Fly Rod Cleaning: Travel Tip #2

Louis Cahill Photo

When heading home from a salt water fishing adventure it is important to know proper fly rod cleaning. Leaving any salty residue on your rods can leave corrosion on the guides and reel seats.

So the next time you pull your rod out of your rod sock you don't have a pile of corrosion dust all over and locked up reel seat or a broken or weakened stripping guide.

Make sure to wash your rod with soap and fresh water.  Many salt water destinations in the Bahamas, Belize or Mexico don't have the best fresh water and will be somewhat brackish.  This will leave salt on your rods during storage.  Use soap and the salt will stick to the soap.  Then wash with fresh water and the soap will wash off with all the salt.

While you do that make sure to wash your rod sock as well before you put your newly cleaned rod back in it.  If you don't wash your rod sock, you will end up having some salt left inside where your rod was stored from your travel home.  This salt will then get on your freshly washed rod.