coat helps prevent wear as well.

 

Rod cleaning is often neglected in favor of reel maintenance. When fishing during heavy algae blooms and in lakes with heavy vegetation it often collects on the guides and starts to build up. This is the one aspect of rod maintenance that is NOT for cosmetic reasons but for me is something that needs to get done once a year.

[Glenn]

You'll want to see this:  http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/Rod_Care.html

[Rich in Co]

I use soap and water on the cork, and the sponge that has the green scubby side its much faster than the eraser, and doesn't seem to make the cork seem dry, then wipe the rods down with a damp cloth and in the sock they go for the winter

[S Hovanec]

I never touch the cork and I wipe the blanks down with a shot of spray furniture polish.

[kickerfish1]

I never touch the cork and I wipe the blanks down with a shot of spray furniture polish.

You must wash your hands after every fish. Even with light use my cork handled rods show some signs of dirt.

[Fisher-O-men]

Are you guys serious?  They are fishing rods not surgical instruments.  Just don't lean them in a corner!

[sprint61]

Wipe my down with alcohol, clean/seal handles, and put rod cover on and place in tubes they came in and slide under bed. I don't like leaning my rods up by the tip.

[MickD]

You'll want to see this:  http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/Rod_Care.html

I think the advice to put parafin on the ferrules is bad advice.  Wipe them clean to be sure no grit has gotten onto them, and don't leave them tightly together all winter, but don't put anything on them.  Just asking for trouble.  Put them together properly and take them apart properly and they will work fine.  This is the advice of a rodbuilder of many years experience who knows more about the design and use of rods than most any of us will ever know.  If in doubt, just e-mail the blank maker and see what they say.  Before you put any lube on the ferrule.

[Choporoz]

Are you guys serious?  They are fishing rods not surgical instruments.  Just don't lean them in a corner!

I'm right there with you on the first two sentences.  But you lost me at the end.  They're fishing rods not surgical instruments...why not just stand them up in a corner?  I'm not talking 45 deg and setting something on them, but I'd be surprised if standing them in a corner would do much harm.  I use a vertical rack over the winter, but often stand rods in a corner for weeks or month at a time.

[PourMyOwn]

I wipe the cork down once or twice a year with a heavy duty paper towel (the blue ones in the automotive section) doused with rubbing alcohol. Rods still look great.

[Josh Smith]

I'm right there with you on the first two sentences. But you lost me at the end. They're fishing rods not surgical instruments...why not just stand them up in a corner? I'm not talking 45 deg and setting something on them, but I'd be surprised if standing them in a corner would do much harm. I use a vertical rack over the winter, but often stand rods in a corner for weeks or month at a time.

I seem to recall some old-style glass rods would take a set. I had one I kept in my room that did. This was the mid to late 80's and mounted my Zebco 33.

I've not seen this on graphite to near the same extent.

Josh

[gulfcaptain]

Are you guys serious?  They are fishing rods not surgical instruments.  Just don't lean them in a corner!

I may wipe mine down, but dirty cork grips gives them character.  Shows you actually fish with it and use it opposed to worrying if it's dirty.    So when mine aren't in use, well they are in a floor rack until I'm ready to use them again, with dirty cork grips....lol

[WIGuide]

I clean the grime of the blanks and eyes usually with some warm water. Last year I put some Lucas Quick Mist wax on the blanks. I think I might use some automotive paste wax. I haven't done anything with my cork as I don't mind it being dirty. 

[Evan K]

I just wipe the blanks down with a damp cloth. Will probably use a magic eraser lightly on the cork where it's gotten dirty.

[MidwestBassin]

The way I look at it is, if I fish all spring, summer, fall, and part of the winter without "winterizing" them, whats the point of doing so for if they are going to sit for 2-3 months... Most of us fish quite frequently all year without taking that much care of our rods. But with that being said, hell, cleaning them wont do them any harm. So all the power to you brotha, hope you get your advice. Tight lines

[GoCougs14]

I'm right there with you on the first two sentences.  But you lost me at the end.  They're fishing rods not surgical instruments...why not just stand them up in a corner?  I'm not talking 45 deg and setting something on them, but I'd be surprised if standing them in a corner would do much harm.  I use a vertical rack over the winter, but often stand rods in a corner for weeks or month at a time.

Same here...i have them in my closet, and have them leaning nearly straight up, just enought so they dont tip backwards. The only place the rod touches is about 70% up the rod. I couldnt imagine that doing anything adverse to the blank.

[HoosierHawgs]

Furniture polish. Or if you really want you can use a Cleaner Carnuaba. Seems like overboard to me though.

[HoosierHawgs]

I also check my guides for abrasiveness in the winter with a qtip.

[Puggz]

Sounds like a decent winter project to me.

[Kevinator1]

I clean the grime of the blanks and eyes usually with some warm water. Last year I put some Lucas Quick Mist wax on the blanks. I think I might use some automotive paste wax. I haven't done anything with my cork as I don't mind it being dirty. 

I also clean and put Lucas Quick Mist Wax on the blanks.....quick and easy....the main reason i do it is because it has UV protection in the wax that will help the graphics on the rod to not fade with constant sun exposure. Also i spray it on the guides and inserts so that it will be slick for the line to go through. But i guess i'm a dork because i also clean the cork grips and use cork sealer....that's what you do when you live in areas where the water gets hard in the winter and still want to do something with your fishing gear.

[WIGuide]

I also clean and put Lucas Quick Mist Wax on the blanks.....quick and easy....the main reason i do it is because it has UV protection in the wax that will help the graphics on the rod to not fade with constant sun exposure. Also i spray it on the guides and inserts so that it will be slick for the line to go through. But i guess i'm a dork because i also clean the cork grips and use cork sealer....that's what you do when you live in areas where the water gets hard in the winter and still want to do something with your fishing gear.

Haha I hear ya!  I try to put that stuff away for a little bit. Not because I don't want to monkey with fishing stuff, but if I do it makes me want to fish that much more! Knowing that I can't for quite some time is already almost too much to bear but you add that on top of it and I'll actually go insane haha. 

[Mike L]

I just wipe the blanks down with a damp cloth. Will probably use a magic eraser lightly on the cork where it's gotten dirty.

Ditto

Mike

[bigfruits]

I will clean the cork handles with Dawn soap and warm water and then apply U-40 cork seal to the rods I haven't sealed yet after allowing them to dry overnight.

 

The other previously sealed rods are ignored as far as maintenance, all rods stored upright.

 

How often do you guys reapply U-40 seal?

[ww2farmer]

Store them in the house in the winter, and when not in use during the season, they are in a rod sock in the rod locker of the boat. As for cleaning and maint., nothing fancy. A wipe down of the blank with a wet rag, I'll clean any "gunk" off that has built up around the guide frames or reel seat, and if the cork is really dirty, some Dawn dish soap on a paper towel soaked in hot water cleans it up good enough for me. I check all my guides for issues with a cotton q-tip, and they go to my rod builder for repair or replacement if needed, and that's about it.