Fishing reels take a lot of abuse. They're tossed into boats, left in the rain and — most unforgivable — plopped down in sand or on rocks. Which is unfortunate, because properly maintained, most reels will last a lifetime. To increase the chance this occurs, prop a rod and reel against a tree, building or whatever when necessary. Never lay them down, where dirt can infiltrate the reel and where your buddy can step on the rod. Also, between fishing trips, back off your reel drags to reduce tension on these critical components. These practices, together with periodic reel disassembling for cleaning and lubrication, will serve you well for boating the lunker of a lifetime, should you hook one.
DENNIS ANDERSON
