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Mid-Season Maintenance

Mid-Season Maintenance

Posted by Joel Johnson on 23rd Aug 2022

Mid-Season
Maintenance

t’s halfway through the open water season, and anglers kicked it off in early March throwing chubs for spawning northerns, jigs for groggy largemouths, shad for voracious cats, and plastics for cunning walleyes. By mid-April, anglers watched for blooming lilacs and dogwoods, breaking out jigs and slip bobbers for “slab” crappies. By early May, we searched for “elephant tracks” in the shallows and “bull” bluegills that protected the nests. As waters warmed in late May and June, Bassmasters got their groove on with spawning “largies”. By mid-June, spawning channel cats had the feed bag on, hungrily devouring chubs, frogs, and everything else in sight. Once the dog days of summer set in, white bass and hybrids made drags scream, and flatheads began to prowl. Anglers targeted “big uglies” in tangled, deepwater, lairs with malevolent sunfish, bullheads, and suckers, tempting them to fill their bulging bellies.  

t’s halfway through the open water season, and anglers kicked it off in early March throwing chubs for spawning northerns, jigs for groggy largemouths, shad for voracious cats, and plastics for cunning walleyes. By mid-April, anglers watched for blooming lilacs and dogwoods, breaking out jigs and slip bobbers for “slab” crappies. By early May, we searched for “elephant tracks” in the shallows and “bull” bluegills that protected the nests. As waters warmed in late May and June, Bassmasters got their groove on with spawning “largies”. By mid-June, spawning channel cats had the feed bag on, hungrily devouring chubs, frogs, and everything else in sight. Once the dog days of summer set in, white bass and hybrids made drags scream, and flatheads began to prowl. Anglers targeted “big uglies” in tangled, deepwater, lairs with malevolent sunfish, bullheads, and suckers, tempting them to fill their bulging bellies.  


After 5 months of this abuse, August is a good time to reminisce on the season thus far, prepare for fall turnover and cooler water, and perform basic rod and reel maintenance. Start by checking rods for cracks and stress points from handle to tip. Along the way, check for loose or missing rod guides, paying special attention to the rod tip. If any guides are damaged, repair kits can be found online and at most big box outdoor stores. Last but not least, check the handle material for wear and tear. While foam handles are virtually maintenance free, when using cork handles it's important to gently remove baked on blood, slime, scales, mud, and other foreign material. Afterwards apply a light coating of oil to restore the cork’s finish and prevent further drying. Personally, I simply touch up cleaned cork handles with a little olive oil out of the kitchen cupboard.  

Keeping reels in good working order is vital. Start by removing the reel from the rod, giving it a close inspection from top to bottom starting with the reel seat. This is the piece that attaches to the rod and endures a ton of stress from the weight and pull of hard fighting fish. On cheaper reels, I’ve had problems with the tip of the anterior seat cracking or breaking off completely, rendering the reel useless. This can be caused by factory defects as well as ill-fitting or improperly fastened reel seats. If you find cracks or stress marks on the seat, it's time to replace the reel.  

The next step is to remove the spool. This process is different depending on the type of reel, spinning vs. casting, and whether a spinning reel has a front or rear drag. For rear drag spinning reels, there is usually a button or release on the front of the spool that you can push and pull on the spool at the same time to remove it. For front drag models, turn the drag adjustment knob counterclockwise and gently pull on the spool until it slides off the shaft. Take care not to lose the drag adjustment knob, spool shaft bearing (if equipped), or any other parts while removing the spool.  

Removing the spool from casting type reels is often more complex, and it's important to follow the owner’s manual. Some baitcasting reels have conspicuous screws on the handle side of the reel that can be easily loosened to separate the reel into two pieces and remove the spool. Other classic casting reels like the Zebco 33 require the spool cover to be unscrewed from the reel body to access the spool. When in doubt, follow the instructions to avoid issues.  

After the spool is removed, I like to remove the handle from my spinning reels. Depending on the make and model, the handle is attached to the reel in a couple different ways. Older reels have a hollow, female threaded, handle shaft that inserts into the reel body and is secured by fastening a handle screw on the opposite side. Newer models are attached and removed by simply holding the bail and tightening or loosening the handle itself. In either case, take care not to over tighten the handle when reattaching.  

With the spool and handle removed, take a warm, damp, soapy, rag and wipe down all surfaces. After several months of catching fish and storing in the truck bed, car trunk, or boat locker, reels can get pretty nasty. Old grease, dirt, sand, mud, blood, and slime can really accumulate and be difficult to remove. Scrub your reels down thoroughly and then apply a light coating of grease and oil to critical areas. When in doubt, pull out the owners manual or look your reels up online for manufacturers’ recommendations. For handle and spool shafts I apply a tiny amount of multi-purpose white grease or vaseline. Less is always more here, and too much grease will attract dirt and dust. For other moving parts, anglers should use fishing reel oil, not WD40, and there are several major manufactures to choose from online.

Once your reels are cleaned and lubricated, reassemble them in reverse order. Reattach handles first (don’t overtighten!) and then slip on the spools, paying special attention to align front drag spinning reels on the shaft correctly. They typically only mount one way, and failing to do so can cause damage to drag discs and bearings. For bait casting reels make sure to line up the mounting screws accordingly and avoid cross threading.

Depending on how often you’ve fished over the last several months and where your rods have been stored, August is also a good time to inspect your fishing line. Ultraviolet radiation from the sun degrades line that is exposed for long periods of time. In addition, if you can see your spool after a cast, or line twist and memory are causing issues, it’s time to replace it. The last thing you want to do is hook a monster this fall and lose it due to poor line. For help on how to respool a reel, simply go to Youtube and submit a search. There are dozens of videos out there for every kind of reel.

Fishing rods and reels require maintenance to remain in proper operating condition, the same as your truck and boat. Taking a few minutes now will make sure you’re prepared for fall fishing, and help avoid lost fish. Remember, fall can be the best time to catch a trophy as fish fatten up for winter, so take a few minutes now to get ready.