Pro Angles: Capt. Rick Bennett
OK, so it’s been cold, windy, rainy, and even snowy on some days. Even so, you gotta know that spring fishing is just around the corner.
I know the garage is cold and getting your gear ready is easy to put off, but what will you do when your buddy calls and says the bonito are biting just off the beach? So if you haven’t already, it is certainly time to gear up for spring fishing.
Here’s a short list for those who do not have a boat to worry about. First, clean all your reels, paying special attention to a few areas that will improve not only their performance but longevity as well. Wipe down the reels’ exterior surfaces with a thin coat of light oil like CRC 666 to create a protective layer that acts as a barrier against salt and corrosion.
Cleaning and lubricating the bail roller is another simple but important chore that anglers should perform on a yearly basis, as a sticky or frozen bail roller twists the line and generates damaging heat as well.
To do so, take out the single screw at the roller end of the bail, gently pull the parts of the roller assembly out, and wipe them down with a clean cloth lightly sprayed with CRC. Add a little reel oil to the roller bearing, and then reassemble.
If the reel is “old,” you might want to open it up and apply a small amount of reel grease just to make sure everything works smoothly. Please do not over grease. That can cause more problems than it solves, making the reel harder to turn and attracting gunk to the moving parts inside. Use just enough grease to keep everything lightly lubricated.
A fresh spool of line is another good idea, and I recommend changing braided line yearly and mono twice or so a year, depending on usage.
On some reels you will need to clean the drag washers. If you are using braid (and you should be), be sure to use a small amount of mono backing and connect the mono and braid with a double uni knot. You can find the uni knot among others at www.animatedknots.com.
Now let’s do the rods. Hopefully you did not put them away dirty from last year. At any rate, give them a good washing with warm soap and water, and use a clean toothbrush around the guides and the reel seat. This should remove all salt deposits from the hidden crevices of the rod. Thoroughly drying the rod with a clean cloth will keep the rod free from water spots and moisture damage.
Did you know you can bring dirty, old looking cork back to life by lightly sanding with 220 grit sandpaper? Just tape off your rod where the cork meets it and then tape off the reel seat. Once prepped, lightly sand for an almost like-new cork grip.
If you want to use any kind of protective coat on the actual rod, I do not recommend any kind of wax treatment. Waxes don’t offer much protection from the elements and can actually trap salt against the rod itself. I prefer to take another clean cloth and spray with Pledge and wipe the rod down. This gives it a nice coat and makes it shine like new.
The reels are ready with fresh line, and the rods are clean and in working order. Now bring on the fish! They don’t stand a chance.
Of course if you have a boat, that brings on a whole new list of concerns that will best be addressed in a future article.
Capt. Rick Bennett, Rod-Man Charters, 910-520-7661
