Line Cleaning

[ninjastar]

Just wondering how many out there take the time to unspool their reels and clean them and if there are any pros and cons to not doing it. And if you do clean your lines how do you guys do it? I have reels with braid that has been on for over 10 years and I usually spray it down with salt-away and a nice rinse but should I be doing more for the reels that have been deep-dropped to over 400ft.

 

[swami 805]

Probably be a good idea to pull the line off and check. 10 years of salt packed on the spool? I’d be more worried about the condition of the spool than the line. After that much time I’d ditch the line and pony up for some fresh stuff

 

[ninjastar]

What would be the best way to strip it and clean it? I looked for a product called Swifty washing cage but I can't seem to find any for sale anymore.

 

[hucklongfin]

Yeah, Swifty used to have a spool you could wind the line on then toss in your toilet tank for a while to leach the salt out. Clean the spool and give it some boeshield to protect it.

 

[jose caballero]

You can drill a bunch of 1/4” holes in the arbor of an old line spool, chuck it up and use a powerdrill to load from the spool, then leave it in the toilet tank for a few days before drying in a shady location and repacking off the spool. I have a linewinder, but you have options.

I have also seen various other spools used (ancor marine wire spools from WM, stainless negative spools from OG film development)… just need enough capacity and an ID that will allow you to keep tension while you respool. You local tackle shop can probably help too.

I use a swifty system, works fine. Someone 3D printed replacement spools for me but the material they used is a little brittle so I’m stuck with the two OG spools, still works fine since I only do a couple reels at a time. Every year for my 100# and 40#, less often for the rest.

 

[Tom Honaker]

What would be the best way to strip it and clean it? I looked for a product called Swifty washing cage but I can't seem to find any for sale anymore.

Best way is to send it to Cal Sheets, he washes it then packs it with a winding machine made by Ray Lemme, the thing is the size of a small car! Never had any other winding machine spool my spectra so tight. Your spectra won't pack down after a big fish.

 

[GClev]

Swifty is OK for emptying a reel, rinsing line, and not much else. Salt-Away is a gimmick. Rinsing a full reel just pushes the salt deeper. Cal will separate you from your money and he still does only a superficial inspection. Don't waste your money.

2 six foot fence posts each topped with a 5 gal bucket. One more bucket filled with HOT clean water, a big soft sponge, a magnifying glass, hollow spectra for repairs, a short rod 655xh with roller guides, carnuba wax, and PAPER medical tape.

Empty the reel around the buckets, wash the line with HOT water using the sponge, inspect the line with eyes, finger tips, and the magnifying glass, repair the line with a splice if needed, get an ACCURATE measurement of the line (number of threads x distance between buckets - not a line clicker guess), clean and WAX (no freakin' grease) the empty spool, add one single wrap of PAPER medical tape for traction (and minimum glue) in the middle of the spool, reload the reel keeping 10-12# of pressure on the line 110% of the time, with appropriate cross-hatching.

Trust no one else to load your own line. They always fuck it up. And if you just washed, dried, and reloaded a 600 yard reel using fenceposts, you just walked 4/5 of a mile and pumped up both arms.

You want to spend some extra?? Use bottled water with none of the tapwater bullshit in it.

 

[chilidip]

I change my braid every 2 years to not corrode the spool, and remove any minerals and/or foreign materials that the braid might have picked up. Am I a little bit obsessive.. most likely. Years ago, I had a Saltiga spool corrode.. don’t want to go through that again.

 

[ninjastar]

You can drill a bunch of 1/4” holes in the arbor of an old line spool, chuck it up and use a powerdrill to load from the spool, then leave it in the toilet tank for a few days before drying in a shady location and repacking off the spool. I have a linewinder, but you have options.

I have also seen various other spools used (ancor marine wire spools from WM, stainless negative spools from OG film development)… just need enough capacity and an ID that will allow you to keep tension while you respool. You local tackle shop can probably help too.

I use a swifty system, works fine. Someone 3D printed replacement spools for me but the material they used is a little brittle so I’m stuck with the two OG spools, still works fine since I only do a couple reels at a time. Every year for my 100# and 40#, less often for the rest.

I was looking at the 120 film reels but do you know if it can fit a fathom 60 or even a 50 size reel??

 

[jose caballero]

I was looking at the 120 film reels but do you know if it can fit a fathom 60 or even a 50 size reel??

Doubt it

 

[pattyice]

Brotha man! Go to your local tackle shop and they'll spool fresh line for ya! Its not that big of deal!

 

[ninjastar]

Brotha man! Go to your local tackle shop and they'll spool fresh line for ya! Its not that big of deal!

I wish I could but that would be a lot.

 

[ninjastar]

You can drill a bunch of 1/4” holes in the arbor of an old line spool, chuck it up and use a powerdrill to load from the spool, then leave it in the toilet tank for a few days before drying in a shady location and repacking off the spool.

I might just end up doing this as it's the easy option.

 

[steve k]

Swifty is OK for emptying a reel, rinsing line, and not much else. Salt-Away is a gimmick. Rinsing a full reel just pushes the salt deeper. Cal will separate you from your money and he still does only a superficial inspection. Don't waste your money.

2 six foot fence posts each topped with a 5 gal bucket. One more bucket filled with HOT clean water, a big soft sponge, a magnifying glass, hollow spectra for repairs, a short rod 655xh with roller guides, carnuba wax, and PAPER medical tape.

