Damage Report

[Sam]

Congratulation on getting your reels back. I hope the damage/loss isn't so bad on your other gear, too.

Fishing reels are made to get wet, and those were only underwater for a few days. Inside that box they probably didn't get full of sand or mud either, and that's what's really damaging to a reel.

If they were mine I'd take off the sideplates, spinning-reel spools, handles, and anything that's easily detachable and blow all the water out with compressed air. Then dry them as much as you can with paper towels.

Then I'd soak them down with WD-40. WD stands for "water displacement", and that's what the product is really good at - it adheres to and forces water away from metal. Let them stand for a couple of hours soaked in WD, then use the air hose again to blow the excess WD-40 out and pat them down with paper towels. Then lubricate all moving parts with light reel oil, put grease on the gears, and re-assemble. Check your line for damage, I think some of the modern super-lines may be weakened with prolonged immersion.

I've never been paid for fixing reels, but I'm a gunsmith who's rehabilitated quite a few weapons that went in the drink. I'm guessing that if you paid a "professional" to clean your reels, he'd do exactly what I described.