This is a new record even for me. I wore out a fishing reel in 4 months. A couple of days ago while surf fishing Sanibel island, the reel began to feel a little tight and crunchy as I wound in my line. When I got back to my hotel that night, I did as I have done every time since I purchased the reel in November, I took the rod and reel in the shower and rinsed it off.
Well, the next day I walked down to the dock behind my hotel to make a few casts and check to see if any jacks were around. I could hardly reel in the line because the fishing reel was so tight. After only a few casts I gave up and returned to my hotel room and watched fishing on TV instead.
Today after work, as I waited for the new seat post to arrive for my mountain bike, I decided to take the reel apart and see if I could clean it up and get it back into working order. Since I arrived in Fort Myers, I have been fishing with only one rod and reel. I flew to Fort Myers and did not bring my fishing equipment with me and had to purchase a rod and reel when I arrived in Florida. After a partial disassembly and a good soaking in fresh water, I reassembled the reel only to discover that the spool no longer moves up and down the spool shaft. She is broke.
Most of the time back home I typically fish with 3 main rod and reel set ups of varying age. One of which is typically new for the season and the others are 2 to 4 years old. After that, they are just plain wore out and need replacing. But I guess using only one rod and reel in salt and brackish water steadily for four months several days a week will severely shorten the life of a reel.
To make matters worse, I did some quick research on the fishing reel make and model, as I had never heard of it before purchasing it. What I found was that the bait shop had way over charged me and for what I paid, I could have purchased 3 on amazon.
I won’t disclose the name of the reel, but if you look closely at the photo, I think you can figure it out.
I guess it is time to go to Bass Pro Shops and get a new fishing reel.
