The right fishing reel can make or break your experience fishing. A good reel is easy to use, and you can use it to catch almost any kind of fish. You may wonder, though, if a fishing reel will work if it gets wet.
Can a fishing reel get wet? If a fishing reel gets wet, it may need a bit of cleaning and maintenance, but it will still work well. Proper care and maintenance will help keep a fishing reel in good condition. However, a splash of water while fishing won’t cause any significant problems with a fishing reel.
While you can get a fishing reel wet, that doesn’t mean you want to dunk it in water all of the time. Maintaining your fishing reel will keep it in good shape, and it will allow you to use it for years to come. We’ll explain when you’ll have to do more than letting your reel dry out should it get wet.
How a Reel Works
Getting a reel wet isn’t usually a big deal, but it can be if you don’t choose the right reel. Knowing how fishing reels work can help you choose the one that’s right for you. Some reels are better for certain types of fishing than others.
- Spincast reels throw the fishing line from a fixed spool. They’re suitable for freshwater fishing, and they work best with lighter lures and baits.
- Another popular freshwater fishing reel is the fly reel. These reels use a rotating spool, and you retrieve the line by turning a small handle.
- The third type of reel is a spinning reel. This type of reel is typically for saltwater fishing, and it uses a fixed spool.
- The other primary type of fishing reel is the baitcaster reel. Baitcaster reels have revolving spools, and they can cast lines further than other reels.
Depending on how and where you plan to fish, you want to choose a reel that works well for that purpose. While you may want to use a baitcaster reel for a longer cast, they are more common in saltwater areas than for freshwater fishing. Overall, a fishing reel works with your rod to help you cast your fishing line.
That also means that you should choose a reel that is a good match for your fishing rod. Take a look at spool capacity and the size of the line you want to use. From there, you can make a better decision on the right fishing reel.
You can learn more about choosing a fishing reel here.
When a Reel Gets Wet
The first time you get a fishing reel wet, you may worry that it won’t work as well. While that’s a valid concern to have, you don’t need to worry. A good fishing reel is built to withstand some water and other daily activities that come with going fishing.
Of course, you don’t want to let your fishing reel sit in water all day long. However, you don’t need to panic when water splashes and gets on your reel. In fact, you can keep using your fishing reel for the day, knowing that it’s durable enough for an average day of fishing.
The Reel Problem
Instead of worrying about water getting in and damaging the reel, turn your attention toward dirt and sand. Water is just that: water. It will dry, and you will be able to use your fishing reel like normal.
On the other hand, if dirt or sand gets in your fishing reel, that can lead to some problems. Small particles like that can get caught in the line, and it can make your reel work less efficiently. That can make it harder for you to reel in a good catch.
If your reel does get a splash of water, make sure that it’s only water. Sometimes, a splash of water can be accompanied by some sand, especially if you like to fish on the side of a lake or river. As you use your reel, it may not work as well, and that can be a sign that you have more significant problems than just some water.
Reel Maintenance
You wouldn’t drive a car without keeping in maintained, so the same should be true for a fishing reel. Whether it gets wet regularly or not, you need to keep your reel clean so that it can work as well as possible. Regular maintenance doesn’t have to be complicated or take a long time.
A regular maintenance session gives you the chance to clean the reel and get into the nooks and crannies that you may not get to while out fishing. Luckily, you don’t need a ton of expensive equipment to keep your fishing reel in good condition.
Cleaning the Outside
Cleaning the outside of the reel is easy enough to do, so you can do it at any time of the year. You may need some tools, like a screwdriver, to remove the reel from your fishing rod. Other tools include reel oil.
- Before you clean the outside of your reel, remove the spool from the fishing rod. You may want to have a small bowl or cup to store the small screws as you remove them.
- Clean the spool shaft with a cloth. Then, add a few drops of reel oil. Avoid using household oil as it can thicken up and cause problems rather than solving them.
- Add some reel oil to the guide that wraps the line around the reel spool. You can also put some oil on the area between the bail spring and the spool housing.
- Then put some oil on the handle knob shaft and the shaft of the reel.
Finally, you can put the spool back on the fishing rod. While you may not want to do this cleaning out on a fishing trip, it can be a good habit to start when you get home. That way, you can keep your reel cleaned and oiled so that nothing clumps up.
Cleaning the Inside
If you want to clean the inside of the fishing reel, you can do that regularly as well. Keep the reel off the rod, and you can further take it apart to clean the inside. This will allow you to get an even deeper clean.
- With the reel off the rod and open, find the main bearing in the middle of the rod. Lift that bearing off and remove the main gear if you can.
- Clean the main bearing with some rubbing alcohol or a degreaser. To clean the main gear, use an extra toothbrush and some soap and water to scrub it. Avoid using harsh chemicals to clean any part of the reel.
- Let the different parts air dry. Once they’re dry, you can apply some reel oil to the various parts.
- Lastly, reassemble all of the pieces. Spray the outside with WD-40 and wipe it down with a clean cloth.
You don’t have to clean the inside as often as you clean the outside. But it’s important to do it occasionally. That way, you don’t have to worry about accumulating tons of dirt and grime in the inside of your fishing reel.
If you want to know more about cleaning the parts of the fishing reel, you can click here.
Final Thoughts
Getting your fishing reel wet isn’t something to worry about, and you don’t have to stop fishing for the day. But when you get home, you should give it a bit of a cleaning. That way, you can keep it in good condition and keep sand and dirt from clogging the reel’s mechanism.