Outdoor Blog

How to Store Fishing Rods the Right Way

Published

4 years ago

July 28, 2021

Storing your fishing rods the correct way could mean the difference between keeping them for a while or having to get new ones.

The life of your rod is very important because buying fishing poles can be very expensive. Anglers take great pride in their fishing reels and rods, and they take care of their rods to prevent corrosion. Here are the best ways to care for your various fishing equipment so they’re ready for the next fishing season.

Why Does Proper Fishing Rod Storage Matter?

If you want to be a more serious fisherman, you need to take good care of your equipment. Not only your fishing rods but your reels and waders too. Everything is so expensive these days that you can’t just store things however you feel like it.

Most people like to keep their fishing poles in the garage

You need proper storage solutions to ensure that you can use your equipment for a long time. The most important thing about storing your fishing poles is to keep them out of the sun. These may be outdoor equipment, but they aren’t made to be exposed to the sun for long periods of time.

Another way to keep them out of the sun even if they’re inside is to keep them away from the garage door if your rack is in the garage. You could be doing work outside with the garage door open, and the sun could be hitting your fishing poles the entire time.

Before you put your fishing rods up for storage after you use them, you need to wash and dry them properly. If you put them up without washing them, rust can build up and ruin your fishing rods. Just because you use fishing poles on the water doesn’t mean that prolonged water exposure is good for them.

The most important part of this routine is that you dry the poles until there’s absolutely no water left.

How to Store Fishing Rods

There are two ways that you’ll need to store your rods: at home and on fishing trips. You’ll be storing your fishing rods at home a lot more often than on fishing trips. There are a few ways that you can correctly store your fishing rods at home.

And, these storage solutions work best in the garage or shed. Also, you can buy storage racks or DIY them.

Wood Rod Rack

This is a rack that you can buy, and it’s very nice. It’s a wall rack that has several different functions and saves lots of storage space. This rod holder is also very good-looking, so you can hang it in the house if you wanted to. You could try to make this type of fishing rod holder, but you should really know your way around a workbench.

If you choose this rack, you won’t be disappointed with how it looks.

Commercial Rod Rack

This is the most popular fishing rod storage rack because all you have to do is buy it and set it up. You might not be super into arts and crafts, so this rack is perfect for you. There are several different kinds of racks that you can buy, but they all optimize your garage organization.

You can also get racks that have places for all of your fishing gear. Some racks have moving parts and reel seats too!

DIY Wall Rod Rack

This is a very creative way to store your fishing rods, and it includes a PVC pipe and pool noodles. First, you make holes in the PVC pipe that are big enough to hold the end of your fishing rods. Next, mark on the pool noodle how far apart the fishing rods will be.

Cut slits into the pool noodle where your fishing poles will hit them. Finally, put the handle end of your fishing pole in the PVC pipe hole and slide the rod tip into the pool noodle slit.

DIY Overhead Rod Rack:

For this rack, you’ll need to purchase some materials to make them, such as PVC pipe J hooks, double-sided weatherproof tape, soft foam, and wood screws. You’ll need to hang J-hooks from the rafters of your garage, two per fishing rod, and as many pairs as you need for how many fishing rods you have.

If you don’t have wooden rafters in your ceiling, you can always buy some two-by-fours and use those. You can use some foam to cushion the J-hooks. Then, put your fishing rods in the J-hooks.

How to Store Fishing Rods to Go On A Fishing Trip

When you’re on the go, it might seem easy to just toss your fishing poles into the bed of your truck or into the trunk of your car. However, you really shouldn’t do this. Stacking your fishing poles on top of one another risks breakage and entanglement.

You need something that will keep all of your fishing gear organized and secure. Some companies make drawers that will slide in and out of truck beds very easily. They will fit all of your reels, rods, bait, and waders. Some drawers even have enough room to store whatever you catch too!

You’ll want to make sure that whatever drawer system you buy is waterproof, and you’ll need to check its dimensions to ensure that it fits in the back of your truck. If you don’t have a truck or just don’t like the idea of the drawers, you could get a rooftop rack.

