Reels

It's important to use quality fishing line in weights that are appropriate to both the size of the reel, and the type and size of fish that you will most likely be targeting with that reel. Fishing line does become weaker and more prone to tangles as it gets old, so we recommend respooling your reels at least once per season to avoid problems on the water.

Monofilament nylon line has a tendency to develop "memory". That is to say, when line has been wrapped around a spool, it will tend to retain some loops. This is a normal attribute of monofilament but there are ways to reduce the amount of "memory" in the line so that it behaves better.

After tying on your lure or bait, let the line play out about 40-50 feet in the water, then slowly reel the line back in while applying tension by pinching the line with your fingers at it re-enters the reel. This process "wets" the line allowing it to become more flexible, while also putting tension in the line to help straighten the loops.

Remember, your first few casts are helping to "relax" the line, and the more casts you make, the easier the line will flow from the reel.

Setting the drag correctly will keep you from losing that fish of a lifetime. The drag is the mechanism that provides resistance when reeling in a fish. Don't over-set the drag; there should always be a little play in the drag to prevent breaking the line when a fish pulls hard.

We recommend a tension setting of about 1/3 of the breakage strength of the line (ex. 10 lb. = 3 to 4 lbs. of drag).

To set the drag correctly, first start by releasing the drag tension. Then as you pull line from the reel, slowly increase the drag tension to the proper setting. The best way to measure the setting is to use a fish scale tied to the line, but you can also simply use your experience in feeling how much tension is best as you pull on the line. Remember, you should always be able to pull line through the tension of the drag to prevent line breakage.

Depending on your reel model, changing your handle to the other side is easily done one of two ways. For some models, simply unscrew the handle screw on the opposite side of the reel from the handle. Pull out the handle assembly and reinsert the handle shaft through the reel on the opposite side of the reel and tighten the handle screw on the other side. For other models, the handle screws directly into the body, so detach it by rotating it in the opposite direction of your retrieve to unscrew. Remove the cap on the opposite side of the reel, screw in the handle by turning it the same direction as your retrieve to tighten and replace the cap on the other side. If all that sounds confusing, just watch the video below and we’ll show you how.

Filling the spool to 90% capacity is recommended. Too much line on a baitcast reel could increase the chance of backlash, while not enough line could limit the casting distance – and the fish-fighting action. For spinning reels, a good rule of thumb is to fill the spool until there’s at least 1/8^th of an inch of room from the line to the edge of the spool lip. That will let you use the most line capacity without causing line to spring off the spool and form tangles.

Basic Cleaning & Maintenance

Periodically, the spool should be removed and gently rinsed with fresh water, along with the rest of the reel. Then, dry with a soft cloth and use a few drops of light oil to lubricate the line roller, bail hinge springs, crank handle knobs and shaft, beneath the Anti-Reverse™ selector switch, and where the center shaft exits the top of the reel.

Detailed Cleaning & Maintenance

Remove the handle, spool, rotor, side plate and crank gear, use a small brush (paint brush or toothbrush) to clean exposed parts with water and a mild detergent (such as dish washing liquid). Dry with a soft cloth then apply lubricant as suggested in the spinning lubrication section. If you are uncomfortable with a more detailed cleaning, contact one of our authorized Quantum Service Centers.

Saltwater Cleaning & Maintenance

After each saltwater fishing trip, remove the spool and soak in fresh water, thoroughly rinse the reel body with a light spray of fresh water. Thorough cleaning after each saltwater trip is very important to the life and dependability of your reel. The reason for this is that every time saltwater gets on the reel and dries, it leaves a microscopic coating of “crystalline” salt residue. This salt coating will not only attack the components in the reel but will create the same wearing and/or binding effect as sand or dirt.

Basic Cleaning & Maintenance

Periodically, wipe down the reel with a damp cloth. Remove the palm side cover from the reel. Gently remove the spool. Light oil should be applied to the handle rivets, each end of the spool shaft and the part of the spool shaft that passes through the pinion gear.

Detailed Cleaning & Maintenance

Approximately once a year (depending on use) the reel should be thoroughly cleaned and relubricated. Detailed instruction on how to lubricate your baitcast reel can be found in the baitcast lubrication section. If you do not feel comfortable doing this, send the reel to the nearest authorized Quantum Service Center.

