As everyone knows here I'm fairly new to fishing and recently picked up a few bait caster reels and plan on doing a lot of fishing this year.

I read a lot on these boards about you guys flushing the bearings. Do I have to do this?

Unfortunately I am not a very 'hands on' kind of guy and the thought of tinkering around with them I'm afraid I would damage them or worse destroy.

So with that being said I would be willing to take them to a shop that could perform this service.

And my main question is how often should I have them flushed and oiled during the fishing season?

Fishing Illinois and Wisconsin if that makes a difference

Appreciate any help/advice

It's not a necessary thing at all. Bearings come from the factory packed with grease because the manufacturer assumes people will not flush them, and they're trying to prevent future maintenance issues. Flushing them will get the most performance out of the stock bearings, but they'll perform either way.

It improves the overall perfmorance of the reel but it isnt necessary. Once you do it though you will do it to all your reels. It is extremely easy to do. Theres hundreds of youtube videos that give a step by step process.

Fish the reel hard in its stock condition and send it in for service annually. I extend a 10% discount (off already low prices) to members here. 

I flush my bearings once every 2 weeks or more. I can't stand it when stuff slows my reels' bearings. Look it up if you want to do it. There are hundreds of thousands of guides on the web (quite a bit on this site) on how to do this..

Thanks guys,

 

Dellaware Valley - i'll be sending them to you late this fall.

You won't be disappointed, Crankster. Mike does a fine job.

get a bearing blaster. i service about 75 reels a month and this is the best 7 bucks i have ever spent

If you do it yourself you want to get a pair of spool pin pliers. I made my own but Ill be buying a set soon. Its just too risky of messing up a good spool.