Clean your fishing rods and reels

For rods, check the guides and wraps. If a guide has a scratch, nick, or groove, replace it. Some anglers brush a Q-Tip inside the guide to see if a piece of cotton is left behind. I use a magnifying glass. I want to see what’s really going on. If the guide wraps are loose or exposed, repair this area. Again, your tackle retailer has all the supplies. Back to the reel. After you clean the exterior, pay attention to areas where line passes. On baitcasting reels, it’s the line guide. Use a Q-Tip or pipecleaner dipped in WD-40. For spinning reels, it’s the line roller. To lubricate, put a drop of oil or grease on the worm gear, on the spinning reel line roller, and on the bail pivot points. It’s also a good idea to clean the handles and oil the axles.