Fly Rod Cleaning Made Easy
By Joe Evans, (Emerger)
Keeping a fly rod clean and nice-looking is
not a difficult task, nor does it take a lot
of time. Yet, it is a job that most anglers
tend to avoid, if they do it at all. They clean
their fly lines and reels and other items of
equipment fairly regularly, but for some reason
they often seem to neglect their rods. With the
cost of good fly rods skyrocketing, it only makes
good sense to keep them clean and in top condition.
Cleaning the Cork Grip
The cork grip on a fly rod generally needs the
most attention, because it can really become
dirty over time. Just the natural body oil from
our hands can cause a grip to become soiled rather
quickly. And add to that, fish slime, floatants,
sunscreen, and numerous other items that often
come in contact with our hands while fishing,
which can build up layers of dirt and grime. I
have tried several different types of soaps and
mild chemicals to clean cork grips, including
dish detergent, tooth paste, alcohol, hand soap,
household bleach, spray cleaners, and several
other things. Most of these work pretty well,
but the one I like the best is liquid household
cleanser. One such product is "Soft Scrub Cleanser
with Bleach." It not only cleans a soiled grip
quickly and effectively, but it helps to bleach-out
any dark blemishes in the cork, as well as lighten
the cork back to its original color. Having used
this product for many years, I can attest to the
fact that it does not harm the grip in any way
when properly used. Here's how it's done:
First, assemble all the items you will be using,
including the rod, the cleanser, a sponge or old
wash cloth, and a clean, dry towel. Also, have
something to protect your clothing from any splashes
of the bleach containing cleanser. Any drops that get
onto your clothing will have a permanent bleaching
effect that will end up as a white spot.
Work at the kitchen sink with a small stream of warm
running water. Wet the grip under the tap, apply a
quarter-size blob of cleanser to your dampened sponge
or wash cloth (be sure to shake the bottle of cleanser
well before using), and scrub-down the cork grip. Scrub
the cork thoroughly, starting at one end of the grip
and working towards the other end. As you work, avoid
rubbing the metal hardware and wood spacer on the reel
seat, as well as the finish on the blank. Scrubbing
those shiny surfaces can cause light permanent scratches,
so keep the cleanser off those parts as you work.
After the grip has been thoroughly cleaned, wash it
off under the stream of running water, rubbing it
well with your fingers to remove all traces of the
cleanser. Then dry the grip and with a soft clean
terry cloth towel and set it aside to dry thoroughly
before putting it back into its case. When dry, the
grip will be clean and look almost new again.
Cleaning the Rod Blank
The most effective way that I have found for
cleaning the rod blank is by using another
common household product called "Pledge Furniture
Polish" in the aerosol spray can. Other brands
will likely work equally as well. This product
removes dirt, grime, dried-on bits of algae, water
spots, greasy smudges, etc., from the rod quickly
and easily, and it leaves the rod looking clean and
polished. Here's how to use it:
First, shake the can well before using, as directed
on the label. Working with one rod section at a time,
rotate (spin) the section between your thumb and
fingers while you lightly spray a mist over the
entire surface. Next, use a clean, dry terry cloth
towel to wipe-down and polish the entire section
until all the spray residue has been wiped off
and a clean shine appears on the rod. Work a
small corner of the toweling under and around
the guides until you can see that every part
of the surface has been cleaned. If you have
difficulty getting under the guides, use a clean
Q-Tip to do those parts. Repeat the procedure for
each rod section until you have cleaned and
polished the entire rod. This type of product
not only cleans the rod quickly, but it also
leaves a light, protective wax-like film on
the finish that helps to repel further soiling.
It works well on all types of rods, including
graphite and bamboo.
Note: Most anglers tend to overlook the
condition of the guides on their rods. Guides
can and do wear out; particularly those on rods
that are used a great deal. Because of this,
it is a good practice to inspect the guides
carefully at least once a year. And a good
time to do it is when you are cleaning the rod.
This is easiest done under the illumination of
a bright light, where you can look for signs of
wear or grooving, which can cause premature line
abrasion and early failure of the line.
To find worn places that are not readily visible
to the eye, pass a gathered section of an old
nylon stocking (women's pantyhose works very
well) through each guide. If the material
tends to "stick" to the guide, it is a good
indication that wear has occurred. If this
is the case, the guides should be replaced.
Normally, if one guide is worn, the rest will
be worn as well. Have them replaced as a set.
Cleaning the Reel Seat and Hardware
The same method used for cleaning the blank
(described above) is also used to clean wooden
or metal reel seat spacers and the associated
nickel-silver hardware. When cleaning these
smaller surfaces, however, it usually works
best to spray a small amount of the polish
onto a soft, clean cloth, then rub the surfaces
to be cleaned. Finish the job by polishing with
a clean portion of the cloth until the surfaces
are dry and shinny.
Cleaning and Lubricating Glass and Graphite Ferrules
Take time after every two or three fishing
excursions to clean and lubricate the ferrules
of your rods. This will help the sections seat
together more smoothly and precisely and -- more
importantly -- it will prevent the sections from
sticking together. Many an angler has finished
his day of fishing, only to find that he can't
get his rod sections apart. A regular practice
of cleaning and lubricating the ferrules will
prevent this annoying problem from occurring.
To clean the female portion of the ferrule (the
one with the open end), use a Q-Tip saturated
with plain rubbing alcohol. Rub the inside
surface thoroughly, around the entire inside
circumference, then use a clean swab to wipe
off any dirt or old wax residue.
Clean the male portion of the ferrule with a
soft cloth moistened with rubbing alcohol.
Rub the male slide well to remove any dirt or
old wax from the surface. Finish by drying
the ferrule with a clean, soft cloth. After
the alcohol has dried, apply a light coating
of white candle wax to the entire surface of
the male ferrule.
Cleaning and Lubricating Metal Ferrules
The basic care and maintenance of most quality
metal ferrules requires simply keeping them clean.
Most of the time this is easily accomplished by
simply wiping off the male slide regularly with
a soft clean cloth. The female portion can be
cleaned with a clean, dry Q-Tip. If the ferrules
occasionally seem to need a more thorough cleaning,
alcohol can be used, as described above for
graphite ferrules.
Metal ferrules should be joined and separated with
a straight pull only. Do not "twist on" and
"twist off" as you do with graphite ferrules.
When joining the sections, the male portion
of the ferrule should be seated completely
into the female tube. Occasionally, some metal
ferrules may require some light lubrication to
keep them working smoothly. If you feel this is
needed, apply a very scant film of silicone grease
or other suitable lubricant, or wipe the male
slide lightly with a good quality machine oil.
Very little should be applied and it should be
removed and reapplied on a regular basis to prevent
dirt from accumulating in or on the ferrules.
Caution: Do not use the oil from the side
of your nose to lubricate metal ferrules! Body oil
is not a suitable lubricant for fine quality
ferrules. It can be corrosive to some metals
and it almost always contains dirt from the
skin, which can cause premature wear on the
ferrules.
Review
Keeping your fly rods clean and in good repair
requires only a small amount of regular care
and maintenance. It will not only keep them
nice looking, but it will also help to protect
your expensive investments should you ever
decide to sell or trade them. Keep your rods
inside their protective bags and cases when
not in use, and take reasonable care with them
to prevent accidental breakage. If you do this,
your rods will last longer and give you greater
service and satisfaction for many years to come.
~ JE
Have a question? Email me!
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