What You Need to Know About Fly Fishing Reels
Fishing has been popular as a vocation and as a sport for centuries. In recent years, one type of fishing has surged in popularity: fly fishing. Fly fishing has a specific set of techniques to learn. These techniques require timing and precision and therefore a lot of practice. As a result, buying the right equipment is a high priority.
Most anglers agree that different types of fish and conditions require different reels. Those factors are important in fly fishing, along with the style of the angler. Because the fisherman the fishing rod , reel and line need to work in perfect timing with each other, selecting the right fly fishing reel can make the difference between a great fishing adventure and frustrating one. The following are some factors to consider when purchasing a fly fishing reel.
What’s the Action?
Notice I said “What’s” the action,” not “Where”. In this type of fishing, action doesn’t refer to where and how the fish are biting, but to how many times the reel spins when the handle is cranked. There are two types of action: single and automatic.
Of the two, the automatic fly reel is the more complicated. This reel possesses a catch mechanism which reels the line automatically. One turn of the “handle” results in two or more turns of the spool, which allows for fasting casting and winding. Conversely, the single action is fairly simple with a spool, crank handle and a drag system. One crank of the handle equals one turn of the spool. Single action reels also come with a drag system, which isn’t found on the automatic.
What a Drag
So, now you’re wondering what drag is and if it’s important. The answer depends on your style, experience and the fish you want to catch. If you are going after big fish, like steelhead, having a drag system could be helpful. These fish are large and are going to take your line and run with it. While this can be thrilling, it also makes it more difficult to land the fish. A drag system puts more pressure on the fish, making it harder for the fish to run with the line.
A drag system isn’t necessary, but if you’re a novice, it could be helpful for landing a big fish.
2 Purposes for Your Fishing Reel
The fishing reel has two purposes: to store the fishing line and to make that line accessible to the angler. How quickly and easily the reel makes that line accessible is called the “play”. Before you purchase a reel, be sure you understand how the reel plays out the line.
Reel Steel
Reels are made from a variety of materials. The type of fish want to catch can dictate which material you should choose. For example, if you’re fishing in a stream for trout, you may want a lightweight reel made from graphite. If you want to land a bigger fish, or fish in brackish or saltwater, you’ll need a corrosive-resistant material, like steel. Steel can also handle the strain of large fish.
