How to Protect Rods and Reels From Salt

Rods and reels take the same salt exposure as the boat and get a fraction of the attention. Two habits cover most of it. First, clean them at the end of the trip rather than the end of the season. Pre-soaked wipes let you go over blanks, guides, reel bodies and seats without flooding a drag. Anything that felt gritty when you fished it should be dealt with before it dries. Second, store them upright, separated and off the floor. A marine-grade rack with wide slots holds reels without pressing them against each other, and a waterproof composite rack can live on a dock or in a wet garage without swelling or corroding. Bent-butt rods need a rack with the butt guides to match. Reel Clean can spec a rack by rod count, handle style and where it will be mounted.