After a long day of fishing, you might be tempted to leave your fishing gear and the rods in the back of your truck or simply lean them against the wall in the garage. While this might be okay for a night or two, every fisherman should know how to store fishing rods properly.

This article includes ideas for long-term garage fishing rod storage and creative ways to hang fishing rods.

Check out these useful tips to keep your fishing poles safe and in great shape for your upcoming outings.

8 Important Tips to Review Before Storing Your Poles

Before anything, let’s talk about a few must-dos and must-nots when determining the best way to store fishing rods.

1. Thoroughly clean your gear before storing it.
2. Do not leave your rods on the ground. They could easily get stepped on, driven over, or forgotten about.
3. Do not store them in direct sunlight, extreme heat, or extreme cold. These factors can weaken the pole over time, making it more likely to break when you’re reeling in a heavy fish.
4. Remove all lures before storing the poles long-term. Rust can build up, and the knots can weaken.
5. Remove the tension from your fishing line, or remove the line completely for long-term storage.
6. If you hang a fishing rod, do not hang it from the tip.
7. Make sure they are stored in a place where items can’t or won’t fall on them.
8. Store them in a dry place.

How Do You Store a Fishing Pole in a Garage?

A garage shed, or basement is the most common place to store fishing rods. These areas tend to be shaded and somewhat protected from extreme outdoor temperatures. There are many options in all three of these locations when considering how to store fishing poles.

Let’s take a look at a few:

The easiest solution is to buy a rod rack storage system. While they might cost more than you’d like to spend and look pretty simple, at least you know your poles will be safe and supported. If you prefer to build your own, you can build a storage system from wood, plastic, and even PVC pipes.

Fishing rods can be stored horizontally or vertically. However, it is important to ensure that your storage system offers sufficient support. If not, the pole could curve over time.

From wood, you can buy two pieces of wood, size depending on the number of poles you will store, and create circular holes in one piece and C-shaped cutouts in the other piece. You can use this rod holder just about anywhere – vertically, horizontally, and even on the ceiling. Put the base of the pole in the circle and place the tip of the pole in the cutout.

Also, using wood, you can screw three pieces of wood horizontally into the wall and then cut PVC tubes and attach them to the bottom piece of wood. Put the pole handle in the PVC tube and use hooks on the top two pieces of wood to hold the pole safely in place.

Another simple and versatile idea is using a pegboard. You typically store the poles horizontally on the pegboard. Make sure that you have enough pegs in place to keep the pole from curving. This is a great fishing rod holder option that allows you to move the poles around and make space for new ones in the future.

Screwing secure hooks directly into your wall is also another storage solution that doesn’t take up much space. You’ll need to make sure the hooks are large enough, aligned, and provide enough support as hangers.

How Do You Store a Fishing Rod for the Winter?

Unless you live in an extremely frigid climate, you can store the rods the same way for longer-term winter storage. Otherwise, you can bring them indoors for the season – perhaps in the mudroom or the laundry room.

The same rules and storage ideas apply to storing them indoors.

Can Fishing Rods Be Stored Outside?

This is not ideal. They are fine in the garage or shed, but truly outside is not the best way to store fishing rods.

Your poles are subject to direct sunlight, rain, corrosion, breakage, extreme temperatures, wind, and more in the outdoors.

What Happens if I Store a Fishing Rod Incorrectly?

Learning how to store fishing rods properly is key to ensuring that your poles last as long as possible. If you store them incorrectly, they could become warped, curved, weak, or even break.

The tips and ideas provided here will help to encourage multi-season use and to extend the life of your rod.

Conclusion

Now that you’ve learned how to store fishing rods correctly, it might be a good time to start cleaning out your garage or shed. Make room for the great hacks you’ve learned about how to hang fishing equipment on a wall and other creative ways to hang fishing rods.

Review the important tips from the beginning of this article before storing your rods for short or long term. This will not only save you money but also time.

Tune in again for more great tips and tricks for your outdoor adventures!