proper reel taking care of tips

[MrHunters]

So as not to hijack the wd-40 thread. Could we hear from the experts on how to properly take care of your reel. From beginning of a trip to the end... to seasonal maintenance.

I know I probably don't do enough. I wash down my reels after every use with a power spray.
(my reels are 1yr and less than 1 yr old) so i have never lubed them....what parts need to be?

[luds]

Get a Van Staal and send it in during winter time. No maintenance necessary.

[numbskull]

Be careful with the power spray, it forces salt and water into areas it hasn't entered already. A gentle brief rinse to get off the superfical salt is useful if you're worried about cosmetics although the trade off is putting more water into the guts of the reel than is already there. Be sure the drag is tight (to keep water out) when you do it, and back off on the drag when you are done (to prevent compression). Still, I quit washing my reels routinely years ago, and they work fine. I do strip them down and clean/relube them 2 or 3x a season (usually when the drag is acting up) for ones that don't get dunked, and more often for ones that do. Works for me.

[Flaptail]

Just yesterday morning I stopped into M&D's to see Mike about sticky drags on my Stradic 6000. Seems I was going about it all wrong. The Stradic has ceramic washers and a touch of alcohol and a simple wipe has them working like new again. Ceramics wear down and leave a gummy paste on the washers both steel and ceramic which causes jerking stop and starts. Mike gave me some pointers and they worked. When looking to service your reels yourself it's still a good idea to ask an expert for advise rather than go it alone. Like Numbskull said, I always back off the drag on my spinning and conventionals after a trip and no hard spraying with a hose but just a dunk under the faucet is enough.

Now I can't get that new ABU 7000 I saw at Mike's out of my head and especially the souped up job that Mike put together for some additional and well worth it money. Hmmm......could be another purchase soon in my future!

[numbskull]

Originally Posted by Flaptail

Now I can't get that new ABU 7000 I saw at Mike's out of my head ......could be another purchase soon in my future!

Twas the month before fall
and all through the sound,
big stripers were fattening
on the bunker around.
The tourists were relaxing,
enjoying the sun,
while Flap lay there shaking
anticipating the run.
And George in his breathables,
and Alan in his cap,
Had just settled their bones
for a long summer's nap.
When what into Flap's
crazed mind did appear,
but visions of bass
busting bait real near.
Forty and fifty,
sixty pounds or more.
Crushing his plug
and racing from shore.
And rocks and currents
and barnacles sharp,
to fray and abrade,
and make his line part.
"Oh what should I do",
He started to fret,
"How can I land
my biggest fish yet?"
"Conventional tackle!"
he thought in a flash,
and off to M&D's
he made a mad dash.
There he found
the reel of his dreams.
A few hundred bucks,
would buy peace, so it seems.
And now our Flap's ready,
for the fish of his life.
But whatever you do,
PLEASE DON'T TELL HIS WIFE!

[Flaptail]

So true, so true.