How to Pick a Reel for a Fishing Rod

Fishing is a sport that has been enjoyed as long as mankind has lived near water. There are few hobbies that can match the excitement of having “the big one” bending your rod and fighting at the end of your line. Choosing the right reel for a fishing rod is the best way to ensure that your fish won’t get away.

Experience Level

There are two types of reels available. The first is a baitcasting reel, and spool holding the fishing line moves when a line is cast or reeled in. The second is a spinning reel, and the reel remains stationary while the line uncoils during casting or coils during retrieving, or reeling in. Baitcasting reels have the reputation of the dreaded backlash, which is when the line continues to spool out after a cast due to the force of the cast. Backlash can easily cause a line to tangle, creating a “bird’s nest” that has to then be cut off the line. It takes a bit of finesse to thumb a baitcasting reel to reduce backlash. Spinning reels can also create a bird’s nest, but it is not as common as with the baitcasting reel. Usually, spinning reels are easier for beginners to use.

Rig and Bait

Certain fish are attracted to specific rigs. A rig is the combination of lures, bait and hooks that anglers use at the end of the fishing line. Some rigs are meant to attract fish at the surface of the water; some are for fish at the bottom, in weeds or anywhere in between. The weight of your rig is one element that will dictate which reel you should choose. A spinning reel is ideal for light rig combinations, while a baitcasting reel is the right choice for bigger, heavier rigs that catch bigger, heavier fish. Because heavier rigs work better in rough conditions, baitcasting reels are also ideal for wind and rough water.

Your Budget

Spinner reels are more versatile in allowing a right- or left-handed cast and retrieve, so one reel can be used among many. As a general rule, spinner reels are cheaper. A baitcasting reel is usually for right-hand use, and it cannot be switched. A left-hand baitcasting reel is not as readily available, so this option would cost more than the already more expensive standard baitcasting reel.

Gear Ratio

The gear ratio of any reel is the amount of time the line spools back on the reel for every complete turn of the handle. Some rigs are meant to be retrieved in a slow fashion while others require more action. A lower gear ratio, such a four rotations of the reel for every one rotation of the handle, or 4:1, will reel in slower with less line spooled in per handle rotation. The higher the gear ratio, the quicker the line will reel in. Your reel’s gear ratio should match the type of fishing you want to do.