Taking Care Of Your Reels

Looking after your fly reels can not only extend their life but can make for a much more enjoyable fishing experience.

Avoid dipping your reel in water as much as possible, particularly in saltwater.
Don't knock your reel against rocks and other hard surfaces. Small scratches will unleash bare metal and make the reel more exposed to corrosion.
Try to avoid dropping the reel in sand. Sand grains are very hard and can scratch the inner housing and damage drag disks, ball bearings and the fly line.
Always rinse your reel under cold water following use. Remove the spool, shake off excess water and leave it to dry before reassembling.
After a saltwater fishing trip and before putting the reel away for a long period, do an in-depth cleaning. Remove the fly line and backing, scrub carefully with hot soapy water to remove salt crystals, rinse and dry with a clean cloth. Apply new lubricate to moving parts and a light coating of oil or car polish on the housing. For those who fish year-round in saltwater, in-depth reel maintenance should be done regularly.
Always loosen the drag completely when the reel is not in use.
Don't store the reel in its pouch as it might contain water/moisture.
If your reel has a dry drag (Lamson for example) make sure you DON'T lubricate it - this will have an adverse effect.
Finally, be sure to intermittently remove the spool from the cage of your reel to check if anything looks out of the ordinary - it's not uncommon for things to make their way in without you noticing, and if your reel locks up when you hook a good fish, you'll regret not checking it beforehand.