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If you're a smart Fishwrench reader, you went out and bought yourself that perfect fishing rod - the one that is right for you. If you're an even smarter Fishwrench reader, you probably bought a
Bass Pro Shops
Bionic Blade; after all, it's the only rod recommended by the Fishwrench staff. If you're less than a smart Fishwrench reader, you haven't done a darn thing yet. Fear not, it's not too late. Hit
Bass Pro Shops
and type in keywords 'bionic blade' - you'll soon be on your way to quality rod ownership.
With rod in hand, it's time to outfit it with the perfect fishing reel. There are three types to consider, but only one will work on that new rod of yours. Baitcasting, spinning, and spincasting reels all provide good fishing for very different fishermen under very different conditions.
Generally speaking, baitcasting reels are often reserved for the more advanced fisherman. With practice, anyone can use them, but they do provide their unique challenges. The biggest challenge is with the spool. Of the three types of fishing reels, the baitcaster is the only one with a "free" spool. The "free" spool of the baitcaster uses the weight of the lure to spin, and tear line out at amazing speeds. This helps to increase casting distance, and enables pinpoint accuracy, but it comes at a cost of snarls, tangles, and bird nests. On a big cast, or when a lure hits something (i.e. water, tree, side of boat, fishing buddy, etc.) before the spool stops spinning, a colossal amount of line will begin to wrap around the spool, entangling in a nightmare of twisted monofilament. In many instances, the only recourse to correct the problem is to start cutting away at the line, wasting pressure moments on the water, and keeping you out of the fish zone. It sounds as though this makes the baitcaster a less than ideal reel, but that's not the case at all.
As mentioned earlier, the spinning spool of the baitcaster can provide for remarkable casting distances, and because of the speed the line comes off the reel, bullseye casts are easy to achieve. In addition to these benefits, baitcasters also have immense power and strength. The forward facing spool acts like a winch when fighting the toughest of fish. How often do you see a winch mounted on a Jeep sideways? You don't - they always point straight ahead.
Speaking of sideways mounts makes for a great opportunity to discuss spinning reels. These reels are ideal in many fishing conditions. Because the spool never spins, but rather a bail winds the line around a spool, they're perfect for light line and lure applications. This is due in part to the fact that line is simply falling off the spool when the bail is released. Weight in a lure is not required to propel a cast, but rather the mere act of the cast alone is quite enough. Without a spinning spool, tangles and snarls are easily thwarted. However, the spinning reel does have its drawbacks.
Although proficient at avoiding tangles and bird nests, the side winding of the spinning reel causes monofilaments to have a rock-solid memory. After just a few days of being spooled, mono lines will begin to twist into a springy mess, creating a whole new type of tangle. I've had this twisted line wrap itself around rod guides, the reel handle, and even twist up right on the spool. If it can wrap around something, it will. One tip for alleviating some of this is to get your hands on a can of Reel Magic. It can be used to lubricate lines, reducing the amount of memory. It's not perfect, but it's better than using nothing at all.
Spinning reels also have a limited casting distance; a direct result of a spool locked in position. This may keep you out of the perfect target, and out of the strike zone. It is important to point out, however, that great strides have been made in the castability of these reels, and many can be cast further than a low-end baitcaster. With that in mind, it's easy to see a spinning reel is a great choice for the novice to intermediate fisherman.
The third and final type of fishing reel is the spincaster. Like the name signifies, it is a combination of both the baitcasting and spinning reels. Much like the spinning reel, the spool sits sideways, but the similarities end there. Cousin of a baitcaster, the spool of spincaster does revolve, but a sideways mount slows the line down. Different from the baitcaster, there is also no need to try to stop the line before the lure reaches the water when using the spincaster. It's almost fail-safe, making it an excellent choice for first time and beginning fishermen. Often weak in construction and limited in line capacity, upgrading should be done as soon as it's apparent you're going to be fishing more than once a year, which happens to also be the replacement period for reels of this type.
