We all want our fishing reels to work well. Reels need post-trip maintenance (see here) as well as occasional deep cleaning. However, even if you are good at maintenance, carelessly mishandling your reel around saltwater or sand can easily wreck it. Here are a couple of tips to keep in mind:
Tip #1: KEEP YOUR REEL OUT OF THE SALTWATER.
This might be the most important tip I can give you in all of saltwater fishing. Most reels are not sealed in any way to keep water out. If you dunk them into the bay or surf, even for a second, saltwater will get into the reel and will start attacking the internal parts. On spinning reels, water can easily seep in through the shaft and the handle area. On baitcasting reels, water can easily seep in through the spool and level wind area.
Why is this a big deal? Because saltwater is very corrosive to some metals and it will start eating away at them as soon as it comes into contact. The ball bearings, which are found in almost all modern reels, are the most vulnerable part; once they have been corroded by saltwater, they will freeze up and not want to turn. However, I have also had saltwater attack aluminum and zinc parts, including the gears inside spinning reels as well as the inside of aluminum reel bodies.
This might all seem like common sense, but if you are new to fishing on the coast, or you came over from freshwater fishing, you might not be aware how damaging saltwater can be. I had lots of “reel issues” in my early days before I learned to stop dunking my reel. If you can avoid it, your reel will likely live a long, happy life.
But what if you dunk your reel? It definitely can happen from time to time. Maybe you are dealing with a fish and you accidentally dunk it, or you get hit by a big wave in the surf and it accidentally gets submerged. Or, you are fishing with a novice and they dunk it without knowing any better (this has happened a few times to me). Well, that’s when it’s time to initiate emergency procedures (see here).
Tip #2. KEEP YOUR REEL OUT OF THE SAND.
Almost as bad as dunking your reel in saltwater, is dropping or setting your reel in the sand. Sand does not creep into the inside of your reel quite as easily as saltwater, but it can get into tiny crevices and make your reel run horribly, usually causing a nasty grinding sound. Also, since this is beach sand, it has salt crystals mixed in with it, which can be damaging to the reel.
Generally, the biggest issues with sand are while surf fishing. Here are some simple tips when fishing from the beach or other sandy shoreline:
- Never set your reel directly on the sand, especially soft sand. Even if you plan to lay your rod down, always set your reel ON something. Set it on your sandals, on your tackle box or bag, in an empty bucket…anything besides the sand. Best yet, keep it in a sand spike (a surf fisherman’s rod holder that he installs near the water’s edge).
- Don’t lay your rods/reels in the bed of a truck. It is common for a thin layer of sand to build up in the bed of the truck just from driving down the beach. Keep your rods in rod holders mounted to your vehicle or inside the cab.
- If you drop your reel in the sand (it happens), rinse it off and check for function. If you hear any grinding or roughness at all, take it out of service immediately until you can take it apart and clean it. It’s always good to have a backup reel, and this is the time to get it out.
In closing, by following these guidelines and being mindful that your reel is not dunked in the saltwater or set in the sand, good quality reels can last a long time of hard use. Some of mine have lasted over 20 years, and they are still going strong (see here).
Have a reel good day,
– The Simple Fisherman