Why is my brass tarnishing?

[Camo]

The brass on my 50/50 dodgers is tarnishing and quite badly only after a couple days of freshwater use. I usually try to air dry them before putting them away. Does freshwater really affect these this badly and how do I eliminate it? Maybe I need to wipe them down every time after use but usually any towel in the boat is already damp to wet? Can they be cleaned up and with what? Any thoughts? Thanks.

[rpm10]

A little brass-o should bring them right back, and probably protect them.

[TroutSnipr]

Unless clear coated all brass will tarnish in air relatively quickly.

[Camo]

A little brass-o should bring them right back, and probably protect them.

Thanks for the help rpm, local hardware store had some. It did get the discoloration off but I can't seem to get the outline of the spots to go away. I need to figure out how to keep this from happening.

[Camo]

Unless clear coated all brass will tarnish in air relatively quickly.

Troutsnipr are you referring to the air/water reaction with the brass? The configuration of the marks definitely leads me to assume water had a huge role in this. I will try to look something up on this. Thanks for your input.

[TroutSnipr]

Were you fishing any kind of scent or bait? any type of oil like fingerprints, bait scent, shrimp cure etc will start the process almost immediately.

[Camo]

Absolutely, cured prawns @ Baker. Tried to keep that contact seperate but I have no doubt that could be the culprit, especially when they didn't completely clean up with the Brass-O.

[ShipwreckedDude]

Try "barkeepers friend" I love the stuff for all metal cleaning.

[The Quadfather]

You know what works REALLY well and you already have it, plus cheap.... is Ketsup (sp?) The red stuff on your hamburger, lol.
Slather some ketsup all along the brass, thick. Let it sit for a good 2-3 hours at least. Even all day. If you try and do it with only a short time of soaking, you will get lousy results.
Then go at rubbing it with one of those kitchen sponges that has the green scratchy surface on one side/yellow sponge on the other.
I have 40 year old Abe & Al flashers that now look like new.

[spokey9]

if nothing else works for you to get the outlines off, polish the area with some steel wool. i use it all the time to bring back spinner blades & spoons.

[goodtimesfishing]

Try "barkeepers friend" I love the stuff for all metal cleaning.

Like ship wreck said barkeepers friend works great!! I have also heard coke or pepsi(dip it or just get it wet with it) then rub with aluminum foil.
Once you get it shiny again you can clear coat it and it will stay good.