What You Should Know Before Buying a Fishing Reel
Fishing, like most sports, requires specific equipment. An important part of this equipment is the fishing reel, and it is available in a wide variety of styles and sizes, from a variety of manufacturers. Reels can also vary from cheap to very inexpensive, so how do you choose?
To select a quality fishing reel, you need to begin with some information. You need to know what type of fishing you want to do, and where you’ll be doing it. Reels are fish-specific, that is the design depends on the type and size of you fishing you’ll be doing. Some explanations of the different types are listed below:
Fly Casting Reels
These reels are generally among the most expensive. Fly fishing requires certain specific skills, so the equipment is specially designed for those skills. This sport requires a lightweight reel to enable smooth and even casting. Fly fishing reels also have no gears, which means when you turn the handle one time, the spool also turns one time. Reels for fly fishing are usually dish-shaped and narrow, and require some specialized handling.
Reels that Spin
Spinning reels offer something for everyone from beginners to professional fishermen. These reels come in a variety of styles, including closed face and open faced.
Closed face reels are ideal for beginners, especially children. With a push of a button, you can let out line that is enclosed in a case. It’s easy to use, but can be difficult to clean. When the line returns, it often carries debris which gets caught inside the case, and that can spell trouble for your drag.
Open faced fishing reels are better for fishers with some experience. The line is exposed in an open faced reel, and there’s a bail that you slide over and hold while casting. At the last minute you release the bail and let the line fly. Open faced reels come in a variety of styles and manufacturers. Most anglers have more than one of these reels among their fishing equipment.
Placement of the Reel
The type of fishing dictates both the type of reel and where that reel is mounted. For fly fishing, the reel is a counterweight for the rod, so it is mounted below the handle. A spinning reel is mounted on top of the rod. It comes equipped with a drag system, which adjusts the tension and helps to keep the line from breaking.
How Much do Reels Cost?
Once you’ve decided on the type of fishing and which type of reel you want, you need to start looking at prices. The best bet, particularly if you’re a beginner, is to buy a mid-range priced reel. The cheaper reels may not be good quality and unable to handle the trial and error of a novice. The expensive reels may be too sophisticated to make fishing enjoyable. You may have to try a couple of different reels before you find one you like. After you’ve fished for a while, you’ll probably understand exactly which reel is the one for you.