A well-maintained equipment is a guarantee of longevity and especially of no disappointment during the season. So take advantage of the off-season to put everything away properly, neatly and ready for use in the spring.
The cane
Before storing your rod, it is necessary, and even more so for sea anglers, to clean your rod well. A passage under the water jet and a cleaning with soap will do him the most good.
It is important to check the condition of your rings, especially that there are no rust spots on the frames and no chipped ceramics. To check this last point, pass a piece of cotton in each ring. It should never stick!
The reel
Reels are often an expensive investment, so again, it's important to keep a close eye on their condition. In winter, if you can manage it, full disassembly is an excellent option.
At the very least, it is mandatory to rinse it with hot water and dry it, with the brake released, before oiling the various bearings (especially the roller bearing) and greasing the axles. Only then can you store it.
Decoys
In winter, take stock of the condition of your lures and rinse them all if they have been in salt water! Then check all the hooks and remove those that are rusty or dull. Do the same with your broken rings and finally glue the soft lures that have come loose from the lead heads.
Rinse the boxes
Also take the opportunity to clean and rinse all your boxes. Empty them and put them in the dishwasher if necessary.
Turn the braids over
During outings, the last few meters of braid fray and become points of weakness that sooner or later will cause you to lose a nice fish or lures. If you have a hundred meters left on your reel, don't throw it awayâ?¦ but go back to it! You double its life span and increase your lure budget.
Washing clothes
Dungarees, jackets, but also waders and vests are regularly forgotten during laundry. For hygienic reasons, but also to ensure their longevity, take advantage of winter to do a thorough cleaning and check the state of zippers that can get stuck because of salt. In this case, start by putting a shot of WD40 before putting them in the machine. In the same way, it is always useful to put a waterproofing spray on some clothes.
Take stock of the equipment
Finally, take stock of the gear you lost during the season and make a list of purchases to make before the season starts again. If you're sold out, there's always a little something new to try to fill a vacant spot in your lure boxes.
