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A fishing reel is a device mounted on the butt
(handle) of a fishing rod that holds the fishing line. It is used
for casting and retrieving the fishing line. It has been noted
that the earliest
fishing reel is depicted in Chinese paintings around 1195 AD and the
first fishing reels appeared in England around 1650 AD.
Types of Fishing Reels
There are many different types of fishing reels and each reel is
designed to be used for a specific type of fishing. For the
beginner, choosing the correct fishing reel can be a bit confusing.
Hopefully this page will help.
Buying a Fishing Reel.
If you are a beginner or new to fishing I suggest when buying a
fishing reel, as with buying any fishing tackle, take a fishing
friend with you. You will already know what style of fishing you
will be doing so will know the type of reel you need. The hard part
is choosing the right one. This is where your friend and of course
the tackle shop owner will help. Sort out a budget that you can
afford and check out the reels within this range. When looking at
reels compare them closely. Just because its made by a well known
manufacturer does not mean it is the best. Turn the handle and check
for smoothness. Generally speaking the more bearings a reel has the
smoother the action.
Fixed Spool Reel (spinning reel)
Fixed spool reels are also known as Spinning reels. These are
probably the most used fishing reel of all and the easiest and
simplest to use. This makes them a good choice for beginners just
starting angling and are suitable on almost waters.
Casting can be a bit tricky and takes time to learn but with
practice you will get it right.
You will no doubt have a few mishaps but stick at it. We all mess up
sometimes even after years of fishing !
read how to cast using a fixed Spool reel
 1:
Pick up or bail arm
2: Reel seat
3: Reel foot
4: Handle
5: Support arm
6: Anti-reverse lever
7: Skirted spool
8: Fishing line
9: Drag adjustment knob
Centrepin Reel
The Centrepin reel is ideal for trotting on rivers and is the main
reel used for fly fishing.
 Casting with a Centrepin reel is done by stripping line off the reel
before casting. When coarse fishing / trotting, strip off line equal
to the distance you want to cast and fish, bearing in mind that centrepins
are not long casting reels. Try to cast your rig only as far as the
line stripped off the reel. Then let the current pull line off the
reel as it takes your float downstream.
In fly fishing there is a special technique involved when casting
with a
Centrepin reel. I'm not a fly fisherman and for me to try and describe this
casting technique would be almost impossible. To learn how
to cast when fly fishing I suggest you have a lesson with an
instructor.
Hywel
Morgan, fly casting instructor, has produced a DVD on the various types of fly casting.
see website for
preview.
Multiplier reels
Multiplier
reels are used for baitcasting, sea angling and in casting
competitions.
 In the right hands, this reel is brilliant and well known for its
ability to cast a baited rig well over 100 yards and in casting
competitions longer distances of 200 yards or more.
This is NOT an easy reel to learn to cast with but worth the trouble
learning how to.
When casting with a multiplier reel the spool rotates as line is
pulled off by the baited rig. If the spool turns too fast, faster
than the line is being pulled off of the spool, the dreaded birds
nest tangle occurs. Some multiplier reels are fitted with a braking
system which slows down the spool during casting which prevents the
spool over turning. These are well worth a look at. |
