| Many anglers overlook the importance of their | | | | reeling. Once the handle is removed, set it aside. |
| fishing reel. Many times your fishing rod and reel | | | | Now locate which side of the reel has exposed |
| simply get thrown in the basement at the end of | | | | screw heads and lay the reel so the screw heads |
| the fishing season and then dragged out at the | | | | are visible. Now using your small screwdriver, |
| beginning of the next season to be used again. | | | | remove the screws that are holding the reel |
| You can run into some fairly serious problems | | | | together. Once these screws are removed, set |
| with this type of scenario. Very often your reel | | | | them aside as well. At this point you can remove |
| will choose to not work properly at precisely the | | | | the reel plate. Once the reel plate is removed the |
| worst time, such as when you're fighting a large | | | | gears and springs on the inside are exposed. |
| fish. This is why I do a little routine maintenance | | | | Without taking anything else apart, simply |
| on my fishing reels before the start of every | | | | examine the inside of the fishing reel. Many times |
| fishing season. You only have to lose a trophy | | | | you can see sand and or dirt particles. Using the |
| one time because of your fishing reel not | | | | Q-tips, you want to gently remove any exposed |
| performing to make you a believer. Take my | | | | sand or dirt particles. Once this is accomplished |
| word for it. Do a littler routine "check up" before | | | | you want to add reel lubricant to any exposed |
| the beginning of every fishing season. Here's a list | | | | gear (not too much, just enough to cover the |
| of what you'll need: | | | | gear). |
| 1) A small screwdriver (usually Phillips head) | | | | At this point, simply reverse the process by |
| 2) A pair of needle nose pliers or hemostats | | | | installing the reel plate and screws. Add a little |
| 3) Lubricant. Either purchase a small bottle of reel | | | | lubricant to the spindle of the handle and re-install |
| oil or just use some WD-40 | | | | the handle. That's it; you just maintained your |
| 4) 2 or 3 small towels | | | | fishing reel and shouldn't have any problems with |
| 5) Some Q-tips | | | | it. I've been doing this to my fishing reels for a |
| 6) A clear area to work. Any cleared off table will | | | | long time and it works wonders. I have fishing |
| work fine. | | | | reels that are fifteen years old and still work like |
| First of all take your fishing reel off of your fishing | | | | new. Doing maintenance such as this enables you |
| rod. Now take the reel and some warm water | | | | to know if your reel is in need of being replaced, |
| and wipe it off thoroughly. Once you have the | | | | before you get on the water, which is what we |
| reel wiped of debris, remove the handle. It | | | | want. Because losing a trophy because of a reel |
| normally simply unscrews either by a screw that | | | | malfunction is no fun at all. This routine |
| you back out with your fingers or by turning the | | | | maintenance will alleviate that problem forever. |
| handle the opposite direction that you turn while | | | | |