Sometimes, just threatening a reel with a trip to the doctor is enough to restore its health. A newly flushed and lubricated reel that still sputters and whines should be entrusted to a professional. The price of a thorough cleaning and minor overhaul is modest compared to that of a new reel. If there is a slight extra charge to get the reel back more quickly, pay it. That is cheap insurance against getting bumped to the bottom of the list.
Most anglers put more time and effort into maintaining their trucks than their fishing reels.
If you have a good reel and a bad car and just had to go fishing, you could walk to the water. If you have a good car and a bad reel, you can drive up and down the shoreline all day, but you still can't fish. Doug Pike covers the outdoors for the Chronicle. His column appears on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.