Fishing Reel Maintenance Tips

Tackle Maintenance Tips (Part Two)

Spinning Reel Basic Maintenance

Next on the list of things to do before we take out our gear to the water this spring is to make sure all of our spinning reels are working properly and smoothly. I have over ten reels that I use or I let my clients use while they are on a fishing trip with me. It is critically important that not only I, but my customers are completely satisfied on their fishing trip with me. There is nothing worse than a bad reel that ruins a client’s day and keeps them from ever coming back to fish with you. This is where checking your gear becomes extremely important.

So let’s begin with the basic lubrication and preventative maintenance tips for your spinning reel so you can have a great, hassle free day out on the water. To start out, wipe down the reel/reels with a damp cloth or rinse them with a moderate spray of clean water. Now remove the handle of the reel. Most new reels have a dust cover on one side of the handle so go ahead and remove the dust cover also. Twist the dust cap off by turning it counterclockwise. Look into the reel and if you see any bearings or bushings, give them one or two drops of oil. Then oil the handle knob and replace the handle back into the reel.

I prefer to use Ardent Reel Butter oil for this application. Reel Butter Oil is high-performance synthetic oil developed by Ardent specifically for fishing reel components. Ardent Reel Butter Oil is a 100% Full Synthetic product with specially engineered additives to provide superior, long-lasting lubrication for any model fishing reel. Applying Reel Butter Oil to ball bearings, spool shafts, and other wear points in your favorite reel on a regular basis will ensure a smoother, quieter, and high-performance experience. Reel Butter oil will not gum up or react with old lubricants.

The next step is to loosen the screw that holds the bail wire to the bail arm. Now place a drop of reel butter oil where the line roller turns on the shaft, or if you see bearings supporting the line roller, place one drop of oil on them. At this stage it is a good idea to examine the line roller to see if there are any groves in it that could cut your line or cause a weak spot in the line. If no groves are present, tighten the screw back to firmly hold the bail wire to the bail arm.

Now you can loosen the screws that hold the bail and the bail arm to the rotor of the reel. Place several drops of oil to the pivot points and then tighten the screws back up. Move the bail and forth and small distance by hand to evenly distribute the oil and gauge the strength of the bail spring. Now remove the spool and check the lip of the spool for deep scratches or gouges that may cause the line to fray or cut the line all together. Now you can place several drops of oil where the main shaft enters the pinion gear and turn the reel handle a few times to work the oil down into the shaft. Once the oil is ant the base of the shaft, replace the spool.

You can now finish the maintenance of your reel with a light spray of silicone spray and then wipe the reel off with a clean lint free cloth. Your reel is now ready to use for the upcoming fishing season. It is important to have your reels working as they did out of the box or better. You can repeat these maintenance steps every two months depending on how much you are out on the water fishing. A reel that performs well everyday will keep you happy and will help that reel last much longer.