Hey guys new to this site. I recently startingot upgrading my equipment to some good reels and rods, what a difference all around fishing. My question is i am a recreational fisherman and only fish a couple of times a month from spring to fall. What kind of maintenence on my reels and rods should I do over the winter. Is it necessary to do a full cleaning everything year or two seeing as I do not go out every day. Are there some quick cleaning tips I can do without really breaking down the reel. Also some products if you can recommend. Thanks 

For rods, wash the grips to remove dirt/scum, clean the blank and guides with a soapy paper towel.  Check for broken/cracked ceramic guide/tiptop rings by wiping the ID with a Q-tip.  If one is cracked it will snag the Q-tip.  Store straight in a not hot room.  Hanging from tip or a guide works fine.

Reels:

Wipe clean with a damp soapy paper towel, followed when dry with a slightly oily rag like you would for a firearm.  Oil all external moving joints, like grips, bails, level wind pawl.  Not a bad idea to brush the pawl and worm gear clean with mineral spirits or other cleaner, then oil it.  (I like reel butter, but any good oil like 3 in 1 or sewing machine oil will do fine).  For the inside I don't recommend taking the reel apart beyond what you see when you open it up.  Reels are too complicated for me these days, and unless it has been dunked, you don't need to go further.  If it's sort of gunky, brush to clean with mineral spirits, blow it out with compressed air if you have it, and relube.  Pivots, sliding contacts, etc with oil, gears with reel grease. Look at your reel schematic to be sure you have found all the bearings.  Don't overdo it, just a drop is usually sufficient.   If the reel has been dunked, send it to a good repair person for a pro job. DVT is good and discounts forum members.  I don't recommend servicing the drag unless it's not working smoothly.  If you do service it use drag grease, not regular grease.  Be sure to lay out the parts in order so you can get it back together properly.  

Loosen the drag before storing.  There are many good tutorials on line, both pics and UTubes.  Do a search and you will find many.

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~

@MickD (above) covered it well.

A-Jay

 

Welcome aboard!

What @MickD said  

Ditto

 

Mike

Good advice so far. Feel free to contact me with any model specific questions 

Being as anal as I am, no matter how little use a reel gets during the season, in December and January they all get stripped and relubed.

What has really helped me out when I take my reels apart is having a piece of paper numbered 1,2,3,4......  I set down the parts in order, then I just put the parts back together in order.

take it apart and clean it

Watch them itty bitty springs!!!

2 hours ago, Fisher-O-men said:

Watch them itty bitty springs!!!

You don't have to watch them if you don't go that far.  It is, IMHO, not necessary to go that far.  The risk/reward relationship is not in our favor.  Let DVT worry about them itty bitty springs when your reel is really raunchy.

It's not rocket science, but it's not for everyone either. I'm here if/when needed. 

I think reels should be disassembled at least once every year, everything needs a good deep cleaning and re-oil, re-grease and a close inspection.    Rods I clean the cork with magic eraser and seal with U40.   The blanks get cleaned with soap and water and the guides checked.

I use Cal's drag grease, TG Rocket fuel and TSI 301/321 primarily for oil and grease, I use safety clean in my parts washer, to clean with, mild simple green solution in the ultrasonic cleaner and acetone to clean all bearing other than bearings with plastic or polymer cages, then I use Coleman fuel.      

Rods and reels need cleaned and inspected, the last place you want problems is on the water.  It is not hard if you have mechanical skills, just need to pay close attention to orientation, that is what usually gets guys, most can read a schematic and reassemble, but the schematics are often not clear enough to determine orientation.

There are knowledgeable guys on the forum that can help if you run into problems, just have to ask for help.