Fishing reels are little machines which should give years of service with care and regular maintenance.

The biggest premature killer for reels is poor maintenance and salt/electrolysis corrosion. Salt conducts electricity and, with dissimilar metals being used in most reels, the residual salt eats poor-grade aluminium and magnesium found in many modern reels.

New Zealand’s salt water is in the higher range of salinity, so more maintenance is the price you pay for light weight reels with modern materials.

So what should you do with your reel after it gets wet? Lets start with the ”don’t do” things… Petrochemical-based aerosols are not recommended, as they flush the oils from shafts and bearing and leave a fish repelling residue on the line. Some lanoline-based products expand rubber seals, destroy handles and build up in bearings.

Filling your reel with grease is also not a good idea as the salt sticks to the grease and eventually clogs up your bearings and gears with salty-gunky grease.

My recommended cleaning regime for fishing reels is a light detergent and fresh water spray. Do your drag up lightly while spraying, then dry the reel with a rag.

Preventative maintenance should be a drop of reel lubricant on spinning reel shafts and line rollers. Bait-cast reels have a port for regular oiling as do most overhead reels. Loosen the side plate screws and lightly oil them to ease disassembly for servicing at a later stage. Reels with level-winds have many driving cogs so need more maintenance to keep things moving (most are trouble, eventually). Leaving the drag wound up tight will see some components eventually stick together, so always back it off after use.

The odds of an early grave for your reel are reduced if you invest in mid- to high-end reels and keep them serviced and maintained. The side-of-the-road, dump-bin, sub $40 reels were born astride a salty grave, so good luck with them!

Northshore times fishing column 14-3-2013 By fishing columnist Greg Hill

Shimano 10000FG Sustain reel

The Shimano Sustain has been a household name for some years now amongst the angling fraternity here in New Zealand and it is with very good reason. Each new model is a step into the future and this new model is without exception.There have been significant cosmetic and engineering improvements within the FG range with a stylish new black and chrome finish that incorporates features like X-Ship, Aerowrap Oscillation, Ci4 Rotors with 7 ARB bearings that are usually only seen in Shimano’s top of the line models.There are five sizes in the Shimano Sustain FG range available, the 2500FG 4000FG, 5000FG, 6000FG and 10000FG which are both suited to all manner of spin fishing applications from soft baiting, slow jigging, fresh water lure casting and the tough rigors of top water and mechanical jigging work. TRSU90G – SUSTAIN 10000 FG 94cm retrieve per crank 8+1 bearings 12kg drag 555g 4.8:1 ratio 410yds 50lb braid ( power pro)

Buy Shimano Sustain reels here 

Here are a couple of good choices for left hand reels that are ready for braided line….

Sábalos Low Profile Casting Reel  left hand wind

Daiwa Caldia 4000.. Caldia Daiwa has always had a long history of innovation, in 2010, Daiwa pioneered the ground breaking technology- Magseal and Air Rotor, a combination that the new set the future standard for all Daiwa spinning reels. Its unparalleled engineering produced Daiwa’s flagship reels – Saltiga and Certate. Now Daiwa expand its innovation with the new Caldia. Caldia is a new era for Daiwa, an era where the introduction of innovations where Magseal, Air Rotor and Zaion are now available in mid range reels. Magseal Given the popularity of saltwater fishing, sealing a reel is a major goal. No leakage means no corrosion, longer life and better performance. If saltwater penetrates a reel and dries, it crystallizes, then erodes gears and bearings. In the past waterproof gaskets and “o rings’ prevented water intrusion, but they have the disadvantage of, producing friction and thus winding inertia. In order to increase the durability of the reel, Daiwa had to make the waterproof structure an absolute priority. Through years of research and development, Daiwa found the solution – a membrane of magnetic oil which shuts out saltwater. By using magnetized oil in conjunction with magnets, the oil attaches itself to the metal surfaces to form a seal. Being magnetized this lubrication system avoids any friction, prevents dust or water intrusion, eliminating oil spray and improving reel life expectancy. We call it “Mag Seal”. You’ll call it magic and a transformation to long lasting, smooth rotary efficiency. Water intrusion is now a thing of the past. Air Rotor Air Rotor is like no other, it is truly a revolution in sensitivity. The new rotor serves several functions. Firstly the main principle of the rotor is support the line roller, line is pulled instantaneously from the spool to the line roller creating stress and flexing to a concentrated section of the lower rotor. The new arch form disperses pressure to the entire lower entire section of the rotor, dramatically decreasing stress and flexing. Sensitivity is one of the strongest attributes of Air Rotor. The rotor is made from a high sensitive resin that transmits vibration through the reel more efficiently than ever before. By hollowing out the rotor system, a lighter construction is created with more surface area, resulting in increased strength and greater transmission of vibration. With a decrease in weight the balance has been fine tuned, with a lower centre of gravity and precise centre of axis the rotor spins more efficiently with perfect balance. This decrease in weight, increased surface area and new resin construction transmits lure vibration to the angler like never before. Zaion “Zaion” is simply explained as a high density carbon resin. Zaion is a new material, composed of carbon resin and long carbon fibres. This high density material is light, strong and resists corrosion, used in many of Daiwa’s reels, it far exceeds the strength of magnesium in strength per unit weight comparison. Zaion transmits vibration through the reel more efficiently than ever before and it is lighter and stronger than a conventional reel made with similar resins or graphite’s. The new Caldia introduces new innovations and unparalleled designs, with the combination of Magseal, Air Rotor and Zaion making it one of the most sensitive technically advanced reels available. You will feel more connected to lures, detect more bites and fight fish with ease…. real design and real technological development for ‘reel sensitivity’. Features Real Four Zaion Digigear II Mag Sealed Engine plate Air Rotor ABS II Twistbuster II Airbail Waterproof UTD – Ultimate Tournament Drag Real Stopper Infinite Anti Reverse Tight Silent Oscillation Spare spool 4.9 (86cm) 6+1 BB 350g 8kg drag 16lb/250m, 20lb/200m, PE: 2.5/300m, 3/250m, 4/180m

