Correct Cleaning.

[Newby]

G'day all,
Today I recieved my Okuma Alumina AL-15. I put it on my brand new Abbu Morrum and went for a bash on low tide in hope of another Flathead. Didn't get one though, but had fun anyway with my new setup.

I want to know exactly what to do after you've come home from a session.

This is what I do-
1). Take the reel off my rod.

2). If the rod is a two piece, I'll break it into two pieces.

3). Give the rod a rub down with a cloth to remove any sand or gunk from the eyes.

4). Rinse the reel under cold water and than dry off with paper towels. I make sure I get everything too.
"I'm not too sure if I'm supposed to rinse it under cold water, I think its supposed to be done in warm water."

I also want to re-grease the Alumina, is there a preffered way of doing it, what should I grease it up with, besides the obvious. Are there special reel greases I can buy from the tackle store.

Am I cleaning my rod and reel correctly, should I be doing something a different way, are there things that I'm not doing or doing wrongly.

Cheers, Nugget.

[-=:{M3N0$}:=-]

thats exactly what i do. i grease it with the daiwa stuff u can get at kmart, does the job for me

[Lone Ranger]

1) Reel, before you wash it, make sure you tighten the drag so water doesn't get in. Give it a good wipe down after. I personally don't wash my good reels, they aren't really waterproof in my opinion, some are stated as washable but not really water proof but resistant, I reckon.

2) Rod, you can even wash your rod. However with a 2 piece, I would wash it as a one piece first and not wash it as a 2 piece in case water gets in between. If the joining part is a bit stiff, from water and gunk etc, wax it with a candle. Give it a good dry.

3) Maintenance of reels, is easy. Do a search on the web, there are various articles, in fact some with videos to show you how. You can get those oil and grease from fishing section in K-mart or Big W, no need to get from tackle stores. Mine comes in a plastic bottle with red/white labels. Lasts for years. I only do mine every 3 months or so.

HTHs

[brw0513]

I reckon Huggies Baby Wipes are the best thing to wipe/clean down rods and reels. Takes 5 minutes max.

Get the unscented ones.

They are water based.

Don't get the home brand ones. Go Top Shelf - your rods and reels deserve it.

[Ducks]

Originally posted by brw0513
I reckon Huggies Baby Wipes are the best thing to wipe/clean down rods and reels. Takes 5 minutes max.

Get the unscented ones.

They are water based.

Don't get the home brand ones. Go Top Shelf - your rods and reels deserve it.

Never thought of that, good idea
I use a wet cotton rag. No soap, just a bit of tepid water on a wrung out cloth, wipe down thoroughly.

[Newby]

G'day,

Lone Ranger:
"1) Reel, before you wash it, make sure you tighten the drag so water doesn't get in.

they aren't really waterproof in my opinion, some are stated as washable but not really water proof but resistant, I reckon"

Thanks for that, Lone Ranger. I might just give it a solid whipe down instead on running it under some water.

Brw0513:
"I reckon Huggies Baby Wipes are the best thing to wipe/clean down rods and reels. Takes 5 minutes max.

Get the unscented ones.

They are water based.

Don't get the home brand ones. Go Top Shelf - your rods and reels deserve it."

Hmm, that might be the go. Umm, I don't think I'll buy top shelf though. If my reel complains, than maybe I will. But untill than it can get the Black and Gold stuff.

Although 16 year old boys walking out with packets of baby whipes may not look so good on my behalf lol.

Thanks for that guys, got a ton of replys in the time it took me to go down to the tackle store.

Nugget.

PS: While I was down there I bought some "Atomic, 1 3/4'' Paddle Tails in Avacado Gold", (20 Pack). And "Platypus 4.06lb Pre-Test" in a 300m spool.

[Fisherman#1]

Every 6 months or so, make sure you give your reel(s) a head to toe inspection. I like to remove the spool, handle and drag system and clean it with baby wipes, and then go over it with tissues, and earbuds for those hard to reach places.

Also, every year or 2 years (depends on how much you fish) send your reel to the manufacturers (most brands provide this) and request profesional servicing. They will completely dismantle it completely and check up on the gears and see if they need to be cleaned or replaced. Some tackle stores do a good job aswell but if you want to be safe then send it to the company.

[Superduperman]

I run my reels under warm water for a little while mainly focusing on the spool, as i think it is important to remove the salt particles from the line. Do up the drag nice and tight too, keeps dirt out of the drag system (but always back it right off while in storage). My rods get a shower with warm water mainly focusing on the guides as they often get salt build up then dry the blank with a tissue or something.

Thats my 2c.
Tom

[AdrianK]

1. Take rod into the shower - lots of soap & warm water everywhere (Yes I mean on the rods!)

2. Take spool off, and wipe all 3 reel components with warm damp soapy cloth. Run a very light tap of hot water through the lined part of the spool, careful not to get any water into the top or bottom of the spool. Wipe everything with dry cloth, then allow to dry completely for a few hours, then wipe all external metal bits with a rag that has been sprayed with Inox.

3. Have kept alive even cheap reels this way for years.

[Rosie]

I just hose mine off while im washing the boat and if im in a caring mood i'll give them a spray of inox.

[Squidgee_Man]

Yep just run warm soapy water from a cloth or sponge, try not to run reels under a hose or tap as it can force water inside the reel and cause corrosion later down the track, best just to wipe it with a wet sponge. Then lightly coat with Inox as others have said thats all ya reels need.
Inox is available from most tackle shops for about $5 - 6.

[AdrianK]

An early mistake I made (with the best of intentions) was to spray the reels directly with Inox. This results in the spray getting inside the reel, and cleaning away the necessary grease. That's why a wipe with an Inox-sprayed rag is better.