This month's issue of Bassmaster featured an answer from Homer Circle concerning reel cleaning and lubrication.  The answer, to say the least, was horrible.

What is the best way to clean and lubricate my reels?

"Uncle" Homer's answer?

Forget kerosene and gasoline; they smell up a room.  Take the reel apart and wash thoroughly with soap and water.  Then spray all parts with WD-40 lubricant

Is that man nuts or just plain senile?

id rather do nothing to the reel.

I made a post about something Homer recommended a couple of years ago, and I got blasted!  Something about him being a legend I guess, but I have laughed several times at advice he has given.  

I made a post about something Homer recommended a couple of years ago, and I got blasted! Something about him being a legend I guess, but I have laughed several times at advice he has given.

His 'answers' are certainly good for a laugh.   :-?

Don't talk poop about old Homer Burley....I bet he has a pre-rigged purple worm with a little spinner on the nose...ready to lay the smack down on ya!

All I'm saying is that his little quips in the magazine are about as useful as swiss cheese toilet paper.

I made a comment to myself when I read that as well.

This month's issue of Bassmaster featured an answer from Homer Circle concerning reel cleaning and lubrication. The answer, to say the least, was horrible.

What is the best way to clean and lubricate my reels?

"Uncle" Homer's answer?

Forget kerosene and gasoline; they smell up a room. Take the reel apart and wash thoroughly with soap and water. Then spray all parts with WD-40 lubricant

Is that man nuts or just plain senile?

Probably a little senile. He was going down his homemade list of how to do things for those over 80 and got How to bathe myself mixed up with How to clean my reels.

This month's issue of Bassmaster featured an answer from Homer Circle concerning reel cleaning and lubrication. The answer, to say the least, was horrible.

What is the best way to clean and lubricate my reels?

"Uncle" Homer's answer?

Forget kerosene and gasoline; they smell up a room. Take the reel apart and wash thoroughly with soap and water. Then spray all parts with WD-40 lubricant

Is that man nuts or just plain senile?

Probably a little senile. He was going down his homemade list of how to do things for those over 80 and got How to bathe myself mixed up with How to clean my reels.

I was shocked when I read his answer.  I'm even more shocked that Bassmaster printed it.

Yup ya all take them $150 to $350 dollar reels and crack them open, clean um with soap and water then spray that WD-40 stuff in there real good, we really like it when you do that...... :

Personally I like it when Homer tells anglers to do that. You wouldn't believe the rush on "how to service a reel" manuals and "lubricants"...

Tight Lines All!!!    

Some funny responses on here! ;D

"Uncle" Homer is an old coot. A lot of his respones are either outdated or just crazy.  I hope he doesnt get a pay check for those answers!

His "advice" leads a lot of people in the wrong direction. :

Works fine on a 30 year old Mitchell 300....... :

I was shocked when I read that! I have used WD-40 as a degreaser to clean old grease & oil from my reels internals, however. Then I flush them with hot water and blow them out with compressed air. After they are dry, I then apply appropriate grease & oil. Works for me.

There is ONE exception however! Years ago I bought an Ambassadeur Black Max baitcasting reel. If you used regular oil in it, it wouldn't cast worth a darn. Using WD-40 got you through a day of casting, but you had to keep on re-applying it just before starting the day's fishing. Lousiest reel I've ever owned!

Works fine on a 30 year old Mitchell 300....... :

Probably does, the way that reel is made inside you would need a ton of grease just to keep them old parts moving against each other anyway..

some of those cheap reels have some rubber seals in them  you know what happens to rubber and wd get to gether  that little rubber seal is big as a basketball

I stopped reading Homers advise after reading them in my first issue I recieved.  I bet that when he gets his reels repaired his bill is so much it would've been better to spend an extra $5 to get a new one. ;D ;D ;D

This month's issue of Bassmaster featured an answer from Homer Circle concerning reel cleaning and lubrication. The answer, to say the least, was horrible.

What is the best way to clean and lubricate my reels?

"Uncle" Homer's answer?

Forget kerosene and gasoline; they smell up a room. Take the reel apart and wash thoroughly with soap and water. Then spray all parts with WD-40 lubricant

Is that man nuts or just plain senile?

Ya, I was thinking the same thing,maybe he is just getting too old and he forgets thing! :'(

This month's issue of Bassmaster featured an answer from Homer Circle concerning reel cleaning and lubrication. The answer, to say the least, was horrible.

What is the best way to clean and lubricate my reels?

"Uncle" Homer's answer?

Forget kerosene and gasoline; they smell up a room. Take the reel apart and wash thoroughly with soap and water. Then spray all parts with WD-40 lubricant

Is that man nuts or just plain senile?

Ya, I was thinking the same thing,maybe he is just getting too old and he forgets thing! :'(

you guys quit blaming stupidity on old age, you don't have to be old to be stupid.

You think that's funny did you see a day on the lake with Bill Dance?

At one time he tied on a dancing eel....... everyone knows those don't work,

maybe him and Homer are just a little  past their time

And you don't have to be old to be stupid, I know I'm young and I still manage to be ;D

You think that's funny did you see a day on the lake with Bill Dance?

At one time he tied on a dancing eel....... everyone knows those don't work,

maybe him and Homer are just a little past their time

And you don't have to be old to be stupid, I know I'm young and I still manage to be ;D

I haven't tried the dancing eel but a number of people say they don't work.  Bill seems to catch them just fine with it on his show.

You think that's funny did you see a day on the lake with Bill Dance?

At one time he tied on a dancing eel....... everyone knows those don't work,

maybe him and Homer are just a little past their time

And you don't have to be old to be stupid, I know I'm young and I still manage to be ;D

I haven't tried the dancing eel but a number of people say they don't work. Bill seems to catch them just fine with it on his show.

apparently not EVERYONE knows they don't work...have heard many stories of the bait producing very well....granted I'm not gonna buy one but to be honest, you can catch fish on an rubberband and pop tab.  I don't know how many shows I've seen him catch fish one it, even if he is in a trophy pond, so it's highly incorrect to say they flat out don't work...

Getting back on point, haven't seen the new issue yet but when I first read the post I took it as using the WD to clean the reel, not to lube it up.  Not saying that wasn't the intention but that's just what I got from it

Probably a bit easier to catch bass from a private lake, that doesn't see any other lures.

You think that's funny did you see a day on the lake with Bill Dance?

At one time he tied on a dancing eel....... everyone knows those don't work,

maybe him and Homer are just a little past their time

And you don't have to be old to be stupid, I know I'm young and I still manage to be ;D

Speaking to the Bill Dance reference specifically, I think if a guy can go out on a strange lake and catch what, 15 or 16 pounds (whatever he ended up with) in crappy conditions, then in my mind he is definitely not washed up or past prime, and I sure would not presume to question the methods they used to do it or the lures they threw.

I guess we better get ready for an influx of reels full of WD40 in need of service  :