Buy the new Daiwa caldia spinning reel here…

Daiwa Saltiga S-extreme 600 reel.  Absloute screaming discount bargain!

4 only @ half price $549.00

PE: 5, PE6 or PE8  50 -80 lb braid Jig or deep-water  Bass, Haupuka and Bluenose reel.

SOLD OUT >>thanks.

Can you hear your reel corroding?

Ducro 10 custom Inchiku reel –  light jigging reel.

Custom made for it!

How cool is this, a small lever drag fishing reel for light jigging and inchikus fishing,

Approx. 15lb max drag, but you only need to fish it about 3-4kg max for Inchikus.

The spool is only 23mm wide!

Casts like a dream, excellent free spool for a lever drag 100%, we cast a 1/2 oz jig head far enough!

If you doing a search for fishing reels online, and want a small strong reel for braid, we mean small ! the Ducro 10 is one of the few options available, and possibly the only one in left hand. Small round profile bait-casters and low profile reels have a “cotter pin” engagement to the pinion gear so are not really super tough, especially  when engaging the reel while a fish is running,  you get that click click click as the reel tries to engage the cotter pin into the pinion, its not a fault but it does damage the parts over time and your anti reverse is only a small dog usually, which inevitably get damaged as the reel kicks into gear.

The first small star drag reel in the world for braid was the ground breaking Shimano Trinidad 10,  anti reverse bearing and dog, with a key way block and  shaft to engage the reel while a fish is running.

• 5.2:1 ratio
• 300m 30lb braid
• Eva power handle
• Carbon drags
• helical cut stainless gears.
• Mute docking and one way bearing.
•  left hand or right hand fishing reels in stock
• Custom Made in Taiwan

Everol The “Verticle Jigger” – VJ6

Everol, made In Italy  since .. Everol website

• Gear ratio : 6.2 : 1
•  Line capacity : 350 m PE:3
• Max drag power : 20 lbs
• Weight : 17 oz. (Kg 0,480)

Especially designed for Light Jigging and Inchiku Six double shielded stainless steel ball bearings and one anti-reverse bearing. Patented drag release button that allows freespool without moving the lever drag . Stop spool button that allows to brake and to release it again when the jig slows down.

What a neat little braid reel…..

Buy The Everol  Verticle jigger VJ6 here…………………….

Power Jig Butterfly Jig 80g

80g only at this stage, managed to get the first and only 30 out of the forge..

“As you can easily tell, has its design concept originated from butterfly. It is the perfect realization of a flashing thought.

Until the the best swimming movement could be finalized, it has gone through many design modifications and testing. Its smooth outer figure makes it not just a great bait in lure fishing but also a work of art.

The Butterfly Jig is made of a piece of hot forged brass with rings made of stainless steel (Grade 304) soldered on the two ends.

Power Jig 90mm octopus assist hooks packs just in.

Replacement sets for Power Rock, Daiwa pirates, and Shimano bottom ship Inchikus .

6 colours  3 per pk

see here………