The shorter days, changing leaves and nice little morning chill let us know that the seasons are changing. This change means that time is fast approaching for us all to put up our fly rods and get out the shotguns, rifles and bows.

Here are a few hints for taking care of that fly rod. First closely examine all of the windings and see if any need some repair. If they do fix them or get them fixed now – you will be glad that you did come next April 1st or on that surprise trip south in midwinter.

Now take a soft cloth like cotton or linen, soak it in some warm water and clean off the rod using a very mild dish washing detergent. Make sure that you get all of the soap film rinsed off and wipe the rod dry. Now take some very fine steel wool (at least 0000), dip it in the warm water and with the same mild dish washing detergent, clean the cork handle. Let the rod (especially the cork handle) air dry for at least 48 hours.

The final step is to take the rod, place it in the cloth bag that comes with it and hang the bag in the back of a closet using a thumb tack. This allows free air circulation around the rod during storage and it keeps the rod in a good vertical position. The aluminum/Fiberglas tubes that rods come in are really meant to protect them during transportation. Come your first fishing trip of the new year, you will have a favorite rod that looks as if you just got it at your sporting goods dealer that day.

Keep a tight line and may the wind be always at your back.

“I never saw a trout that lived in an ugly place.”

Harold H. “Brownie” Brown,

DIF&W Advisory Council