Fishing reel repair: how to prevent it

Let's find out what are the most common mistakes, which damage the fishing reel, and are  to be avoided, thus preventing its repair.

Fishing reel: the most common problems

Wear and tear of the fishing reel is inevitable. For this reason, during the process of looking after the rod, it is good practice to check that the mechanisms and gears are in good condition. Particular attention must be paid to its state of corrosion, especially in the case of sea fishing. The reel can be damaged for two reasons: by oxidation - due to the aggressiveness of salty water - or by galvanizing, due to the electric currents associated with the different energy level of the various metals. This erosion tends to occur on the reel and on the body of the fishing reel and can be recognized by the presence of small superficial holes on the aluminum. The lubrication of the reel must be carried out regularly, although the process can hide pitfalls. In fact, too often there is a tendency to believe that the more oil and fat you use the better. Yet overdoing it can be worse than not lubricating at all. Too much lubricant or grease get stuck on the bearings thereby clogging them, slowing down their rotation, limiting the movement of springs and levers and the "gathering" of dirt.

Nylon threads for fishing and wig making

The best way to avoid having to repair the fishing reel is to keep all the equipment in tip top condition. This is because with wear and exposure to water, air, and possibly salt, it can get damaged or brake. With a little manual skill, there are many operations you can do to check and adjust the fishing reel. First of all, you will have to avoid the formation of the so-called "wigs", or tangles of thread near the coil. These are generated when the fishing line is old or has been repeatedly twisted during use, so that it comes out of the reel. Furthermore, the nylon fishing thread has a property called "memory". That is the tendency to memorize the "grip" shape, especially if left for a long time in the reel; it is precisely this peculiarity that contributes to the creation of wigs.

Braided fishing line and slipping reel

The braided fishing line is made of materials that tend not to have any shape of memory, and therefore there is no risk of forming wigs. Nevertheless, its silky surface poses other types of problems. In fact, when bobbing for the first time, special attention must be paid to making the first turns adhere correctly to the coil ... otherwise, all the wire that is wound up could slip, at a later time, in the coil itself! So, what is the remedy to this problem? Just use insulating tape to create a rubbery surface on which the braided fishing wire cannot slip. Easy, isn’t it?