RODS:The fishing rod, considered by some anglers to be their double edged sword, but how sharp is it? When it comes to being Tackle-Wise taking a good look at your fishing rod is where it starts. Look at the rod and the glue/epoxy wrap does it appear stressed? See any fracture lines, or off color or clouding. Chances are you may break your rod at one of these weak points/fractures or near the guide or break off one of the guides themselves on that next big hook set.
Being Tackle-Wise in 2010 is also about paying attention to the guides themselves.
Guides are made from various materials; Steel, Aluminum Oxide, or Nickel Titanium. Your rod guides are designed to allow your line to travel through them with little or no friction. However lines such as braid can over time wear down your guides, literally scoring them. This score mark can cause you a lot of problems if you don't notice it in time. Eventually your guide can crack and become very abrasive to other lines like nylon, and fluorocarbon. Also your rod tip guide can become damaged easily by quickly reeling your lure right up to the rod tip. Some of you reading this may be saying " oh that's why my line keeps breaking off on hook sets" well yes and no. If your guides are good and have no nicks or cracks in them, then it's your line or your knot. If you have a fresh spool of line on and your guides are damaged then you've solved your mystery.
Having a tackle store that does rod repair can save you some money if you only have one or two guides that need attention, like re wrapping or replacement depending on the guides you have on your rod.
Some manufacturers have warranties that cover guide damage and replacement again saving you the burden of dishing out the cash to replace your rod with a new one. Being Tackle-Wise and following the Out with the Old and in with the New motto towards your favorite fishing pole and giving it the attention it deserves will help give you THE OFFENSIVE EDGE. Well that's enough about the rod segment let's move onto the reel portion.
The fishing reel, considered by some to be the most important part of the rod-reel combo It's the "workhorse", the winch that hauls in those trophies. But what should you do if that "horse" ever fails you, turf it and get a new one? Of coarse not! Unless of course you have the means to do so then by all means don't let me stop you. For those of us who don't let me help you become Tackle-Wise towards your reel so you save some cash and still reap the benefits the ole' work horse provides. Generally we take our vehicles in for a spring tune up, or at least should, well just like our vehicles so should our reels go in for routine tune ups. In fact some manufactures offer it as part of their purchase program for a small fee.
Now regardless that the box your reel came in contained a detailed exploded-view schematic of your reel, you should never do any maintenance yourself, unless you have been properly trained in the assembly stage and have a finite understanding of the inner-workings of fishing reels.
This schematic is more so for the trained professional, but it also can help you understand the parts of your reel and pinpoint the trouble area so you can bring it in to your tackle provider for warranty or service work.
Any worn out or broken parts of your reel should not be ignored, and your tackle provider will be glad to assist you in getting your reel repaired, and tuned up so that you can enjoy the season ahead. Taking care of your most important tools in your fishing arsenal YOUR "SWORD" AND YOUR "WORK HORSE"is all part of being Tackle-Wise and also helps give you THE OFFENSIVE EDGE! Until next time I'm Ben McWhinney wishing all of you tight lines and trophy fishing!
