Go Green and Recycle Your Fishing Equipment
February 11, 2009
We’re all aware how slow the economy is and that most everyone is cutting back in one way or another. Sales are down in every industry and sector and we’re all trying to make our dollar stretch a tad bit further. That might mean foregoing name brands and buying generic or trying to get a few extra miles out of those tires. It’s nice that gas prices have come down to a more reasonable level, but don’t look for it to stay that way.
Anything we can do to get the most mileage out of our money is admirable, but I can only stay in the house for so long – I’m haunted by water! If we’re thrifty in some areas, we can put food on the table and still catch a fish or two as well!
Here are a few tips to get the most use out of equipment you already have:
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Get into those old crankbait boxes (we all have them) and rescue a few of those old favorite crankbaits with rusty hooks. A box of new hooks and split rings can breathe life back into a half dozen or more baits.
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Trying different hooks can make baits perform very differently from their original action straight out of the box. A bigger or heavier front hook can make the bait dive a little deeper or tighten up the wiggle. Different size back hooks will allow the bait to vibrate more or less. Get creative!
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Fishing line - Using backing can make that spool of expensive fluorocarbon last three times longer than average. Is your braid starting to look a little frayed and color washed? Using another reel that is empty, spool the line from one reel to the other and you will have new unused braid on the other reel.
You’re thinking you could really use a couple of new reels but your spouse has put the screws to that idea. Most likely, the only thing wrong with your old reels is they could use some tender loving care. Maybe a new handle, maybe the instant stop is not holding like it did when it was new, or maybe it just won’t cast as far.
A brand new quality reel starts in the $200 range. Instead of spending that money on a new reel you can send four older reels to a quality service shop (like Connie and Tommy Kilpatrick’s Lake Fork Tackle Repair shop that’s listed below) and have them clean and maybe refurbished your old reels with some new gears and large grip handles. For the price of one new reel you can get three or four to perform like new or even better. I had some ceramic gears put into an older Curado; the smoothness and distance I gained was very impressive and it is still one of my favorite reels today.
There are many ways you can get extended life out of tackle that you already have in the garage, just waiting to be explored. Start digging through your stuff and reuse and recycle!
Here’s Connie and Tommy’s take on what you can do now to help maintain and refurbish those reels:
Reel Maintenance
It’s no secret times are tough right now and both anglers and those of us who facilitate them are feeling the crunch. As owners and operators of Lake Fork Tackle Repair (http://www.lakeforktacklerepair.com/) we’ve noticed over the years that business usually slows down for us during the holiday season and in the summer when everyone’s minds turn to swimming and vacations. But the last quarter of 2008 kept us in the shop with lots of reel repairs and we were wondering why, so I did a little survey and queried our customers.
The majority of the responses we received went something like this:
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"Afraid I'll lose my job soon and won't have any extra money.”
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“I’ve lost my job but at least I can still go fishing,” “
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Can't afford to buy new reels so these older models will have to do
We hear comments like these every day lately, and I for one say, “Recycle and Reuse!” Now is the time to take ownership of your equipment. I can’t stress enough how proper maintenance will prolong the life of your reel.
Sure, we all want that hot new reel that’s been staring us in the face every time we step into the tackle shop or window shop online, but if you’re like most of us, it’s belt-tightening time – we might have to settle for a tune-up instead of a brand new motor.
Here’s a couple of things we recommend our clients do to maintain their reels after we’ve serviced them:
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Do not leave reel out in the elements, even if you’re going out the very next day. Don't leave reels out on the boat deck, cover them up so road grunge and sand can't get into the inside of the reels.
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There's a star drag under the handle of all baitcasters. After each fishing trip, loosen up the star drag.
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The line guide travels back and forth on the worm gear - take a pipe cleaner and zig zag it back and forth over the worm gear to clean it.
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Wipe the reel down with a soft cloth.
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Here is a very important thing NOT to do: Don’t squirt oil in the bearings. If you don't know how to remove the bearings for cleaning, applying too much oil makes the bearings slow as the internal balls cannot get around the raceway. If you must, apply one drop of oil only.
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Check the external screws to be sure they are tight. Don't over-torque them or you will break off the screw head.
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If the handle on your reel turns backwards the anti-reverse needs replaced.
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If the pawl hangs up on one side of the worm gear, you need a new one.
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If after tightening down the drag the line can still be pulled, replace the drag washers as they have lost their elasticity.
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If there is a whirl and/or wheezing of bearings when you cast, replace the bearings or better yet, send them to us!
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If a reel is stepped on and the handle is bent, that is a good sign that the threads have stripped in the handle and on the drive shaft. You’ll need a new handle and drive shaft.
We get inquiries every day about attending our training school to learn how to go into this little business. Many folks are looking to a second job to supplement their income and there are a lot out there if you look for them; repairing clocks, repairing reels, walking dogs, being a neighborhood taxi, etc.
We’ve made our video available (in addition to scheduling classes) to teach anglers how to clean and maintain their reels and our sales have been far above average for this time of year. By applying some of these tips we offer our clients, we hope you’ll be able to save a few pennies too and get back out on the water!