Clean Up And Storage After The Long Range Trip.

[Tsmithson]

WOW,
That was a lot of work to wash and scrub salt and scales off of 12 rods. Rinse, dry, oil/lube 14 reels. Wash/dry rod and reel covers. Try and get blood out of good sun shirts. Go back through all the gear. Etc…

I would love to hear any good tips on clean up, organized storage, removing wind-on’s to reuse later? Do you rinse your good lures to get the salt off? Does anyone wax their rods anymore?

Thanks

 

[hucklongfin]

I’ve had to soak the hooks on jigs in vinegar then use a brass brush to remove rust… on a dozen jigs. JRI’s are the worse, I don’t know what cheap hooks they use but they rust whenever they get wet. Rinsing on the boat alone doesn’t get it done. Rods/reels can be rinsed on the boat then rinsed better when I get home. I think I’m going to start going over the rods with Pledge too.

 

[Tsmithson]

I’m storing most of my rods in fishing rod socks so I tagged them making it ez for me to identify.

 

[kahuna bass]

Love the rod bags, so organized!!

Cleaning rods and reels are always needed. For what tackle costs, you really have no choice but to take the time to get them ready, especially for the next fishing season. Matter of fact, I took my Penn 50SW down to parade rest, removed old grease, changed drags, re-lubricated, and assembled it back to operating condition.

Went through my jig bag and rinsed jigs and worked on some that were rusted (hooks). Hooks can go bad so quickly. It never ends

Mel - Kahuna bass

 

[ripped]

I keep a tray on top of my long trip tackle bag and an open spot in my shorter trip box for used jigs n hooks. Nothing gets close to stored tackle to cause corrosion to migrate. In my stateroom I have a rectangular dish washing tub that I use to rinse the salt off tackle and reels. Once home, I rinse my rods, reel covers, and rod socks. I’ve been using Penn’s spray cleaner/ corrosion preventative on my rods n reels for years. For the rods, I spray a rag with it and wipe them down and spritz n wipe reel seat threads before going back in their socks. My reels get a spritz then a wipe down with the same rag. I leave them out for a couple of days to let the internals dry out before backing off the drags and storing away for the next trip. Jigs get the same treatment.

It may sound laborious but it really goes pretty fast once you make it part of your routine. Using rod socks to and from the boat is a bit of a pain once on board but most of my rods still look new after a decade or more of use. Tackle costs way too much these days to not make it last.

 

[JohnTFT]

I have someone else clean and store my rods for me.

Hooks and terminal gear I used - usually throw away.

Jigs - wash on the boat and air dry.

Throw almost every t-shirt out. Usually 1 pair of shorts as well.

Reels - Sell all my reels after every long trip. Easier than having to maintain them.

 

[wils]

so who is going to start the new industry of cleaning rods, reels, and clothes for Long Range fishermen? I'm thinking $25 per rod, $100 per reel, $10 per shirt. $15 for pants, $5 pair of socks, NO UNDIES. Plus shipping of course. If the angler isnt married, you can even offer putting clothes back in the closets and dressers......

 

[Montaukmaniac]

I have someone else clean and store my rods for me.

Hooks and terminal gear I used - usually throw away.

Jigs - wash on the boat and air dry.

Throw almost every t-shirt out. Usually 1 pair of shorts as well.

Reels - Sell all my reels after every long trip. Easier than having to maintain them.

"Reels - Sell all my reels after every long trip. Easier than having to maintain them."
Your very fortunate to be able to do that Prof., with no financial impact!

 

[Montaukmaniac]

I’ve had to soak the hooks on jigs in vinegar then use a brass brush to remove rust… on a dozen jigs. JRI’s are the worse, I don’t know what cheap hooks they use but they rust whenever they get wet. Rinsing on the boat alone doesn’t get it done. Rods/reels can be rinsed on the boat then rinsed better when I get home. I think I’m going to start going over the rods with Pledge too.

Yep! I double fresh wash, Salt-X & Corrosion-X my gear as well. Once on the boat & then again at home. The pledge definitely assists in preserving the rods finish IMHO. I'll fresh water rince the jigs, bombs & lures, dry them and spray Corrosion-X on the hooks & fittings.

 

[JohnTFT]

"Reels - Sell all my reels after every long trip. Easier than having to maintain them."
Your very fortunate to be able to do that, Prof. with no financial impact!

Works out for everyone. I get new reels. Someone else gets a great deal on a reel with one or 2 trips on it.

 

[Cubeye]

Looks like everyone cleans their rods, reels, jigs, hooks, etc. and stores them for the next trip.

But I have never heard of anyone cleaning their tackle box or tackle bags. I clean mine after every trip. Especially the zippers. Have you ever broken or misaligned a tooth on a zipper? It ruins the whole bag.
Clean and wax them.

I also remove the line from my reels after every season and wash them. Some say it's a waste of time.

And, of course, clean and service each reel after each season.

 

[Ksurg]

Reels get a very careful rinse, hand dry and Corrosion-X on the boat. Usually let them dry fully at home. Always strip down to spectra too.

Rods get rinsed, wiped and Corrosion-X on guides and reel seats. Sometimes will clean further at home to remove stubborn scales.

Used hooks mostly get tossed but some of the more expensive swiveled or ringed circle hook rinsed. Same with trolling lures and jigs that were actually used. Don’t like putted any “flavoring” on terminal tackle, so I skip the Corrosion-X.

Clothes are dealers choice. I’ve tried throwing things away, prewashing, washing…
I don’t like buying cheap stuff and throwing it away. Cheap stuff isn’t necessarily comfortable. So, I have gradually collected a long range “go bag” of clothing. All comfortable reasonable quality stuff. I wash it as best I can when I get home but accept stained as long as clean and passes the sniff test

 

[thinman]

I have someone else clean and store my rods for me.

