BoatDealerOnline

There's nothing worse I think than snagging a big one, only to have problems reeling it in because of a dirty reel. I'm sorry to say, you have to clean your reel occasionally if it is to last, and to perform well.

You're reel really only needs cleaning once or twice a year--twice if you're in salt water often. Reel cleaning is not difficult but you do need to do it right. Let us begin with the tools required:

* a towel

* a small screwdriver (typically it's a Phillips head)

* a bottle of reel grease--not WD-40 (WD-40 leaves a residue that attracts dirt. Use a good quality reel grease)

* a few Q-tips

* some paper towels

Firstly, remove your reel from the fishing rod. Use some paper towels to completely wipe it down.

Next, remove the handle of the reel. The handle normally is removed in one of two ways--either by removing a screw of some sort in the handle itself, or simply by holding the reel and turning the handle backwards. This removes the handle. Once removed, set the handle onto a clean towel.

Lie the reel down so as to expose the (typically) 3 to 5 screws that hold the reel together. Remove these screws and set them beside the handle. You should now have exposed a small plate--remove it too, and set it down with the screws.

You should now see inside the reel. Clean any dirt you see in the reel with one of the Q-tips. Next, put a few drops of your reel grease on each of the gears.

Note: More is not necessarily better here! Too much grease will clog everything up. You really only need a tiny bit of reel grease to do the job properly.

Now it's time to reassemble. Just reverse the process you followed above. First put your plate back in place and screw it in. Now it's time to reattach the handle, but before you do, add some grease to it as well, then reinstall it.