Cleaning of equipment (Augers, Tip-Ups, General Ice Equip)

[boxoshawn]

Like I'm sure many of you have encountered, sometimes storing gear (especially in a garage) over the 9 months a year it doesn't get used can be a problem. Does anyone have suggestions other then simply changing line, to clean up gear that's been sitting? Thanks.

[NCLaker]

All my gear gets cleaned up and properly winterized before going into storage. Store all my ice gear inside my flip over shacks with the travel cover over the top in the garage - so everything stays clean and ready to role for thw next season.

When season kicks in - I may change out the line on the ice reels, verify reels all work properly, and fire up the auger (change plug if necessary. Good to go!

[KTapper]

Before the ice season I grease up all my reels and tipups with frabill cold weather lube.

[BartmanMN]

Not sure on cleaning, however I keep a large lawn bag zip tied over my strikelite to keep it clean during the off season. As for the ice house, that gets covered with a tarp and the rods, tipups, and flasher live in the basement.

[mr_jman]

I store as much fishing stuff inside during the offseason. I have rod bags for the combos which protect them and I would suggest getting something similiar to keep them safe! I store all of my ice tackle in Plano cases which I store in an old backpack! It's all in one place and I know where to find it! The augers and fish houses sit in the machine shed and I make sure everything works about a week before ice up so there are no surprises when I get on the lake.

Biggest thing would be make sure everything is nice and dry and lubricated (Reels especially) before putting them away and you shouldn't have too many surprises. I also try to run my augers out of gas and use seafoam in each tank. I also test run my augers about once or twice a month all summer long! Seemed to work well for me as my auger worked great first time out!