Rod/reel submerged

[HawkeyeSmallie]

Long story short, I know where a baitcasting rod/reel is in a smallish lake, only in about 7 foot of water.

 

It's not mine and I don't know who's it is (that's the long story lol).

 

Anyways, it's been submerged for less than a week, it was either Saturday or Sunday.

 

My question, will it still be good if I get it soon? I'm almost positive I can get it in only 7 foot of water and I know pretty much the location.

 

Not sure how rust works etc.

 

Thanks!

[F14A-B]

Hey it could be a NRX Or a GLX rod it could be a 400 dollar reel on it…

 

What ya waitin on?? 😂🤣😂

[Fishingmickey]

With a good cleaning it will probably be fine. Get the mud, silt , sand out of it and relube.

FM

[F14A-B]

Hey.. DVT will flat hook you up on a reel tear down clean/lube. 
 

In fact I still do my own Baitcast reels but on spinning? No way. I’m sending them out. Shimano has got way more difficult these days for me. 

[GReb]

You can’t start a teaser thread like this and not fish it out. Too many bait monkey VIPs are now eagerly waiting for you to fish out that $40 Walmart combo 😂

 

But what if…..

[HawkeyeSmallie]

13 minutes ago, alonerankin2 said:

Hey it could be a NRX Or a GLX rod it could be a 400 dollar reel on it…

 

What ya waitin on?? 😂🤣😂

 

I'm pretty sure the reel is an Abu Garcia maybe. Split cork handle but no clue the brand.

 

It was floating on top of some vegetation inches away from my grip. When I tried to grab it with my paddle it went to the bottom. UGH!

3 minutes ago, GReb said:

You can’t start a teaser thread like this and not fish it out. Too many bait monkey VIPs are now eagerly waiting for you to fish out that $40 Walmart combo 😂

 

But what if…..

 

Oh I'm gonna get it.

 

I'm going to leash a waterproof gopro synced up to my phone with a pole and try if I can visually see it. If I can I can hopefully snag it. Not sure how clear it will be in 7 foot of water.

 

If I can't see it, I'm going to throw out a metal stringer with all of the clips undone.

 

If that doesn't work, I told my boys whoever swims down to get it keeps it. LOL

 

I'd give it back to the owner but I have ZERO clue who that would be.

[MAN]

Don't think that your gopro will be able to transmit live footage from under water to your phone? Good Luck and let us know what the end result was.  

[HawkeyeSmallie]

12 minutes ago, MAN said:

Don't think that your gopro will be able to transmit live footage from under water to your phone? 

 

Dang, that was the goal.

 

The boys might be going for a swim then. LOLOLOL

[GreenPig]

Good luck, with a good clean/lube it'll be fine.

[Rockhopper]

big weight and a giant trebel.  Shouldn't take more than a couple minutes to retrieve.

[Bazoo]

Interesting. I too love a good recovery. I have spent an hour trying to get a lure before...

 

Take the stringer and bend the wires so they are more hooky, and you might do okay. You could bend a couple coathangers into a grapple. Also might consider, once you get snagged on it, throwing in a crankbait and snagging it 2 ways.

[HawkeyeSmallie]

11 minutes ago, Rockhopper said:

big weight and a giant trebel.  Shouldn't take more than a couple minutes to retrieve.

 

My oldest boy borrowed from a friend a largish magnet and a big claw like thing tied to a long rope.

 

I don't think the magnet will work but the claw should hopefully.

[ABU is overpriced]

Better take some pics when you retreive it😎It could be a Zebco or an Ultima

[rangerjockey]

If you have or have access to one of those old metal stringers, Open all the clips and put it on a flippin, stick and drag it around the suspected area. My buddy carries one in his boat for just such an occasion.

[HawkeyeSmallie]

3 minutes ago, rangerjockey said:

If you have or have access to one of those old metal stringers, Open all the clips and put it on a flippin, stick and drag it around the suspected area. My buddy carries one in his boat for just such an occasion.

 

Yep I've got one and plan on bringing it. I've heard they work fairly well.

[Fishingmickey]

Are you a good swimmer Hawkeye? I have retrieved a rod of mine that fell out of the boat (I missed the rod holder) and it went for a swim. I bobbed to the bottom and felt around with my feet until I felt the rod and then hooked it with my toes and brought it up. It was November on Lake Fork and it was pretty chilly in my skivvies and tee shirt. But I wanted that Curado 300Ej and Crucial rod back.

FM

[fin]

I’ve cleaned up rods and reels that have been underwater for years, and they were fine. Sand/silt in the ball bearings is the only thing iffy. Thing is though, if one is underwater for an hour, the repair is pretty much the same - it’s got to all come apart and be cleaned and re-oiled/regreased.

 

Retrieving a rod and reel underwater is not always as easy as it might seem. Things move about quickly and can get covered with silt quick. Whatever you use to snag it snags other stuff too, so don’t be surprised if you lose the snagger too. Good luck.

 

 

[HawkeyeSmallie]

1 hour ago, Fishingmickey said:

Are you a good swimmer Hawkeye? I have retrieved a rod of mine that fell out of the boat (I missed the rod holder) and it went for a swim. I bobbed to the bottom and felt around with my feet until I felt the rod and then hooked it with my toes and brought it up. It was November on Lake Fork and it was pretty chilly in my skivvies and tee shirt. But I wanted that Curado 300Ej and Crucial rod back.

FM

 

I'm a decent swimmer but I've got two young strong boys that are like dolphins.