Saltwater Cleaning & Maintenance

After each saltwater fishing trip, remove the spool and soak in fresh water, thoroughly rinse the reel body with a light spray of fresh water. Thorough cleaning after each saltwater trip is very important to the life and dependability of your reel. The reason for this is that every time saltwater gets on the reel and dries, it leaves a microscopic coating of “crystalline” salt residue. This salt coating will not only attack the components in the reel but will create the same wearing and/or binding effect as sand or dirt.

After the saltwater and saltwater residue is rinsed from the reel, use a clean dry cloth to remove the excess water from the reel and spool. Then, using a good quality lubricant that contains "corrosion inhibitors", apply a light coating on the reel. We recommend using products designed for fishing reels.

Proper lubrication is important for any reel. Lubricate the key parts such as bearings and main shaft with a light amount of quality oil. The worm gear, main gears and the pinion gear should be lubricated with a small amount of quality grease. Too much oil or grease can reduce the performance level of a reel, so a light coating is recommended. It is also recommended that you re-lubricate your reel on a monthly basis, particularly after heavy use.

Your spinning reel has been designed to provide years of dependable performance when properly maintained and lubricated. The following points document the proper maintenance guidelines that should be used for all spinning reels:

• Be sure to exercise care when applying oil and grease and use only small amounts of each when lubricating, as excess is unnecessary and can hinder performance of reel.
• The more frequent or severe the use, the more often and thoroughly a reel should be serviced. Your reel should be cleaned and re-lubed after each trip of saltwater fishing or if dropped in dirt or sand.
• Annually the reel should be professionally cleaned and lubricated by an authorized Quantum Service Center.
• Lubrication points are as follows (some part descriptions will vary from reel to reel):
  • Grease: Crank Gear, Crank Shaft, Pinion Gear, Center Shaft Assembly, Pick-up Arm, Roller Wheel, Anti-Reverse^™ Pawl/Ratchet, Spool Washers and Bushings.
  • Oil: Handle Knobs (both ends), Pick-up Pin, Arm Lever (pivot), Kick Lever Mechanism, Ball Bearings, Clutch Screw and Spool Release Mechanism.

NOTE: Grease and oil used should be a good quality, light grade product designed for fishing reels.

Choosing the right size spinning reel generally depends on the type of fish you are targeting. For small panfish like crappie and bluegill, smaller spinning reels such as an 05- or 10-size are best. For larger species such as largemouth bass, walleye and striped bass (fresh and salt), 20- to 50-size reels work the best.

Inshore saltwater fishermen may use 20-40-size spinning reels for their targets, while offshore anglers hunting small tuna or dorado will prefer a larger reel in the 50-80-size range.

The Anti-Reverse^™ switch is used to activate or de-activate a mechanism inside the reel that allows the rotor to spin in both directions when deactivated or only the retrieve direction when activated. When activated, the mechanism prevents the rotor from turning backwards during a hookset. Some anglers prefer to de-activate the Anti-Reverse^™ to allow “back reeling” for controlling a fish or letting line play out when a fish makes a hard run.

There are different types of baitcast spools due to the wide variety of reels. Wide “U”-shaped spools are used when large capacities of heavy monofilament are used for bigger fish. “V”-shaped spools are designed to allow line to flow more freely during casts, helping to reduce backlash. Finally, a “shallow” spool is used when lighter line is needed for casting into shallow, clear waters.

Turn the drag star counterclockwise until the drag is completely loose. Slowly turn the drag star clockwise starting at about one full turn. Pull on the line and continue to tighten until the tension is about 1/3 of the breaking strength of the line. For heavy lines it is recommended to not exceed a maximum of 10 lbs.

Backlash is caused when the spool spins faster than the line coming off of the reel. To prevent this, you need to set the spool tension knob (located near the handle) and your reel’s braking system to the right setting for the weight of the lure you’re using.

First, turn your braking system to the off or free spool setting. Then hold the rod at a 45° angle, and with the tension knob tightened, slowly back off the tension until your lure starts to slowly drop. You want the spool to stop spinning as soon as the lure hits the ground.

Next, adjust the braking system. Begin with the maximum amount of braking dialed up, then gradually reduce from there until you are able to reach the distances you need without causing a backlash.

Always remember, casting with a baitcast reel takes practice to make perfect.