These have their advantages and disadvantages. If you are bringing a kayak and plan on keeping it on top of your car, you’ll need to look into the drawers. If you don’t plan on taking a kayak, a rooftop rack is a great option if you want to keep your rods out of the way.

The last option for those who don’t have the ability to put things on top of their car is just a portable rod rack. It comes with brackets that you mount to the wall wherever you plan on keeping your fishing rods indoors. Then, you can lift the whole thing off of the brackets and take it on the go.

They’re very lightweight and small enough to keep inside the trunk of a compact car. When it comes to the rest of your gear, you should look into quality tackle boxes. The best boxes have special compartments to keep your lure, spools, and hooks.

These boxes should be waterproof and easy to clean. A good box will also have enough space to keep the fish you catch and be accessible enough that you can clean it out with a hose.

Different Types of Fishing Rods

You can always get a cheap rod from Walmart or Amazon, but it makes more sense to spend a little more money. This way, you can save money in the long run. However much money you want to spend on a rod, you need to store them the same way. Also, you need to store the different rods the same way.

Freshwater Rod
Saltwater Rod
Fly Fishing Rod
Spinning Rod

Freshwater Rod

Freshwater casting rods are made from fiberglass and graphite, and the handle is usually made out of PVC foam or cork. As the name suggests, these fishing poles are meant to be used when going catfish or bass fishing. They typically have between five or eight guides, and they are about five to nine feet in length.

There are a few different varieties of freshwater rods, but the bait-casting and closed-spin casting rods are the most popular.

Saltwater Rod

Saltwater rods are made from corrosion-resistant materials because the salt causes the corrosion process to speed up. The main thing that designates saltwater rods from freshwater rods is the guides. These rods have guides that are made of corrosion-resistant metal.

Saltwater rods should have shock absorption because you need to keep tension on the fishing line.

Fly Fishing Rod

Fly fishing rods are specifically used for fly fishing. Lighter in weight than other types of fishing poles, these rods are usually made out of graphite or fiberglass.

Fly fishing is very popular in freshwater lakes and rivers.

Fly fishing line is different from regular fishing line, so you should make sure that you’ve purchased the correct kind for your pole. Another difference is that the guides, line rings, are very close to the actual rod. This rod is very well-balanced.

Spinning Rod

This is the most common type of fishing rod. They’re lightweight, and they have spinning reels that are good for beginning anglers. You might remember this kind of rod from the first rod you might have had as a kid. This type of rod holds the spinning reel underneath the rod while the guides face down.

There are a few different varieties of spinning rods, as far as length and style are concerned.

Basic Tips About Storing Fishing Gear

Your fishing gear should be super important to you. Keeping the same gear for a long time can make sure that you save money. There are certain things that you should do to make sure that you keep your gear for as long as you can. Try to maintain all of these things in your fishing routine, and you’ll have your gear forever.

First, you should loosen the drag on the line before you put up your fishing rod. If you just put the rod up for storage without doing this, you might risk pulling the rod or breaking the line. You don’t want to have to reline your rod every time you go fishing, so just loosen the drag and then put it up.

It could save you lots of time when you’re getting ready for a fishing trip. The next tip has to do with storage for the off-season. You should disassemble your rods to clean and oil them. Your rods need this kind of treatment a few times during the fishing season, and you should definitely do it before putting them in storage for the off-season.

You’ll get all of the grime and water remnants out of the areas of the pole that you can’t normally see. Another tip about storing your fishing rods is about taking apart your rods. You should use rod sleeves to keep all the parts together when taking the rods apart.

The worst thing that could happen when you’re deep cleaning your rods is that you lose a piece. You need to make sure that that doesn’t happen, and the easiest way to do that is with rod sleeves. If you find that your equipment is rusty or corroded, you should wait until the end of the fishing season to replace or repair the pieces.

It’s hard to get rid of rust or corrosion, and the best thing that you can do for your equipment is to replace it. However, you might as well wait until the end of the fishing season because you don’t want the new equipment to start rusting too.

If you find that your gear is constantly getting new rust and corrosion, you should look into your cleaning routine and find ways to improve it.

