RODS MAINTENANCE

Basic Care and Maintenance Tips
Use the following care and maintenance tips to ensure long life and dependable performance from your rods.

Always store rods in an upright position or in a rod rack that supports both ends of the rod. If rods are stored by leaning them against a wall, the blank may develop a bend.
Do not store rods in an area that may encounter extreme heat (i.e., car trunk, boat rod locker, etc..).
Do not store rods in direct sunlight for extended periods of time. This may cause the coating on the rod to fade or break down (which can open up the blank to potential damage and weakening).
Do not store rods with tension on the line (such as when the rod is set aside with the lure still attached to the line). This may cause the rod to develop a permanent bend.
Do not carry rods in "bundles" as this can cause nicks in the rod blank and / or damage to the line guides. Carry the rods separately and store separately.
When transporting rods in a vehicle or boat, position them so the blanks don't rub against a sharp edge that might cause abrasion to the blank or damage to the line guides.
When storing rods for an extended period of time (during the off-season), be sure to loosen the reel seat to release the constant pressure on the reel seat material. This will help prevent the reel seat from developing a loose fit with the reel foot.
Do not slip lure hooks through the line guides for storage (or immediately after using the rod). This can create nicks in the ceramic line guide that will cause damage (fraying) to fishing line. Always use the frame of the reel, the reel seat, or hook clip (if the rod has one).
Always rinse the rod after fishing in salt, brackish, or algae-filled water. These waters can leave a harmful residue on the rod and line guides that can cause corrosion and a build up of dirt and grime that will cause wear (to line guides) and / or damage to fishing line. After fishing these waters, remove the reel and thoroughly rinse rod with fresh water and use a small toothbrush to clean around the line guides. Wipe dry with a clean dry cloth.
Periodically clean the cork handles by using a mild detergent and a plastic scouring pad.
When fishing with the new "Super Lines," always set the drag to allow for some slippage on hooksets.
If the drag is set too tight, hard hooksets may cause the rod to break resulting in a lost fish and / or personal injury.
Never try to free snags by using the rod to "bounce" the lure free or to break the line. Use a stick, boat paddle handle, boat cleat, etc. when freeing snagged lures or hooks (especially when using the new "Super Lines").
Periodically run a cotton ball or a piece of nylon stocking through each line guide to check for line damaging burrs on the inside of the guides (these materials will easily snag on any burrs).