We saltwater anglers are tough on our tackle – and fishing gear is anything but cheap. You want to keep your goodies in tip-top shape? Then check out these 10 tackle tips for saltwater anglers.
- Place a small block of cedar inside built-in tackleboxes on boats. The cedar will absorb moisture, and help minimize corrosion.
- After sharpening hooks, run a Sharpie marker across the area that’s been ground down. The coat of ink will help prevent corrosion.
- Tighten the drags on your reels before rinsing them down, so water doesn’t get inside.
- Back the drag off after the wash-down, so the drag washers don’t lose their form.
- Run pantyhose through rod guides, to identify chips and burrs inside the guides (if they’re significant enough to wear on your line, they’ll catch on the hose).
- Store lead weights separately from your lures; the whitish powder they sluff off will taint plastics and dull metals.
- Remove reels from rods at least once a year, and clean out under the reel seat. Salt has a tendency to build up in this spot, and can eventually ruin the reel and/or the seat.
- It’s a good idea to spray down a reel’s exterior with a corrosion inhibitor, like CorrosionX or Boeshield. But afterwards, make sure you wipe off the reel with a rag or paper towel. Otherwise the excess goop will attract dirt and grime, which then works its way into the reel’s moving parts.
- After using WD-40 on anything, always lure, grease, or otherwise coat the part with some form of corrosion inhibitor. WD-40 is a solvent, and as a result, can eat away at the greases and oils your equipment needs.
- Shine dulled metal spoons and spinners with a regular metal polish. The extra reflectiveness can make a huge difference – and could result in a slow day becoming productive.