The Different Types of Fishing Reels and How to Use Them

02 Mar 2023

fishing reel placed on a boat's stern

Fishing reels allow anglers to cast their lure or bait at fairly large distances while fishing in large rivers and even fish in the deep waters of the ocean on their offshore fishing boats. Another main use of fishing reels is they let the fish reel in once you make your catch and then the reel lets the anglers successfully retrieve their lures at the end.

There is a whole variety of types of fishing reels, each of which contains unique features, characteristics, and uses. Anglers typically choose their fishing reel based on what fishing style they are going for as well as where they stand in terms of their fishing experience.

Here are the common types of fishing reels used by anglers:

Spincast

The Spincast reel is recognized as one of the easiest reels to use making it the perfect real for outfits designed for beginners and children. The primary reason behind that is how easy and convenient to use this reel. This reel has a cover or closed face keeping all the essential parts of the reel protected. It is also quite an inexpensive type of reel and requires a minimal investment. This reel is an ideal option for catching fish in freshwater habitats. You can catch small salmon, trout, channel catfish, and bass. The only possible downside of this reel is that it is ineffective for targeting heavy fish or long-term usage.

To use the reel simply press down on the thumb button on the back during your forward cast peeling the line out. Once you let go of the button, the line will stop peeling out making it easy to control. The only downfall of the reel is that the design costs you distance and accuracy. Thus, if you want to become an extreme angler this type of reel isn’t for you.

Baitcasting

Baitcasters is one of the most advanced fishing reels and can be extremely difficult to control if you’re not an experienced angler. The design of the reel is made solely for accuracy and not for usability or easy casting. Thus, practice makes perfect when using this reel. Baitcasting reels are the most powerful fishing reels, hands down. They can handle heavy lines and produce a lot of pulling power, making them a great option when you’re chasing larger fish. Baitcasters also allow you to feel the line as it’s going out, so you can stop it exactly when you need to.

Last but not least, bait casters are highly customizable. Whether you’re pulling out bottom fish from heavy cover, or doing drop shots for Bass, this reel can do it all.

When casting, you must keep the spool under control or it will turn into a nest of lines. This is done by typically providing a bit of pressure to the spool with your thumb. You should not use this reel with really lightweight lines but rather heavier lines and lures. Overall, you should be a very experienced angler before using a baitcasting reel.

Spinning

The spinning reel is the most popular reel used by anglers of all levels because of its superior open-faced design. This design adds the versatility you need while providing exceptional usability and accuracy. The design enables the spool to have excellent line capacity and is easy to exchange lines when needed. However, this reel is usually not built for heavier lines. Spinning reels are an immensely capable piece of fishing equipment. They work equally well with lures and smaller baits and are a good choice for some species and habitats. Combined with thin, powerful braided lines, they can produce some serious pulling power, too.

To cast with a spinning reel, you just disengage the bail and squeeze the line against the rod with your index finger to prevent it from unspooling. Next, swing your rod from the side or overhead. As you do, release your index finger around halfway through the motion. Aim the tip of the rod where you want the bait to land, and voila!

Fly Fishing

As the name suggests, the fly-fishing reel is one of the most vital gears for fly fishing. It gets this unique name because the lures used in this type of fishing often look like a bug or a fly. Although these reels were originally designed to catch trout fish mainly from streams and creeks, they are now used to catch all types of freshwater and saltwater fish. A fly-fishing reel offers great accuracy when making a cast and is perfectly suited for fly fishing because this type of fishing requires the angler to be extremely precise when casting the line to their desired spot. They’re lightweight, basic, and generally very affordable.

When using this reel, you have to remember that it’s all about building up power with something called a back cast. You’ll have to manually pull the line off the reel and hold it in your hand. You’ll then quickly cast over your head or to the side opposite where you want to cast. Do this quickly and powerfully and the rod will generate energy that will snap it back in the opposite direction which will be your forward cast.

The next time you hop on your plate boatto catch a particular fish species, you already know what fishing gear and equipment to use to ensure a successful catch!

 

Do you have any suggestions for new boating or fishing topics? Or do you want to promote product deals or reviews related to all things boating? Fill out the form below to suggest a boat story, submit a boat review, or announce a promotional deal.