Empty the reel around the buckets, wash the line with HOT water using the sponge, inspect the line with eyes, finger tips, and the magnifying glass, repair the line with a splice if needed, get an ACCURATE measurement of the line (number of threads x distance between buckets - not a line clicker guess), clean and WAX (no freakin' grease) the empty spool, add one single wrap of PAPER medical tape for traction (and minimum glue) in the middle of the spool, reload the reel keeping 10-12# of pressure on the line 110% of the time, with appropriate cross-hatching.

Trust no one else to load your own line. They always fuck it up. And if you just washed, dried, and reloaded a 600 yard reel using fenceposts, you just walked 4/5 of a mile and pumped up both arms.

You want to spend some extra?? Use bottled water with none of the tapwater bullshit in it.

Not sure on what basis you form your opinion of the services provided by Cal and Eric Sheets. I trust them completely to do any service they offer as I’m sure so do countless others.

Darin Dohi is the guy who has the components for the Swifty Line Washing system. Darin’s business is 310 Rodworks and his telephone number is (310) 710-5431.

And as far as trusting no one else to load your line, think that’s bullshit. I have a good friend in the San Diego area who has a line winding setup that works perfectly.

 

[ninjastar]

When it comes to soaking the line, is simple green and warm water alright or just soap and water?

 

[Cubeye]

When it comes to soaking the line, is simple green and warm water alright or just soap and water?

Fresh water only.
Transfer your line onto a empty bulk spool with holes drilled in the arbor. The size of the bulk spool is dependent on the size of your reel.

Soak it in a bucket of water.
Let it soak for a couple of days.
Empty the water and replace with fresh water.
Let it soak for a couple of days.
Empty the water and replace with fresh water for a third time.
Remove the bulk spool and let it air dry for a week or so.
Use Boeshield or carnauba wax on the spool.
Reinstall the dry line onto your reel.

I have yet to be able to fit my bulk spool into a toilet tank.

Not necessary to remove all the salt from your line. The wax that you apply will protect your spool until the repeat the process.

Some people claim that they have never removed their Spectra and they haven't had a problem, BUT how do they know if they haven't removed the line to inspect the spool for damage?

 

[walter heim]

So here is what I do. Nothing. I am sure most would disagree. If you wash your line every time you fish without unspooling, the salt will be driven deeper. If you do nothing, the line closer to the bottom of the spool stays dry. The line that is consistently used each trip gets washed with salt water every time you fish, so there is no buildup of salt. Bottom line is that I have no spool corrosion problems except for older Penn spools that are chrome plated brass. For most of my fishing, I am not dumping most of the spool, not even half. Also, I do not believe that the line is affected by salt. so no need to wash it.

My 2 cents

 

[steve k]

Interesting theory, do nothing. I guess if it works don’t fix it. Although, we probably owe it to ourselves to remove the line from at least one of our reels and inspect the spool.

 

[jose caballero]

Corrosions a bitch. It happens sometimes, and not others, in my opinion in no predictable manner. I’ve seen very old and well used reels unspooled to find a perfect spool, and others corroded after a single short trip and a few months storage. Variables could include tightness of original spooling, amount of spray on the rack underway, length of use, amount of line in the water, hollow/solid… but my analytical and somewhat educated brain says: CRAPSHOOT! I don’t doubt for one minute that one guys done great with zero fiddling, or that some dudes have excellent reels but can’t leave them alone… so here’s where I’ve landed:

My reels are like my guns. I don’t keep them if I don’t love them, but once they’re dialed I will pretty much do anything to keep them cherry. I want absolute total constant confidence in them, so I payed for my mistakes and won’t repeat them. I know dudes who’ve never cleaned their rifles, too, and all the power to em. Find what works for you. Personally, I’m a “frequent maintenance and annual deep clean” kind of guy. BTW my guns and reels are about 4’ apart, and share a cleaning/service bench.

 

[ninjastar]

So here is what I do. Nothing. I am sure most would disagree. If you wash your line every time you fish without unspooling, the salt will be driven deeper. If you do nothing, the line closer to the bottom of the spool stays dry. The line that is consistently used each trip gets washed with salt water every time you fish, so there is no buildup of salt. Bottom line is that I have no spool corrosion problems except for older Penn spools that are chrome plated brass. For most of my fishing, I am not dumping most of the spool, not even half. Also, I do not believe that the line is affected by salt. so no need to wash it.

My 2 cents

After removing lines from some of my reels that have been on easily for over 10 years. none of them so far has corrosion on the reel. But will see how the others turn out.

Corrosions a bitch. It happens sometimes, and not others, in my opinion in no predictable manner. I’ve seen very old and well used reels unspooled to find a perfect spool, and others corroded after a single short trip and a few months storage. Variables could include tightness of original spooling, amount of spray on the rack underway, length of use, amount of line in the water, hollow/solid… but my analytical and somewhat educated brain says: CRAPSHOOT! I don’t doubt for one minute that one guys done great with zero fiddling, or that some dudes have excellent reels but can’t leave them alone… so here’s where I’ve landed:

My reels are like my guns. I don’t keep them if I don’t love them, but once they’re dialed I will pretty much do anything to keep them cherry. I want absolute total constant confidence in them, so I payed for my mistakes and won’t repeat them. I know dudes who’ve never cleaned their rifles, too, and all the power to em. Find what works for you. Personally, I’m a “frequent maintenance and annual deep clean” kind of guy. BTW my guns and reels are about 4’ apart, and share a cleaning/service bench.

I feel what you're saying and I'm also the same way. All my big reels are even in my safe.

 

[andrewr]

Try soaking in bleach and report back on how it works out.