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[canucksfan233]

Any tips for keeping care of reels (levelwind, shimano calcutta 250 and silex centerpin)?

I usually just give them a rinse after and let them dry in the garage. Anything else I should be doing after a trip or after a season?

I use a non-salt water spinning reel off of ambleside (and freshwater) and give this one more of a soak from the top of the reel after each ocean trip. Started to feel a bit weird towards the end of this season (November). Any tips for this or just invest in a salt water friendly spinning reel?

[TNAngler]

I'm sure others will likely have more helpful responses but salt water in a fresh water reel definitely needs to be rinsed thoroughly or things will rust quickly.  Rinsing itself may cause you to need to re-oil/grease the reel which may be where you are at.  If you fish salt often, I would spend the money for a reel that can handle it better but that all depends I guess on your financial situation.

[RalphH]

Always check with the reel maker for their recommendations, but center pin reels should be cleaned more or less in the same fashion as fly reels:

https://guiderecommended.com/11-tips-for-maintaining-a-fly-fishing-reel/

That one may be a bit of overkill. a click and pawl reel mostly needs a good rinse at home, wipe out any dirt & lightly lubricate the spindle.

Also not a good idea to put the reel in the water when taking photos. Sealed reels aren't as waterproof as one might think. I had to send a Lamson for service after 10 years or so. The silt inside looked like the stuff I've seen in the Squamish.

you can find other articles via an on line search

[stsfisher]

I'm actually really shocked that more people don't get to know the inside of their reels more intimately.
All of my reels, fly, bait, c-pin etc. get torn apart once a year if not more in a season. Most reels are very simple to maintain and in todays world of youtube it is even easier to work on them.

All reels will collect sand, dirt etc. regardless on how careful you are with them. Most require a simple wipe and re lube or oiling, but when doing so remember one ling about grease and oil "a little goes a long way" using too much can and it has caused the reel to not function as smoothly or efficient as it should. You will know right away and the worst that will happen you will need to tare it down again.

My c-pins will get taken apart almost bi weekly if used that often just for a quick wipe and oil on the stem. I use bearing reels so once ever 2 or 3 oiling's the bearings get soaked in an oil bath for an hour or so.
My bait casters which are used mostly throwing spoons will get torn down probably 3 times a year. Once before spoon season and twice during. (if I need to change the line, the reel gets serviced) The first one is a complete tear down, wipe, and re greasing/oil  of each component, while the 2 services during the season are usually a simple oiling of the worm gear, and shot of oil with brake cap(s) removed.
My fly reels are very similar to the c-pins with out the bearings. However the lines get a mild soap and warm water bath before the season and the well used lines get the same treatment more often to remove any dirt on them.
2 reels I struggle most with are my sturgeon reels, Penns. I have torn them down once and probably will never do so again. I don't like the springs that pop out in every direction and if memory serves me correctly the drag component's are a pain the my friend. Luckily they only get used approx. 1 day a year now.

[clarki]

I'm going to throw it out there that, from my experience, you don't need to rinse the reel in freshwater after every saltwater use. Perhaps the regular soaking in freshwater is contributing to it feeling wonky.

I've been using the same Shimano Sedona 1500 (non saltwater rated) off the ocean beaches for about 15 years and  really the only time I rinse it is went I dunk it. I might rinse it once or twice a season and will occasionally tear it apart to clean and lube.

IMHO, unless, you dunk it, frequent rinsing in freshwater is unneccesary. 

[canucksfan233]

Do you wash/rinse your reels after a freshwater use? Or only if it gets dirt or dunk it or something crazy happens to it?

[RalphH]

I'm actually really shocked that more people don't get to know the inside of their reels more intimately.
All of my reels, fly, bait, c-pin etc. get torn apart once a year if not more in a season. Most reels are very simple to maintain and in todays world of youtube it is even easier to work on them.

personally,when it comes to servicing I am terrified of level winds. They look so complicated. So when needed I just take mine to someplace like Mike's. We are not all mechanically minded.

[clarki]

Do you wash/rinse your reels after a freshwater use? Or only if it gets dirt or dunk it or something crazy happens to it?

I cant recall ever rinsing it after freshwater use

[Fish Assassin]

Wash my reels and rod with soap and water time permitting. At the very least a wipeout with fresh water. As RalphH said, can't understand submerging their reels into water to take a photo.

[Lunk Louie]

I never submerge any reel be that fly reels or level winds period assuming talking freshwater....and saltwater is a NO period for me. I've seen some bait casters/levelwinds in various states of corrosion probably from exposure to salt so salt can't be good as a general. As far as fly reels go if one fishes the salt then a regular freshwater rinse and re-lube seems academic....as far as dunking fly reels in freshwater, my experience has been that odd bits of grit can lodge in the workings causing grinding/damage or at the very least the drag will require adjustment/tightening until such time the reel dries out (assuming non-sealed drag) if you get a fish.....so not a huge deal if dunking a non-sealed fly reel in freshwater as long as you manage the consequences, but why do it in the first place?

[stsfisher]

personally,when it comes to servicing I am terrified of level winds. They look so complicated. So when needed I just take mine to someplace like Mike's. We are not all mechanically minded.

That's fair

[dennisK]

personally,when it comes to servicing I am terrified of level winds. They look so complicated. So when needed I just take mine to someplace like Mike's. We are not all mechanically minded.

That's why I never bought shimano reels.  3x the quantity of internal components of a similar Ambassadeur. And I can make any Ambassadeur as smooth as the shimano baitcasters with some bearing upgrades and a dremel for metal polishing. It's actually fun once you get the hang of it.

[RalphH]

...hmmm. I have an early 70s Ambassadeur 7000 that was my Dad's. It is close to seized. The drag is non functional. I think he tried to service it himself  . I was going to toss it but I guess there would be no harm in me learning by doing.

[dennisK]

...hmmm. I have an early 70s Ambassadeur 7000 that was my Dad's. It is close to seized. The drag is non functional. I think he tried to service it himself  . I was going to toss it but I guess there would be no harm in me learning by doing.

this guys great and has a great name too - first one is 7000 and 2nd link is 7000C3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zD9C43ByfhA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xnpsAIGoG0

[jim]

The Silex is the easiest reel to care for. Oil it lightly 1 or 2 times a season, and wipe up the excess oil, it may drip down to the clicker lever,
bait casters and level winders need oil more often, i am still learning. Spinning reels need oil on the bail pivot points very often and a couple other spots, shaft and handle.
 it's funny with how much maint. a spin reel needs, also got to straighten and repack the line on the spool ( try the back lane).
level wind like a repack of line on the spool to help deal with backlash and loops, especially if a full spool as the build up can start hitting the underside of the frame on the new low profiles.
repacking line on a center pin? very seldom...
I do see some anglers using a brown/red line lately on the centerpin, is it a Maxima Chameleon or a newer version??? must be the best?