Do Pro Anglers Service their reels?

[jgp12000]

I was servicing one of my favorite modern reels the other day,I like Lew's spinners and baitcasters.I have never had to tear into one before until recently. I wondered if the guys with sponsors work on their own reels, or turn them in for factory service.Perhaps, they just have an endless supply from the sponsor and grab a new reel if one messes up?I am sure in the early years before the sponsors,they had to work on their own reels at some point.I am sure they have favorite reels maybe sentimental or maybe the reel they won a big tournament with they want to keep them going?

[thorhammer]

I do some rod and reel work for a friend that is sponsored- I believe he gets new stuff, and if it's something I can do it seems to land on my bench; anything major it goes back. Fortunately not much with spinners. I hate working on spinners.

[alantani]

I wondered if the guys with sponsors work on their own reels, ...

not likely.

[Midway Tommy]

Years ago, before Doug & AL parted ways @ In Fisherman, and prior to their later big money sponsorships, even though In Fisherman promoted a couple of different spinning and bait casting models in advertisements, when they were on the water fishing & filming they all used Zebco &/or ABU Cardinals and Ambassadeur bait casters. I always found that quite interesting. Nowadays, though, I think they're forced to film with sponsors' equipment.

[ReelClean]

The sponsored guides/tv hosts that I know get sent new gear every model change or when they ask for it.  They usually just flog it off and get new stuff.

[Lunker Larry]

Lost a few guides when they sold their soul to Shimano. They have to send to the Shimano repair depot here. Can't blame them. Part of the deal for cheap and free gear.

[JasonGotaProblem]

This is simultaneously surprising, yet not. I would think these would be the types of folks who would want to tune their reels to their liking. But I also wonder if their brand new fancy high end stuff needs the same tuning that a 40yr old abu benefits from. But I digress.

[jgp12000]

My comment is, the modern reel is more complicated,more bearings,higher gear ratio  when new, and yet still a throwaway reel in a few years with no parts available that will never last 40+years

[JasonGotaProblem]

My comment is, the modern reel is more complicated,more bearings,higher gear ratio  when new, and yet still a throwaway reel in a few years with no parts available that will never last 40+years

Agreed. But when you're a sponsored fisherman and it's getting replaced in 6 months anyway who cares?

[foakes]

These guys aren't fishing for fish.

Their goal is $$$, fame, and fortune.

There is no advantage for them to fine tune the equipment that they are provided free of charge.

When the motive for doing is money, corporate sponsorship, and fame —- most of these "Pros" would sell their souls and integrity to the highest bidder.

Plus, 90% of these "Pros" wouldn't know how to open up a reel and put it back together without leaving a few extra parts on the bench.

Most of our members already have 100% more experience and understanding of a fishing reel then these guys will ever have.

Best, Fred

[handi2]

All the tournament fishermen I know get new sponsored ones to use for free

[handi2]

My son Kevin has been fishing the local redfish tournaments and doing well. A few first place and a 3rd place