When you’re on a hot bite or a long-planned trip, the worst thing that could happen is tackle failure. Losing a great catch due to something that could have been prevented is annoying. Avoid that problem by maintaining and regularly servicing your spinning reels and you’ll enjoy years of dependable use. Here are some steps to keep those reels in good working order.
Start each trip with a thorough cleaning. Gently rinse each reel to remove salt particles. Don’t loosen the drags yet and don’t use a lot of water pressure, either, to prevent forcing salt and dirt into internal components. If possible, wash reels with warm, soapy, fresh water to remove salt, body oils, blood, and dirt. Remove the skirted spool (and drag knob, if necessary), and clean the underside of the spool and the spindle area. Next rinse the entire reel again with a gentle spray and let them air dry or pat with a towel or chamois. Next, loosen the drag knob to remove pressure so…
