How to Clean a Fishing Reel: What You Need

Not sure how to clean your fishing reel? Then it’s time you learn a new skill!

Knowing this is crucial in maintaining the longevity of all your fishing gear. Of all fishing equipment, fishing reels are harder to clean correctly and require proper understanding beforehand. 

From how to clean and lubricate a fishing reel to how to take apart a fishing reel, we have compiled the complete guide on everything you need to know about cleaning and maintaining your reels.

How to Clean and Lubricate a Fishing Reel

Reels are one of the most crucial fishing equipment for any angler, and learning the cleaning process is essential in making sure your angling experience goes smoothly. 

It’s necessary to be adequately on what equipment is necessary to carry out the cleaning process correctly. 

Importance of Cleaning Your Fishing Reel

Reels can get clogged up by impurities, and if you take them for saltwater fishing, you can damage the reel metal over time due to the corrosive effects that salt has. 

Thus, to maintain a reel for bottom fishing in good shape and condition and for a smooth angling experience, it’s necessary to clean out the contaminations gathered within the device properly. 

Equipment Needed for Cleaning Your Fishing Reel

To properly clean out your reel, there’s a list of tools and equipment that you need to carry out the cleaning process properly. 

Most of these tools can be found anywhere. However, it would help if you utilize the given instructions for your specific fishing reels and the manual bought alongside the reel’s purchase. 

The tools you will need to carry our proper cleaning for your fishing reels are:

•   Screwdrivers

•   Toothpicks

•   Toothbrush 

•   Tweezers 

•   Wrench 

•   Inventory of the parts of the reel 

•   User manual of your reel 

•   A mild rod and reel cleaner

•   Synthetic reel oil

•   Soft fabric cloth 

•   Artificial reel grease 

These tools will help in dismantling and assembling the reel as well as assist in cleaning out the parts without damage to the reel. 

Dos and Don’ts of Cleaning Your Fishing Reel 

Now that we are aware of the significance of cleaning and the tools necessary to do so, we need to be aware of the ground rules when it comes to cleaning a fishing reel. 

Here are the dos and don’ts of reel cleaning that you should be aware of before taking apart your reel and getting to fishing. 

Dos:

•   Be prepared with all your materials. It’s crucial to have all the equipment laid out in front of you and make sure that no necessary piece of equipment is missing.

•   Read the manual and list down the assembly order. It’s easy to get confused while taking apart the intricate pieces of a fishing reel, so it’s better to keep the manual with you and write down the order of assembly as you disassemble the reel. 

•   Use tweezers for smaller parts. Tweezers make handling intricate portions of the reel easy for you without majorly damaging all attached portions. 

•   Carefully take out the spool. Make sure that the spool is taken out properly and the line is secured to prevent any damage to the fishing line. 

•   Use grease and lubricants. Certify that the products you’re using are compatible with the material of your reel and carefully lubricate the parts that require greasing.

Don’ts:​

•   Don’t use harsh cleaners. Harsh cleaning products can corrode the metal of the reel and cause excessive damage to the reel, which will affect the longevity of the reel in the long run.

•   Do not use lubricants in the wrong places. Only apply grease to the bottom parts as excessive grease can affect the overall performance of the reel. 

•   Keep the metal parts away from one another. Refrain from placing metal on top of metal as this will adversely affect the components which are specifically made to be used with plastics and fibers. 

Cleaning for Various Kinds of Fishing Reels 

Now that we have an overall idea of the cleaning process, it’s time to get into the nitty-gritty of it. 

Here’s a breakdown of the cleaning process for different types of reels. 

How to Clean a Spincast Reel 

Spincast reels come as the whole component, so that means that the smaller parts are stored inside the casing of this reel. Be sure to read the manual and carefully dismantle all the parts before proceeding to clean it. 

1. Soak and rinse the reel in freshwater for a few hours to soften up the buildup. 

2. Feed the line properly to secure it from getting damaged. 

3. Carefully remove the reel covers and use tweezers to pick out the small components such as washers and bearings. 

4. Clean the parts with the toothbrush and wipe down excessive water and detergent with a soft cloth. 

How to Clean a Baitcaster

Baitcasters might seem complex to handle for both angling and cleaning. However, by following these steps, you can undoubtedly clean this intimidating piece of equipment on your own. 

1. Wipe down excessive buildup and dirt on the outside completely. 

2. Soak the reel in freshwater and use a toothbrush to get rid of maximum contamination. 

3. Remove all the parts with tweezers and individually clean them with the same method. 

4. Dry off all the pieces with cloth properly before putting the reel back together.

How to Clean a Spinning Reel 

Keeping in view all the dos and don’ts of cleaning the reel, budget spinning reels are easier to clean out and require relatively less effort. 

1. Soak the reel in water and take out the line after drying it off completely. 

2. Use your screwdriver and tweezers to disassemble the reel and all the components. 

3. By using a toothbrush and the cleaner, wipe off the buildup and dry the components completely before piecing the reel back together.

How to Clean a Fishing Reel After Saltwater Use

It’s crucial to clean your reel and surf fishing rod after every saltwater fishing experience. This is because of salt and mineral buildup on the reel, which can eventually cause corrosion to the reel and ruin the performance of your equipment. 

Submerge your gear in fresh water afterwards and then clean out the buildup from the salt deposits to ensure durability for your reel and rod. 

Conclusion

We hope you now know how to do the cleaning properly and what to refrain from when doing so. Taking care of your angling equipment and putting it in a fishing backpack is essential for an excellent angling expedition. Happy fishing!