What Are the Types of Fishing Reels? Understanding Different Types of Fishing Reels.
If you have decided to take fishing more seriously, it’s important that you know everything about the types of fishing reels available.
Choosing the fishing reel that best suits your needs depends a lot on the rod you’re using. This means that as soon as you know the type of rod you’re going to have, you can start looking for the right fishing reel for it.
This article is going to help you identify the types of fishing reels and how you should use each and every one of them.
How Many Types of Fishing Reels are There?
The main fishing reels types are:
These reels all function based on the same principle of casting the line where you want it to go. However, these types of fishing reels come with their own separate features and function differently. You need to be aware of what makes them stand out in order to determine which type is more suitable for your needs.
Here’s what each type of reels can do for you.
1. Spinning Fishing Reels
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The spinning fishing reel is one of the most popular among anglers with intermediate experience. Its design is open face and offers an easy cast, meaning it’s ideal for those who have only started to learn a thing or two about fishing.
This reel casts very quickly and is accurate, not to mention that it has an increased line capacity. There are also spinning reels with extra spool that make the changing of the line easier on water.
Spinning fishing reels have a fixed spool and allow the line to flow freely when casted, so they’re ideal for light lures. When it comes to the feeling they offer, this is of balance and comfort because they hang underneath the rod.
This type of reel is suitable for more experienced anglers too, but more expensive than other reels because it casts very accurately. It’s a good idea to not use it with heavy lines.
2. Spincast Fishing Reels
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Featuring a closed face, the spincast fishing reels keep all their important components inside, hidden under the nose cone. They feed the line through a hole and have a button on their back, button that can be pressed when casting forward in order for the line to push out. When this button is released, the line no longer comes out.
Because they’re very easy to handle, spincast fishing reels are suitable for beginner anglers. They don’t have a backlash, not to mention they don’t snare or twist the line. More than this, they’re the most affordable fishing reels on the market.
When it comes to the downside of spincast fishing reels, this is that they’re not so accurate and don’t go very far.
3. Baitcast Fishing Reels
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Being the most advanced type of fishing reels, the baitcast reel requires the angler to be experienced and skillful at casting.
Baitcast reels rotate the spool while releasing the line. They can be a little bit difficult to handle, but they surely do offer great accuracy and can cast far. The idea is to get used to them and the way they work.
Aside from accuracy and long-distance casting, baitcast reels also have a great retrieval power and are fast, which means they’re good for catching large fish that usually put up a fight.
When it comes to the downside of these types of reels, they’re prone to line tangles and backlashing, so they need more control when it comes to feeding the line out. Besides, they’re also very expensive.
How to Determine the Type of Fishing Reel that I Need?
After getting to know more about the types of reels and how each of them works, it’s time for you to decide on one for your fishing adventures.
In case you’re a beginner angler, use a spincast fishing reel because it’s easy to use and doesn’t backlash or tangle the line. This means you won’t get to feel too challenged and overwhelmed by the fact that you need to fix the line while on water.
If you’re an intermediate angler, choose the spinning reel as you’re being offered long-distance casting and more accuracy. It’s true that this type of fishing reel requires some experience to master it, but its effectiveness is higher, and it can suit many anglers’ needs.
Experienced anglers need the baitcasting fishing reel because it allows them to hold a heavier line and are being offered more power. This type of reel is the best choice when going for large fish that are known to fight. While requiring a lot of practice to get used to it, the baitcasting fishing reel can surely improve the abilities of any fisherman.
More Info On The Various Types of Fishing Reels
Fishing is not only about having a good rod. The reel plays a very important part too. This article will present you the types of reels and their best options available on the market.
Reels are split into 2 main categories – Spinning Reels and Fly Reels
As the name indicates, fly reels should be used when fly fishing, so in the next few paragraphs we’ll discuss spinning reels. There are 3 categories of spinning reels: spincast, baitcasting and spinning. Let’s see what each can do, and which are the best ones you could buy.
Spincast
Spincast reels have a closed face, so they keep the important parts inside, covered by the nose cone. The line is fed through a hole that they all have in the cover. There are many spincast reels available for children and beginners. When casting a spincast reel forward, you need to press the back-button. After the line has been peeled out, the button should be released so that the line stops. While the easiest to handle, the spincast reel is not so accurate and it can’t cast far.
Here are the 3 best spincast reels available on the market
Pflueger President Spincast Fishing Reel
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This reel features a 5-bearing system and an aluminum frame. It’s perfect for light lures and baits, also versatile, so you can use it for many fishing techniques.
Zebco 202 Spincast Reel
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Don’t get fooled by the small price of the Zebco 202. This reel casts very smoothly and is the easiest to use, so ideal for beginners and children.
Zebco Bullet Spincast Reel
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While the most expensive spincast reel from Zebco, the Bullet Spincast is incredibly fast and features a cover made from durable neoprene, also an 8+1 bearing system.
Baitcasting
Baitcasting reels can’t be mastered that easily, as their spool turns when they’re being casted. This means the angler needs to control the spool for the line to not make a nest. However, they’re ideal for heavier lures and lines, not to mention accurate. These reels are usually used by professional anglers.
The 3 best baitcasting reels are:
Abu Garcia Black Max Low Profile Baitcasting Reel
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This Abu Garcia baitcasting reel is very lightweight because it has a frame made from graphite. Featuring 4 ball bearings made from stainless steel, it’s smooth and very accurate, also available at a very good price.
Shimano SLX 150 Baitcasting Reel
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If you want something more expensive and sleeker, go for the Shimano SLX 150. This reel is very compact and stiff, so it offers great strength and is resistant to impacts. More than this, it has many features and is easy to control.
Spinning
Spinning reels have an open-face design and are the most popular. They’re also easy to use, so good for beginners. Besides, they’re more accurate when compared to spincast reels. They have increased line capacity, not to mention some of them are available with an extra spool. However, they don’t perform very well with heavier line.
Here are the 3 best spinning reels available:
KastKing Crixus Spinning Reel
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This spinning reel from KastKing has a rigid frame made from graphite and is very lightweight. Besides, it offers many features like a carbon drag, Maxidur ball bearings and a Zinc drive gear, at a very good price. This spinning reel is the best you could get if you don’t want to spend that much.
Sougayilang Ultra Smooth Spinning Reel
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While the least expensive in the list, the Sougayilang Ultra Smooth Spinning Reel is just what its name says: super smooth. More than this, it offers a lot of power and features a 13+1 ball bearing system with instant anti-reverse.
Daiwa BG Saltwater Spinning Reel
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This expensive spinning reel from Daiwa is very solid and comes spooled with braided line. Its housing is made from anodized machined aluminum and it features a 6BB + 1RB bearing system. It’s easy to use and packed with the best features an angler would want from his or her spinning reel.
KastKing Brutus Baitcasting Fishing Reel
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The KastKing Brutus offers great value for money and is the best choice when you’re on a budget. It also has a 4-ball stainless-steel bearing system plus an instant anti-reverse bearing.
Set the Drag on Your Reel
You can’t use your reel properly if you don’t know what the drag is and how to set it. The drag is the mechanism allowing you to set the resistance felt by the fish when it pulls on your line. When the drag is tight, the fish feels more resistance. Don’t set the drag too tight because your line may get over stressed or break.
Conclusion
Regardless of your fishing experience, there surely is the right type of reel for you. Look at what your rod works with and decide on something that’s comfortable to hold and offers long-distance casting. This way, you’ll get to really enjoy the fishing experience and catch something worth your efforts.
