Drain holes or Salt water ingress holes?

[Bantam1]

There is a drain on the back. You can even see it in the picture you posted.

[scuppersancho]

Originally Posted by Dipsay

You are forgetting about the spool shaft. Water enters there during retrieve and goes into that side plate. Drain holes aren't the issue, sorry to say. I agree with Bantam and BT.....Dip

With this being said, would it be safe to say that a couple of wraps of electrical tape around a wiffle spool before spooling with line, do wonders for allowing water to get into the reel through the holes on the spool?

Cause the water does eventually soak through the spool of line, right?

[BustinTops]

DO NOT USE ELECTRICAL TAPE. It will break down and cause a sticky mess. Teflon tape will work alot better. And its alot lighter.

[Bantam1]

Water can still enter the reel. There is still a gap between the spool and frame. Taping the holes with teflon tape will help, but its not going to seal the reel. You could make the reel waterproof, but it would not cast very well.

[Pete A.]

No we can't seal the whole reel. However it could be better.

As far as water from the spool that's easy to addressed with a quick spool removal and wipe down as is the same for inner left side(using right handed reels), the exterior of the level wind, as well as handles.

Some water gets in through the spool/pinion gear and level wide but these all entry points could be considered a "labyrinth" with no direct straight line of ingress. Bit of proper lubrication and most spray stays out of the inner reel housing.

However we still have the largest drain hole(I renamed it "ingress hole" on my reels) right next to the most inaccessible place on the reel (main gear, drag, main gear bearing).

How about just leaving that hole and that hole only out? I've tried tape, differing goops but these are hard to stick if your reel has bit of CorrosionX or similar on it.

I have a Citica 200E I'll disassemble clean frame with Acetone and try a bit of SteelBed or JB to make a dam at this hole. Hopefully file/trim as though there was no hole before. Use it like normal and report back.

Thanks for the input.

Pete A.

[Bantam1]

We have to place drains in both locations to allow the reels to drain. Corrosion issues used to be a lot worse on the older model reels before we changed the drains.

I honestly think you are overthinking this. You are fishing in some of the highest salt content water in the US. When you fish or run in a boat there will be spray, the line picks up water and transfers it all over the reel too. I think plastic might even corrode in southern Texas gulf waters.


Be a little more diligent with the maintenance and you will not have any issues. On the areas prone to exposure treat it with some Corrosion X prior to use. Make sure you lightly rinse the reels with freshwater after use. You also need to dry the reel. Let's face it, the humid air does not help the reel dry out quickly. You will need to remove the spool here and there to clean the tight spots.

[BustinTops]

Originally Posted by Bantam1

I think plastic might even corrode in southern Texas gulf waters.

You know thats right.

[cpthook]

I guess you guys have a point, next I'm going want to keep the salt water off my boat. Its just not going to happen.

[Pete A.]

Amen brother.

[Bingo baits]

BrAid soaks up water and sprays it all over the reel during cast