From time to time any fishing reel, especially those used in saltwater, will require a thorough strip down and service. Note that I said, ‘from time to time’ not ‘every time’; you do not need to completely dismantle a reel after every trip. Provided that you take care of your reels and clean them after each trip it is very unlikely that there will be any need, or benefit, in completely stripping down a reel more than once a year. The only exceptions to this rule are when you either ‘hear’ or more likely ‘feel’ that some internal component is not functioning correctly, or following complete immersion of the reel in saltwater.
The cold, dark winter months are the ideal time to service your reels, but before we look at
