Proper reel care

Proper reel care

Proper care can be the key to the longevity of your fishing reel. There are some simple steps that you can take now to keep your reel working at its best next year.
There are five things that need to be done the number 6 item is for next year.

1. Before storing your reels for the winter, be sure to loosen the drag as much as you can, this will extend the life of your drag system.

2. Oil your level-wind system lightly with a Teflon or silicone-based oil.

3. Do not apply excessive grease or oil to your reel, or it may hamper its performance, reduce casting distance, and reduce the drag system performance.

4. Apply a small amount of lubrication to the drag washers.

5. Remove the screw on the cover that controls the spool tension and put a drop of lite oil in it.

6. Wait till next spring to put new line on your reels, this will reduce line memory problems.

Reel cleaning

If you feel like doing a complete cleaning, a reel isn't as difficult or scary as one might think. Use a bio-degradable cleaner and an old cake pan.
Lay out strips of tape (masking tape will do) on table and write numbers on tape every 2 inches or so. As you remove a part, lay it by the number. For instance, the first thing removed should be the nut cap screw on handle nut cap. Lay the screw on number one, lay the nut cap on number 2, lay the handle nut on 3. Continue until all parts are removed. To re-install parts, start with the highest number and keep going until the last part mounted which is the nut cap screw laying on the number one. It is very important to jot down on a piece of paper the orientation of each part if you don't have a schematic. When disassembling your reel, orient the reel the same way each time it is picked up. Doing this allows you to install parts correctly and will eliminate confusion of part installation. If you fish a lot you should disassembled your reel for a thorough cleaning and re-lubrication of its innards at least once a year. Before you put them away for the winter is a good time to perform this chore. If you aren't comfortable doing this yourself, call the reel's manufacturer for the factory authorized service center nearest you.