Winter trout and steelhead fishing will be the order of the day for the next few months. The light weight rods and reels will be stowed along with the breathable waders.
Before I cleaned my (2-5wt) reels today for the winter, I stripped the line off them, placed them into a tub of warm water and some mild soap and let them sit for a bit. After a good soaking and sudsing I rinsed them twice in a bath of warm water, then a cool bath before removing them and drying them with a soft clean cloth. In my garage I have some wooded peg coat racks hung up vertically that I hang my rods on when not in use. They also double in the wintertime to hold my fly line. I stow all rods in their protective tube standing up right. In about a week (time permitting) I will take each fly line and clean them a second time using "Renew Line Tool" cleaning system and then restow the line till spring. Excessive? Yes, but if you look at the amount of money you spend on your line, taking care of it is a deal. I also look at my backing, if it has been on their for a while, I will replace it.
Tomorrow I will disassemble my reels clean them, inspect, re-grease and stow in their cases.
I also wash my rods in a warm water soapy solution, wipe with it a clean soft cloth and allowed to dry and then stowed for the winter. While washing them it gives me an opportunity to examine the entire rod from butt to tip top. Any repairs then could be made over the winter at my leisure. I read a post a while ago from a member of NEFF asking how should he clean his cork handle. I have yet to ever clean a cork handle. If I get fish slime on it, all's I ever do is just wipe it off.
Waders will be washed inside and out and hung up to dry before folding and stowed where I will not pile stuff on them over the winter.
Wading shoes, this year will be easy, I sent my "new" Korkers back to the company for a replacement pair.
The main reason I am writing this thread is to see what if anything some of you do for your equipment when put up for the winter.
As always, looking for a better way to take care of my equipment.
AK Skim
PS.
Happy New Year !
Before I cleaned my (2-5wt) reels today for the winter, I stripped the line off them, placed them into a tub of warm water and some mild soap and let them sit for a bit. After a good soaking and sudsing I rinsed them twice in a bath of warm water, then a cool bath before removing them and drying them with a soft clean cloth. In my garage I have some wooded peg coat racks hung up vertically that I hang my rods on when not in use. They also double in the wintertime to hold my fly line. I stow all rods in their protective tube standing up right. In about a week (time permitting) I will take each fly line and clean them a second time using "Renew Line Tool" cleaning system and then restow the line till spring. Excessive? Yes, but if you look at the amount of money you spend on your line, taking care of it is a deal. I also look at my backing, if it has been on their for a while, I will replace it.
Tomorrow I will disassemble my reels clean them, inspect, re-grease and stow in their cases.
I also wash my rods in a warm water soapy solution, wipe with it a clean soft cloth and allowed to dry and then stowed for the winter. While washing them it gives me an opportunity to examine the entire rod from butt to tip top. Any repairs then could be made over the winter at my leisure. I read a post a while ago from a member of NEFF asking how should he clean his cork handle. I have yet to ever clean a cork handle. If I get fish slime on it, all's I ever do is just wipe it off.
Waders will be washed inside and out and hung up to dry before folding and stowed where I will not pile stuff on them over the winter.
Wading shoes, this year will be easy, I sent my "new" Korkers back to the company for a replacement pair.
The main reason I am writing this thread is to see what if anything some of you do for your equipment when put up for the winter.
As always, looking for a better way to take care of my equipment.
AK Skim
PS.
Happy New Year !