Reel Maintenance? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

grey zone · 03-23-2011, 12:23 PM

If you want your reels to work at their peak preformance for as long as possible keep water out of them. I tighten the drag and rinse with a light spray, just enough to cut the salt film and then a wipe down to dry. After the reel has dried for a day losen the drag and turn the handle and make sure its smooth. I check the free spooling next. I store reels with star drags in gear with the drags backed off and reels with lever drags in free spool with the clicker on.

Kayaking is very hard on reels.There is nothing worse than sandy foamy water getting in your reels while launching through the surf. I put small sandwich bags over mine and use a rubberband to keep them on. Keeping water out really helps.

03-23-2011, 12:23 PM	#10
grey zone Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: san diego Posts: 158	If you want your reels to work at their peak preformance for as long as possible keep water out of them. I tighten the drag and rinse with a light spray, just enough to cut the salt film and then a wipe down to dry. After the reel has dried for a day losen the drag and turn the handle and make sure its smooth. I check the free spooling next. I store reels with star drags in gear with the drags backed off and reels with lever drags in free spool with the clicker on. Kayaking is very hard on reels.There is nothing worse than sandy foamy water getting in your reels while launching through the surf. I put small sandwich bags over mine and use a rubberband to keep them on. Keeping water out really helps.