Reel Cleaning & Maint.... Fisherman's Blessing

Good idea, Jerry.... I entered Don's shop, Fisherman's Blessing in Hermitage, TN, a couple weeks back, before the Nashville Fishing & Turkey Hunting Expo. He had just bagged up the last of a few reels someone had dropped off for maintenance and repair.

Don or his buddy, whom I met there, too, had already disassembled them, cleaned the parts in a series of sonic baths, replaced a worn spring one and upgraded some bearings with ceramics. When Don finishes each reel, unless the owner objects, he spools it up with Sufix DNA monofilament* and then vacuum packs it in a plastic pouch so it will be ready to clamp on and use when fishing season rolls around.

Me...? I'd have those reels out of the bag about ten seconds after I unpacked it from the shipping carton, trying out the new bearings. In Tennessee, the rivers rarely freeze over, but If I lived in Michigan, at least I'd have a few targets around the living room where I could practice flipping and pitching until after the ice age.

SIDEBAR... I haven't tried ceramic bearings on any of my reels. I understand that they're incredibly hard and dissipate heat very effectively, enabling the spool to rotate freely, improving smoothness, decreasing noise, and increasing casting distance (as well as backlashes until one adjusts to the new feel). I think more of Don's customers just request improved stainless steel bearings, but he does both.

You'll need to ask Don about his choice in lubricants. I recall some discussion here in ROFB about “red” or “yellow” Rocket Fuel bearing oil, but I think Don recommends some type of silicon oil, generally. I could be wrong about that.

I've already replaced the bronze bushings that are original equipment on my old, round, red Abu reels with stainless steel bearings, but I think I may take one up to ceramics to see how they do.

*I really like Sufix mono. I have spools of 8#, 10#, and 14# ice green, and 17# UV. After a year and a half of using it in a range of sizes, I can't find any faults with it. It's all I took to Canada last year, for my entire group. Comparing it to other brands in terms of price, limpness, abrasion resistance, castability, stretch, and strength, it is a clear "first pick" in my mind. For more info, read a field and lab test review at http://www.tackletour.com/reviewsufixdna.html.

"Jerry Barton (NervisRek)" <jbarton1@comcast.net> wrote in message news:nOadncro18E0PXfcRVn-sg@wideopenwest.com... Mine would have already been on their way, but it seems that my wife, (SWMBO), decided that I really didn't need that box that I was saving, so now I've got to find another one. The last time I talked to Don, he explained another difference between the stainless and the ceramic bearings. The stainless will give a definite smoothness and increased distance for casting, where the ceramic will give not only give the smoothness, but a vast difference in casting distance.