How to Choose the Perfect Fishing Reel for Your Needs

The quality of equipment greatly influences the success of your angling and the size of your catch. It is the reel that determines the range, speed, and accuracy of your bait casting, the smoothness of reeling in a fish, the probability of line breakage, and in general the overall comfort of your angling. There are many models, many of which are specifically designed for different angling styles. They differ significantly from each other in technical parameters. However, it is possible to highlight general recommendations for fishermen when choosing a reel.

What are the different types of reels?

In the classic classification, there are Spinning, Spincast, Baitcasting, Trolling, Fly, Electric, and other types of reels. They are customized for specific fishing conditions/techniques/species of prey. Depending on the type, the model will differ in these parameters:

• Size/weight. For example, baitcast are often larger and heavier, as they are mostly used to catch large predators that put up powerful resistance. Fly reels, on the other hand, are usually the lightest, as they do not have complex mechanisms inside. At the same time in each line, there are more/less massive models. For example, there are very compact Ultralight Spinning Models, with which light lures are perfectly combined;
• The type of line laying. For example, Spincast models are most recommended for beginners, because the body is closed and the process of laying the line is 100% automated. With baitcasting, you have to do it manually. This provides greater accuracy, but can cause difficulties for beginners;
• Gear ratio. So in Fly Reels, it is absent due to the peculiarities of their design, and Baitcasting, on the contrary, has the widest range;
• Techniques that can be used. The most universal ones are Spinning ones, while Fly reels are narrow-profile;
• Availability of additional mechanisms/features. Baitcasting has the most complex customizable braking systems, while Spincast is controlled by a single button;
• Price. Spincast are as simple as possible and their main target audience is newcomers, so they are often considered budget-friendly models. Whereas Baitcast is a professional equipment, so the price is higher.

How to decide which type of reel to buy?

To determine which reel is right for you, consider some basic questions: 

• What is your skill level?
• What style of fishing do you plan to do?
• Where are you gonna hunt?
• What is your budget?
• What kind of fish are you targeting? 

If you’re ready to learn complex techniques and setups, and your goal is to catch large ocean prey, a baitcasting model is the better choice. If you are a beginner, want maximum simplicity and are willing to sacrifice power/accuracy, then a budget spincast reel is ideal. In the case of specific fishing techniques, you should take narrow-profile equipment. For example, Trolling Ice Fishing/Fly reels, and so on.

Signs of high-quality reels

Regardless of the type of gear, pay attention to these things before making a purchase:

• Quality of materials. They should be strong and wear-resistant, a plus will be lightness + corrosion protection (some models have special coatings). Popular options: aluminum/magnesium alloys/carbon fiber. Good bearings are often made of stainless steel/ceramic;
• Quality friction. It should work smoothly + be powerful enough. Its elements should be resistant to heat;
• Suitable gear ratio. Study the power/speed ratio. Universal options: 5.2:1-6.2:1;
• Good balancing. This will determine the accuracy of casting and the overall convenience of fishing;
• Number of bearings. These affect the smoothness of the reel’s operation. The more bearings, the smoother the reel, but this also influences the price.

The best selection of Reels in the Fishmak store

In our store, you will find a huge range of angling equipment. We have all kinds of reels made of high-quality materials at nice prices. For example, you can find lightweight fly fishing reels under 100 from us. We are anglers ourselves, so we offer our customers only tested and quality equipment. Explore our assortment and make a quick order.