Another tip is to clean and dry everything within an inch of its life before you put it up between fishing trips, and this tip is especially important between fishing seasons. Fish have a very powerful odor, and that means that your fishing gear will too.

Also, if you put metal hooks up without properly drying them off, you could come to get ready for the first fishing trip of the season and find that all of your hooks have rust on them. It’s better to be over-prepared than have rusty hooks.

Keeping all of your equipment in one place might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s not always to some people. You don’t want to be running all over the garage or wherever you keep your gear just to pack up for a fishing trip. It’s best to have some sort of workbench to start rigging your gear before you leave so that you have less to do once you reach your fishing destination.

Bouncing off the idea of a workbench in the last tip, you should have a workbench that is specifically dedicated to fish. You don’t want to scale a fish on the kitchen counter, so do it out in the garage near where you keep your fishing gear.

It makes the most sense to keep the smelly, bloody process of scaling the fish outside. The last tip is about cleaning the knife that you scale fish with. This knife should be cleaned, oiled, and sharpened after every use. You don’t want any bacteria entering the fish while you’re cleaning it to be eaten.

Conclusion

Whichever way you want to store your fishing rods, remember that there is a right way and a wrong way. You shouldn’t just lay them around without any rhyme or reason. Position them upright if you can, and make sure that they’re clean before you put them up.

You should look into buying or making a fishing rod storage rack because it’s the best way to ensure the long life of your fishing rod.

Outdoor Blog

How to Take Your Own Internet to Outdoor Events

Published

2 weeks ago

October 18, 2025

Jonas Muthoni

You’ve got the permits, the lineup, the stage design, and the crowd — but when it comes to WiFi, outdoor events can turn from dream festivals to data dead zones in minutes. Reliable connectivity is now as essential as power or sound. Whether it’s a music festival streaming to TikTok, a food fair using mobile POS systems, or a corporate brand activation relying on live dashboards, the internet connection is what keeps the gears turning.

But the truth is this: counting on venue WiFi at a large outdoor event is a gamble. Hundreds of devices fighting for the same bandwidth can jam up the signal before the headliner gets on stage. Public networks only have one backhaul connection, so your production crew, security cameras, and vendors could all be fighting with concert-goers streaming YouTube in the crowd.

So, if your aspiration is to keep the event chugging along like clockwork, the genius move is to bring your own internet — designed specifically for the occasion, private, and controlled by your event staff.

Why Venue WiFi Fails When Crowds Arrive

Let’s start with the numbers. According to Cisco’s 2024 Annual Internet Report, the average person now connects four to six devices at live events — phones, wearables, tablets, scanners, and streaming gear. Multiply that by 5,000 or 50,000 people, and you’re looking at a digital traffic jam.

Outdoor locations have a very minimal amount of wired infrastructure. The majority utilize older systems or common fiber links, which were not designed for thousands of users at once. When the signal is over-stretched, latency increases, access points fail, and the network grinds to a halt.

For event organizers, this is not only inconvenient — it’s a safety and revenue gamble. POS terminals won’t work. QR ticket scanners crawl. Even backup communication programs freeze.

The Smarter Solution: Creating Your Own Network

Constructing a stand-alone network for an outside event may seem daunting, but technology has made it relatively achievable. Instead of relying on one provider or tower, professional crews now use several sources of the internet to deliver redundancy and stability.

Outdoor WiFi specialists use multi-carrier cellular bonding, satellite uplinks, and WAN smoothing to keep traffic consistent even when one source is down. It’s a lot like having several water pipes feed one tank — if one pipe gets stopped up, others keep the flow consistent.

The best configuration depends on three variables:

Location: Urban park, remote valley, rooftop, or open desert all have different signal profiles and line-of-sight challenges.
Bandwidth Demand: Are you providing power to a 50-person AV crew or streaming to a million online viewers?
Duration: A day-long music festival versus a week-long brand tour will change the way you plan power, cooling, and redundancy.

Professional crews will often pre-deploy with site surveys — gauging carrier strength, spectrum congestion, and potential sources of interference such as LED walls or nearby broadcast towers.

