Metal fishing tackle can be hard to maintain during the changing months. Check out how to learn how to maintain your fishing tackle all year long.
Anyone who has been fishing on or around the Alabama Gulf Coast knows the possible damage the saltwater environment can do to any type of mechanical equipment, especially fishing tackle.
When the cold, winter rain starts to fall, head for your tackle stash and start planning to ensure everything is ready to go when the weather and water begin to warm in preparation for peak fishing season.
Spinning Reels
For spinning reels, I unscrew the spool and inspect the drag system, cleaning if necessary. I take the side plate off to check for saltwater intrusion and ensure the gears are greased and bearings properly oiled. I then seal it back up and check for proper operation. Seldom do new spinning reels come with enough grease on the bearings. Don’t overdo it, but make sure plenty of high-quality grease covers the gears.
Baitcasting Reels
On baitcasting reels, it’s essential to guarantee the worm gear is adequately greased to make sure it moves the line guide from side to side to keep the line evenly distributed on the spool. Turn the reel upside down and look at the bottom of the line guide. You should see a small shaft with grooves that guide the level wind back and forth across the spool. Apply a small amount of grease to the worm gear and turn the reel handle multiple times to ensure the grease has fully coated the worm gear and the level wind is working correctly. If the level wind hangs up or doesn’t travel smoothly, you will probably have to replace the pawl that fits into the worm-gear grooves.