Rod Care After Being Used Fishing: PART 1
This is a good care outline we found. Use it after you get a custom built rod from Big Bite Custom Rods.
If you have any questions about caring for your custom built rod please contact us at BigBiteCustomRods@gmail.com or visit our website www.BigBiteCustomRodBuilding.com
- Avoid at all times to knock the rod against hard surfaces. Small scratches and nicks may cause rod breakage.
- After fishing, rinse your rod and dry it with a soft cloth before putting it back into the sheath.
- Better not put a rod wet with seawater back in its sheath, as you will contaminate it with salt. If this cannot be avoided for transport reasons, wash the sheath thoroughly as soon as possible.
- Never stow a rod in its tube. This can trap humidity and cause corrosion of the guide rings. This is especially recommended for cane rods.
- At least twice a season or more frequently when fishing in saltwater, inspect the rod rings with a magnifying glass or slip a wad of cotton through them. Small scratches will hold some cotton… and also damage the line that goes through the ring. These rings should be replaced immediately.
- Check if no water seeps under the wrappings and corrode the guide ring legs. Once rust is seen, the ring should be replaced immediately.
- With cane rods, inspect the varnish regularly: if water can penetrate under the protective layer, it may cause the bamboo to rot or the strips to become unglued.
- Wash the rod with lukewarm soapy water and a soft sponge. An old tooth brush will remove the dirt from the guide rings and reel seat.
- Getting the cork grip to look like new again is easy. Take some very fine, waterproof sandpaper (the one used for car paint jobs) and a bar of ordinary hand soap. Wet the rod grip and sandpaper thoroughly. Apply soap on the sandpaper and gently rub the grip. Be careful not to scratch the rod itself or the reel seat. Rinse, let dry and admire the result.
- Small holes can be filled with natural coloured wood putty or with a mixture of cork filings and woodglue.
- Once the rod is clean and dry, spray it with plastic renovator or furnishing spray. You can apply a very light coating of fine oil on the reel seat.
- Avoid stucked ferrules by rubbing some parafin (or candle wax) on the male ferrules.
- The best way to stow a rod over long periods is to hang it in its sheath on a nail or clothes hanger inside a wardrobe. This is especially true for cane rods: leave a cane rod leaning against a wall for a long period and you will discover it will be slighty curved.
