Where I fish is most muddy dirty rivers. Is it okay to spray down your bait casting reel? I used a water hose to spray my reel down very lightly just to get the dirty out of where the spool and the line guide. 

I just wipe mine down, and do maintenance internally that will remove the dirt inside.  Usually once a year, but may re-oil the spool more often.

 

I don't think it will hurt because reels are implied to be wet.  But I do wonder like you, if it drives grit inside, or if the water inside doesn't evaporate will it get involved in the grease or cause oil to displace.  Smarter and more experienced minds than mine abound on this site.

 

Even at saltwater washdown areas, anglers will hose down their boats, trailers and fishing tackle,

but not necessarily their reels.

 

For reels and electronics it's more of a wipe down or running water with no force.

In any event, a reel that feels sandy or gritty will have to be taken down and cleaned.

 

Roger

Thank you for your replies. Hopefully everything will be okay! I am quite new to fishing and I made the mistake of trying it before researching. 

On 6/29/2020 at 9:39 AM, Keefu13 said:

Where I fish is most muddy dirty rivers. Is it okay to spray down your bait casting reel? I used a water hose to spray my reel down very lightly just to get the dirty out of where the spool and the line guide. 

I wouldn't. they say oil and water don't mix, but that is not strictly true. Water and oil do mix and they homogenize turning into something that you can't drink and that doesn't lubricate for shizzle.

After saltwater trips I lay my rods on the lawn and lightly spray them off.  Done this for probably more years than most of you have been alive.

18 minutes ago, Alex from GA said:

After saltwater trips I lay my rods on the lawn and lightly spray them off.  Done this for probably more years than most of you have been alive.

Aren't most saltwater reels sealed?

If you already washed the reel with fresh water then spray it with WD-40 and wipe it down with a clean soft rag. WD-40 displaces water and is a good solvent cleaner. Put a drop of light reel oil on the level wind worm gear. Should be good to go unless you feel/hear something. Remove the spool tension caps or cap and put a drop of reel oil on spool shaft end, replace and adjust the cap tension.

Tom

 

Dunk it? No. A little quick rinse bad for a reel?

 

Anyone fish in the rain? 

After saltwater fishing trip, I would bring in rods and reels into shower with me. If I’m out and about I rinse with fresh drinking water from bottle. When I fish with old line where a lot of coil happen, I use lake water drip onto spool to make it soaking wet and stretch it a little.

Im not saying if it is safe to do so, but I don’t have problem with it.

Thank you for your the replies and help. Went fishing with it yesterday and everything was fine! 

I lightly spray salt water reels off with a hose on the way back in after a trip.  Fresh water reels, I rinse with no pressure quickly under a faucet.  Spraying with a pressure, can force dirt or salt to get inside the reel.  I also tighten the drag, and spool tension before rinsing.  Not sure if this helps, but was told to do it by an old captain, and I haven't had any reason to doubt his advice.

I just received a Shimano Sienna today. The owner’s manual states that if used in salt water to gently rinse off the reel will no pressure.