Reel preparation for winter fishing (lube or lack thereof)

I attempted to do a search on this topic but didn’t find a satisfactory answer. I’m just wondering what has worked best for people who maintain their own reels as far as a grease or oil for their ice reels. I’m working on a buddy’s daiwa laguna 500, which is in the freezer right now. He says it gets stiff out on the ice. If you post a brand of lube, please also denote whether you’re talking about grease, oil, or both. I’ve cleaned and fixed many reels so I know what goes were, just looking for input on cold cold cold weather prep.

On all of my reels when they come out of the box the side covers come off and all of the visible grease in the gears gets picked out then I add Quantum Hot Sauce, the red oil. The cover gets replaced and the reel gets spun a few times to get the lube where it needs to go then the reel is laid on a pad of paper toweling for a couple hours to be sure any excess Hot Sauce that gets past the seals or side cover gets sopped up and then the reel goes on the rod. Each spring I remove the side cover on all of my reels and add a few drops of Hot Sauce and replace the covers.

I no longer ice fish but this routine has been mine for 30 years and I have had only one reel bind due to the cold and it did not get this treatment. The fluid Hot Sauce does a great job of lubing and protecting reels from cold related lock-up or binding.

For a while I used a grease from frabil that was supposed to not freeze. It was fine, but I also had no trouble using hot sauce – both grease and oil. I haven’t had issues in years so I don’t change them over or even worry about it anymore.

I use Quantum hot sauce OIL, not grease. Never had a Tica, Sedona or President fail me on the ice other than a bail spring on the President. I try to Q-tip out the grease on any new reel. Since Hot Sauce is thinner, be sure to re-apply each year at a minimum. Heck, I even use hot sauce for squeaky door hinges at home…

Be sure to store the hot sauce upright and in a ziplock bag, I have never had a bottle not leak on me, even with the red plug installed.

404 ERROR wrote:

Heck, I even use hot sauce for squeaky door hinges at home…

Be sure to store the hot sauce upright and in a ziplock bag, I have never had a bottle not leak on me, even with the red plug installed.

The hot sauce’s use isn’t limited to fishing reels, It’s handier than heck around the house.

The capillary capabilities of the hot sauce is just plain nuts and the little stopper at the top doesn’t hold much back if the bottle tips on its side. I keep mine in a small Tupperware box and keep it propped up in a corner of a shelf.

hot sauce oil its the best oil there imo

404 ERROR wrote:

Be sure to store the hot sauce upright and in a ziplock bag, I have never had a bottle not leak on me, even with the red plug installed.

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Must be some very thin oil. Perfect for ice fishing.

I put the reel in the freezer for a day and the drag worked fine. Turning the handle there were stiff places during the rotation, I’m guessing due to the grease stiffening up. I took the reel apart and degreased everything, also put the bearings in acetone in the ultra sonic cleaner to completely remove all goop. Have an old bottle of hot sauce oil laying around so will lube everything with that and then try the freeze test again.

Glad it’s that time of year again to get the Ice fishing chatter going on the forum! CrawDaddy – use Quantum Hot sauce grease on all friction points and the drag pad of your reels and use the Hot sauce oil on all working bearings. I re-apply once year on all my reels. Stop and say hi at the up coming ice shows! It’s going to be another exciting season!