There’s a reason fishing is one of the most popular sports in Florida; it’s fun, exciting, relaxing, and practically anyone can do it. There’s one thing, though, that all folks who love to fish will tell you: successfully catching fish takes the right fishing gear.
That, in a nutshell, might be fishing’s biggest drawback, as practically every type of fish demands the correct lure, line, reel, and hook to catch them. That ends up being a lot of gear, which leads to one last challenge: where to store it all when the day’s fishing is done. Knowing this challenge, Hide-Away Storage compiled the following info-packed list of tips and hacks to store your fishing gear like a pro! Read on to discover them all, and make sure your gear is good to go the next time you head out on the water!
Tips and Hacks for Storing Your Fishing Gear
Tip: Get Organized First
It’s best to organize everything before you store your fishing gear. That way, you’ll store like gear with like gear and have an easier time finding something you need later. Organizing also allows you to get rid of old, broken, or unused gear you don’t need or want since there’s no sense in storing that stuff and wasting your storage space.
Fishing Gear Storage Hacks
Most fishing enthusiasts have a metric ton of lures, hooks, and lines. Storing these is relatively easy, per se, but the hacks below will help you store them for convenience.
- Let your gear dry thoroughly before storage.
- Store fishing gear in clear, plastic containers. That way, you can see what’s inside each one.
- Small containers are best, especially the ones with dividers.
- Designate a container for hooks, one for lures, and one for lines.
- Label your fishing gear containers well so you can quickly know which are which and find specific items quickly.
Tips for Fishing Pole Storage
Fishing poles are the most significant challenge when storing fishing gear due to their length. The average fishing pole is between 6 to 12 feet long, so standing them up in a room with 8-foot ceilings, including a garage, is often impossible. The tips below will help you get around this dilemma.
- Lay your fishing poles on the open rafters in your garage or shed. That will keep them safe as well as out of your way.
- Create a PVC pipe stand to store your fishing poles.
- Like your other gear, be sure your poles are completely dry before storing them.
Fishing Reel Storage Hacks
Besides the poles, fishing reels are the most essential gear in your collection. The reason why is that they have the most moving parts, which need to be kept clean, free from moisture, and well-oiled. The hacks below will ensure your reels stay in excellent condition while stored.
- Clean your reels with fresh water and let them dry completely before storage. (Moisture is a fishing reel’s worst enemy.)
- Store your reels on an open shelf where it’s dry, protected, and safe.
- Lining the shelf with a soft fabric cover is a great way to reduce nicks and scratches.
- Consider placing your reels in small, plastic storage containers for long-term storage. Wrap them in a soft cloth when you do.
Wader Storage Hacks
If you fish in streams or lakes, you probably use waders, pants, and boots in one waterproof package. Storing waders is simple, but the hacks below will make it even easier.
- Store waders where there’s plenty of circulation and are very dry to prevent mold and mildew.
- Hang your waders out to dry in the sun before storage.
- Don’t fold your waders for long-term storage. This can cause creases and, in some cases, cracks that make them unusable.
Tips for Kayak Storage at Home
Fishing from a kayak is great fun and also very rewarding. Storing a kayak at home can be challenging because they’re long and bulky. Below are some tips that will help.
- Use a pulley and hoist system. This lets you hoist your kayak above you and out of your way, freeing up lots of floor space.
- Mounted wall racks can also be an excellent solution for kayak storage. Do note that lifting a kayak onto a storage rack is usually a 2-person job.
- Like all your gear, wash your kayak with fresh water before storage and, if possible, let it dry in the sun.
Helpful Hacks for Preventing Mold and Mildew when Storing Fishing Gear
As mentioned earlier, moisture is the enemy of your fishing reels. Moisture is the enemy of all your fishing gear, especially moisture from salt water. The helpful hacks we have for you will ensure mold and mildew won’t cause a problem when your fishing gear is stored.
- Store your fishing gear in a well-ventilated area like your garage. Your basement is the worst place to store your gear, as most are humid.
- If you’re forced to store your gear in the basement, use a dehumidifier to remove moisture.
- Rent an air-conditioned storage unit. These specialized units keep the temperature stable and humidity low throughout the year, which is excellent news for anything you store in them.
- Use silica gel packs in small containers to absorb moisture. (You can purchase them easily online.)
Final Thoughts on Storing Your Fishing Gear
We hope the tips and hacks we’ve provided today have given you actionable information that will help you store your fishing gear well and ensure that everything is in perfect working order the next time you go to cast a line.
At Hide-Away Storage, we help folks in Florida store their fishing gear all the time, as well as storing kayaks, boats, and anything else that enables you to have fun out on the water. Our Florida storage units are safe and clean, and our prices are affordable. Hide-Away has several different sizes of storage units, including storage for fishing gear and collections big and small. If you’re ready, you can reserve a storage unit in Florida online today!