winterizing your rods and reels

[HappyHooker]

Since its the beginning of december and my boat is winterized i figured it was about time to start putting my peg board together and organizing everything i own.  I hung all of my rods and reels up in my garage and i got to thinkin, is it good to leave my kistler rods and diawa reels out in the freezing cold for the winter months?  What do you guys do with all your equipment during the winter months to keep them in good working order?

[Lucky Craft Man]

I remove all my reels from my rods for their winter cleaning (plus I don't want to leave them exposed to the extreme cold).  The rods I leave in the garage.  I don't think the cold harms them (though, if I am wrong about this, I hope someone will tell me).

[Raul]

What do you guys do with all your equipment during the winter months to keep them in good working order?

Fish with it. ;D

Ooops, sorry ! closer to the Equator on this side.  

[.dsaavedra.]

i read on reelmech's site that you should remove the reels from the rods to relieve stress on the reel seat to keep it so it is always tight fitting (it will get streched out if you leave it tight for long periods of time and will eventually be loose). so i think im gonna do that.

[Raul]

not only that, back off the drag and cast control cap.

[.dsaavedra.]

good thinkin

[.dsaavedra.]

also, when you store rods, make sure they are either upright in a rack or laying on the floor flat. dont prop them in a corner cuz if they are bent for long periods, they will keep the bend.

[.RM.]

Winterizing:

Remove the reel from the rod, back the drags off on the reel, store the reel in a dry tube sock until ready to service/have serviced the reel. Rods should be cleaned and checked for any damage and repaired, then stored verticaly in a rack or hung buy the tiptop, (again without reels), Basic Care and Maintenance Tips.

Store inside (do not expose graphite rods to extreme cold temps they are not ice rods, even if it doesn't damage the blank, it will damage the epoxy that holds the reel seats and grips to the blank).

[luckyinkentucky]

I have a thermostat regulated space heater in my garage.  I bought it at Wal-Mart for $40.  I use 2 of them to keep my garage at 50 degrees fahrenheit in the winter.  That way I can keep my reels in the cases, my rods lined up, and everything else in my garage doesn't freeze.  

By the way ... I use the radiator / oil  type heaters, and not the ones with the red hot electrical element in them.  You will see what I am talking about if you check them out.