How many times have you been keen for a fish, packed your gear, only to find your reel running a whole lot rougher than when you used it last? Or even worst, completely seized up or suffering from the dreaded green powdery corrosion? Unfortunately fishing in saltwater exposes fishing reels to one of the harshest environments out there, and if maintained incorrectly, you’re not going to get the long happy life you were expecting out of your prized piece of fishing weaponry. In some cases, reels can even suffer from being loved too much, where going the unnecessary extra mile to look after your gear actually causes more harm than good. So, here is a step by step list to ensure your pride and joy is with you for many more sessions to come. It’s actually a lot easier than you think!
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Prepare Reel
Tighten the drags on all the reels you are wanting to clean. This prevents water entering into the drags washers and causing them to get soggy.
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Prepare Cleaning
Fill a bucket with warm water and grab yourself a clean rag to put in it.
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Wipe
Thoroughly wipe the reel completely free of any crystallised salt and dried water marks.
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Rinse
Run warm water over the line, this prevents salt build up and corrosion in the spool and helps to keep your line in good condition.
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Dry
Allow to air or towel down with a dry clean rag.
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Lubricate
With a spray lubricant like reel guard, inox,or lannogaurd, spray each of the moving parts accessible from the outside of the reel. This includes the handle, bailarm hinges and line-roller bearing before loosening the drag.
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Step 7
Wipe away excess oil, return to padded reel case and store out of direct sunlight.
There you have it guys, it’s as simple as that! Remember under no circumstances spray your reels with a high pressure hose and never completely submerge them in water. This drives the salt and other grime into the reel rather than washing it away. It’s also a great idea to send your reels back to the supplier to be serviced rather that attempting to fix them yourself. There's a whole heap of small little springs and parts inside most reels these days, so it’s best to leave it to the professionals! Happy fishing guys!