Is It Possible To Take A Fresh Water Bait Caster And Turn It Into A Salt Water Bait Caster?????

[fsuboy99]

I'm just wondering if I could take a fresh water one and maybe change the bearings or something and use it in salt water? Manly because salt water. Bait casters are way out of my price range.

[J Francho]

Sure, but you'll ruin it eventually.  If it's just a one time shot, be sure to gently and thoroughly rinse the reel in warm, fresh running water.  Let it dry, and add a drop of oil to the spool bearings, knob bases, and level wind worm gear.

 

If it's going to be a regular salt use reel, get one designated for saltwater use.  Treat it the same as above.

[BrettD]

If you take care of them and properly rinse and lube then on a regular basis you will get years out of them. I've been using freshwater baitcasters for snook fishing since I started and have never had one fail on me.

[OkeechobeeAngler]

If you take care of them and properly rinse and lube then on a regular basis you will get years out of them. I've been using freshwater baitcaster for snook fishing and have never had one fail on me.

 X1000. 

[Hanover_Yakker]

And if you are unsure of how to service your reel proerly, don't hesitate to contact someone that knows how to do it and have them done in your off season.  I don't have the tools, patience, nor the workspace for it, so I send a couple of mine out each fall and rotate through every one of my reels in both fresh and salt.

[Basswhippa]

Get round ABU that you used in freshwatet. Go to beach. Cast. Conversion accomplished.

[baluga]

I even use CORE 100 MG and Conguest for inshore  Saltwater fishing regularly.  What I do before using the reel the first time is disassemble and grease the sidewall and other metal parts.  Lots of grease on the Idle gear bearing/housing.  After that a regular maint and running fresh water while cranking the gears will do. I will get some rusted bearing when even I forgot to give then a regular cleaning. The ones that usually get rusted are the spool bearing on the cast control and the Idle bearing, bearing next to the pinion gear. 

[Hyrule Bass]

it might help to name your price range, some people might have some suggestions...

[SirSnookalot]

Sure it can be done, I see it nearly every single day, some of these reel are very old, one of my friends uses a Mitchell from the 60's.  How good a shape they are in I can't answer, so many of these fishermen are using rods with broken tips and could care less, they may give them a rinse but that's about it.  I was using a Pflueger supreme mg 35 in saltwater for snook for almost 2 years, the finish is still like new except for a few scratches and the performance is just fine, I use this as a bass reel now.  A gentle hose down and a drop of oil every few months on the handle bearings is the entire service that reel has seen.

My reels only get serviced if they need it, I do not get them serviced just to do it.

[.RM.]

The Citica G is rated for salt....

The Curado G is also rated for salt...

 

ETC ETC.....Tight Lines!  

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

The Citica G is rated for salt....

The Curado G is also rated for salt...

 

ETC ETC.....Tight Lines!  

Right. Reels rated for salt water are not eccentric at all and "turning x into y" never yields the full benefit and usually costs more in the long run.

[baluga]

I believe all shimano reels are saltwater approved.  Even the DC and Magnesium reels.

 

Not all Daiwa reels are saltwater approved.  Especially their Magnesium Reels. 

[WRB]

It depends if the reel contains galvanic metals that react to saltwater. Die cast aluminum for example is a poor choice, machined aluminum alloys with anodized coatings are excellent. All composite are excellent. Chrome or nickel plated brass part in direct contact with aluminum is galvanic; reels sets, screws, spool shafts etc.

It really depends on what components the reel is made of, not always the price point.

If you rinse your reels with fresh water, recommended, don't do it under high pressure...lightly rinse the reel o you don't force water into the inside of the reel. A light spry with WD-40 after a light fresh water rinse is good.

For the reel nd rod guides.

Tom

[xbacksideslider]

Ditto that.

 

I'd add what I suspect WRB is saying between the lines - that just WD40 won't do it, not enough; you must rinse with water to dissolve and remove the salt, THEN the WD40 (unlike other lubricants) displaces the water.  Then, later, after the displaced water has evaporated, the WD40 (which is a poor lubricant) itself can be displaced with reel oil.

 

Great points about galvanic action.  Magnesium is worse than aluminum in that respect.

[SirSnookalot]

I'm just wondering if I could take a fresh water one and maybe change the bearings or something and use it in salt water? Manly because salt water. Bait casters are way out of my price range.

I don't know what goes on in your area of Florida and what type of species you plan on targeting.  In my part of Florida you would be hard pressed to see anyone using a low profile b/c in SW.  I may have seen no more than dozen in the last 10 years.  I do see some round reels once in awhile but mostly by bait users.  If it's a money issue why not go with a spinning outfit?  Understandably there are many b/c responses as they are the most popular type of reel on this site.  I would suggest doing an internet search and see what other SW Florida anglers are using for the type of fish you plan on catching.  But if you are talking about an occasional venture into the salt just use what you have and don't worry about it.

[0119]

Caution with wd-40!  Not good for neoprene washers in a spinning reels rotor, per Shimano.  If left on a surface it can build up and harden in a way.  It was never meant as a lube nor a long term protectant but as a water displacer ala WD.   If you spray it on, you are forcing it into places where it will remove wanted oil and grease.

[tshare18]

What are the main differences between saltwater baitcasters and freshwater ones? Take the Quantum Smoke for example they have a freshwater one and one they call (inshore) besides for the color and the saltwater protective coat what is the difference between them? I freshwater fish 90% of the time but for the 10% of the time I fish saltwater would it be a good idea to just pay the little bit extra and get the saltwater model? Im sure I would forget to rinse out the reel once in awhile.

[BrettD]

Saltwater baitcasters usually have a higher line capacity. There may be more differences but thats the one difference that stands out to me.

[derekxec]

better to just buy a saltwater reel....i tried using some freshwater reels for salt species and they didnt hold up well especially to decent size snook...maybe if you baby them the whole time but i want some cranking power when needed and unless im fishing open flats usually its needed lol

[The Commodore]

^I agree mostly.  Although I have not had any problems using a Curado 201E7 in inshore fishing.  Just be careful as to what species and size you are targeting.

 

If you are ok with spinning, get a Stradic.

[SirSnookalot]

^I agree mostly.  Although I have not had any problems using a Curado 201E7 in inshore fishing.  Just be careful as to what species and size you are targeting.

 

If you are ok with spinning, get a Stradic.

Nothing wrong with a stradic I own a couple of them myself.  But if it's a $$ issue there are other reels more modestly priced that perform as well as the stradic, I own some of those too.  They have performed flawless and have passed the test on durabilty for me catching a range of different species and sizes.