Posted by Jim E (24.116.99.140) on December 04, 2003 at 15:33:03:
Rod care
What do you mean ? Rod care. That’s right ! A clean rod is a happy rod ! :o)
All joking aside, it is important to take care of your stuff. Rod ferrules should be kept clean and free from all grit. Dirty ferrules will wear down faster ultimately leading to rod sections coming apart when you don’t want them to. Or the dirt will hinder the ferrules from fully seating, again leading to premature separation. Warm soapy water can be used to clean them with and a Q-tip or pipe cleaner is good for getting down into the female ferrule. After they are clean and dry, lubricate the male ferrule with paraffin wax or any candle wax. The wax works great, doesn’t attract dirt and is also waterproof. Now would be a good time to add “line up” dots at each ferrule too, if your rod doesn’t have them already. Sight down your assembled rod to make sure the guides are all lined up then use a fine tipped paint pen, color of your choice, for the dots. One dot each on the male and female ferrules.
I never have cleaned the cork grip but I suppose that if you find that you need to, soapy water will do the trick. Don’t scrub on the cork too hard, be sure to thoroughly rinse off the soap and let it air dry completely before placing the rod back in its storage tube.
For the rod itself, I use a good quality furniture polish, such as Lemon Pledge. Spray the polish on a soft cloth or paper towel and wipe down the entire rod blank and guides. It will clean and protect all in one step. I have heard of those that go so far as “waxing” the rod blank with car wax. I haven’t tried that so I can’t comment as to its usefulness.
I would be amiss not to include the checking of the line guides for scuffs, scraps and burrs during the cleaning process. Use a Q-tip and roll it around in each guide. If there are any nicks in the guide some of the cotton will get hung up on it, revealing its presence. If you find one, it must be taken care of before it ruins your fly line, if it hasn’t done so already.
When I get home from a trip I always pull the rod out of the tube and let it dry out. The same goes for the reel. I never fully zip up the tube/case and have never had any trouble with mold or mildew.
I’m sure there might be some additional steps and concerns for bamboo rods. Maybe Steve N. will chime in and offer the sage advice for grass sticks. ??
Thanks for reading. As always, if you have any tips that you would like to share just email them to me (you will be given full credit). Also, feel free to comment.
Jim Enns <*))))))))><