Fly rods are the most expensive component of the fly angler’s arsenal, yet how many fly fishers give it the care and cleaning it really deserves? Follow these steps before the season opener and regularly thereafter and fish with confidence!
- Clean. Clean your rod with mild soap and warm water and pay special attention to the reel seat and cork handle. Most “fish gunk” builds up there, attracting dirt and other substances that can harm your rod’s finish and damage the reel seat.
- Inspect. Inspect your rod for signs of wear. Check the guides, wraps, ferrules, cork grip, and reel seat for wear. Don’t forget to check your guides for rough spots by pulling a nylon stocking through each guide. If the nylon snags, that’s a sign of a rough spot that could damage your fly line. Attach your reel and make sure the reel seat functions properly. If in doubt about any problems, take the rod to a local fly shop for repair.
- Polish. After cleaning and inspection, polish the rod and reel seat with a quality furniture polish such as “Pledge”. Spray some on a soft cloth and work it in over the entire rod; then buff the rod to a nice shine. The resulting light wax coating will help repel dirt and grime.
- Clean the grip. Once the dirt and grime build-up is removed, it’s time to restore the cork grip. A great product for this is soft scrub cleanser with bleach. It cleans well while restoring the cork to its original color. For best results, wet the grip, apply cleanser to a damp sponge and scrub the cork well. Rinse the cork grip under running water and dry the grip and with a soft clean terry cloth towel. When dry, the grip will be clean and look almost new again.
- Don’t forget the ferrules. With your rod clean and polished, it’s time to lubricate the ferrules. This improves seating of the rod sections and prevents ferrule slippage which can lead to breakage. Clean the male and female portions of the ferrule with rubbing alcohol and wipe off any residue. Drying the ferrules with a clean, soft cloth and then apply a light coating of white candle wax to the entire surface of the male ferrule.
Keep your fly rod clean and in good repair and you’re sure to protect an expensive investment for many years of fly fishing.
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