I just saw this on another forum but I wanted to get the local opinions.

What's your opinion on spraying your reels with WD-40 after fishing use. Does it hurt your line?

Also any truth in the rumor that spraying your lures with the stuff might actually be beneficial in attracting fish?

:)

My dad swears that WD40 on lures attracts blues, it may just be the oil slick.

I've heard of it used as an attractant, I've never tried it that way (the outboards I've run leave enough oil in the water). I've used it on reels with no negative effects.

Great for lonely slow nights when they just ain't bitin'.

Down in Corpus Christi texas, the comercial guys use it by the case. They do a long-line trolling operation with about 200 pieces of sun-bleached wood, a hook on the end and its soaked in wd-40... they swear by it.

WD-40 , good as lube, gets gummy after time on line. As attractant, I've seen guys spray their bait with it. I wouldn't want to eat that fish tho.

I saw an older sharpie spray it on an eel (wtf?) one slow night a loooong time ago...... (he caught, I didn't)
I'm still not sold, tho, and like you said BBJ...don't know if I want to eat that fish.
As far as on gear, I know a couple guys that drench their reels in it, I picked up one of their rigs the next day, felt wicked slippery, plus wouldn't it penetrate into the drag, and make that slippery too? I dunno?

Could be pogie oil used in the manufacture of WD-40 - I know Rustoleum has bunker oil used in it.

If ya don't believe me try painting an old radiator with the primer in the winter :rolleyes: - whew, smells like a tote of old bait.

Yeah, CraftyAngler, I remember reading years ago on the back of the can that rustoleum had fish oil in it. That was after I painted my bicycle. Took all summer to dry. Don't know if they still brag about that , could lose the PETA crowd. Maybe if we paint our bait!!

I do it.. never had a problem i usually wipe the excess off.. as far as spraying plugs.. i used to spray it on my metal lures/spoons to help slow the oxidation process... never noticed a difference in catching..

wouldnt dare eat a fish that ate lure with wd-40 ;P use eel skins on ur lures :) skin the eel wrap it around the lure and let it dry overnight(gf's dad does this to his told me about it last nite) or just soak em overnite in pogie oil and cook em :P

WD40 is all petroleum distillate based. It's not made from fish as many people believe.

so much skunking going on that i'm thinking about painting all my plugs with rustoleum and spraying with wd-40!

Back to the original subject, Boeing makes a lubricant called T-9... it was meant to be used to lubricate parts on their jets, but it was so good, they marketed it to the public. I think you can get it at West Marine, but It a pretty good protectant. WD-40 is a penetrating oil, and If I used it on my 704's that are packed with grease, it would probably displace the thicker grease, or break it down.

Its My opinion that if you keep your reels nice and greased up, and gently hose them down after use, your reels will work perfectly.. On the otherhand, if your having to spray them with WD-40 because of squeeks, then you need to take them apart, oil them, and then keep them oiled.

So, No I wouldnt use WD-40, I'd use a light coating of T-9 to protect the reels from corrosion. It will leave a light waxy film that will displace water. The t-9, plus ritual greasing will make your reels last a lifetime..(penn 7 series reels at least)

Guys,
FWIW Berkeley did a test by spaying cotton balls with WD-40 and dropping them into a tank of Largemough bass, they bass always spit the cotton out, OTOH when they sprayed the cotton with their attractant, the bass ate it.
As far as lube goes, you're much better off with the T-9 that Eeben spoke of, or corrosion block or corrosion X, none of then will build up or get gummy on your reels and they all provide superior lubrication and protection.

Thanks for the T-9 suggestion I will give it a try. I am more interested in preventing corrosion at this point.

Where does one find T-9? What hardware stores carry this?

Try West Marine, maybe jamestown Distributors, or if all else fails, do a google search for it.

Boeshield T-9 is available at West Marine - for you boating types (not that there's anything wrong with that), T-9 displaces moisture and also will maintain contacts for delicate electronics -

I ALWAYS keep it in my accessory bag when we're shooting around water to keep the electronics in my cameras functioning properly.

I swear by the T-9 Eben.

It is great stuff.

I DON"T let anything get on my lures or bait if I can help it.

:)

ive had this conversation before and the answer an old salt came up with is that it just covers up all other scents.like human.i dont know.i think it will always be a mystery

The WD-40 will slowly desolve the painted lettering on the reels. It's happen to my reel and I discontinued using it for that reason.
This reel was the Shimano Baitrunner series. The higher quality reels may have there lettering baked with the reel's finish.
I"m not going to use WD-40 for any of my reels except the interior or moving components with care not to touch the paint.