Old cork doesn't mean bad cork: Most high performance rods these days come with high quality Portuguese cork handles. Cork is favored over foam thanks to it's low memory, soft feel, and accurate grip. The only downside to cork is that it is more prone to wear and tear. Anglers love holding brand new rods with pristine cork handles, but often marvel at how quickly the handles start to break apart or darken in color. the oils in our hands waste no time in changing the look and feel of cork, and there is simply no amount of washing that can keep them looking new. In addition small sections of your grips may come off, leaving small pits in the handle. While the handle doesn't look new it should perform just as good as new.

Often times anglers make the mistake of scrubbing their handles with harsh cleansers, rubbing course sandpaper over them, or even pulling them off and changing them unnecessarily. The best thing to do, as long as your handle functions well, is to simply leave it alone. These days I look fondly at my well worn cork grips and consider the flaws simply as battle scars that build character.

Superlines: Braided and fused lines were touted as major breakthroughs when first introduced years ago, the problem was that rods simply were not ready for them. The older, softer guides simply couldn't handle the abrasive surfaces of these new rods and they pitted old guides, causing reduced performance in casting, and often times a poor grainy feeling retrieve. If your going to use super lines then make sure to pick up a rod with guides that are rated to handle these contemporary lines. The new guides from Fuji do an excellent job of handling almost any line you can cast, and the new Fuji concept system helps ensure excellent line management.

Watch your guides: While superlines may not damage your high quality guides, lures sometimes will. Never hang your hooks on your guides, as the barbs of the hooks can scratch the surface of your guides. Use the hook hanger on your rod, its designed to handle the sharpest hooks. In addition try not to reel back that spinner or crankbait all the way to the tip of your rod as the impact can sometimes damage or knock loose your leading guide. Protect your guides and your rod will keep casting perfectly for years.