Wd-40 And Bass Fishing?

[Megastink]

I just read that the main ingredient in WD-40 is FISH OIL... I never knew that, mostly because I never had a need for WD-40 (I'm young, calm down). I read that it attracts fish, but I've never tested that theory.

 

Here are my questions as they relate to WD-40 and bass fishing:

1) Does it attract fish?

2) Does it work well for lubricating reels? Pros and Cons?

3) If you spray your rod guides with WD-40, will it help you cast longer?

4) Will it keep your guides from freezing this time of year?

5) What is its effect on fishing line?

 

I'd love to hear about your WD-40 experiences. Please, lets hear them! Thanks!

[Felix77]

I looked into this about a month ago.  A whole bunch of online research.  There seemed to be a lot of honest appearing claims that it works but a ton of rumor and not enough fact.  The company (WD-40) says that it's a myth and that anglers looking to use this should conserve the environment and not use it as an attractor.  It is a pollutant.

 

http://wd40.com/about-us/myths-legends-fun-facts/

[.RM.]

Yup your young and you stopped looking for the truth as soon as you saw it was made from fish oil..
First off how do you know exactly what is in it, the formula is a trade secret..

The only formula listed is:

    51% Stoddard solvent
    25% liquefied petroleum gas (presumably as a propellant; carbon dioxide is now used instead to reduce WD-40's considerable flammability)
    15+% mineral oil (light lubricating oil)
    10-% inert ingredients

 

From Wikipedia......

WD-40 is the trademark name of a penetrating oil and water-displacing spray. It was developed in 1953 by Norm Larsen, founder of the Rocket Chemical Company, in San Diego, California. WD-40, abbreviated from the phrase "Water Displacement, 40th formula,"[1] was originally designed to repel water and prevent corrosion,[2] and later was found to have numerous household uses.

Larsen was attempting to create a formula to prevent corrosion in nuclear missiles, by displacing the standing water that causes it. He claims he arrived at a successful formula on his 40th attempt.[2] WD-40 is primarily composed of various hydrocarbons.

WD-40 was first used by Convair to protect the outer skin, and more importantly, the paper thin "balloon tanks" of the Atlas missile from rust and corrosion.[2][3] These stainless steel fuel tanks were so thin that, when empty, they had to be kept inflated with nitrogen gas to prevent their collapse.

WD-40 first became commercially available on store shelves in San Diego in 1958..

 

Tight Lines All! 

 

The truth...............

[LgMouthGambler]

Keep it in the garage.

[SirSnookalot]

wd-40 is supposed to very good for removing water marks from stainless steel sinks

[Megastink]

Alright, so how about my questions about its effect on GEAR? If its such a great lubricater, why not use it on reel parts?

[J Francho]

It contains solvents that actually break down and remove proper lubrication.  I can't think of one single use of it for fishing.

[LgMouthGambler]

You can use it to clean parts, its a good disolver of corrosive. Just make sure you use something like acetone or brake clean to get rid of the residue.

[J Francho]

Just make sure you use something like acetone or brake clean to get rid of the residue.

 

Uhhh, why not just use that in the first place?  I see no point in cleaning with something that you have to clean off to get something clean.  Acetone for your bearings, and a good degreaser for the rest.  I use Perfect Solution.

[LgMouthGambler]

Uhhh, why not just use that in the first place?  I see no point in cleaning with something that you have to clean off to get something clean.  Acetone for your bearings, and a good degreaser for the rest.  I use Perfect Solution.

Uuhhh, because WD-40 can remove and break down things that acetone and brake clean can not always do. Sure you can use other cleaners, but the OP wanted to know what he could use WD-40 for.

[J Francho]

I've never needed anything other Dawn dish soap, that Perfect Solution, a toothbrush and some elbow grease.  I'm pretty sure I've done a few more reels than you, and many that were downright gross.  Leave that WD-40 in the garage.  Use the right tools.  You will make the mistake of putting that stuff somewhere it should go, and regret it.  Trust, I've learned the hard way.

 

 

[LgMouthGambler]

I've never needed anything other Dawn dish soap, that Perfect Solution, a toothbrush and some elbow grease.  I'm pretty sure I've done a few more reels than you, and many that were downright gross.  Leave that WD-40 in the garage.  Use the right tools.  You will make the mistake of putting that stuff somewhere it should go, and regret it.  Trust, I've learned the hard way.

 

 

Do things your way, I do it my way. Been doing my own reels since I was 10. In 20 years, I havent messed anything up yet.

[Bankbeater]

I have read where WD-40 will eat synthetic rubber so no I won't use it in my reels.

[.RM.]

Here are my questions as they relate to WD-40 and bass fishing:

1) Does it attract fish? <<<< Yes I have used it fishing for big cats in the fresh water lakes on the west coast, but then so did the chicken macnuggets I was sprying it on....LOL

2) Does it work well for lubricating reels?<<<< NO!

Pros and Cons?  <<<< There are no pros I have seen in my 30yrs servicing reels

3) If you spray your rod guides with WD-40, will it help you cast longer? <<<< NO! The proper system (rod/reel) setup will get you longer cast's

4) Will it keep your guides from freezing this time of year? <<<< It might, but why would you risk using this stuff for anything fishing..A catalitic heater will work better and faster.....

5) What is its effect on fishing line? <<<< It will screw the line up over time, use a good line conditioner made for it.....KVD comes to mind

 

 

Good Luck & Tight Lines! 

[J Francho]

4) Will it keep your guides from freezing this time of year?

