I am going through this right now, except mine has bigger issues. My second time out using it, this last weekend, it rained all day and then froze that night. The next morning it was completely jammed up, like water had gotten in there and froze the whole reel. When it finall thawed, the thumb bar would not engage sometimes, and it would only cast about 15 yards. I removed the magnets and that did not help. I am returning it, and hoping they don't all leak...?