and clean/lube it? If it is working fine do you still open it up or wait till something feels wrong?

Every couple of years for the actively used reels. WHen the drags start getting iffy is when I usually get the itch. Then I clean and replace drag washers.

I have a shimano Symetre spinning reel that is three years old now... Its caught over a hundred silvers (in the salt). To this day is as smoothe as the day it came out of the box and I have yet to pull it apart.

If it aint broke... dont fix it...

If there's no evidence of a problem, I take 'em apart and check the parts, and clean it all out, once a year on all my steelhead casting reels.

If there's evidence of a problem, I take it apart that night and fix it up.

Fish on...

Todd

My fresh water reels get cleaned and lubed twice a year and my salt reels get cleaned and lubed 3 times a year. I clean the outside of my rods and reels every time I get back from fishing in the fresh or salt. Very important to do when fishing in the salt especially. It may be overkill but I try to give myself no excuse for loosing a fish other than my own skill or lack thereof. The night before a fishing trip I check my rods, reels, leaders and hooks. If I find something wrong, rusty hook etc... I fix it. I am a true believer that preparation will catch you more fish.