<<<< It might, but why would you risk using this stuff for

anything fishing..A catalitic heater will work better and faster.....

 

I have a little experience in this department.  KVD Line & Lure won't keep your guides from freezing, but it does make it easier to pop the ice out.  Problem is, it doesn't last that long.  Pam, yes the cooking spray, works better, though it can get messy if you fish a lot.  WD-40, as mentioned messes up mono, which is pretty much all you can use in sub freezing temps (fluoro and copoly are too stiff, and braid freezes to itself once water logged), so it makes little sense to use it.  Real Magic works okay on the guides, but only lasts as long as the Line and lure.  Plus, it interferes with KVD L&L treated line.  Pam doesn't seem have any effect.  Probably because it's just vegetable oil, without any of the solvent based accelerant.

 

The best possible setup I've seen for cold weather fishing are Recoil guides.  No need to use anything, just flick the guide with your finger.

[Greenstealth]

It contains solvents that actually break down and remove proper lubrication.  I can't think of one single use of it for fishing.

I use it or pb blaster to keep my fishing tools from sticking (pliers).

[SPEEDBEAD.]

I already knew that WD was no bueno on my gear.

 

Seeing Fracho and RM echo that thought just reinforces it and adds a better explanation.

[J Francho]

I use it or pb blaster to keep my fishing tools from sticking (pliers).

 

PB Blaster is the bomb.  WAAAAAYYYYY better at unsticking things than WD-40.  Just wipe your tools down after unstuck, and lube them with CorrosionX to keep them from ever sticking again.

[CTGalloway21]

I just read that the main ingredient in WD-40 is FISH OIL... I never knew that, mostly because I never had a need for WD-40 (I'm young, calm down). I read that it attracts fish, but I've never tested that theory.

 

Here are my questions as they relate to WD-40 and bass fishing:

1) Does it attract fish?

2) Does it work well for lubricating reels? Pros and Cons?

3) If you spray your rod guides with WD-40, will it help you cast longer?

4) Will it keep your guides from freezing this time of year?

5) What is its effect on fishing line?

 

I'd love to hear about your WD-40 experiences. Please, lets hear them! Thanks!

 

for #2, do not lube with WD-40.  WD-40 breaks down elements, not lube them.  I mainly use WD-40 on things that lock up on me such as a door hinge, etc.  You spray WD-40 to loosen up the grime, etc from the hinge.  I would not recommend using WD-40 on fishing gear.  

[Capt.Bob]

It contains solvents that actually break down and remove proper lubrication.  I can't think of one single use of it for fishing.

!00% agree, you may use it and see no negative affect, if so you are very lucky! I too service reels commercially, and have been doing it along with my Charter Business for 30 years. I have seen negative affect's using it as a cleaner, it does work fast, but when I seen the stuff take the lettering off of an early model Stradic Aero I was cleaning 20 years ago, it was obvious it maybe wasn't the best thing for use on reels where the use of some synthetics are used. I also know from a fellow fisherman's experience,  if used on the eye's of your rods, it will penetrate under the thread wraps and coatings such as Flex Coat and will eat away at there adhesion after repeated use with time. Trust what Francho and R.M. are saying, it has NO USE in fishing applications!

[J Francho]

Wow, the EXACT same thing happened to me, except I was stupidly spraying it on my mono because some old timer told me to.  Same reel, an original Aero Stradic 1000.  That was one hot little reel, back in the day.

[flyfisher]

I use it or pb blaster to keep my fishing tools from sticking (pliers).

PB blaster is awesome.  I used it when i put the lift on my 95 wrangler.  Starting spraying the shackle bolts the night before and the next day it was golden.

 

I will also echo what has been said here that WD-40 statys away from my fishing suff.  It seems to attract dirt in my experience.

[SirSnookalot]

According to Snopes WD-40 has a use in fishing, that would be to remove the sting from fire ant bites.  I've been bitten hundreds of times and sure many other southern people have been too, it' isn't fun, lol.  I'll try wd-40 next I encounter ants, heard windex works too.

[endless]

According to Snopes WD-40 has a use in fishing, that would be to remove the sting from fire ant bites.  I've been bitten hundreds of times and sure many other southern people have been too, it' isn't fun, lol.  I'll try wd-40 next I encounter ants, heard windex works too.

Off topic but HA you said that. My sister lives in Louisiana and had a outside wedding that almost got crashed but these things. They do hurt. Wedding did happen but dang first time I've been bite one and many. I guess we stepped on a nest. I guess they was fire ants, that what my sister said they was.

 

 

But I thought when coming to fishing WD-40 was just as bad as Reel Magic?

[upnorthbassin]

According to Snopes WD-40 has a use in fishing, that would be to remove the sting from fire ant bites.  I've been bitten hundreds of times and sure many other southern people have been too, it' isn't fun, lol.  I'll try wd-40 next I encounter ants, heard windex works too.

 

Anything with ammonia in it will take the sting/itch away from most bug bites....or at least make it better. Windex has ammonia so that's why it works. If you look at commerical products like "After-Bite"...the only ingredient in them is ammonia.

 

But on to WD40. It has it's uses but not in fishing. In fact, it's not really that great at anything but you can use it for a number of things so it's pretty popular. It's not a very good lubricant at all. It's not that great at preventing rust compared to a lot of products. It does penetrate ok and displaces water but there are better products out there for those uses too. It's popular because it's kind of a jack-of-all trades product that can clean something and fix a squeak for around the house. I can't think of any piece of fishing gear I would use it on though.