I do very basic maintenance on my reels once a year.. How often do you clean yours?

I do a full break down and cleaning whenever they are dirty.  Usually once or twice a year, depending on how much they are used and what kind of slop I fish them in.  I lube my spool bearings and worm gear more often though.

Every winter. Even if they don't need it, I do.  It's a form of therapy up here in the winter.

Annual deep cleaning is a good starting point. More or less often depending on use and any symptoms that develop. Oil bearings every 4 trips or so if heavily used.

Every winter. Even if they don't need it, I do.  It's a form of therapy up here in the winter.

Therapy for cabin fever

Annual deep cleaning is a good starting point. More or less often depending on use and any symptoms that develop. Oil bearings every 4 trips or so if heavily used.

I've been neglecting my reels. I go almost every day or about 4 times a week. My BC is caked is crap from the waters I've been fishing. Poor thing. Lol

Once a year is just fine. Been doing that for 40 years and it hasn't failed me yet. Of course, if you are a "pro" and fish tournaments often, I'd probably clean them more often than that. It's money on the line!

Give them a quick once over after each use to remove any standing sediments. Then I tear each reel down to the frame during the winter for a full cleaning. Only do a breakdown mid-season if something feels rough. I fish about 5 days a week.

I do a complete brake down to frame deep scrub and re-polish once a season....

I will re-lube 1-2 times a season dependant on how much fishing.

I will do a secondary brake down and deep scrub depedant on how much bank fishing (Big Cat) I do..

 

Tight Lines!

Once or twice a year for a full break down. I flush spool bearings as use/performance dictates.

They get a wipe down and some points get an oiling after every trip.  Many get a complete takedown once a month.  Freshwater here, even 50 miles from the gulf has salt in it.

I've been neglecting my reels. I go almost every day or about 4 times a week. My BC is caked is crap from the waters I've been fishing. Poor thing. Lol

 

I clean and lube the worm gear every couple of months, clean an lube whole reel every season or 2 during the winter. I use the same reel for everything and have about 20, so I can go almost a decade in between cleaning a particular one. In the salt, we abuse until failure. (don't try this at home we are professionals)...

I clean mine once maybe twice a year if they are getting a lot of use and add a little oil to the bearings every 4 or so outings.

mine get ran over externally with a q tip every few trips with either warm water or naptha depending on how dirty they are.  i break my reels down and clean, grease, and oil twice a year...once during winter and once around the middle of my fishing season, usually sometime mid july.  i fish at least 4-5 times a week, sometimes more, and a lot of it is river fishing so i like to keep my stuff in tip top shape.

In the salt, we abuse until failure. (don't try this at home we are professionals)...

I prefer to think I have my reels for life and not use them until failure.  What if that failure is while your fighting your new personal best??

I prefer to think I have my reels for life and not use them until failure.  What if that failure is while your fighting your new personal best??

 

Hasn't happened, usually salt will cause a reel to degrade but still function, at which point its not used when $ is on the line, but to answer your question, I'd either hand line it Cuban style, and failing that I'd have to go back out and catch a bigger one. We don't pay for tackle, so its easier than babying it. Like I said, don't try this at home...