Fishing Reels Maintenance Tips

Fishing reels maintenance is often the solution to problems concerning reels. Any reel used in saltwater should be completely flushed under lukewarm tap water after each fishing day. Many fishermen clean their reels with soapy water and a sponge before rinsing. Upon carefully drying the reel, wipe all external surfaces with a rag saturated in some type of preservative oil or corrosion inhibitor. This will protect the finish and help keep the reel looking like new. The next step is to oil all external working parts in accordance with your instruction booklet.

Periodically, depending on how hard and how often you use your reel, it should be disassembled to clean, inspect, and re-lubricate the internal mechanism. Only disassemble the parts which must be removed to facilitate maintenance, to save wear and tear on screw threads. Metallic parts can be cleaned with some mild solvent used in conjunction with an old tooth brush. Use a tooth brush and household detergent, or just an old rag, to clean the non-metallic parts. Be sure to work in a clean, uncluttered area to avoid loss of small parts.

Prior to reassembling a spinning or spin casting reel, coat each part with a protective layer of light grease. A reel which is kept clean and lubricated sparingly with a light grease will operate freer in cold temperatures. A light silicone-base grease is good. It is also all' excellent idea to apply a layer of grease around the housing edge before reinstalling the cover plate. This will form a protective gasket and help seal the inside of the reel against saltwater invasion.

Bait Casting Reels

In bait casting reels, the gears should be lubricated with a light grease. The bearings, bushings, spool axle, line carriage screw, and similar moving parts are best lubricated with a lightweight oil. Do not over-oil your reel as this is messy, wasteful, and the excess picks up abrasive dirt, sand, and other grit. Too much oil can also accumulate dust and lint which may clog parts and keep them from working freely. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's lubricating instructions for trouble-free performance.

Most single action fly reels consist of little more than a spool, frame, and click mechanism which may be linked to an adjustable drag. In spite of this simplicity, even reels like the famous Hardy need periodic maintenance.

Automatic Fly Reels

Automatic fly reels are more complicated than single action fly reels, and reinstalling the wind-up spring can be a problem for the inexperienced. Unless specific instructions on assembly and disassembly are furnished by the manufacturer, have your automatic fly reel overhauled by a qualified technician. Nevertheless, it is a simple matter for the fisherman to keep his reel operating properly by oiling external moving parts such as the trigger, trigger lock, winding grip, and spring tension release, without taking the reel apart. Incidentally, the winding spring on an automatic fly reel will last longer if you release the tension during periods of non-use.

Keeping your reels off rocks, concrete, etc., will help prevent damage to the finish and parts such as the bail which could cause line abrasion. It is also suggested you not lay reels in dirt or sand because the abrasive qualities of these substances grind on moving parts. Some kind of protective case is recommended for storage to prevent scratches and keep reels free of dirt. Zippered and draw-string leather or vinyl pouches are made by several companies, and are excellent for this.

Provided your reel is complete, and not in need of service, assuring the spool is neatly and compactly wound will help eliminate erratic drag operation. This will prevent the same line dig-in which causes casting problems with spin-casting reels. But what many fishermen think are drag problems aren't really problems at all. Fishermen sometimes forget that line will be easier to pull off a full spool than a half-filled one. Physics tells us the reason for this is that the mechanical advantage is greatest when the spool is full. If a fisherman hooks into a large fish which strips off a sufficient quantity of line, he may have to loosen his drag setting if there is too much strain on his tackle. As he gains line he can increase drag.