Check Your Rod Eyes

[catace]

I check my eyelets and plastic inserts on my rods a couple times a year to every usage.
Eyelets, I like to make sure the eyes didn't get bent,twisted or cracked from traveling to and from fishing before casting out.
The inserts, Because I use braid with heavy weights I like to check for abrasion or ruff spots. The easiest way I know of to check this is push a cotton swab through them and the fibers will stick if something is wrong. The smaller eye's I use a cotton swab same thing if something isn't smooth some of the fibers will get caught. I like to do this every month or so but probably should do it after every trip! After all 1 bad eye could ruin a lot of line or cost you a big fish!

[Smoothkip]

Good point Steve! Thanks for the info.

[bobbybobber]

i'll add a little to this tournament time is right around the corner,my season starts next week,little tip when getting ready for a tournament or any kind of outting alway double check you rods,reels,line,and hooks.as for rods i like to wash them down real good and scrub them with dish soap and a wet rag looking for bad chips and scraches there weak points in the rod,also looking at the eye making sure there not loose,bent,or cracked. on my reel i check my drags every trip and oil them twice a year once in the winter and once in the fall . my line i like to pull about 10 yds off evey trip and check for fading and rough spot and replace it about every 2 years.or when the spools get down half way.hook i using hit them with a file about every 2 or 3 fish and if the point gets goofy looking it gets tossed just some useful pointers did i miss anything ?

[katfish]

If you are checking several rods at once, you can pull a small piece of nylon stoccking through the eyes quickly. It will snag on any rough spots and tear on any sharp spots.

[Seanstone]

Jan 8, 2012 1:54:57 GMT -5 bobbybobber said:

my line i like to pull about 10 yds off evey trip and check for fading and rough spot and replace it about every 2 years.or when the spools get down half way.

I re-spool probably 4 or 5 times a year. Maybe that's a bit excessive. I just don't like the memory that my line develops, not that it effects performance. Do you use braid? If i had to buy braided line, I would only re spool once every two years. Lol.

[bobbybobber]

im using mono,but when you toss 8-14oz of weight and a6oz- half pond bait in 8-15mph current,the line doensnt curly q that bad

[Skyline1506]

i always tell my buds that dont fish over the winter to pull atleast one full wrap of line off the reel if they arent going to respool, because depending on where you store your rods mice like to nip at mono for one reason or another and it puts nicks through the line. Cats will do this too for people who store rods inside with there pets. I cant imagine it tastes good, but they like it

[Catfishrollo]

Good points about checking your eyelets etc. Always remember to back your drags off also at the end of each trip, and esp. If you aren't gonna be out for awhile. rollo

[Seanstone]

Rollo I have always done that because someone told me to do it, but I never thought to ask why. Does it make your drag weaker?

[Catfishrollo]

Jan 10, 2012 15:42:23 GMT -5 Seanstone said:

Rollo I have always done that because someone told me to do it, but I never thought to ask why. Does it make your drag weaker?

Yes, and not as smooth. Things start bounding up when under big tention, and not being used. Ever notice a drag hanging up in the past when fighting a fish or have thought it should be pulling drag for the tention you have pre-set? That is a common result of a stuck or sticking drag from not keeping em backed off . rollo

[luckeywade]

thanks, on another couple tips.im guilty of not doing either.