FOREST AND STREAM 
1243 
THE CARE OF THE ROD AND ACCOM¬ 
PANYING TACKLE IN THE OFF SEASON. 
OW that the fresh water angler is about to 
put away his rod, reels and lines until next 
season, a word as to their care during the 
closed or “off” season may be in order, as their 
care in these days of inactiveness and fire-side 
dreams of large fish caught or lost are more 
important than the general run of fishermen be¬ 
lieve. A loose ferrule or jammed reel may 
mean the loss of a prize winner in the season 
to come. A good workman, irrespective of his 
or her trade, takes good care of the tools that 
turn out their work. So it is with the angler, 
a good rod or a good reel costs much of our 
hard earned gelt and should last a life-time if 
given proper attention and care. As much care 
if not more should be taken of the fisherman’s 
outfit when not in use or during the closed 
season, as when used regularly. 
Many of us, either through necessity or prefer¬ 
ence, pass our days in an apartment, heated by 
steam heat and while it is indeed a welcome 
blessing on a cold morning, steam heat is no 
friend to the ferrules of a rod, in a room so 
heated. 
In putting a rod away for the winter first go 
over it carefully, if the ferrules need tightening 
attend to them at once. You may forget to do 
so in the excitement of opening day. See if the 
wood needs varnishing, it undoubtedly will, if 
it has seen much use during the past season. 
Now be sure these things, little though they may 
seem, are attended to. Either do them your¬ 
self—every angler is more or less a tinker—or 
send the rod to some reliable fishing tackle house 
and have it attended to for you. Do not throw 
the rod in some corner of a closet, where at a 
later date, the kiddies can get at it, as it will be 
used as a polo stick or base ball bat sure enough. 
If possible, place the rod in some room where 
there is no heat. If jointed hang up the joints 
separately at the small end by a small piece of 
twine. See if any of the joints have a set in 
them, if so let them hang with a small weight 
tied to the bottom of the joint at the thick end. 
You will find when the time comes to put the 
rod together again it will be straight. If it is 
found impossible to find a convenient place to 
hang the rod, leave it in the form and place 
out of harm’s way, but by all means first go 
over the rod carefully, note any repairs that 
should be made and either do them yourself or 
have them done for you. 
THE REEL. 
O N putting the reel away for the season be 
sure and give it the same care and atten¬ 
tion that is given the rod, as on the reel 
greatly depends the quality of the angler’s cast 
and his efficiency as a caster. First remove the 
line from the reel if it is a casting line. A trout 
line when not in use even in open season should 
be kept off the reel on what is known as a 
wooden line reel. If the reel is one of the many 
“take aparts” by all means take it apart and see 
that it is thoroughly cleaned and oiled. A clean 
light oil is best for this; a slight touch of 
vaseline on the cogs will help keep it in shape 
until needed again. If the reel happens to be 
one that is not easily taken apart, it will be found 
best not to endeavor to do so, as the mechanism 
of the quadruple reel is very delicate and easily 
put out of gear. Wrap the reel in a cloth that 
has been slightly oiled and put away in the case. 
Cases are inexpensive and will be found to be 
valuable as a protection to the reel. 
THE LINE. 
A line, especially if used for bait casting, has 
received the hardest sort of treatment dur¬ 
ing a season’s fishing, if one is fortunate 
to have it last that long. A number of anglers 
equip themselves each year with one or two new 
lines, frequently oftener. The writer, however, 
has a casting line that has seen some hard work 
for the past two seasons and has been the means 
of landing some large fish during the past year. 
Remember though, you “sceptic” this line has had 
excellent care being dried and reversed on the 
reel after each day’s fishing and the ends care¬ 
fully tested each time before being used. 
On putting away for the season remove line 
from the reel and rewind as carefully as possible 
on the spool or card on which it came; then 
place out of harm’s way for the kiddies having 
tired of using Dad’s rod for a hockey stick may 
want a kite string, or the Mrs. may want to tie 
up her summer clothes. These are only some 
of the other uses a good line may be put to. 
Therefore be forewarned. 
If you are a trout enthusiast your line will be 
either oiled or enameled and should be given 
particular care when not in use. Do not leave 
the line on the reel. Remove and wind loosely 
on a large diameter wooden reel or, if you are 
not so equipped, hang it up in coils in some cool 
dry place where the light and dust will not get 
at it. Caution—It is advised that in coiling a 
line do not turn the coils off a turn at a time 
over the hand, as by doing this at each coil you 
put a half-turn in the line with the result that 
it is badly kinked and twisted. 
TACKLE BOX. 
T HE tackle box is generally the carry-all for 
the whole outfit and Brother, one collects 
quite an outfit in a season’s continual fish¬ 
ing. Get out the old junk—you will find lots of 
it—-and place what is left in ship-shape order. 
I know you will hate to part with a lot of it, 
but you will agree it is only taking up room 
and is really of no use only as a pleasant 
memory. 
During the long winter evenings what is a 
more pleasant pastime to the angling bug than 
to go through that tackle box. especially if it’s in 
order, each article in its place and what you 
want where you want it. Do the things advised, 
Brother; they tend to more real enjoyment with 
fishing tackle that’s fit for fishing. 
