Don Corey, owner of Annika Rod and Fly in Holden, says early spring — before fishing season begins in earnest — is a good time to get fly rods and reels out and perform basic maintenance chores.
Among the things an avid angler may want to do:
– Check the reel guides to make sure there’s nothing broken, and that there are no sharp spots.
– Check the rod connectors — ferrules — and clean them with warm, soapy water. Lubricating the ferrules is a good idea, too.
– Use Scotchguard or fine sandpaper to touch up the cork grip.
– Soak the fly line and leader in a pot of warm, soapy water to clean it. Then dry the line off with a soft towel.
– Take the reel apart and do the same: Soak it in the water, then take a cloth to dry it off. Writing the kind of fly line on the inside of the spool is a good idea to avoid confusion when on the water.
– Oil the reel shaft lightly, then reassemble the reel.
Simply put: “If you spend a little bit of time taking care of [your gear], it will take care of you,” according to Corey.
Don Corey is the BDN’s director of information systems. Read his blog at visesquad.bangordailynews.com/.