If you paid even a little attention in grade school science class, you know metal and saltwater are mortal enemies. You may not understand the full reasons why, nor do you really need to know. Just knowing saltwater corrodes metal at an alarming rate is enough.
Why? Because most of your fishing gear is metal – reels, guides on rods, hooks, etc. That’s why Mercury pro Carter Andrews stresses a simple thing to do every time you get off the water.
Rinse your gear with fresh water.
Yet, as straightforward as that sounds, he still shared a few tips in the below video.
1. No Soap!
Reels have a lot of places with important grease. Soap breaks that grease down, making it so parts don’t move as smoothly.
2. Easy on the Power
No need to power wash your reels with a hose on full blast. A light mist or steady stream to soak them to the point of dripping is sufficient. Anything more and you can actually push salt into the reel more.
3. Don’t Forget the Guides
While most focus on the reel, an often forgotten area to rinse off are guides. They’re metal, too, and they often catch salt on the tops as it drips down a rod.
4. Loosen Your Drags
Consider this a post-rinsing tip, as Andrews will back off all his drags before storing his rods to give the drag washers a break and help them last longer.
Pretty simple, right? But these simple things that take minutes to do can make all the difference in your tackle’s performance.
“You have a lot of money invested in your rods and reels,” Andrews says. “If you take care of them, they’ll last a long, long time.”
For more information about Carter Andrews and “The Obsession of Carter Andrews” TV series, visit TheObsessionofCarterAndrews.com. You can also follow Andrews on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter.