I fish at sea with a paddling kayak, and my gear is very exposed to saltwater. This light jigging rod (20-120g or so) I use for light trolling and light jigging, and jigging reels feel too bulky and heavy for it, specially when I use jigs at the lower end of its capacity…20-30g usually.
So I had this baitcasting reel which is light and small, and put the deep spool with thicker line, a large combat lever, and started using it. I'm very happy with the combo, how light it is and how it works.
But the reel is suffering the effects of saltwater and my initial lack of knowledge. I didnt know how to maintain reels and I just rinsed it with a hose for a couple months. Now I fully submerge in stillwater, dry, open and grease and all but some of the bearings are rusting, and there is some corrosion in the brass gears.
I cleaned and greased it thoroughly yesterday after it took a good dive on saturday, and its fine for now but I was wondering if these are standarised and its possible to buy better bearings and make it salt proof. I have seem some ceramic bearings and was wondering if that would work. Or maybe good sealed stainless ones.
Or its not worth trying and I should just save to buy something designed to be saltwater-proof?
Posted by Khali_FC
1 Comment
Even the saltwater resistant baitcasters suffer from salt use.
All you can do is maintain them, no such real thing as proof.