Probably the most hated task by fishermen is to clean their tools as soon as they return from a day of fishing, after having an intense emotion of hours of fishing. This is a job that we know must be done without regret, since not doing it could cause problems in the elements themselves, which would gradually age and reduce their useful life.
That is why it becomes very important to get into the habit of cleaning as soon as possible, so that it does not become a problematic or annoying moment. In addition, a routine can be achieved to make cleaning the rod and reels simple and effective.
In this way, our equipment will remain in good condition for more years and it will be difficult for it to rust or break its parts during the day or even while it is stored.
How to Clean the Rod and Reel Effectively
- The rod or fishing rod must be washed after each use and before storing it in its cover, it must be dried completely so that it is not damaged by keeping it wet.
- The reel, on the other hand, simply has to be washed following the tricks that we will tell later.

Next, we will explain how to clean both the rod and the fishing reel in a few steps. You will see that it is not something complicated and, if you pay attention, it will be a quick and very beneficial job for your fishing tools and their maintenance.
How to Clean Fishing Rod
We will start with the rod, which is obviously the main element of fishing. These are the steps that must be followed to do it successfully:
First
A container should be filled with warm water. Fill a cup of vinegar and pour it into the bucket as well. Finally, you should add a little liquid detergent. When everything is inside the cube, I recommend that you mix it slowly so that there is a homogeneous mixture.
Next
You should take your rod and a sponge. Little by little, dip the sponge in the mixture and rub it, without draining, over the surface of the reed, little by little and following the same direction. By following this it is possible to remove all the dirt that has accumulated in the device during the fishing time. Unfortunately, it is not enough to give it a hose.
When you have completely covered it with the mixture, you must pass the cane through water to remove the excess.








Then
Take a dry cloth and remove all the moisture that the cane may have. This procedure should be done slowly, so that all parts of it are dry. If, for any reason, any of them are still wet, the reed could rot on the inside.
Finally
This part is no longer for cleaning but for maintenance, it is important that you apply a lubricant on the entire surface of the cane. You can get a specific lubricant in a specialized fishing store or simply take a little working oil (or even cooking oil or the massage oil that is sold for babies' skin) and run it all over the surface. Let it dry for a few moments and you can already keep it in its cover until it’s time to take it out again for slaughter.
How to Clean Fishing Reels
The reel is a little more complex to clean. You have to spend more time and be very thorough, because you cannot always see the dirt at first sight. Remember that it is very important that it is perfectly clean so that its useful life is very long and its operation does not worsen. (Check our guide on best surf fishing reel and rods with top model compared.)
First
To clean the "reel" it is necessary to start by brushing it to remove all the remains of dirt and sand and other larger lumps.
Next
The reel must be removed from the reel. We must dip it in water and then we can continue in two ways. On the one hand, it can be rinsed under the running tap of cold water, or it can be placed in a container filled with water for a few hours. If you have decided on the first option, it is best to disassemble the brake, as there are some reel models that have a special type of grease that, if wet with water, loses many of its properties.
With the previous action we will get most of the nitrate to disappear and thus we will keep the thread for much longer. You have to be very careful so that the rest of the reel does not get wet, because if water gets inside it, the grease will be affected and will not brake properly.
For this reason, many of the expert fishermen recommend that a well-moistened rag be used better for cleaning this part. The crank, the pick-up, the screws, the body must be properly cleaned ... In short, slowly go through each of its parts.








Finally
The time comes when all the pieces of the reel must be dried. It must be done completely and, once we have finished, it is best to reassemble it and leave it in its proper place in one piece.
Extra Tips:
For this cleaning we can also give you some interesting extra tricks.
First of all, it is recommended to use a silicone spray on the reel that serves to nourish the nylon ropes and that they are completely lubricated for the task. It is usually done when the reel has been cleaned, so that it is brighter. Also, if the rings are lubricated, it is likely that we can achieve a few more meters at the time the cast is made.
In the event that the rings begin to rust, something can be done to stop the damage, there are two measures:
One of them is scrubbing lemon for them (it is known that it has great antioxidant properties), leaving it to dry for a while and then rubbing it with a toothbrush.
On the other hand, you can also apply a degreaser, clean it with a brush and then rinse it with water in both cases.
Final Words:
Thank you for reading our blog on how to clean fishing rod and reel, hope it helps you to clean yours. Share your thought on this in the comment section below and also share with your fisher friends so that they can learn and read it too. Happy Fishing!
You can also check:
- Bass Fishing Tips for Summer
- How to Spool A Fishing Reel
- Fly Fishing and Spinning Fishing Guide for Beginners
- Fly Fishing Reel
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