Skip to content

How To

Do I Have To Clean My Fishing Reels After Using Them In Saltwater

by Shane Coover 10 Feb 2021

Do I have to clean my fishing reel after using it for saltwater fishing was the most searched phrase on Google for 2020. Just kidding, but now that we have your attention…

 Anytime I have ever been saltwater fishing, in any amount of salinity from brackish water to hyper saline environments, my fishing reel and fishing rod cleaning routine is the same. Cleaning is not something I take lightly when it comes to saltwater gear. In fact I am one of those persons who always reminds you to “rinse your gear off… clean and lube it with something like REM Oil.” Cleaning is super important but my way of doing it is super easy!

 Where Saltwater Corrosion Starts On Fishing Gear

saltwater corrosion on saltwater fishing reel

The corrosion problems are allowing saltwater in your reel or allowing saltwater to remain on your reel anywhere… and having that saltwater stay inside or on your reel. Regardless of “stainless steel” rating or not I use these practices to ensure my fishing tackle works on every fishing trip and is in prime operating performance.

Have you ever been saltwater fishing and seen a white film develop on your fishing gear? Maybe you have seen it on a boat or vehicle near saltwater with white residue from the saltwater. This same white salt happens to show up on fishing reels when they aren’t cleaned. It’s okay just make sure to follow along with the cleaning steps. Do them after each and every fishing trip.

 How To Clean Your Fishing Reel After Saltwater Fishing

The solution I have found to work the best and be the easiest is to use a light freshwater rinse after every fishing trip. Here’s the tricky part…if you dunk your fishing reel or get a good amount of saltwater inside your reel you are going to need to do a deep cleaning and that can involve some pretty expert level assistance. If you are a DIY type of person it’s easy to search on the internet for a helpful DIY video on how to deep clean a fishing reel. I have even brought my fishing reels into the shower to give them a good rinse after a long day of fishing and a late arrival back home. The second tip is to make sure the reel dries out 100% and no white residue returns. The final tip is to use some kind of fishing reel or gun lubricant and apply that to the exposed working areas of the reel like the worm gear and tension knob to name a couple.

Practice these three tips: rinse, dry, and lubricate and I assure you your fishing gear will last much longer when saltwater fishing. Remember you have to maintain your fishing gear. It’s a machine. Machines need routine maintenance and I believe, eventually, all will break. It’s up to us to minimize the time between failures with proper care and maintenance.

 By Shane Coovert

Prev Post
Next Post

Thanks for subscribing!

This email has been registered!

Shop the look

Popular Products

KastKing Mg12 Elite Magnesium Baitcasting Fishing Reel KastKing Mg12 Elite Magnesium Baitcasting Fishing Reel
Add To Cart
Close
KastKing Mg12 Elite Magnesium Baitcasting Fishing Reel
PERFECT REEL FOR TOURNAMENT FISHING The technologically advanced MG12 baitcaster is meticulously crafted with a lightweight magnesium-alloy frame offering exceptional performance at only 4.8 ounces. The deep spool design holds more line than other reels in its class. ADVANCED BRAKING TECHNOLOGY Mg12 Elite fishing...
Regular price
$299.99
Regular price
Sale price
$299.99
Close
KastKing MegaJaws Elite Baitcasting Reels KastKing MegaJaws Elite Baitcasting Reels
Add To Cart
Close
KastKing MegaJaws Elite Baitcasting Reels
WORLD'S MOST VERSATILE BAITCASTING REELS MegaJaws Elite baitcaster reels have all of the features that tournament Pros and avid recreational anglers demand in a fishing reel: flipping switch for pitching and flipping, CNC machined aluminum frame with carbon fiber swing-wing side cover for a...
Regular price
$129.99
Regular price
Sale price
$129.99
Close
KastKing MegaJaws Baitcasting Reels Upgraded Version KastKing MegaJaws Baitcasting Reels Upgraded Version
Add To Cart
Close
KastKing MegaJaws Baitcasting Reels with AutoMag Dual Braking System
 NEW AutoMag DUAL BRAKING SYSTEM: More stable and farther casting! KastKing MegaJaws Baitcasting Reels one-piece ring magnet provides uniform braking force during the entire cast. When the spool reaches peak speed an auto-adjusting centrifugal brake's braking bars are thrown out, reducing the speed of...
Regular price
$79.99
Regular price
Sale price
$79.99
Close
KastKing Speed Demon Elite Fishing Reel KastKing Speed Demon Elite Fishing Reel
Add To Cart
Close
KastKing Speed Demon Elite Baitcasting Fishing Reel
HIGHEST GEAR RATIO BAITCAST FISHING REEL - When KastKing set out to conquer the fishing tackle world with the fastest retrieve speed baitcaster on the planet, they did more than make Speed Demon Elite baitcasting reels fast. They pulled out all the stops. Based...
Regular price
$119.99
Regular price
Sale price
$119.99
Close

Choose Options

Recently Viewed

Edit Option
this is just a warning
Login
Shopping Cart
0 items