Spin Fishing Reels Guide

Spin Fishing Reels Buying Guide

     Spin Fishing Reels are the best known and most commonly used fishing reels around. When it comes to performance and being easy to use, the spinning reel is the best option for particular techniques and light-line applications. Fishing technology is getting more advanced all the time.  This makes the choice of the best reel much more difficult. In this guide, you will find advice for picking the best spinning reel, which will let you enjoy seasons of easy-casting fishing.

     As opposed to baitcasting reels, spinning reels have more parts.  You will want to choose a less complicated reel so you can avoid any possibility of breakdown.

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     Manufacturers use plastic, aluminum, and graphite when making reel bodies. Graphite housing bodies may not be as strong as aluminum, but they are much lighter. You must decide if you want strength or weight.  But you should choose aluminum if your fishing tends to be punishing or heavy duty. If you will be fishing in saltwater, you'll want graphite due to its ability to resist corrosion.

     You will also want your reel body to be constructed solidly, without any fragile or loose parts.  Every moving part should perform smoothly, without any back play.

     It is difficult to choose the best reel size. A ten-pound test line is the strongest and thickest line that should be used for fresh water fishing with a spinning reel. It's different for heavy trolling and fishing in saltwater.

     With a lighter line, you should get a smaller reel. The reel should be rated for the pound-test line that you're going to use.  You can find this information on the reel spool.

     Eight-pound-test is a good average strength if jigging for walleye or smallmouth. So you want a medium reel, rated for a test line of six, eight, and ten pounds.

     The number of full revolutions made by the spool with one crank of the handle is the gear ratio. For instance, a ratio of 3:1 means that for every turn of the handle, the spool will turn three times. This reel is considered slow because during the cranking process, less line is "picked up." The advantage of this is that you will get more torque for large fish. A ratio of 6:1 is a high-speed retrieve. Whether you want a slow, medium, or high rate of retrieve depends on your style of fishing.

     You should go for a medium speed reel (4-4.5:1) if you can only get one. But if you're willing to pay for more than one, get one slow and one high speed type for versatility.

     The drag system is a very important part of the spinning reel. The drag is what applies pressure to the hooked fish. During the fight, it lets out line. You  need a good, smooth drag so that you don't break lines and lose fish. Make sure that you buy a reel with a non-constrictive and smooth drag. Whatever tightness you set, the line should pull out smoothly and steadily.

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