Knowing the basics of how to properly maintain and clean your fishing reel will extend the longevity of the fishing reel. It will also reduce the number of headaches you may encounter if you do not routinely clean and maintain your reel. Many times when a fisherman is done with a reel it is simple hosed. Simply hosing off a reel is not proper maintenance or cleaning. A reel has many moving parts. As you use it fishing, gunk and grim get into those moving parts. This occurs primarily as line is released and retrieved.
Cleaning your fishing reel is normally a very simple process. Now if you have a high tech reel this process could get more complex. Above all else you should read and follow the manufacture directions, found in the fishing reels owners manual. These directions are the most precise and important, no matter what you may read anywhere else.
Before you begin to clean your reel there are a few things that you will need. You will need a small screw driver to take the reel apart. Again make sure you refer to the manufacturers directions when doing this. Depending on the reel there may be some parts that you should not take apart.
You may also need a pair of needle nose pliers. These can be used for several purposes. First there may be a parts where removing with your fingers could bend or break. Second, it is much easier to untangle line with needle nose pliers.
You will need lubricant for the moving parts. Exposure of different parts of your reel to the elements can cause them no not move smoothly, if not completely seize. Use manufacture suggested lubricant.
You will also need a few towels and Q-tips. These are primarily used to clean or dry the various parts of the reel. The Q-tips will be of particular help as invariable dirt has worked its way into arreas of the reel that otherwise would be impossible to clean simply with a towel.
Above all else you will need a clean flat work area in which to disassemble the reel. You should put a towel down on the surface before taking the reel apart. Follow the manufacturer’s directions when disassembling and reassembling the reel.
To disassemble a reel, in general, you will want to locate the screws holding the housing together. Once you have located these screws you will want to you will want to use your small screw drive to remove them. Once the housing is loosened you you will be able to remove the reel plate. Removing the reel plate will expose the mechanical parts of the reel. You will not want to disassemble the reel any further. From this point you should be able to examine, clean and do basic maintenance. Once you have cleaned any noticeable dirt and grime from the reel housing you will want to lubricate the exposed parts. This will help keep the reel in working order for future use. Once the lubrication is complete you will then want to reassemble your now clean and lubricated reel. Remember, as always consult the manufacturer’s directions when cleaning and maintaining your reel. Not doing this could cause you to accidently break the reel.
The importance of properly cleaning and maintaining a reel cannot be understated. Filing to do so will reduce the life expectancy of the reel and reduce its ease of use. The more complex a reel is the more important it is to properly clean and maintain it. Knowing the basics of how to do this is only the first step. The second and final step to doing this properly is to always consult the manufacturers maintenance directions found in the owners manual.
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