Easy Care Advice to Maintain Your Bite Alarm in the Best Condition
A quality bite alarm will serve you for years provided you maintain it. These miniature devices are outside all day long, in wet air, rain, mud, and in the occasional splash of a fish you have just caught. It is not surprising that they begin playing up with time without a touch of care.
The good news? It does not require much effort to maintain them in excellent shape. Simple habits will ensure that your alarms continue to work well and prevent you the inconvenience (not to mention the cost) of changing them too often.
Keep Them Clean and Dry
The simplest and most significant maintenance point is also the most evident one, which is to keep them clean. Cheque your alarms after every expedition. Clean off any mud, splashes or grass. A paper towel or a soft cloth normally suffices.
Do not wet them or spray them with water. Waterproof alarms have a limit and water can creep into areas that you do not want. When your alarm has been caught in the rain, take the batteries out and allow it to dry in a place that is not hot. It can be sorted out by a couple of hours in a dry room or near a radiator (not on it).
Special attention should be paid to saltwater anglers. Salt is harsh on electronics. Before residue can corrode anything, a damp cloth using freshwater can be used to remove it.
It may seem like a minor issue, but cleaning your alarms after every session can easily extend their life by two times.
Cheque the Battery Compartment.
Battery corrosion is one of the most frequent issues that anglers experience when using bite alarms. It is brought about by moisture creeping into the compartment and reacting with the terminals. When you see white powder or rust at the point of connexion of the battery, you know it has been done.
The solution is simple: change the batteries after every session, particularly when you are not going fishing soon. Keep the alarm with the battery cover open to allow it to breathe.
In case the corrosion has already begun, one can use a cotton bud dipped in vinegar or rubbing alcohol to clean the terminals – be sure it is completely dry before installing new batteries.
And when fishing in the colder months, you may want to change to alkaline batteries of good quality. They are more durable and can withstand wet and chilly weather as compared to the inexpensive ones.
Test the Buttons and Sensors.
Now and then give your alarm a good cheque. Press the buttons, turn the dials and ensure everything is smooth. When a button is stiff or sticking, it may simply require a wipe around the edges. A dry cotton swab or a soft brush is effective in getting off dirt or sand.
In the case of the line sensor or roller, ensure that it is free. The detection of bites is all done by that small component, and therefore, in case it is stuck or sticky, the entire alarm cannot be trusted. It normally comes back to life with a soft wash with a cloth.
Other anglers apply a little puff of compressed air to blow away the dirt when the alarm has small apertures or in-set buttons. It is unnecessary, yet it may come in handy in case you fish in muddy or dusty weather.
Store Them Right
The way you keep your alarms between sessions is enormous. Majority of them have small protective cases or pouches – utilise them. It prevents dust and moisture and prevents accidentally pressing the buttons when packed up.
Do not put them in a wet tackle bag or leave them in the car boot weeks at a time. The drastic changes in temperature (such as cold nights and warm mornings) may lead to condensation within the unit. When this occurs frequently, then the electronics may short out.
When you are not going to fish soon, keep them in a dry place inside a house, with the batteries out of them. A box or tackle drawer of small size is just the ticket.
Take Them a Quick Quiz Before Each Trip.
It is always good to do a 30-second cheque before going out. Instal the batteries, spin the line roller, and ensure that you have sound and light. Cheque the connexion as well, in case you are using a wireless receiver.
It only takes less than a minute, yet it spares you the trouble of turning up to the water and discovering a flat battery, or a dead unit.
A rapid test is also useful in identifying minor problems at an early stage. Perhaps one alarm is not as loud as it should be, or an LED does not flash, it is better to hear it at home rather than during the session.
Keeping Them Reliable
One of these pieces of equipment that make your fishing easier without any noise is a well-maintained bite alarm. When it is working you do not give it much thought and when it is not you take notice of it.
Taking a little time and cleaning your alarms, drying them, checking the batteries, takes very little time at all, but it always pays off when you are on the bank. You will be more confident in fishing as you know that when the next bite will occur, your equipment will work.
And that is all about it, to be prepared at the right time.