Lessons from the Field

Outdoor WiFi would be a niche specialty, but in today’s world it’s simply part and parcel of modern event production. In the last decade, TradeShowInternet’s teams have helped support hundreds of big outdoor festivals and corporate activations, and there have been a few hard-won lessons along the way.

There was the time crews climbed a half mile up the flank of a Santa Fe mountain with over 200 pounds of gear to put in a solar-powered relay antenna for Red Bull’s Guinness World Record truck jump. A second assignment involved digging cable trenches through snake country in Los Angeles for Christian Dior’s fashion show.

When Univision taped La Banda on the beach in Miami, technicians climbed a 20-foot truss into a lightning storm to raise antennas. These are probably war stories, but they represent reality: each outdoor location introduces its own wildcards. Wind, weather, terrain, and local RF noise all push the limits of planning.

The lesson? Experience is as important as gear. Knowing when to use additional directional antennas, when to flip to satellite failover, or how to protect a router from 100-degree heat isn’t something you can read in a manual.

The Technical Side: How Redundant Networks Keep Events Alive

This is how seasoned outdoor internet crews engineer reliability into temporary networks:

Multi-Carrier Bonding: Equipment stitches together data from multiple cellular carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, etc.) to maximize bandwidth and fill signal gaps.

WAN Smoothing: Packets are duplicated and relayed on secondary paths to prevent noticeable drops or hiccups in live streams.
Satellite Integration: Especially when out at remote sites or in mountain events where cell phone reception is spotty.
5G + LTE Hybrid Units: Combining newer high-bandwidth 5G networks with more predictable LTE offers well-rounded throughput.
Portable Mesh Access Points: Create overlapping areas of WiFi that eliminate dead spots across vast grounds or over tented locations.
Power & Weather Protection: Ranging from Pelican case enclosures to solar power solutions, all of which ensure uptime regardless of adverse weather conditions.

It’s a multi-layer strategy — not one device straining the load, but several working in tandem to handle bandwidth, robustness, and coverage.

Why Your Vendors, AV Staff, and Guests All Need Their Own Network Layer

External events normally have three distinct user communities that require the internet:

Production and AV Personnel – operation of live feeds, mixing panels, lighting, and communications programs.
Vendors and POS Devices – card transaction processing, QR menus, and inventory software.
Guests and Media – posting, uploading, or taking part in brand interaction activity.

Mixing them all on one open WiFi is risky. It provides security vulnerabilities and causes too much congestion. The preferred method is network segmentation, creating separate virtual networks that prioritize mission-critical traffic (production, POS, security cameras) and restrict non-mission-critical use like social browsing.

This is exactly how professional outdoor WiFi & Internet solution companies like TradeShowInternet build event systems. They design bespoke topologies that match the unique demands of every event, whether a food festival, marathon, or big corporate activation.

Budgeting and Planning: What Organizers Should Know

According to EventMB’s 2024 Event Technology Report, 73% of event planners say maintaining a reliable connection is important to attendee happiness, yet less than half have a standalone internet budget in place upfront while planning. That’s a recipe for last-minute scrambling.

For all to run smoothly, the network plan needs to be created alongside stage design and power planning — not an afterthought.

Some planning advice:

Start early: Conduct site surveys at least 30 days ahead of the event.
Prioritize wired backbones: Use fiber or Ethernet in production areas whenever possible.
Segregate guest WiFi: Utilize bandwidth caps or sponsored captive portals to control usage.
Redundancy: Cellular + satellite bonding is well worth the investment for mission-critical space.
Post-event review: Collect performance data to inform next year’s plan.

Real-World Use Cases

Outdoor connectivity is not just for music festivals. It’s a necessity for:

Marathons and triathlons – for timing chips, live maps, and emergency co-ordination.
Outdoor conferences or summits – where executives require office-grade internet to make presentations.
Food truck festivals and markets – all vendors need POS access.
Film and TV productions – production villages rely on low-latency connections for uploads.
Races and motorsport events – telemetry, live scoring, and media streaming.

