Fly-fishing reels are extraordinarily more simplistic, and easier to maintain than most spin, and bait-casting, reels. The traditional fly reels, excluding ‘auto-stripping’ reels, consist of two major body pieces, and a simple drag system. Proper reel maintenance begins with proper storage.

When storing fly reels for extended periods of time, it is best to store them with the line removed. This is especially true with saltwater reels. The float line that is used when fly fishing, does absorb some water, and if the line is stored tightly wrapped around the spool, the line toward the inside of the reel will not sufficiently dry, and will begin to corrode not only the line itself, but also the metal internal spool on which the line is set. Furthermore, if line is allowed to sit on the spool, than there is a possibility that it will begin to rot the wooden drag-pin inside the reel, thereby altering the effectiveness of the drag.

To properly store line, remove it from the reel, and loosely wrap it over all four fingers on your hand. Hang the looped line in a dry, cool place, where is will be removed from the sun, as well as any foreign chemicals. Because fly lines are made up of a PVC coating over a braided core, it is very intolerant. The PVC coating can easily be broken down by oils, grease, suntan lotion, demoisturizing agents, such as WD-40, gasoline, and even insect repellent. Once the line is safely stored, it is time to prepare the reel for storage.

When a reel is first bought, it is very effective to open the reel and coat all the metal parts with non-chloride toothpaste, then close the reel and spin it for a short period of time. This will help to break in the parts, and will make the reel spin more freely when in use. Be sure to completely wash all the paste from the reel, and then lubricate it with reel oil, or silicon.

When storing the reel, it is important to store it in a place that is free of moisture, generally a desk draw, or a dry tackle box. Many fishermen, myself included, like to use reel-bags for easy temporary storage. Although there are many different types of bags, made from a variety of materials, one should never store a reel in a leather case. Many people enjoy the security given from such a durable bag, but there is a huge problem. Leather bags trap in moisture, causing the line to become rotten, and brittle, as well as resulting in rusting and corrosion of the reel.

Furthermore, for those of us who wish to keep their reels looking ‘good as new,’ it is important not to store more than one reel in a single, bag. More that one reel will cause abrasion, and scratching between the two, and will undoubtedly result in large scratches along the faces of the reel bodies.

Now that we have discussed reel and line storage, it is important to understand the proper storage of flies. When storing flies, I prefer to use boxes that do not have any foam or fur inserts because they tend to absorb, and store moisture, which, in turn, rusts the hooks from flies. Many fly vests have fur patches used for temporary storage of flies, giving them the opportunity to dry off before returning to their boxes. It is key to take advantage of this. I recently tied a fresh box of flies. After fishing only one fly, I returned it to the box without allowing it to dry entirely. I stored the box in my vest, and when I opened it a month later, every fly was severely rusted, and the hooks no longer supported any weight. I truly hope that you learn from my mistakes, and remember to take into account all the above tips for maintaining you fishing gear. Happy fishing!
- Rieno de Pescado

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