Cleaning reels

[gpd4 0]

I got back from Mexico the other day. After weeks and weeks of madly tying giant things and odd things to catch fish in the ocean, a humble chartreuse clouser was all I really needed to bring. I boated a few nice, if not little, mahi-mahi on the fly and could have (would have if I were alone on the boat) sat there for hours catching them. It's strange casting from so high above the water off the bow of the boat. One 90lb sailfish and three decent sharks finished up our first day on the water.

 

I fished three mornings off the breakwater before I was told by the security guy that my fishing there was 'prohibido', so my brother in law and I chartered another boat. We wanted a small, open boat to take us back to where the mahi-mahi were, but we only had one day to do it and the little boats were already spoken for. This brought me to the best deal I've ever had in Mexico...a $600 charter boat for $220! The good news was that we got a bigger boat - the bad news was the 6' seas crashing over the bow. There was no way I could stand to cast a flyrod - so we just trolled for the billfish...with no luck...maybe next year.

 

Which brings me to my question...I've rinsed all my rods and reels well. Should I remove the line and clean it? Lube the reels? This was my first flyfishing in saltwater - so I really don't know...

 

Thanks

[Steeldrifter 0]

Long as you washed them off with fresh water really well then there's no need to lube them, unless you just want too.

 

 

[c-denby 0]

My experience with maintaining reels after using in saltwater has led me to do the following:

 

1) Rinse your reels with freshwater every night after being used in salt, try not to let the saltwater sit on your reel or in the line for too long..

2) DONT put them in a pouch or cover until you have thoroughly rinsed and totally dried them with freshwater..

3) Once home from the trip, disassemble the basics of the reel and rinse, dry, and lubricate.. There is no need to go crazy and tear it totally apart, But just make sure you have rinsed all the crevices.. It doesn't hurt to lube a bit after having rinsed and dried your reel so many times.. Salt can dry out your lubricants(depends on the lube itself)!

 

 

This is just a basic precaution that I take as I have had corrosion develop over night on even the most expensive reels after not being washed with freshwater the same day as having been used in saltwater..

Unless the reel was designed for saltwater use or advertises that it can be used in saltwater, then I would rinse after use each time..

 

BTW- hope you had a great time in Mexico, They have some amazing fishing down there.. Glad to see you got down there before they closed that fishery as well due to this ridiculously horrible oil spill!! :wallbash:

 

 

Cheers,

Chris

 

[TOM PRUETT 0]

I love Mexico..cozumel . We go there the last feb/ to 2 week of march.wicked time there . But like c-denby said Unless the reel was designed for saltwater use i would not use it !! I have seen what salt water can do my dive gear in just one day.! we wash all of are dive gear off every time we get out of the water and the soak it over night in the bath TUB And i have not been so nice with my reel and i have PAID the price. be fore getting on the plane the night before i take every thing apart and, i put the line in a zip lock and backing i thow out ..Backing is cheep and the line i soak when i get home .. With all my dive gear .. I do this because my reels gets wet a lot, yours my not

 

 

OH !!! LOL all we do is cast!!! we dont actually get anything

[gpd4 0]

Thanks for the replies. I think I'll take them and rinse them again. Maybe soak for a while as Tom mentioned...

[agn54 0]

I fish the salt almost exclusively and have never had any major problems with corrosion on the reel or line. Just rinse every night after use and allow to dry. Salt can be very damaging but it also is very easy to wash off. It doesn't take much and do not use high pressure since this can pack the salt in to gears rather than rinse it off. I usually just use the hose with one turn on. I know a guy who would occasionally strip his entire line off into the pool to clean his line after fishing. I always wondered if the chlorine would damage the line but he said he never had a trouble with it. Every so often you should open the reel and re-lube it, but I find with fly reels, this is needed less often than with spinnig and casting gear.

[c-denby 0]

TOM-- I'm not saying that you cannot use freshwater reels in the saltwater.. I'm just saying that if you do, you need to maintain them properly.. Thats all!!

 

I don't own any saltwater specific reels and I'm pretty sure that at one time or another ALL of my reels have seen saltwater or atleast brackish water and have all been fine if I rinse with fresh water and dry them properly.. The only time that you will get corrosion is if you don't clean them properly or if you put them in a pouch with ANY traces of salt in or on the reel..

 

Cheers

Chris

[JSzymczyk 0]

don't forget to wash your rods too, especially the guides and reel seat. Like everyone has said, the idea that salt water will eat gear like alien acid blood is untrue. If someone can spend the $$ on solid stainless steel gear as an excuse to not take good care of it, that's fine. The salt that dries on the gear is hydrophilic and sucks moisture out of its surroundings, and it's the constant moisture that causes quick corrosion. I have always washed my non-salt specific gear in a warm shower after use, set it out to dry, and have had no problems. One time I did not wash my 7wt rod before coming home and a couple weeks later found the beginnings of some corrosion on the reel seat and stripping guide. Scrubbed it off with a soft brush and soapy water, polished it with a little wax, and no problemo.