Each of these environments needs a different trade-off among coverage area, upload speed, and mobility.

Why Experience Matters for Outdoor Internet Installations

Each outdoor location is unique. Trees, humidity, metal buildings, even bodies of water can affect wireless performance. Having individuals who’ve done hundreds of installations means fewer surprises and faster repairs when something unexpected happens.

That’s where TradeShowInternet, a leading outdoor WiFi & Internet solution company, comes in. The company has built up networks on deserts, beaches, helipads, mountain ridges, and pop-up brand villages — keeping organizers, vendors, and AV teams connected wherever the event is hosted.

Outdoor Blog

Outdoor Event WiFi: The New Backbone of Open-Air Experiences

Published

2 weeks ago

October 17, 2025

Jonas Muthoni

A concert in the canyon. A film night under desert stars. A bustling waterfront food festival with 10,000 guests. Across the country, outdoor events are turning parks, coastlines, forests, and fields into memorable destinations. But there’s one service now as essential as power, permits, and porta-potties: outdoor event WiFi.

Whether for ticket scanning, mobile POS systems, sponsor activations, or live-streaming performances, WiFi for outdoor events has become the invisible support that keeps everything running. Without it, payments stall, communication falters, and digital engagement stops.

Why Outdoor Event WiFi Is Mission-Critical

The outdoor events sector, from farmers’ markets to endurance races, is growing quickly. Allied Market Research predicts global festival revenues will exceed $50B by 2030. These venues offer unique charm, but they also pose a challenge: a lack of built-in internet infrastructure.

“Outside doesn’t mean offline,” says Emma Castillo, a production manager for festivals, film nights, and open-air corporate launches. “We rely on temporary internet for outdoor events to manage our security communications, allow vendors to keep selling, and ensure our livestreams don’t drop.”

Cellular service can struggle with the demands of thousands of devices. Some remote locations may not have any service at all. That’s where outdoor event WiFi solutions come in—portable, scalable, and designed for unpredictable weather.

How Outdoor Internet Keeps Events Moving

Today’s outdoor events rely on connectivity in ways that go far beyond letting guests post on social media:

Mobile POS & Cashless Payments – No signal means lost revenue for vendors.
RFID & Access Control – Real-time validation at gates and VIP areas.
Streaming & Social Content – From TikTok reels to sponsor livestreams.
Sponsor Engagement – QR contests, AR activations, and digital signage updates.
Safety & Logistics – Staff communication, emergency alerts, GPS tracking.

A recent Event Manager Blog study found 63% of sponsors now require guaranteed internet access before committing. Attendees want it too; more than half say connectivity is a key factor in their event satisfaction.

Outdoor Event WiFi Solutions in Action: “Lights on the Lake”

In June, the lakeside town of Lakeshore hosted a three-day open-air film festival. The views were stunning, but no wired internet was available, and mobile service barely worked.

The technical crew set up:

Multi-carrier 5G bonding for vendor and guest networks
Long-range weatherproof access points covering the pier and food court
A private secure network for organizers and emergency staff
A satellite uplink for backup

The festival processed thousands of transactions, streamed Q&A sessions with international filmmakers, and even operated a live voting app without a single connectivity failure.

Industry Perspective: Connectivity as a Core Utility

According to WiFit founder Matt Cicek, changes in event technology priorities have been significant:

“Five years ago, internet at an outdoor event was seen as a nice-to-have. Now, it’s as essential as running water and electricity. From safety coordination to sponsor returns, there’s too much at stake to leave it to chance.”

The Future of Temporary Internet for Outdoor Events

As events become more complex, WiFi for outdoor events from service providers like WiFit will play an even larger role. Expect advancements like:

Solar-powered network kits for sustainable operations
AI-managed bandwidth that adjusts to real-time crowd size
Edge computing for instant AR and interactive attractions

For event planners, the message is clear: the quality of your internet connection is as important as your stage, lighting, or sound system. The next time you’re booking a venue, remember—the crowd may be watching the performers, but they’re also looking at their screens. They expect both to work perfectly.

