Gear vs. Saltwater - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

HookFynn · 10-26-2007, 12:39 PM

Figured I'd throw this out to the wise and experienced masses and maybe someone could offer me some advice.

How do you all protect and preserve the reels you use for saltwater? I'm new to the world of serious saltwater fishing and 3 of my reels are now shot- 2 Abu 5500c's and a Shimano Curado. I religiously rinse and clean them when I get home and then hang them to dry in my garage but after only a few months, 3 reels are now almost completely toast.

Any suggestions? I did a lot of inshore fishing back in NY but back then I was only using spinning reels and they never rotted away like this.

Thanks in advance!

Bryan Alexander
HookFynn- "for those who FISH."

dorado50 · 10-26-2007, 01:37 PM

Don't rinse them,big mistake, fresh water forces salt into reels. Just wipe down with damp cloth. Store reels on side with handle side up, any water inside will rest on" less important" componets. Have reels cleaned and inspected every so often at a tackle shop, anotherwords you will need rotating reels!

madscientist · 10-26-2007, 02:48 PM

Depends on the reels. Some high end stuff will hold up with a quick rinse and an annual regreasing. With midrange and lower stuff it's usually a matter of postponing the inevitable, with the exception being the seemingly indestructible Daiwa Sealines. Reel-X can help a bit but not much.

Pat · 10-26-2007, 03:49 PM

The Sealines have stayed in my car for weeks and still work, year after year. I occasionally rinse them if I'm not going to fish for awhile and not one has ever been apart or needed new drags. For $100 they are a steal.

h2ofishfo · 10-26-2007, 03:52 PM

yeah thu abu garcia 5500 would get toasted fast but the curado should hold up b very mindful about not doin the dunk in saltwater on the yak & when cleaning w/fresh water use a mister with a couple parts salt-x

HookFynn · 10-26-2007, 05:03 PM

Great, I sure got some bunk info. A guy who I assumed knew what he was talking about said to be sure to thoroughly (sp?) rinse my reels when I got home. You know what they say about assumptions- they will make an ass of one of us. You all can just call me donkey from now on.

Shit. Now to convince the wife I need 3 new baitcasters. How the hell am I going to pull that off???

Pat · 10-26-2007, 07:14 PM

Hey Hookfin,

Just get a Sealine 30XHA and that will be versatile enough to do everything. You can get more later. Bait, iron, you name it.

Hobie-Pedaller · 11-03-2007, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HookFynn

....a guy said to be sure to thoroughly rinse my reels when I got home....

i have heard the same thing, and have done so to all my reels after SW fishing for years now.

i have several Abu 5500 models. and have used many of them in SW for 3-4 years now.

i do have to clean/lubricate the Abu reels every 3-4 months or so, but this keeps them working well.

HOOKFYNN- the Abu's are actually fairly easy to completely disassemble, clean, and put back together.

you might try it with one of yours.

the manuals are online at Abu Garcia website, if you want to look at them first.
.

Hobie-Pedaller · 11-03-2007, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dorado50

.....Don't rinse them,big mistake, fresh water forces salt into reels. Just wipe down with damp cloth.....

is this accurate ?

what are other's opinion on this ????

just as HookFynn said, i have previously heard to always rinse SW reels.

JD · 11-06-2007, 11:53 AM

After a day of fishing, i usually button down the drags and hose em off. I don't open the drags back up untill i shake the fresh water off. I always store them with the drag completely open.

Mostly have Daiwa and Shimano reels, have also had Newell and Penn in the past. Always cared for them the same, never had a breakdown becasue of corrosion.

I used to spray em with salt x, but found that was a waste of time and money.

10-26-2007, 12:39 PM	#1
HookFynn Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NorCal Posts: 18	Gear vs. Saltwater Figured I'd throw this out to the wise and experienced masses and maybe someone could offer me some advice. How do you all protect and preserve the reels you use for saltwater? I'm new to the world of serious saltwater fishing and 3 of my reels are now shot- 2 Abu 5500c's and a Shimano Curado. I religiously rinse and clean them when I get home and then hang them to dry in my garage but after only a few months, 3 reels are now almost completely toast. Any suggestions? I did a lot of inshore fishing back in NY but back then I was only using spinning reels and they never rotted away like this. Thanks in advance! Bryan Alexander HookFynn- "for those who FISH."

10-26-2007, 02:48 PM	#3
madscientist Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,906	Depends on the reels. Some high end stuff will hold up with a quick rinse and an annual regreasing. With midrange and lower stuff it's usually a matter of postponing the inevitable, with the exception being the seemingly indestructible Daiwa Sealines. Reel-X can help a bit but not much. __________________

11-06-2007, 11:53 AM	#10
JD Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Normal Hts Posts: 62	Reel Care. After a day of fishing, i usually button down the drags and hose em off. I don't open the drags back up untill i shake the fresh water off. I always store them with the drag completely open. Mostly have Daiwa and Shimano reels, have also had Newell and Penn in the past. Always cared for them the same, never had a breakdown becasue of corrosion. I used to spray em with salt x, but found that was a waste of time and money.

10-26-2007, 01:37 PM	#2
dorado50 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: La Jolla Shores Posts: 1,626	Don't rinse them,big mistake, fresh water forces salt into reels. Just wipe down with damp cloth. Store reels on side with handle side up, any water inside will rest on" less important" componets. Have reels cleaned and inspected every so often at a tackle shop, anotherwords you will need rotating reels!

10-26-2007, 03:49 PM	#4
Pat Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 283	The Sealines have stayed in my car for weeks and still work, year after year. I occasionally rinse them if I'm not going to fish for awhile and not one has ever been apart or needed new drags. For $100 they are a steal.

10-26-2007, 03:52 PM	#5
h2ofishfo Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Santee Posts: 821	yeah thu abu garcia 5500 would get toasted fast but the curado should hold up b very mindful about not doin the dunk in saltwater on the yak & when cleaning w/fresh water use a mister with a couple parts salt-x

10-26-2007, 05:03 PM	#6
HookFynn Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NorCal Posts: 18	Great, I sure got some bunk info. A guy who I assumed knew what he was talking about said to be sure to thoroughly (sp?) rinse my reels when I got home. You know what they say about assumptions- they will make an ass of one of us. You all can just call me donkey from now on. Shit. Now to convince the wife I need 3 new baitcasters. How the hell am I going to pull that off???

10-26-2007, 07:14 PM	#7
Pat Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 283	Hey Hookfin, Just get a Sealine 30XHA and that will be versatile enough to do everything. You can get more later. Bait, iron, you name it.