Reel/Line treatment?

[CurtisT]

Do I need to treat my reel and line after fishing in the salt? what do you guys suggest?

Thanks!

[Preston]

About all that's needed is a thorough rinse in fresh water. Most reels suitable for use in salt water (and that includes most of today's good quality reels) are heavily anodized and use a lot of stainless steel components. Even without these features, a good soak in fresh water will keep everything in good order. Don't forget to hose down your waders and wading shoes as well.

[CurtisT]

Thanks! Counting down the days!

[MrP]

Rinse EVERYTHING very thoroughly. PM Bob Triggs about this for an answer based on extensive experience.

[salt dog]

Curtis, you may want to keep an eye on your fly line. In addition to thorough rinsing/soaking of gear, I end up treating my fly line about every third outing or so to keep it slick and get residual salt and any other stuff off; depends how it feels to the touch whether I think it needs it, or not. Otherwise, I start to see some degrading of my casting distance from the extra friction. At least that's my excuse. :rolleyes:

[Freedon]

I used to dive nearly every day in the salt, and learned that there is a world of difference between rinsing, and soaking your gear. I now keep a bucket with a diluted "Salt Away" solution in it. I toss in used flies, and soak my reel/line in it, then rinse if I'm going to put it away for a while. I've found the Salt Away product to be very beneficial, and rinse my motor, with it, and spray it on the windscreen, gauge lenses,waders..... etc. It's basically a soap, but dissolves salt like crazy.

[Shawn MD]

Along those same lines....does the use of vinegar(in 2 or 3 to 1 ratio with regular water) have any harmful effects on any equipment?


Thanks,

Shawn

[Flyfishsteel]

I soak my line and reel in warm tap water in the sink for 15 minutes.

I rinse down my rod sections in the bath tub with warm tap water as well.

Now that my Litespeed has SS bearings I'm worry free, yahoo!

:beer2:

[David Loy]

I'll hose down the waders and boots. I usually clean my rod in the shower (;-) and strip the reel to the backing. All of the gear is SW safe but I give it a thorough rinse anyway. Lines get Glide frequently.

[Richard]

Along those same lines....does the use of vinegar(in 2 or 3 to 1 ratio with regular water) have any harmful effects on any equipment?


Thanks,

Shawn

Out of curiousity, hat prompts you to think of using vinegar . . . ? :confused: Just hadn't heard of that.

I wouldn't chance that it could have an adverse affect on the line and/or the line lubricant.

[Shawn MD]

During my loooong stint of reef keeping, one of the HUGE side effects was salt creep(namely salt water on everything and then the "water" evaporates and leaves the salt). The absolute best way to clean equipment and such with zero possible harm to the fish/invetebrates was the use of vinegar. In a diluted state of course.


Shawn

[Mingo]

During my loooong stint of reef keeping, one of the HUGE side effects was salt creep(namely salt water on everything and then the "water" evaporates and leaves the salt). The absolute best way to clean equipment and such with zero possible harm to the fish/invetebrates was the use of vinegar. In a diluted state of course.


Shawn

that's a new one for me too Shawn. I guess now we'll see Massengill and Summer's Eve on the shelves next to Loon and Frog Hair..........................:rofl:

I wonder if someone ever bitched that their reel lacked that certain......."freshness"? :)

[Freedon]

Vinegar has been commonly used to dissolve minerals and salts from equipment used in salt water. The acetic acid will dissolve metals as well, and can etch your gear if left in too long or in too strong a concentration, so be careful.

The good news is that our Puget Sound water isn't very salty compared with the tropics. Salt crystals cause the damage, and take more than 24 hours to develop. The key is prompt rinsings, soaking of any thing likely to retain the salt, like line backing, crevices in equipment etc. If you do in fact have any build up, you can remove it by soaking in tap water, a mild vinegar sloution, or a commercial salt destroyer. If you use vinegar or Salt Away, rinse that stuff thoroughly, allow to dry, then treat your gear with the protectant the manufacturer recommends for that product. Then go out and get it salty again as soon as possible.