A bit of maintenence advice :)

[Dave W]

I did the yearly tackle clean out and reorganise today - only took me 5 hours

While I was swapping over my Fireline end-to-end (effectively doubling the life-span), I notices a serious crusted on salt film under the rim of my Okuma Epix (it was a DohDohDohDohDoh to get off), my other Okuma (Avenger) didn't seem to be as bad (the Epix gets more use though).

The spool on the Epix has an anodised lip, don't know whether this contributed to the salt crust

I always rinse my reels well after a fish, and the Epix has only ever had Fireline on it.

My theory is that the 'fused' braid in Fireline has a tendency to hold the salt in it, thereby getting on the spool, even after rinsing.
Don't laugh, but I tasted the Fireline that was deep in the spool and there was definitely a salt edge to it.

In future I will be giving it a much more thorough rinse, taking the spool off and soaking it (hope it doesn't hurt the drag too much, but I love fiddling with drag washers anyway)

I know it would have been affecting my casting distance, but how often do you look underneath the rim of your spool, after you've made the cast, while fishing

So, check those reels guys - a bit (more in this case) of attention goes a long way

Cheers,

[Dave W]

Damn... that was my 200th post I must be a Bream addict

Gotta get fishing more.....

[BenR]

interesting. I have been worried about over rinsing my reel when finished using it.

[Dave W]

I'm the same mate, I don't think a bit of extra water will hurt the drag too much, but I wouldn't want to drench the rest of the reel - the internals would cop a hammering

Your exactly right, fireline does gather salt.If you dont rinse your spools the fireline will be very stiff and some times stick to itself due to salt build up. After rinsing the reel I always get in to the habit of stripping the top 3-4 metres in to a tub of water and running it back on to the reel through a wet rag to remove as much salt as possible.

[LakeConjolaFish]

Dave, I do have a chuckle when I read some of your posts, you seem just like me a bona fide *fiddler*.

Those days that its just blowin' to hard to go on the water and you get the idea to change lines, re-organise massive tackle collections etc etc etc are some of lifes best moments (for me anyway) I have the ulimate set-up for these "sessions" a large covered area metres from the lake and my moored boat and to get absorbed into all types of gear thats *fishy* is great!

I too have "tasted line" for salt retention.
I love "fiddling with drag washers".
And "butt-cap" man you don't want that bouncing around in your skull, it DOES have a ring to it

Ahh it's raining here and cool....now my two son's have been after me to help them with this and that and I know my lovely wife would dearly love me fix this and that......but hmmm those blackfish floats could do with some organisation and Dave W's idea of turning Fireline end over end sounds good and that bucket of sinkers I got from that garage sale needs to be sorted and I better check for salt build up under the reel lip and .................................................. ............


Jim

[Dave W]

lol......

Nothing better than a good fiddle

I think I mentioned it before, my family has a holiday shack at Fisherman's Paradise, Dad's down there now trying out the plastics I gave him for Christmas.

Where abouts are you??

I spent a ton of my teen years fishing Conjola Creek and the Lake, it's where my lure fishing passion really started.

I haven't been down for over a year, how's the lake?

And if you've got a spot or two to pass onto the old fella I'd appreciate it

I'm planning on getting down there soon, we'll have to catch up for a beer and a Bream Spin

Cheers,

[Matt]

I noticed the same thing on my old Abu TE1000 early last year. As my backup real I never got round to changing the Fireline on it for some time but when I did I found the salt encrustation. It must have been there for some time as the spool was staring to corrode where the salt had encrusted!
Needless to say I am even more diligent with my 'front line' reels!

Cheers
Matt