| Sometimes, we as anglers overlook the | | | | heads are visible. Now using your small |
| importance of cleaning our fishing reels. | | | | screwdriver, remove the screws that are |
| Many times your fishing rod and reel simply | | | | holding the reel together. Once these screws |
| get thrown in the basement at the end of the | | | | are removed, set them aside as well. At this |
| fishing season and then dragged out at the | | | | point you can remove the reel plate. Once |
| beginning of the next season to be used | | | | the reel plate is removed the gears and |
| again. Very often your reel will choose to | | | | springs on the inside of the fishing reel are |
| not work properly at precisely the worst | | | | exposed. Without taking anything else apart, |
| time, such as when you're fighting a large | | | | simply examine the inside of the fishing |
| fish. This is why I do a little routine | | | | reel. Many times you can see sand and or |
| maintenance on my fishing reels before the | | | | dirt particles. Using the Q-tips, gently |
| start of every fishing season. You only have | | | | remove any exposed sand or dirt particles. |
| to lose a trophy one time because of your | | | | Once this is accomplished you want to add |
| fishing reel not performing properly to make | | | | reel lubricant to any exposed gear (not too |
| you a believer. Take my word for it. Do a | | | | much, just enough to cover the gear). |
| little routine "check up", such as what's | | | | |
| described below, before the beginning of | | | | At this point, simply reverse the process by |
| every fishing season and you won't have any | | | | installing the reel plate and screws. Add a |
| problems. First of all, gather the following | | | | little lubricant to the spindle of the handle |
| tools: A small screwdriver, a pair of | | | | and re-install the handle. That's it; you |
| needle nose pliers or hemostats, grease of | | | | just maintained your fishing reel and |
| some sort (either purchase a small bottle of | | | | shouldn't have any problems with it. I've |
| reel oil or simply just use WD-40), a couple | | | | been doing this to my fishing reels for a |
| of clean towels, 5-6 Q-tips, and a clear | | | | long time and it works wonders. I have |
| area to work. Any cleared off table will | | | | spinning reels that are fifteen years old |
| work fine. | | | | and still work like new. |
| | | | |
| First off, take the fishing reel off of your | | | | Performing maintenance such as this enables |
| fishing rod and set it aside. Now take the | | | | you to know if your reel is in need of being |
| reel and some warm water and wipe it off | | | | replaced, before you get on the water, which |
| thoroughly. Once you have the reel wiped of | | | | is what we're trying to accomplish. Because |
| debris, remove the handle. The handle | | | | losing a trophy because of a reel malfunction |
| normally simply unscrews either by a screw | | | | is no fun at all. Routine maintenance, such |
| that you back out with your fingers or by | | | | as outlined in this article will alleviate |
| turning the handle the opposite direction | | | | that problem forever. Not only will it |
| that you turn while reeling. Once the handle | | | | alleviate the problem, it also doesn't take |
| is removed, set it aside. | | | | much time and effort. This entire "check up" |
| | | | can be performed on most spinning reels in |
| At this point the reel has exposed screw | | | | under an hours time. |
| heads and position the reel so the screw | | | | |