Hooks and terminal gear I used - usually throw away.

Jigs - wash on the boat and air dry.

Throw almost every t-shirt out. Usually 1 pair of shorts as well.

Reels - Sell all my reels after every long trip. Easier than having to maintain them.

I agree with lines 2- 4, 1 and 5 Really? HAHA. I won't have to maintain or clean any of my gear this season, the Excel canceled my trip again. 3 out of the last 5 years. Getting old!!!

 

[Explorer1]

I also remove the line from my reels after every season and wash them. Some say it's a waste of time.

And, of course, clean and service each reel after each season.

After every trip, I remove PE line and rinse every single feet of them. I wind the line onto a big spool, put that spool into a bucket of water and wind it on another spool and let it dry before I store in a drawer. Most said I am stupid/crazy
Reels ~ stripped and grease/oil every trip too.
One thing is, I don’t have a lot of reel like most of you so maybe I can spend time doing that. 4-7 reels depending on what kind of trip.

 

[Cubanaso]

I have someone else clean and store my rods for me.

I've been doing this wrong the whole time.

 

[Workplacesafety]

I guess I'm really lucky. I do the best I can getting everything well cleaned up after each trip. Then I have a 3 year rotation for the reels. Just put the one's that need to go in a separate reel case and drop them off with one of my fishing buddies and give him the "do whatever they need".

Anything serious I send to Bryan Young (Alan Tani). I don't have great eyesight or finger dexterity so I get everything as clean as possible, then send the reels off. Haven't had a reel failure in many years.

 

[Ksurg]

I guess I'm really lucky. I do the best I can getting everything well cleaned up after each trip. Then I have a 3 year rotation for the reels. Just put the one's that need to go in a separate reel case and drop them off with one of my fishing buddies and give him the "do whatever they need".

Anything serious I send to Bryan Young (Alan Tani). I don't have great eyesight or finger dexterity so I get everything as clean as possible, then send the reels off. Haven't had a reel failure in many years.

Full disclaimer on my earlier post. I also have my reels gone over by Alan Tani at least every year.

 

[ZZZZZ]

I have someone else clean and store my rods for me.

Throw almost every t-shirt out. Usually 1 pair of shorts as well.

Reels - Sell all my reels after every long trip. Easier than having to maintain them.

pretty rad and funny at the same time. Classic

Salt X drys reels out imo. Especially level wind reels.

 

[JohnTFT]

I've been doing this wrong the whole time.

This post made me laugh my ass off. Then I thought I came across like some entilted douche bag.

So I need to clarify how this became reality for me. I would rinse my rods off with freshwater and bundle them up and take them home. Bring them back next trip with scales and all kinds of debris dried on them.

Then started to clean my rods half assed with some friends on the ride up the line.
I did such a bad job they would usually finish them for me.

The person who stores my gear in San Diego, doesnt want my nasty shit at his house so he cleans and pledges my rods when he gets home.

Now I am coming across like Oscar Madision. In reality I am a clean freak about everything else but my fishing gear.

I own a tackle shop. I take care of other peoples gear with precision and care.

My own stuff - whole different ball game.

 

[ZZZZZ]

I didn't take it that way. You work hard clearly and in the industry

You get reels at wholesale and spectra. Makes perfect sense. Seeding the market after your trip with a reel set up tits. While doing some testing. Reel manufacturer should be stoked

Might want to save some good juju shirts. White shirts with memorabilia stains

 

[ZZZZZ]

A good sardine should feel like a wet bar of soap.

Speaking of scales. Wonder if the fish processors could scale fish and dry the scales. Sell as real glitter chum in huge burlap sacks. Scoop sprinkle scale chum. Add into the chunk line

Showing up after a bait ball got wrecked. Scales everywhere fish are still close by

I like chipping off dry scales off the rod with my finger nails. Incredible how they adhere

 

[hucklongfin]

Wow, I guess if I was a little more flush I’d just leave it all on the boat and get all new for the next trip.

 

[JohnTFT]

Might want to save some good juju shirts. White shirts with memorabilia stains

Almost all of the shirts go in the trash. I do have a pair of lucky shorts however........

Wow, I guess if I was a little more flush I’d just leave it all on the boat and get all new for the next trip.

This stuff at retail has become a major investment. As ZZZZ pointed out I am in a position where it makes sense for me to get new reels every trip.

To give you all an idea how much I hate dealing with my own tackle. Getting it to the landing. Putting reels on, taking them off and cleaning all of that - I detest it. Only part of LR I dislike.

I like Wahoo fishing better than dealing with my rods and reels. And I hate those slimy bastards.

On a 16 day I didnt put a reel on a rod ever on the trip. I started the trip out with a brand new MK50SEa narrow on an Okuma rail rod - boat gear. I broke the reel on the first fish (216). Got another reel and broke the spectra on the next fish I hooked.

That evening Chowdah and Rudy put a bunch of my reels on my rods without me asking.

If they didnt do that - I would have fished boat gear the entire trip.

 

[hucklongfin]

I miss Sean/Chowder! He was my wingman on my 1st fish over 100# that went 298.8#.

 

[JohnTFT]

I miss Sean/Chowder! He was my wingman on my 1st fish over 100# that went 298.8#.

I spoke with him last week. Hes knocking it out of the park.

Works on a purpose built ATB (Articulated Tug And Barge) he is the master in charge of the barge. Its route is Alaska! They come down to the lower 48 and fill up then go to AK and fuel the islands for the winter then do a lot of work in Dutch Harbor.