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bartmanaz
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Posted: Tue Mar 4th, 2008 01:57 pm |
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Looking at the calendar this morning and it's less than 90 days til the first big game tournament for 2008, the Ladies International Billfish Tournament on Memorial Day weekend. That is followed a week later by the SCYC/Rescate Tournament.
So what? Time to get to that rod and reel maintenance you put off at the end of last season. Time to go thru those lures and sharpen the hooks, put on new leader and clean them up. For those who use commercial shops to get reel maintenance done, don't wait til the boys start posting here about the pelagic fish they are catching-get that stuff into the shop now to be ready on time.
Let's all post a good maintenance tip to share with fellow anglers-here's mine:
Rod/Reel storage: Best storage is to place rod/reel combos in vertical storage racks in a cool, dry storage area. Don't lean rods against a wall to avoid developing a memory "bend' in the rod. Reels should be stored with drags fully OFF, in free spool and leave the clicker on to prevent the drags from seizing. Make sure they are clean and dry before storing.
Got a tip? Share it.
Thanx
Bart
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Dickrep
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Posted: Tue Mar 4th, 2008 02:21 pm |
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Great advice, Bart...and the next step few steps might be:
1/lube your reel bearings and other lube points on the reels
2/check your wind on leader leader attachments (if you are using wind-ons) and be certain that the mono has not slipped significantly inside the hollow braid.
3/check your mono for frayed areas (best done by letting line out from the boat with a small lure on back, and checking as you rewind) or simply replace the top shots if you haven't done so recently.
4/and of course, begin going through your big game lure inventory and sharpening hooks as well as checking the terminal crimp areas for problems.
Dick
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bahiatrader
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| Joined: | Mon Apr 23rd, 2007 |
| Location: | Laughlin, Nevada USA |
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Posted: Tue Mar 4th, 2008 03:17 pm |
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| It's almost mandatory for me to shop around and see if there's any new lures, rigs, or gadgets that may improve chances. How else could the tackle companies stay in business? How else would my tackle boxes get so full and cluttered with mysterious things? I've probably still got a Heddon Sonic lure somewhere that I bought when they first came out in the late 50s or early 60s. Last edited on Tue Mar 4th, 2008 03:44 pm by bahiatrader
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Stuart
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| Location: | Tempe, Arizona USA |
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Posted: Tue Mar 4th, 2008 05:02 pm |
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- Check the leader on all your lures for nicks or frays.
- If the leader is more than a year or two old, consider re-rigging with fresh leader. Salt, sun, and our desert heat are hard on monofilament of any test. Even if you haven't caught fish with a particular lure, it's worth re-rigging it if you plan on using it.
- Sort out and inspect your trolling lures. Look for rusty hooks, tattered skirts, corroded crimps and connections.
- For resin lure heads, consider polishing them. Use automotive rubbing compound to remove a fine layer of resin and scratches, then polish with a good car wax to restore the lustre and shine.
- I do the same with my fishing poles each year - lightly compound, then wax them, to restore the finish to the epoxy. I also check all roller guides and lube them. These commonly seize up with saltwater use and corrosion. Use a very fine emery cloth to remove any corrosion from the regular metal guides.
- As already mentioned, lube the reels and check your drag washers. I generally take mine apart, clean them, use Penn Reel lube, and polish and clean up all the drag washers, replacing any that are burnt or hardened.
Sort of a shameless plug here, but if you need re-rigging or re-skirting on any of your lures, I provide that service. Don't throw away your old Zucker feathers or other lures; I can rework or reskirt most of them for you good as new. I also do reel maintenance and service on most reels. Send me a message for more information.
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bahiatrader
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Posted: Tue Mar 4th, 2008 05:34 pm |
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| This might be like flogging a dead horse, but be sure and rinse everything, including roller guides with fresh water after every use in saltwater. It will save on wear and tear in the future. If you store monofilament line, do it in a dark place, and it will last longer. I always test mono for strength before I use it. Last edited on Tue Mar 4th, 2008 05:35 pm by bahiatrader
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bartmanaz
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Posted: Tue Mar 4th, 2008 06:06 pm |
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No flogging but remember not to rinse your reels with pressure, including that handy dandy hose nozzle-all that will do is drive the salt in. Gently, gently....
Bart
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bahiatrader
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Posted: Tue Mar 4th, 2008 06:13 pm |
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| I generally soak my reels in a five gal. bucket of fresh water. Us geezers, as Stuart once called me, know how to make things last, or we might not make it to being a geezer.
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Stuart
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Posted: Tue Mar 4th, 2008 10:55 pm |
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I believe the word I used was 'codger,' not geezer. Heck, I'm in geezer territory myself! 
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bartmanaz
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Posted: Wed Mar 5th, 2008 12:40 am |
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I really wish you youngsters would quit using either term. Know I am a lot closer to SS benefits than Stu. Can't speak relative to BT.
Bart
Last edited on Wed Mar 5th, 2008 12:41 am by bartmanaz
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bahiatrader
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Posted: Wed Mar 5th, 2008 01:12 am |
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| I've got a few years on you guys. If you want to be codgers or geezers, it's OK by me. Please accept my public apologies for mis-quoting you Stuart.
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bahiatrader
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Posted: Wed Mar 5th, 2008 01:43 pm |
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| Back on the subject: The reason I soak the reels rather than use a hose is to make sure the salt is dissolved in every little nook and cranny of the reel. Reels that take tools or more than just a little effort to remove are just laid across the bucket on the rod with the reel hanging into the bucket. I then fill the bucket to the brim with fresh water, and go on about my other business letting them soak for at least an hour. This gives the sodium and chlorine ions plus any other minerals time to diffuse entirely throughout the entire five gallons leaving your reel virtually salt free. I crank the reel a couple times in the fresh water to make sure it circulates everywhere. There might be faster methods, but I've got reels that have been used in saltwater for more than 50 years that still work smoothly.
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bahiatrader
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Posted: Sat Mar 8th, 2008 03:45 pm |
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| It's also a good idea before you go South if you live in the US to make sure all of your paperwork is in order, i.e. licenses and TIP if applicable. I also check the current fishing regs just to refresh my memory and to see if there are any changes or anything new.
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