DIY Float Fishing Upgrades

Get the Most Out of Your Float Reels Through Bearing Replacements

Drifting a float down your favorite run is not always easy as it sounds.  A moment in your float fishing life will come when you know you’re doing it all right, but your reel is not performing the way you want.  Just because your reel is being a jerk doesn’t mean you have to grin-and-bear-it like a man with an unruly child sitting at a red light in front of the social service agency.  Take control with these tips.

Float fishing with conventional equipment, such as baitcasters, requires its use in an unconventional manner.  Rather than the inertia from the action of casting, the subtle current of the stream is used to get the working end of your line out to the fish.  Smooth, effortless startups of the reel are key.  This requires a super smooth bearing to accomplish the task.

Angler experience is the number one key factor, but a reel that does not perform properly makes success difficult.  Buttery-smooth drifts and seamless startups should never be taken for granted.  I talked to Jeff Brooks from Boca Bearing Company (BBC) about replacement bearings.  Jeff has been working with Boca Bearing Company since 2014.  Jeff, a Florida native, has been fishing off and on as a pro since 2006 as full time guide and tournament angler.  

Bearing selection:

Bearings can be compared using the ABEC rating system.  ABEC stands for Annular Bearing Engineering Committee which is the group that developed a scale ranging from 1 to 9.  The higher the number the greater precision and efficiency performance of the bearing.  Very rarely do fishing reel manufactures disclose the ABEC rating of the bearings used in their products.  Jeff Brooks explains the ABEC rating system, “The ABEC rating refers to how perfectly spherical the balls inside the bearing are.  The ABEC scale goes from 1 to 9 with 9 being military grade and 1 being just your average, run-of-the-mill bearing.  Most standard bearings that come in reels are ABEC 1 to possibly ABEC 3.  The higher the number, the smoother the bearings are going to be.  You’ll be less apt to feel any grittiness or bumps while that bearing is performing.”

Most reels come stock with steel bearings.  There is a big difference between ceramic bearings and steel bearings.  According to Brooks, “The main benefit to running ceramic hybrid bearings is the fact that when you replace a steel ball with a ceramic ball, it changes the coefficient of friction.  So they’re not going to get hot.  The constant heating up and cooling is what leads to bearing failure.  The retainer, the thin material that holds the ball in place, ends up breaking from the constant expansion and contraction because of the heat difference.  That’s why you put lubrication in a bearing, to keep it from overheating.  So when you take the steel ball out and you put a ceramic ball in, you can run them without lubrication.  The benefit is you’re going to get a smoother bearing that’s freer.  

“The analogy I really like to use is, ‘A bearing without any oil is similar to walking on dry land.  If you put oil in a bearing it would be like trying to walk in ten inches of water.  If you put grease in a bearing it would be like trying to walk in ten inches of mud.

“The benefit is going to be longer casting distance, ease of casting, because you don’t have to have any lubrication in the bearing.  You’d be surprised how fast the spool is turning when guys make a cast.  A lot of guys say, ‘I can cast farther’ and their 100% right you can cast further, but where I see a real benefit is guys that fish a lot, day-in and day-out, tournament anglers and someone like that where you’re on the water for 10 hours a day for 8 days in a row.  You can cast just as far with less effort.  Now if you get the bearings right, then you don’t need as much force to get the bearings started in the cast and you’ll be able to cast a long distance with lightweight lures.  A zero friction startup will allow for the most natural presentation for a centerpin.”

Out With the Old, In With the New

Eventually, dirt and grime will enter into the bearings of your reels.  Bearings are non-serviceable parts but can easily be replaced.  Sometimes bearings get dirty and sometimes they are just plane lousy bearings.  Either way you can easily replace these bearings with upgrades from a reputable company like Boca Bearing Company (www.bocabearings.com). 

First you need to remove the old bearings from your reel.  Be sure and take a few moments to inspect the old bearings for abnormal wear or rubbing.  This could indicate a larger problem with your reel that won’t be resolved by simply replacing the bearings.

According to Brooks, “Most everything will be a light press fit.  Don’t use brute force to install.  We have an extensive video library on YouTube.com for bearing replacements.”

Sometimes the bearings get stuck in the reel housing.  If this happens, Jeff suggests removing all plastic parts from the reel and placing it in the oven on the lowest setting for 30 minutes.  This may help loosen the bearings from the reel.  Whatever you do, be gentle, as not to damage your reel.  Damaging the old bearing is not a problem, just make sure you give special care during the installation of your new ones.

Next, give your reel a thorough cleaning.  There is no point in putting new bearings in a dirty reel.  Old grease will be filled with contaminants that will work their way into new bearings.

Centerpin Tips:

Replacing the bearings in a centerpin could not be simpler.  Start by acquiring needed tools and equipment.  A roll of duct tape works nice for an elevated working platform.  A small dowel slightly smaller diameter than the bearings is needed to push the bearings out.  There is a small O-ring that will try to run away.  Every make and model will be slightly different and you should be able to acquire a schematic diagram from the manufacturer.

Why do top-shelf centerpin reels perform the way they do?  Because they have top-shelf bearings.  You can put these same bearings in your Okuma Aventa or other economy centerpin reel and get similar results.  When it comes to the reel families, centerpins are hands down the simplest.

Bait Caster and Levelwind Tips:

There are a lot more moving parts in levelwind reels.  The secret is to only take apart the reel the minimum necessary to do the job.  If your reel is very dirty then a full disassembly may be necessary to clean, but if you are only replacing the bearings, then keep it simple.  Bearings in bait casters and levelwinds are sometimes held in by spring clips.  These clips often are damaged during removal so have replacement clips ready.  Line out reel parts in order of disassembly, facing parts reel side down to help orient pieces like cup washers for easy reassembly.

We all want to maximize performance while also minimizing costs.  Upgrading bearings with premium replacements is not necessarily cheap, but it can be the most cost-efficient means of meeting your objectives.  In no other fishing method is bearing performance more crucial than float fishing with centerpins and baitcasters.

The word “smooth” conjures up different images and feelings for people.  To me, when I hear the word “smooth”, I think of that perfect drift on my favorite waters.