Whether you've invested a large sum in your fishing rods or just have a lot of sentimental attachment to the fishing rods you're currently using, you want to make sure you know how to properly care for them so they will last a long time.

The tips below will help you ensure that your favorite fishing rods will have a long and happy life as part of your fishing equipment.

Post Fishing Care for Fishing Rods

Once you finish fishing for the day, you might be tempted to just toss your rod back in the car and then back in the closet when you return home. That's not a good idea. First, you never want to put a wet rod back in its sheath. If you were fishing in saltwater, all of that salt from the rod will end up getting into the sheath and cause future damage. No matter what type of water you are using for fishing you should wipe down your rod thoroughly with a dry, soft cloth before putting it back in its sheath. If for some reason, you aren't able to do this, you should wipe it down as soon as you return home and wash the sheath to remove anything that might have gotten into the material thanks to the water.

If you don't plan to use it for an extended period of time, let it dry and then return it to its sheath. For storage, make sure to hang the sheath on a hook or hanger. If possible, do not just lean your rod against a wall. This can not only cause damage to the rod but it's also an easy way for your fishing rods to get broken accidentally.

Cleaning Your Fishing Rods

Like all types of sporting equipment, your fishing rods are going to need some thorough cleaning from time to time. How often depends greatly on how frequently you're going fishing and what type of fishing you're doing. For example, salt water fishing is going to require more frequent cleaning than fresh water fishing.

To clean your rod, you'll need a soft cloth and lukewarm water mixed with soap. Get the cloth wet then ring it out before rubbing it over your rod gently. It's also a good idea to use an old toothbrush to clean out dirt and debris that collect around the guide rings and in other hard to reach parts of the fishing rods.

Inspecting Your Fishing Rods

Never just take it for granted that your fishing rods are in great shape. You might find out the hard way that they've been slowly damaged by a minor problem that was never taken care of. For example, if water has gotten under the guide rings and start to cause rusting the rod can be in trouble and the ring should be replaced as soon as possible. To find out that problem, you need to be doing routine inspections of your equipment.

Caring for Your Fishing Rods

You can find out more about caring for your equipment properly by visiting offline or online sporting equipment shops, such as Sea Isle Tackle.