| Cleaning your reel is important I'm afraid, if you | | | | itself, or simply by holding the reel and turning the |
| want it to last, and to continue to perform. And | | | | handle backwards. This removes the handle. Once |
| nothing is worse than hooking that big one, only | | | | removed, set the handle onto a clean towel. |
| to have problems with your rod or reel. Not to | | | | Now make sure that the reel is lying in such a |
| mention it'll last a lot longer if you clean it once in | | | | way that the screws that hold it together are |
| a while! | | | | exposed. Then remove these screws (usually |
| I'll start there-how often to clean... you really only | | | | there are between three and five) and place |
| need to clean your real once, preferably twice a | | | | them next to the handle. This should expose a |
| year. When fishing in salt water, twice would be | | | | small plate which can now be removed. Remove |
| better. Ands like anything else, it's easy when you | | | | that plate and put it next to your screws. |
| know how. | | | | At this point the inside of the reel is exposed. Use |
| First, here are the tools you'll need: | | | | a clean Q-tip to remove any visible dirt that you |
| - a clean towel | | | | see inside the reel. Then use your reel grease and |
| - a small screw driver (usually Phillips head) | | | | put a couple of drops on every moving gear that |
| - a small bottle of reel grease, not WD-40 | | | | you see. |
| (WD-40 can leave residue which attracts dirt. Use | | | | Note: More is not necessarily better here! Too |
| a high quality reel oil and grease) | | | | much grease will clog everything up. You really |
| - some Q-tips | | | | only need a tiny bit of reel grease to do the job |
| - some paper towels | | | | properly. |
| First, remove the reel from the rod. Use a couple | | | | To reassemble, simply reverse the above |
| of paper towels to wipe it off completely. | | | | process. Put the plate back into place and screw |
| Next, remove the handle of the reel. The handle | | | | in the screws. Before reattaching the handle |
| normally is removed in one of two ways-either | | | | though, add some grease to it as well. Finally, |
| by removing a screw of some sort in the handle | | | | re-install the handle. |