Salt Water tips
Salt Water Fishing Tips #4
Sarah Gardner finishes the last week of Salt Water Tips for the year. This week Sarah gives some great advice of how to care for your gear after every use in the salt water. Follow Sarah at @captsarah.
Take care of your tackle, so your tackle can take care of you.
- Pull rods apart wash in fresh water and allow to dry completely before putting into sox/tubes/carriers.
- Rince lines and reels with fresh water.
- Spools can be detached from reels and run under water.
- After being allowed to dry strip off the heavily used part of the fly line and wipe it with a dry cloth.
- You don’t need to do the whole line. The dry wipe will get algae and other grime that a rinse won’t get.
LIcking test
I will sometimes lick my reel after rinsing to check for salt. It is not necessary to submerge reels for extended periods when cleaning. Water and salt can seep into areas where it can’t dry and can cause damage. This includes sealed drags that are supposed to keep water out. Soap is not needed and can potentially break down lubricants in fly line coatings and fly reel grease. Most soaps have smell and fish have noses. I’m very cautious of smell
Soap is not needed and can potentially break down lubricants in fly line coatings and fly reel grease. Most soaps have smell and fish have noses. I’m very cautious of smell
Fly Box Care
I’m not much of a housekeeper when it comes to fly boxes. I don’t rinse flies off, but I do not store soggy salted steamers with “clean” flies. Putting wet flies in an airtight container will create corrosion they are quarantined separately, until dry. Treat the zippers on your rain gear and bags like your other saltwater tackle. Rinse or machine wash and use recommend zipper lubricants.
Putting wet flies in an airtight container will create corrosion they are quarantined separately, until dry.
Connect with the Author - Sarah Garnder
Tuesday tip Contributors Needed
We would love your Tuesday Tips. Please fill out the following form and we’ll send you information for writing a Tuesday Tip.
