Salt Water Tip – Rinse Your Gear

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.

Rinse Your Gear - Capt Sarah UWOTF Tuesday Tip
Sara Chard cleaning up after a day of flats fishing at Black Fly Lodge on Abaco Island.

Take care of your tackle, so your tackle can take care of you.

Take care of your tackle, so your tackle can take care of you. Saltwater is corrosive and will damage even the best rods, reels and lines. When taking a multi day trip a quick spritz at days end is fine. When it’s time to go home or you gear is not getting used for a while be more thorough.
 
Daily Saltwater Checklist:
  1. Pull rods apart wash in fresh water and allow to dry completely before putting into sox/tubes/carriers.
  2. Rince lines and reels with fresh water.
  3. Spools can be detached from reels and run under water.
  4. After being allowed to dry strip off the heavily used part of the fly line and wipe it with a dry cloth.
  5. 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

Rinse Your Gear - Capt Sarah UWOTF Tuesday Tip

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.

In my opinion the big difference between high-end saltwater gear and entry level gear isn’t only about performance. Durability sets the price points apart. A little TLC will keep less expensive gear in top form indefinitely and prevent unexpected surprises on the water.
Sarah Gardner - @captsarah
Rachel happy to be on the water with her friend Kalona. Photo by Kalona Kierstede

Connect with the Author - Sarah Garnder

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