Spinning reels are easy to use, right? Surely it won’t make much difference depending on which one I use, will it? There’s not much point in doing research into what ones are the best, is there? These are commonly asked questions by beginner fishers, and they often fall for the answer that there’s no point in investing in a proper spinning reel.
There’s a lot of different aspects to a fishing rod which all add up to completing the perfect fishing tool, and the reel is one of the most important. It’s therefore vital that you do the proper research into the subject and purchase the best spinning reel for your fishing style. Spinning is a tricky business, but a high quality reel can go a long way to helping your ability. That’s why we’re here to tell you why it’s worth investing in a high quality spinning reel.
Spinning reels have been around for well over 100 years now and have turned into one of the most popular in the fishing industry. First appearing in North America in around 1870, they were originally developed to allow the use of artificial flies, or other lures for trout or salmon, that were too light in weight to be easily cast by bait casting reels. Fixed-spool or spinning reels are normally mounted below the rod; this positioning conforms to gravity, requiring no wrist strength to maintain the reel in position.
For right-handed persons, the spinning rod is held and cast by the strong right hand, leaving the left hand free to operate the crank handle mounted on the left side of the reel. Invention of the fixed-spool or spinning reel solved the problem of backlash, since the reel had no rotating spool capable of overrunning and fouling the line.
So what should you be looking for in a high quality spinning reel, and why should you purchase one?
One of the first things you should look for is an instant anti-reverse handle. High quality reels tend to have these installed, and they can prevent a lot of problems. If you can move the handle of your reel backwards even a little, it can create a lot of issues for your fishing. This can prevent a powerful and accurate hook set, greatly reducing your success when you’re out with the rod. These kinds of problems occur when you don’t purchase a high quality reel, and you should be aiming for no play whatsoever when you stop reeling. A proper spinning reel will avoid this, giving you the greatest chance possible of attaining a high level of fishing.
A high quality spinning reel will also give your line a smooth, easily adjustable drag. A smooth, high-quality drag system is essential for a good spinning reel. The drag system should let out line in a smooth, seamless manner, without pulls and jerks as the line goes. If it jerks and stutters like a car with a bad transmission, it may not be the right choice of reel you’re looking for, and this is the type of problem fishers with poor reels come across. Making sure you purchase a proper one will erase any chance of this occurring.
Spinning reels made with more quality also tend to come with the perfect amount of ball bearings installed. These ball bearings have the simple task of reducing friction between the moving parts in a reel, but below-par reels often come without the adequate amount to do so. That’s why you need to make sure you invest in high quality spinning reels; you’ll have a much smoother fishing trip overall.
Most experts tend to recommend buying a reel with as many ball bearings as you can afford, but the typical magic number tends to be five. This gives you a good level of smoothness while keeping the reel affordable, but if you have a bit of cash to spend then you can always purchase a reel with as many as eight or ten ball bearings.
You also need to ensure you purchase a spinning reel with a good gear ratio. Gear ratio is the amount of times the bail rotates around the spool during one rotation of the handle, and it’s really important you get this sorted correctly before you go fishing. If you are using lures that need fast retrieves, a higher gear ratio is recommended. A 4:1 gear ratio is considered slow, while a 6:1 is considered fast. For a good all-around reel, go with something in the 5:1 region. Keep these tips in mind and you’ll find the perfect spinning reel for your specific fishing needs.
So what are some of the high quality spinning reels you should look into purchasing? We’ve listed some below.
One reel you should check out is the Shimano Stradic HG, Freshwater Spinning Fishing Reel 1000. Shimano tend to be better known for making components for bicycles, but they’ve incorporated that technology and knowhow into making some of the best fishing reels around. Spinning reels do tend to be cheaper than their baitcasting counterparts, but with this one coming in at over £100 you’ll have to have a pretty serious ambition when it comes to fishing; after all, there’s not much point in spending that much on a reel if you’re only going to use it once or twice.
They come in different sizes of increasing price, but you get your money’s worth with the reel itself. It’s really tough and resilient even in the most difficult fishing conditions, and its casting and retrievals have been described as some of the smoothest around. This reel is also suitable for both freshwater and saltwater fishing, so if you’re willing to spend a little bit more than usual then this could be the perfect reel for you.
Other high quality spinning reels you should research include the Shimano Stella FJ 2500 Spinning Reel, the Penn Clash CLA2500 Spinning Reel and the Daiwa BG 3000 Spinning Reel. If you want to check out more fishing reel reviews, click here.