Outdoor Blog

Gear You Should Snag for the Great Outdoors This Season

Published

1 year ago

September 25, 2024

Caleb Cole

Outdoor enthusiasts know that having the right gear can make all the difference. Whether you’re hiking, camping, hunting, or engaging in any other outdoor activity, quality equipment ensures not only safety but also a better overall experience. As we head into a new season, it’s time to refresh your gear collection with essential items that will enhance your adventures. In this article, we’ll explore five pieces of must-have outdoor gear, focusing on both practicality and comfort.

Shooting Glasses Are Essential for Outdoor Adventures

If you’re heading out for a shooting range session or a hunting trip, investing in a quality pair of shooting glasses is non-negotiable. Eye protection is critical when engaging in any activity involving firearms, and shooting glasses are designed to keep your eyes safe from potential hazards like debris, shell casings, and even harmful UV rays.

Shooting glasses are a key safety measure that helps shield your eyes from impact and glare. The lenses are typically made from high-impact resistant materials that can endure tough conditions, making them a must-have for hunters, target shooters, and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Beyond safety, these glasses often come with polarized lenses to improve visibility in various lighting conditions. By incorporating shooting glasses into your outdoor gear, you’re ensuring not only better safety but also improved performance during your time in the wilderness.

What Should You Look For During Black Friday Hunting Gear Deals?

One of the best times to stock up on essential outdoor gear is during Black Friday. Black Friday hunting gear deals provide an opportunity for hunters to snag high-quality items at significantly reduced prices. Whether you’re after apparel, backpacks, or specialized equipment, Black Friday sales often feature steep discounts on top brands that every outdoor enthusiast should take advantage of.

This sale season is ideal for upgrading your hunting wardrobe and stocking up on essential gear that may normally be out of your price range. From weather-resistant jackets to durable boots and base layers, hunting gear can be pricey, and Black Friday is the perfect time to invest in the best equipment. By keeping an eye out for deals during this shopping period, you can save money while ensuring you’re well-prepared for your next big adventure.

Multi-Tools Are a Must-Have

Want to know the most versatile pieces of gear you can carry? It is a multi-tool. Whether you’re camping, hiking, or hunting, having a tool that can serve multiple functions is a game-changer. Multi-tools come equipped with a variety of features such as knives, screwdrivers, pliers, and scissors, all compactly housed in a single device that easily fits in your pocket or pack.

The practicality of a multi-tool is hard to beat. It allows you to tackle unexpected tasks, from cutting rope to repairing gear, all without needing to carry a full toolbox. When you’re out in the wild, you want to be prepared for anything, and a multi-tool ensures you’re ready to handle small emergencies or make quick fixes with ease.

Insulated Water Bottles Can Improve Your Outdoor Experience

Staying hydrated is one of the most important aspects of any outdoor activity. Whether you’re embarking on a long hike or spending hours in a hunting blind, having an insulated water bottle can make a difference. Insulated bottles have features that help to keep your drinks at the desired temperature for a long time, which is especially useful during extreme weather conditions.

These bottles maintain the temperature of your beverage—whether cold or hot—so you can enjoy refreshing water in the summer or a warm drink during chilly morning hunts. Insulated water bottles are also typically made from durable materials, meaning they can withstand the rigors of outdoor use without breaking or leaking. Investing in a high-quality insulated bottle ensures that you stay hydrated and comfortable throughout your outdoor excursions.

Durable Backpacks Can Enhance Your Outdoor Experience

A good backpack is the cornerstone of any successful outdoor trip. When you’re out in nature, you need a reliable, durable pack to carry all of your gear comfortably. Look for backpacks that are built to withstand harsh conditions, provide ample storage, and have ergonomic designs that distribute weight evenly to prevent strain on your back and shoulders.

Modern outdoor backpacks come equipped with multiple compartments to help you stay organized, as well as specialized features like hydration bladder compatibility, rain covers, and reinforced straps. By investing in a durable, well-designed backpack, you’ll have the capacity to carry everything you need—whether it’s extra clothing, food, or hunting gear—while maintaining comfort during long treks.