Spincast Reels Guide

Spincast Reels Buying Guide

     Spincast reels are probably responsible for more caught fish across the United States than any other make of reel; they're not difficult to use, and they're relatively cheap in comparison to a majority of the other models that are available.

     Unlike baitcasting reels, which have been popular with fishers throughout the world, spincast reels don't have an annoying backlash problem. These baitcasting reels can create a huge mess of tangled line if the angler doesn't apply the perfect amount of pressure to the line while it's being cast. Inventors sought an answer to this problem, and found an answer in 1940 when they created the spincast reel. In the history of rod-and-reel fishing and freshwater fishing, the spincast reel was the most important innovation ever made.

     The Zebco 202 Spincast Reel is on sale now through this Amazon Link.

     The troublesome tangle of line can't form, as the spool that contains the line doesn't spin, or move at all. When one casts the rod, the fishing line is uncoiled from the static spool with the weight of a lure, and through a hole in the reel. The line stops unspooling as soon as the lure meets the water, so the line can't unspool too much, and it won't backlash.

     In order to unwind or rewind the line from the spool, a spincast reel will feature an easy lever or button that can be depressed with a thumb. When pressed, the lever or button will cause take-up pins to retract inside of the reel and allow the fishing line to move freely off the spool. When the reel's handle is cranked, the take-up pins snap back into place within the spool. Cranking the handle will additionally reset the pins and the rotating spool cover so that the fishing line can be wound back into the reel.

    Line retrieval can be speedier if you use a model with multiple take-up pins. One-pin reels are known to have a slight delay, as the one pin needs to turn around completely to reset itself and allow for rewinding action. