Recently returned from surf fishing trip, caught in rain storm several times during two weeks and now water spots on blanks. I gave the rods a good scrubbing with fiber brush and mild dish detergent, spots still there. I tried Gel-Gloss polish/cleaner to no joy. It has always worked in the past. The spots will scratch off with the fingernail. but that is alot of rod to scratch. Harnell, Lamiglas, St.croix , , it doesn't matter which brand of rod. These spots are on the blank as well as the epoxy over wrapping. Any ideas???

Boy, you don't want to see what steelhead and salmon drift rods look like under a layer of cured egg goo, add a few hundred scales and you have an organic traction device to keep your hands from slipping.

They usually disappear on their own in my experience but not immediately . I know exactly what you're talking about though. Giving the blank a wax with a Carnuba based product will prevent water spotting in the future. I always used to confuse water spots with fish scales in the past , fish scales are easy to pop off the blank though.

These rods are treated each season with gel-gloss before putting up for the winter.

Don't know anything about "Gel-gloss " so can't say anything about it but even with a Carnuba waxing if it's really wet my surf rods still suffer from the same thing . I freaked the first time i saw it because i thought it was permanent but it's not .

I presume you are rinsing well after salt water use.

I keep my black boat looking like new by first cleaning the spots off with a dilute mixture of CLR. After that cleaning, which works well, all that is necessary is wiping it down with Lucas Slick Mist Speed wax after each use. Spray it on, wipe it off. No need for the CLR cleanings after the first one.; For rods I would think wetting a rag with it and wiping the rods would do it.

These spots are fresh water spots from rain while on vacation as these rods were stored on 2nd floor deck away from prying eyes.