Here’s How to Get Ready for Fishing Season

Even the most avid angler will sometimes just leave their fishing gear in a corner after the season’s final outing. Unfortunately, some of it will have taken a beating and be in need of cleaning, prepping, or even replacing. Now is the time to address it. After all, if you’re going to spend good money on great gear, it’s worth the time and effort to keep everything at peak performance. Here’s what to do.

How to Clean & Prepare Your Fishing Rod

Most fishing rods can withstand years of wear and tear, but an abrasive cleaner can damage the rod material or handle. Instead, use a mild dish soap (non-scented) and some clean rags to dry off excess water to prevent rusting. Give your rod a quick rinse with the hose first to remove any debris from last year, then follow these easy steps:

If your fishing rod comes in multiple pieces, take it apart and remove the ferrules (the connecting pieces).
Wash and rinse the ferrules, and wipe the inside of the female ends with a cotton swab.
Check the ferrule connectors for cracks, and apply a light coat of paraffin wax to inhibit debris buildup.
Wash the line guides with soapy water, then scrub down the grip and reel seat areas with a soft bristle brush, taking care to be gentle on cork handles.
If you have a foam handle, reattach any torn pieces with premium glue.
Spin a cotton swab inside the line guides to check for nicks that could cut your fishing line, then sand them out with fine grit sandpaper.
Reassemble your rod and store it in a clean, dry place.

How to clean and prepare your fishing reel

How to Clean & Prepare Your Fishing Reel

First, set up a clean area to work, then lay out a dish towel to place the pieces of your reel as you remove them.

You’ll need small screwdrivers, a small wrench, cotton swabs and a toothbrush, along with any tools and directions that came with the reel.
For a spinning reel, simply remove the spool and add a few drops of oil to the spool shaft and rotating ball joints. Then take apart the line roller and put one drop of oil in the bearing sleeve.
A baitcaster reel is a bit more complicated: you’ll need to take it apart to expose the rotating components, clean out any debris with a swab, and apply grease to the gears and lubricating oil to the shafts.
Once your reel is fully reassembled, apply a rust preventative oil to help protect it throughout the coming season.

Check Your Fishing Lures

It’s also a good idea to prep and take inventory of your fishing lures to make sure they’re in good working condition. Check to see if you lost any lures from last season too, and make note of any missing key colours and sizes to replace or add.

Wash all metal spoon lures with a damp sponge and baking soda to clean the surface and restore the original finish
If you see any rust rub it off with some very fine steel wool to remove all traces
Replace any crankbait that shows cracks, and apply a thin coat of lacquer to restore the finish on your favourites
For your lead head lures, make sure the grommets aren’t clogged and remove any part of the rubber bodies that may have crept over the painted heads
Replace any dried out rubber skirts on your spinnerbaits and top-water lures to keep them attractive to fish
If your soft lures ended up in a balled mass be sure to untangle them as the colour in one rubber lure can bleed into others
Unhook all your lure swivels, and cut off any bits of line that are still attached

Pro Tip: Don’t let a dull lure hook prevent you from landing the big one. To check it, slide the tip across your fingernail while applying light pressure. If it stops and pokes in, it’s sharp. If it continues to slide and scratch your nail, you need to sharpen it with a fishhook file.

Clean & Organize Your Tackle Box

Before organizing your tackle box you’ll want to empty and clean it first. Vacuum out any dust and detritus, then wash it with water and baking soda to remove dirt, stains, and greasy residue. Here’s some tips to make your fishing tackle box more user-friendly for the coming season:

Organize by Species: Keep your trout lures, bass lures, pike lures etc. all together in one spot
Organize by Type: Designate specific sections for jigs, flies, etc. so you can easily find them
Keep soft baits separate and organize themby colour
Use spinner wraps to hold your large spinnerbait to prevent them from getting tangled with each other or your other gear
Keep hooks, weights, floats, and other small items in small trays or compartments
Store tools such as pliers, line cutters, and de-hookers in front pockets or large compartments
Label all your containers and compartments so you know what’s in them without having to pop them open
Consider keeping each type of lure in its own tackle box and only take the box you need that’s relevant to the type of fish you’re going after
Keep a rag in your tackle box to dry your gear and help prevent rusting

Check Your Footwear & Clothing

There’s little chance of turning back once you’re onsite, so you want to ensure longwearing comfort and waterproofing. Here’s what to do:

Put your rubber boots in a tub of water and check for air bubbles. This indicates holes that should be fixed with a rubber sealing compound.
Turn your hip waders inside out and spray them with rubbing alcohol. Any small pinholes will show up as dark spots and should be repaired with a rubber sealer.
Fishing vests and jackets can also lose their original waterproofing. Machine wash them in cold water (heavy rinse and gentle spin) to help restore their water resistance.
You can also us a water-repellent spray on your regular fishing clothes to increase their durability and water resistance.

Cleaning and prepping your fishing tackle is a great way to make the long off-season seem a little shorter. It will also help ensure that once you hit the water you can focus on fishing instead dealing with gear issues.

Here’s How to Get Ready for Fishing Season

About Us

Legal

Help & Support

Services

Home Hardware Family

Inspiration is always handy