What is a good dependable spinning reel

[drew03cmc]

I can't say I am familiar with that one. The recent Abu Cardinal 300 series was a good reel for $35 at the time. I still use my C300Ui on my UL rod. I bought a Shimano Sienna 500 two years ago for my 5'6" L rod that I use on creeks in KC with Beetle Spins and things like that. If you maintain them, most modern reels are okay.

[rFisherk]

Al presented a good point. The first thing I do when testing a reel is get it wet.

Regardless of which reel you use, they will work smoother and last much longer if you carry some Real Magic with you. The PR man for this company started sending me this stuff (in hopes I would include it in an article) years ago. I was skeptical of it and the hyperbolic name for some time, but gradually came to rely on it.

Also like Al, I'm not going to spend my time on reel maintenance, and I'm very rough on equipment, using it about as much as anyone. A few squirts of Reel Magic before I start fishing, however, is easy and really makes a difference. A bottle of it stays in the bottom of my canoe.

[Seth]

Do you spray the entire reel or just the spool with Reel Magic? I'm bad about not breaking down and cleaning my reels so I should probably start doing something like this.

[rFisherk]

I spray the whole reel. If I happen to have a paper towel handy, I soak the reel well and then wipe it off.

[MOPanfisher]

Being a gotta know how it works kind of guy what does spraying the outside of the entire reel do? I use Reel Magic on the line, but have never sprayed the reel.

[rFisherk]

Not sure, but it cleans it and seems to lubricate everything lightly. I'll try to find out the specifics for you.

[MOPanfisher]

My first thought was it makes the surface "slick" enough for sand/grit etc. to not stick, but don't know.

[rFisherk]

Here's advice from the expert:

Real Magic applied to the outside of a reel protects the finish and

lubricates the small moving parts like bail hinges and such. However; Real

Magic has no business INSIDE of a reel. It will lift grease off of heavy

moving parts like the gears. While we are discussing the inside of a reel,

petroleum jelly and lithium grease should never be used inside a reel too.

I repaired reels in the largest tackle shop in Central Florida for 17-years.

I have watched petroleum jelly literally run out of reels thanks to heat.

Heat also hardens lithium grease into a concrete type substance.

There are some advanced lubricants available at Reel Schematic.com that are

really something. Remember; oil is for baitcast bearings and worm drives,

grease is for gears. Real Magic is perfect for all lines and light moving

parts on the outside of the reels.

[Mitch f]

Here's advice from the expert:

Real Magic applied to the outside of a reel protects the finish and

lubricates the small moving parts like bail hinges and such. However; Real

Magic has no business INSIDE of a reel. It will lift grease off of heavy

moving parts like the gears. While we are discussing the inside of a reel,

petroleum jelly and lithium grease should never be used inside a reel too.

I repaired reels in the largest tackle shop in Central Florida for 17-years.

I have watched petroleum jelly literally run out of reels thanks to heat.

Heat also hardens lithium grease into a concrete type substance.

There are some advanced lubricants available at Reel Schematic.com that are

really something. Remember; oil is for baitcast bearings and worm drives,

grease is for gears. Real Magic is perfect for all lines and light moving

parts on the outside of the reels.

Great info Ron

[ness]

Find ya one of these...

IMG_20150623_201613.jpg

This one took 42 years of river punishment and still looks and operates as good as new.

Now that's a reel.

All the new ones are so pimped out and plastic-y.