[HawkeyeSmallie]

Well dang it.

 

No luck.

 

Lots of submerged weeds.

 

Not sure if I’m gonna get this boys. 

[Aaron_H]

23 minutes ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

Well dang it.

 

No luck.

 

Lots of submerged weeds.

 

Not sure if I’m gonna get this boys. 

 

How could you do this to us

 

[haggard]

Been there done that a few years ago - a gust of wind caught the kayak's bimini top and snagged/launched the rod and reel overboard, never would have known about it if someone on a camp on the bank alerted me. Same as you, shallow water, about 7-10 feet. It was a St. Croix Mojo Bass MH/F with a Shimano Curado K baitcasting reel, not a cheap setup.

 

Tried to snag it right afterwards with casting and dragging the hook back to the boat, no luck.

 

Went back next week with a rake, no luck.

 

Went back the next week with GoPro at the end of a pole. The GoPro transmitter was very weak and couldn't handle even that shallow depth.

 

Finally went back the next week with a diving mask and snorkel, put on a PFD, anchored the kayak in the area and dove into the water. Went back and forth in the narrow channel, had great views of the weedy bottom, and suddenly a school of tiny minnows appeared in front of me, then found myself swimming IN that school, hundreds of not thousands of tiny fishes just inches from the mask, swam right through it, it was magical! When the minnows parted, the rod was right there. It was surreal!

 

Recovered the rod/reel, took it apart and cleaned and greased it, and no problems at all. It was a baitcaster reel which I find easier to deep clean than a spinning reel.

 

Go for it.

 

My advice is put on a life jacket, get a snorkel and mask, even if you have to buy them, and take your time. Life jacket will keep you safe and buoyant but should  also allow you down down briefly if you spot something. Real eyes under the water were FAR more effective than any kind of remote operation (GoPro, snagging, etc.)

 

Same as in your case, here there were loads of submerged weeds. But the rod, being what a rod is, will probably not disappear into those weeds; given its length, it will tend to lay on top of them. A rod is typically 6-7 feet in length and is not likely to slip through all the weeds, as a small lure would.

 

I think you have a good chance at recovering this, as long as the water depth is shallow and you use a life jacket with mask and snorkel. If you have the luxury of bringing a buddy to serve as a spotter, that can be a great safety feature. I did my recovery solo but was fortunate to have a couple people watching from the bank.

 

 

 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Rust and corrosion won’t really kick in till the air hits it.  Contamination is the enemy here. Whatever you do , resist the urge to crank and test the reel upon retrieval. Be ready to either send it out or deep clean immediately. Don’t let it sit around.  Let me know if you need help. 

[HawkeyeSmallie]

35 minutes ago, haggard said:

Been there done that a few years ago - a gust of wind caught the kayak's bimini top and snagged/launched the rod and reel overboard, never would have known about it if someone on a camp on the bank alerted me. Same as you, shallow water, about 7-10 feet. It was a St. Croix Mojo Bass MH/F with a Shimano Curado K baitcasting reel, not a cheap setup.

 

Tried to snag it right afterwards with casting and dragging the hook back to the boat, no luck.

 

Went back next week with a rake, no luck.

 

Went back the next week with GoPro at the end of a pole. The GoPro transmitter was very weak and couldn't handle even that shallow depth.

 

Finally went back the next week with a diving mask and snorkel, put on a PFD, anchored the kayak in the area and dove into the water. Went back and forth in the narrow channel, had great views of the weedy bottom, and suddenly a school of tiny minnows appeared in front of me, then found myself swimming IN that school, hundreds of not thousands of tiny fishes just inches from the mask, swam right through it, it was magical! When the minnows parted, the rod was right there. It was surreal!

 

Recovered the rod/reel, rook it apart and cleaned and greased it, and no problems at all.

 

Go for it.

 

My advice is put on a life jacket, get a snorkel and mask, even if you have to buy them, and take your time. Life jacket will keep you safe and buoyant but should  also allow you down down briefly if you spot something. Real eyes under the water were FAR more effective than any kind of remote operation (GoPro, snagging, etc.)

 

Same as in your case, here there were loads of submerged weeds. But the rod, being what a rod is, will probably not disappear into those weeds; given its length, it will tend to lay on top of them. A rod is typically 6-7 feet in length and is not likely to slip through all the weeds, as a small lure would.

 

I think you have a good chance at recovering this, as long as the water depth is shallow and you use a life jacket with mask and snorkel. If you have the luxury of bringing a buddy to serve as a spotter, that can be a great safety feature. I did my recovery solo but was fortunate to have a couple people watching from the bank.

 

 

 

Appreciate the response.

 

If it was MY combo I’d be 100x more invested than what I am currently.

 

If I find it, it’s a bonus. If I don’t it’s no skin off my back.

 

I was wondering about trying in the fall when the weeds get better.

 

I’m not giving up yet!

[Eric 26]

10 minutes ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

Appreciate the response.

 

If it was MY combo I’d be 100x more invested than what I am currently.

 

If I find it, it’s a bonus. If I don’t it’s no skin off my back.

 

I was wondering about trying in the fall when the weeds get better.

 

I’m not giving up yet!

[LootyDjibouti]

21 hours ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

I'd give it back to the owner but I have ZERO clue who that would be.

Not sure if you watch any fishing channels on YouTube but DEBO's fishing is a popular channel, he's a Hawkeye in Iowa, and just dumped like 5 combos into the lake when he flipped his kayak recently lol