Being familiar with the various types of reels, it's now time to look at reel options to ensure you're purchasing the absolute right one. When you walk into your favorite tackle shop, or thumb through the Bass Pro catalog, you'll find yourself dazzled by buzzwords like gear ratio, ball bearings, instant anti-reverse, and drag systems. Each has its place when selecting a reel.
Without my physics book handy, I have a difficult time explaining gear ratio, except to break it down to its most simple element. The lower the gear, the more power you have to fight a fish. If the gear ratio is high, your lure comes back to you faster, but you won't have as much power to fight with. A good middle of the road gear ratio is 5.3:1. It provides good balance between fighting power and lure speed. It can also be fished slow enough to handle a plastic worm, or other slow moving bait. Other gear ratios can get down to 2:1 or up to 6.2:1 - even higher depending upon the application. These reels are generally for single purpose use and fish. For the average fisherman on the hunt for multi-species of fish at any given time, the best bet is a middle of the road 5.3:1 ratio.
Much like the rear end of short-tracker, there are not only gears in a fishing reel, but ball bearings as well. These are what keep a fishing reel spinning smooth. The more ball bearings, the smoother the reel is going to be. This isn't particularly important in spinning reel, as there is no moving spool to try to keep smooth. The ball bearings have more of a direct effect on the handle and bail. Bearings are more important on a baitcaster, and this is where you'll want to spend extra money. The more ball bearings you have in a baitcaster, the smoother the reel will be, and the faster it will free spool, meaning longer casts for you.
As always, there is one caveat. I use Abu Garcia's Ambassador C3 reels almost exclusively. In there you will find only three ball bearings aiding the spool. However, the C3s are solid performers, and almost bullet proof. And at they're lower price, there's not reason to spend the extra money to get into a reel with more ball bearings. I have yet to be disappointed by my C3s under any fishing condition. They're dependable, just as good as the high-end reels, but without the bells and whistles. In my mind, that's a good thing - the fewer "extras", the fewer things that can break.
Probably one of the most important features to look for in a reel, especially spinning reels, is instant anti-reverse. This stops the reel handle, bail, and/or spool from going backwards at all. The last thing you need when trying to set a hook into a world record fish is for your spool to slip backward, giving your monster slack line. Slack line equals lost fish. Before purchasing a reel, try to spin it backwards. If it has any give at all, put it back on the shelf and look at another one. You'll be glad you did.
I know you're eager to get your new rod and reel put together so you can hit the water, so without "dragging" on, I'd like to touch on one last item - drag. Drag is your friend...it keeps your line from breaking by letting your line "slip" a little bit when under too much strain. Without drag, there would be much fewer stories of big catches to tell. It keeps a local moron from making a big fish-fighting blunder.
When taking reel drag into consideration, find a placement that you feel is easy for you to get to - something you find comfortable. Spinning reels have a few different placements of the drag dial, even amongst a single manufacturer. Abu Garcia is known for its Center Drag model where the dial is located just behind the bail. Because of its large size, it's easy to turn during a fish encounter, and it's easy to use with cold wet hands. Another style is a front mounted drag. You'll find a knob that turns much like an egg timer, often difficult to reach in the heat of the battle. Rear drag makes for a nice placement, and is easy to use. Look for dial at the rear-most appendage of a spinning reel. With a simple twist, drag can be set in either direction at anytime. Almost all baitcasters use a star-drag system mounted next to the reel handle, so this is one less option a baitcasting reel user needs to worry about. Drag placement is all about personal preference. Find a placement you are comfortable with, and stick with it. There's nothing more bothersome than trying to find a drag on the front of a reel, when it's on the back.
Gear ratios, ball bearings, instant anti-reverse, and drag - the options are limitless. Combined with three basic reel types, picking the right one can seem like a difficult task. With a goal in mind of becoming a better every-so-often angler, I would look to the spinning reel. It can be used in multiple applications, and only that of the cheesy and unreliable spincaster surpasses its ease of use. Stick with a middle of the road gear ratio, and find a drag placement right for you, and you'll have a reel you can use for years to come.
Happy Fishing,