The state of many angler’s tackle boxes and fishing gear is often below par, with plenty of rusty hooks, damaged lures and unloved rods and reels.  When that big fish hits and screams off taking line only to break away and earn its freedom, that angler will no doubt be upset and probably blame gear failure.  Spending time and money out on the water hunting for that PB fish only to find it, hook up and then lose it because of a lack of gear maintenance is simply not cool.

After every fishing trip, all rods, reels, and tackle should be thoroughly washed down.  Saltwater is your worst enemy and if you remove it then the tackle you spent all your hard-earned dollars on will repay you with more fish.  A wet rag is a good idea to use over your rod and reel, don’t blast it with high water pressure from a hose. 

After fishing, throw your jigs and lures into a bucket of water and then lay them out on a rag or towel to remove excess water or leave to dry in the sun. This will remove salt and help prevent corrosion so you can fish with them again on your next trip out.

Give your lures a good once over and if some of the skirts or assist hooks need replacing. Remember jigs and lures can last for a long time and over several trips, but hooks get blunt, and skirts are damaged by fish, so you want them in good shape for the next outing.

Spraying your tackle with Inox MX3 provides excellent protection against salt, moisture and corrosion. After each trip, give your rod guides, reel, pliers, and knife a gentle rinse with fresh water before drying them thoroughly and applying a light coat of Inox.

Pay particular attention to rinsing and drying your hooks. While hooks are technically a disposable fishing item, there's no reason reason to throw money away replacing them every trip. Saltwater can quickly cause rust and corrosion, reducing their strength and sharpness. Keeping your hooks clean and corrosion-free will help ensure solid hook-ups when the next fish bites. This simple routine helps prevent rust, keeps your gear performing at its best and extends its lifespan.

It’s important to give your reels regular maintenance as ball bearings and moving parts will rust and stop working when used in saltwater environments.  Penn Precision Reel Oil is ideal for line rollers, handle knobs, ball bearings and worm gears.  You need to keep important bearings lubricated and moving.

Penn Precision Reel Grease is vital and important for working parts on your reel such as the pinion and main gears, spool shafts and drag systems.  While CRC Tackle Guard is used to spray down reels to help protect against corrosion, to lubricate and help displace water.

Most fishing rods don't break because the fish is too big, they break because they're put under pressure in ways they weren't designed for. The biggest culprit is high sticking, this is where the rod is lifted too high and the load is concentrated in the tip rather than being spread through the blank. Keeping your rod at the correct fighting angle and letting the drag from the reel do the work will greatly reduce the risk of breakage.

It's also worth remembering that many rods are damaged before they ever see a fish. Knocking them around in the boat, shutting them in a car door or tailgate, transporting them unsecured, or storing them where they can be bent or crushed can all create small fractures in the blank. These weak spots may not be visible but can cause the rod to fail later under load. Treat your rod with care on and off the water, and it'll reward you with years of reliable performance.

While most guide technology has significantly increased, both performance wise and durability wise, they can still get broken, particularly the inserts within the guides frame. Broken tips can easily be repaired using Burnsco’s handy repair kits.  A broken guide can damage or cut your line when casting or fighting a fish, so you need to replace it asap before heading back on the water.

After removing the damaged tip or guide with heat, melt the glue stick and apply tip guide to top of rod.  Then heat the barrel end for 5 seconds and push tip onto rod, holding in place for 30 seconds for glue to set – simple!

For other guides throughout the rod, these will need to be carefully removed and rebound, take these to your nearest rod repair facility or, our local Burnsco will be able to send these away to be replaced.

Taking the extra 10 minutes at the end of the day to give your precious gear some TLC will pay off in the long term and you are better prepared to land that trophy fish next time out.  

Do you have any questions?

Please, contact our friendly team on 0800 102041 or email: website@burnsco.co.nz

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We provide general information on products, not personal advice.  Always seek the help of a relevant tradesperson if you have a technical query.