Printer Friendly Version - Looks Can Be Deceiving

A fishing reel that’s used often may look like new on the outside, but might reveal a totally different picture on the inside. Photo illustration courtesy of Captain Morgan

There comes a time when every fisher is faced with hanging up his or her longtime favorite fishing reel. Sometimes this is hard to do. Other times, one might think, “Well, it’s about time!” It’s true that the older reels get, the fewer bells and whistles they have. All those extra ball bearings, slick new drags, solid anti-reverses, and an almost intuitive bail arm release are certainly inviting. And, of course, we cannot forget that slick futuristic design.

That’s all well and good. However, it’s better to have that old faithful still in working order, before laying down more bucks on a sparkling new, out-of-the-box reel. There is a difference between a reel outliving its usefulness and one that just refuses to crank one more time because of old-age wear-and-tear.

Most fishing reels can avoid the trash heap by giving them a periodic touch of love and care. By following a regular maintenance routine at the end of each season, you can prolong the life of any reel. After all, they technically are machines, and machines do not run without oil and grease, no matter how expensive there are.

Instead of waiting for that infamous jam or hesitation to occur unexpectedly, it is best to be proactive. You would be surprised at the number of reels that are brought into the shop that look absolutely near-mint on the outside, but are essentially trashed on the inside. Salt water, especially, will take its toll on metal—even the finest. It will steal the life out of ball bearings, corrode gears, and cause movable parts to cease moving if preventative maintenance is not performed.

At the very least, a reel should be cleaned, oiled, and greased. At best, they should be broken down and inspected for wear, tear, and damage, followed by the appropriate action. To avoid a re-do in the near future, it’s best to replace all affected parts rather than piecemeal, especially where associated parts are concerned.

Remember that most purchases are made based on outward appearances and feel. Still, the lifespan of a quality fishing reel is dependent not only on its proper use, but also the regular maintenance of its internal parts. So, yes, keep washing off the saltwater and lightly apply a protective coat of a proven anti-corrosive product to the exterior. However, do not ignore the inner working parts. These are the guts that will enable you to bring in that catch you worked so hard to hook. The choice is yours to either purchase a new one and trash the old or to keep ol’ trusty as a backup or a hand-me-down after your new well-earned purchase is made.

Overnight air temperatures took a dive into the 20s and even the 10s, while Long Island Sound water temperatures remained at 49 degrees. Stiff winds continued well within small craft and gale force warnings as the Sound churned into a frothy mixture. That didn’t matter much to mariners considering that the majority of vessels were either put to bed or were in the process thereof.

There are seals, a few cold-water fish, gulls, and some periodic striped bass swimming in and out of main holdover tidal rivers looking for a bite. Blackfish (tautog) have gravitated to the deep water and are about to enter into their semi-hibernating state. One of the few events that can shake them up is some very turbulent water that would churn up some mudding crabs—a cold-water snack as it were.

Not much has changed in the past week as days are getting shorter and holidays closer. Fishers are looking ahead toward a cod trip (maybe some haddock or pollack) in waters off of Block Island. A few die-hards are challenging the rivers for some striped bass as they spread out from the mouths to the northern reaches, but not many.

Although nights have been cold enough to skim the tops of lakes and ponds with ice, safe ice is a different story. For now, keep dreaming. Our area, especially, is a ways off from developing enough hard water to safely start setting flags, let alone dot the surface with holes. For ice fishing and skating, one should be looking for ice at least four inches thick with more for heavier loads. Always check with local sources for safety conditions and, when attempting ice fishing, cautiously drill or chisel test holes starting close to shore working outward, since ice may freeze differently on the same body of water.

Instead of eyeing the tentative hard water, anglers are still fishing the soft water for trout and salmon in designated areas; Naugy got 156 up to 15 pounds. On calmer pleasant days, those waters offer some good fishing in a peaceful fall setting.

Note: Email us pics of your catches to share with our USA and international fishing friends who keep up with the latest fishing news and frequent social media.

For all things fishy including rod repairs, swing by the shop (203-245-8665) open seven days located at 21 Boston Post Road, Madison. Until next time from your Connecticut shoreline’s full-service fishing outfitter, where we don’t make the fisherman, we make the fisherman better...

While fishing rivers during the fall season or just exploring the woods, you can expect wildlife to be cautiously observing your moves, such as this North American bobcat seen in Madison. Photo courtesy of Captain Morgan