How to Buy a Fly-Fishing Reel

The reel is what gives a fly fisher control of the fishing situation. When deciding which reel to buy, be sure to match your reel to your specific fishing needs.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Fly-fishing Wading Jackets
• Backing/fly-fishing
• Bobbin/fly Fishing
• Fishing Fly Box
• Fishing Fly Kit
• Fly-fishing Flies
• Fly-fishing Leaders
• Fly-fishing Lines
• Fly-fishing Nets
• Fly-fishing Reels
• Fly-fishing Rods
• Fly-fishing Vests
• Waders

1. Consider that reels are sized for the line being used, so think of the type of fishing you will be doing and what line you will most often carry. Some reels come with replaceable spools so that different types of lines can be exchanged - you can carry both floating line and sinking line for the same reel.
2. Evaluate the different types of reels. With single-action reels, one crank of the handle equals one rotation of the spool. They are simple to use and can be very light. Multiplier reels allow one turn of the handle to equal more than one rotation of the spool. The multiplier reel is heavier and more prone to malfunction.
3. Look, instead, into buying a reel with a larger arbor (the center of the reel). You'll find that when you are reeling in a fish or casting out your line, you will need fewer rotations to achieve the same amount of line retrieval.
4. Think about the drag system (resistance placed on the line) you'd like to use. Most of them are adjustable. The most common is a spring-and-pawl, where pawls mesh with a gear under the pressure of a spring and the drag is increased or decreased by a knob on the outside of the reel. Disk drags, where two disks rub against each other, are superior drag systems. They provide greater stopping power and have lower start-up friction - which may keep you from breaking your tippet (part of the line that connects to the fly).

Tips & Warnings

• If you are fishing in saltwater, get a reel made out of brass so that it won't corrode.