Reel and Rod Aftercare, Curious what everyone does after a day in the Salt - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Oolie · 07-12-2020, 07:20 PM

Not everything holds up well to submersion, the one reel that really doesn't mind is the sealine-x.

It's mostly down to if you're getting sand deep into the reel, and if you've taken preventative measures.

I like to fill all non-spool bearings with grease, and take the same heavy grease and fill many parts of the reel. Search Alan Tani, he is an excellent servicer of saltwater reels.

The 4 gallon backpack sprayer I use gets too much use in the yard to be double-use, so I usually end up doing what Matt does if I don't find an active sprinkler before I leave (usually not too difficult at the times/places I fish).

Even filling the reel with grease like Alan does is not enough if you don't service them periodically, so clean it out from time-to-time and fill with the fresh stuff if you want it to last.

Sand is an automatic re-lube.

SoCalEDC · 07-13-2020, 07:28 AM

Fresh water rinse for the reels. Usually by pressurized sprayer. Admittedly I dont scrub my rods at all I just rinse them with fresh water unless they gave something like fish blood or other substance that require scrubbing.

Reels I service 1-2x a year depending on how much use they get. If its a reel I don't leave home without, I will typically give it a little more care because its being exposed more often to saltwater and grime. If its a reel I only take out once in a while if i am doing a particular style of fishing, I might rinse it off afterwards and Put it away and let it accumulate TOTW before tearing into it.

I don't think submersion of a reel in water (fresh or salt) is a good idea whether the manual claims it to be or not. A good topical rinse while moving the handle and turning the spool etc. is typically enough to get the salt spray off, and if the reel was submerged fully in the salt its better to take it apart and rinse/dry it out manually. Consider that if you already have saltwater on the reel or salt deposits and you submerge it fully the salt can diffuse through the freshwater further into the reel, where as a topical spray and rinse will usually not penetrate into the gear housing of the reel.

And fwiw I have read before that the reason Avet recommends tightening the drag is so that you wont wash any eternal debris down between the drag surface and the pressure plate. However, if you already have debris in there (dry salt deposits, sand), and you crank it down, the debris will not be flushed out.

One more thing on Avets, they are semi local here in so cal (chatsworth), you can bring the reels by their hq (or ship them) and pay 30 bucks and they will replace parts that are worn out and clean it up for you up to their spec.

mocruz1200 · 07-15-2020, 08:34 AM

here is my 2 cents, I used to work as a reel tech at shimano and daiwa. I would not soak my reels in water, that just drives the salt further into the reel and creates corrosion in more problematic areas. just rinse it in your sink, then give the spool a good spin to get water out of the braid. if you have reel clamps that screw into the frame, its a good idea to unscrew them periodically and rinsing out the holes, and reinstall the screws and putt some grease in the threads, ive seen PLENTY of reels where the threads rip right off the body due to corrosion. then let them dry off and store them. if you fish a lot, i would also get them serviced more than the reccomended annual service.

07-13-2020, 07:28 AM	#2
SoCalEDC Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Rancho Cucamonga Posts: 609	Fresh water rinse for the reels. Usually by pressurized sprayer. Admittedly I dont scrub my rods at all I just rinse them with fresh water unless they gave something like fish blood or other substance that require scrubbing. Reels I service 1-2x a year depending on how much use they get. If its a reel I don't leave home without, I will typically give it a little more care because its being exposed more often to saltwater and grime. If its a reel I only take out once in a while if i am doing a particular style of fishing, I might rinse it off afterwards and Put it away and let it accumulate TOTW before tearing into it. I don't think submersion of a reel in water (fresh or salt) is a good idea whether the manual claims it to be or not. A good topical rinse while moving the handle and turning the spool etc. is typically enough to get the salt spray off, and if the reel was submerged fully in the salt its better to take it apart and rinse/dry it out manually. Consider that if you already have saltwater on the reel or salt deposits and you submerge it fully the salt can diffuse through the freshwater further into the reel, where as a topical spray and rinse will usually not penetrate into the gear housing of the reel. And fwiw I have read before that the reason Avet recommends tightening the drag is so that you wont wash any eternal debris down between the drag surface and the pressure plate. However, if you already have debris in there (dry salt deposits, sand), and you crank it down, the debris will not be flushed out. One more thing on Avets, they are semi local here in so cal (chatsworth), you can bring the reels by their hq (or ship them) and pay 30 bucks and they will replace parts that are worn out and clean it up for you up to their spec. __________________ IG: @blackflag_fishing Youtube: Blackflag Fishing 2014 Ocean Kayak T13 SOLD 2020 Hobie Outback SOLD 2021 Stealth Fisha 500 #StealthTribe

07-15-2020, 08:34 AM	#3
mocruz1200 Junior Join Date: Jun 2020 Posts: 22	here is my 2 cents, I used to work as a reel tech at shimano and daiwa. I would not soak my reels in water, that just drives the salt further into the reel and creates corrosion in more problematic areas. just rinse it in your sink, then give the spool a good spin to get water out of the braid. if you have reel clamps that screw into the frame, its a good idea to unscrew them periodically and rinsing out the holes, and reinstall the screws and putt some grease in the threads, ive seen PLENTY of reels where the threads rip right off the body due to corrosion. then let them dry off and store them. if you fish a lot, i would also get them serviced more than the reccomended annual service.