Fly Reels

Choosing A Fly Reel

Once you have selected a fly rod it is time to find the right fly reel to accompany the rod. A fly reel is not just storage space for the fly line. Your rod will help you fight the fish you have hooked, but the reel will help keep you from losing the fish.So, you will need to consider a quality reel.

A high quality reel can cost a lot of money, but a quality reel will last a long time. The cheapest fly reel will cost less than fifty dollars and it will work if you are only fishing for small trout or fish. You will want to choose a reel that is resistant to corrosion. A quality reel will be more resistant than a cheap one. Another feature to consider will be the procedure of adding an extra spool, so you can put a extra sinking or intermediate line on it, for a quick change.

There are a few different types of reels to enable you to pick the right one for your needs, consider the retrieving method and material.

The retrieval system of the fly reel is not extremely important for freshwater fishing. For saltwater fly fishing, say for bonefish, it becomes more of an issue. The retrieval system is how the fly reel retrieves the line and how fast it retrieves it. For most small to medium size species of fish, you might play the fish by hand and may not even use the reel retrieval to fight the fish.

The single action is the first type; it is the most popular of all the retrieval systems and the most durable. With this reel you turn the handle one full rotation which will turn the spool as well.

The multiplying reel is the second type of retrieval system. The system combines a group of gears so one turn of the fly reel turns the spool itself more than on turn. The line will be reeled in much quicker.Because there are more moving parts involved with the use of this reel, it runs a greater risk of breaking.

The automatic fly reel is the third retrieval system. Some die-hard anglers do not like automation of the reel. They feel as if some of the challenge has been taken away. The automatic fly reel help in controlling the line. With this system the line is reeled in with a push of a button. The automatic fly reel is heavy and not as durable as the single action because of the motorized system inside the reel. They also don’t hold as much backing as other reels and does not allow you to set a changing degree of drag. They may be useful for people with disabilities or injuries.

Drag refers to the resistance applied to the reel spool. This helps you maintain control of the fish by not allowing it to strip the line away too quickly. You want to maintain enough slack in the line to allow the fish a short distance, but if you give him too much line, you will lose control by allowing the fish to go anywhere. On the other hand, if you have the drag set too tight, you run the risk of fish snapping the line or the tippet.

Some anglers as well as holding the line for tension, put pressure on the rim of the spool, just like a drag system. The palm of fingers can be used depending if it is an open spool and the strength of the fish.

As an angler, you will have the choice of two different types of drag systems. The spring-and-pawl fly reel is the traditional drag system, but it is not perfect for most fishing situations. If you are using light tippets, the spring-and-pawl fly reel is the best for the situation. There is no jerk or uneven tension, if you are using a quality spring-and-pawl fly reel. The line is pulled very smoothly.

If you have a large fish on your line and the fish starts pulling out fly line at a rapid speed, the tension will normally increase and decrease suddenly. If you are using a light tippet, the sudden increase in the tension will part the tippet and your fish will be gone. Although a spring-and-pawl fly reel was designed for very large fish, they don’t work as well on the large fish as the newer disc-drag system fly reel.

The newer disc-drag system fly reel is the second type of drag system. The materials used in this type of fly reel cause them to perform as a brake on a car would. The drag adjustment on the fly reel adjust the pad inside the fly reel to move up or down, which applies more or less pressure to the fly line. The only problem with the disc-drag fly reel is the unevenness of the tension is increased when compared to the spring-and-pawl fly reel. The better quality reels are smoother.

Another important issue is the weight and balance of the reel. If it is not balanced right and too heavy, it will feel like a ton of weight after fishing for several hours.

Prices of reels can range from less than twenty dollars to thousands of dollars. They can be made from aluminum or titanium and probably several other types of material in between. The more expensive reels are made with the more expensive material.

Also, the fly reels that are saltwater proof have a hefty price tag on it, but just because the fly reel is expensive doesn’t mean it is saltwater proof. If you have plans to use your reel in saltwater, you must have a reel that has protection built in to the reel. Reels that are not protected by a protective coating will seize up because of corrosion. Fisherman that fish regularly in saltwater rinse their reels in clean freshwater after every use, even if the reel has been coated with a protective sealant. When salt water dries, it dries into crystals which adhere to treated or untreated metals.

Although the fly reel is not as important as the fly rod, it is important on playing and landing the fish. When choosing your reel allow not only for the size of the fly line but allow enough backing room. Make sure you attach backing to the fly line, in case you get a big one. It would be a bit embarrassing to have a good size fish on and it runs all the fly line off the reel and you don’t have any backing on. This has been done before and is an expensive exercise of losing the fish and fly line! Whoops!

Most reels will state what size fly line they hold, but may not allow extra length of backing line. It might be wishful thinking, but it doesn’t hurt to put extra, extra backing on. Tie the backing to the reel as well. With backing on the reel, the fly line will not reel out in small circles making casting more difficult.