i have only ever sprayed 3 of my reels down, the ones i used in sharks bay for a week of solid fishing. these reels are still in mint condition, the rest of mine are covered in rust. i know what i will be doing in the future...

 i have only ever sprayed 3 of my reels down, the ones i used in sharks bay for a week of solid fishing. these reels are still in mint condition, the rest of mine are covered in rust. i know what i will be doing in the future...

 I think they meen dont spray water at pressure onto the reel. I always give them a lite wash with a hose attachment set on mist spray. Then shake most of the water of and dry with a towel or rag. I also leave them outside (but in the shade) for a while before putting them away.

Been doing it for 40 years with no problem. I don't like spraying any lubricants on the reel either, but other members do with certain products. Once or twice a year i fully service each reel too, i have 20 year old reels i still use all the time.Some of the new reels can be very complex to service and approch with care if you attempt to strip them down. The only reel i hate to service and usually put them into the shop are Baitrunners, they are loaded with springs and parts that fly out when you remove the side cover. I learnt the hard way with my first one and it was never the same again.

Cheers Grant . 

 I take mine in the shower with me with drags tightened and on old toothbrush to give them a scrub , put em in the bath to dry off and then loosen the drags been doing it for years and never had a problem , and reels stay in good nick as long as serviced properly .

after each use I screw up the drags, light hose down (not under pressure), give them a light shake, let them dry in the sun/wind, loosen drags off, give them a wipe and back into the reel bag.

Service them myself once a year or depending on amount of use and when servicing or after a bit of use I spray some silicone spray onto a rag (not the reel) and give them a wipe over (avoiding getting it on line).

Even my older reels are still going strong with no corrosion.

another tip is not to leave them in any rod holders that cop a lot of spray when motoring at speed in rough weather (this is akin to hosing them with salt water at pressure).

Jamey - I think you love your reels a bit too much :-) though my wife probably wouldn't be surprised if she found me in the shower with mine.....

Just a towel wipe to clean dirt off. Salt I spray with a spray bottle and wipe down with a towel. The rod on the other hand get a thumping spray from the hose. As Paul mentioned I think you should tighten the drag with the wash, then loosen to dry, but I have been told by a Shimano rep I met in a tackle store that this is overkill. I dont spray any chenicals on the reel.

I think not hosing your reels down is an urban myth.

Given the time, I always wipe/wash mine with rag in warm water, but if I don't I hit them with the hose.  My reels are still in very good condition.

Look at it this way, on a rough day up in the rocket laucher or in the gunwhale rod holders, they are constantly blasted with salt water....moreso than what a hose will do.  I think hitting them with a fresh water hose has got to help, not hurt.  Besides, good quality modern reels are (somewhat) sealed against water getting into delicate parts. 

 Thanks, will only give my reels a light spray now. Have always tightened drags when rinsing to prevent water getting in and loosened whenever not in use so the drag washers don't get compressed etc.

 I give mine a light wash with the hose (low pressure). I then remove the spool and give the reel a spray with Inox, leave for a while and then wipe diwn with a rag.

All my reels are in mint condition.

 shit you have to wash your rods and reels ,no one told me that .Ten minutes to wash the boat 10 seconds to wash the gear ,all seems top be still working ok.