Why Your Fishing Reel is Jamming and How to Fix It

A jammed reel is a common problem that can damage internal mechanisms, cause loss of catch, and lead to tangled or broken lines. If the problem is ignored, your gear can fail completely. The good news is that in most cases, this problem can be fixed on your own. Let's look at the main causes and share recommendations that are relevant for owners of any model of fishing equipment: from lightweight spinning reel combo to more complex and massive baitcasting sets.

Dirt and Sand Ingress

One of the common causes is the ingress of salt/sand/dirt, which makes it difficult for the internal mechanisms to work. This is especially true if the model is not sealed + you fish in salt water and do not regularly rinse the equipment. General recommendations in such a situation:

1. Completely disassemble the reel. The design will vary from model to model, but usually, this involves removing the body cover, handle, and spool. Sometimes there are side covers as well.
2. If the reel is wet from salt water, rinse it with fresh water and let it dry.
3. Remove sand/dirt particles with cotton pads or a special soft brush.
4. Soak the small parts in a cleaning solution and wipe the main parts with a special equipment cleaning liquid.
5. Wipe all parts with paper towels/special cloth.
6. Apply grease to the dried bearings/gears, but not too much, otherwise it will cause deterioration of performance.
7. Reassemble the reel in reverse order and check the operation. A little hint: when disassembling, take pictures after removing each part.

Tangled Fishing Line

Line problems are another common cause. This can be detected if it is struggling/running out of the spool, if the tension is uneven, or if knots are present. What to do in this situation:

1. Inspect the spool. If the fishing line is lying unevenly/twisted, rewind it.
2. To do this, remove the old fishing line completely.
3. Wind in the new line evenly, maintaining tension. You can simplify the process by using a special spool holder. A good level of winding is 1/16-1/8 inch from the edge of the spool.
4. Check the fishing line winder. Possible wear/damage to the mechanism/dirt ingress. If there is a problem with it, the line will lay unevenly.

Damage to the Reel Components

This may be due to wear and tear due to long and regular use, or due to heavy loads/errors in operation/low-quality materials. Many elements require periodic replacement, such as bearings, drag washers, spool shaft, and so on. What is the algorithm of actions:

1. Disassemble the spool. It is not only about removing the cover and main elements, but also bearings, rotor, drag washers, and so on.
2. Inspect all parts for damage. Not only cracks but also scratches/scuffs or rust can lead to malfunction. Common signs to look out for include: bearings squeaking when cranking, worn teeth and gears, issues with drag washers (which can cause adjustment problems), and a bent spool shaft that causes uneven winding of the fishing line.
3. Buy new elements to replace the worn-out ones. It is better to do it in specialized fishing stores. Replace them following the manufacturer's instructions.
4. Apply grease to the moving elements.
5. Reassemble the reel in reverse order and check for smooth operation.

Problems with Reel Lubrication

Both excessive and insufficient lubrication can lead to incorrect operation of mechanisms. Also, this procedure should be performed at least once every 3-5 months. How to fix such a problem:

1. Disassemble the reel.
2. Clean all elements from old grease/dust/dirt/salt. Use cotton disks or a soft cloth for this purpose. You can increase the efficiency if you buy a special cleaner for fishing equipment.
3. Apply Reel Grease to the gears and internal moving mechanisms that experience the highest load. It is thicker. Apply a thin layer.
4. Lubricate the bearings, handle, and so on with reel oil. One drop per bearing is enough. Reassemble the reel in reverse order and test it.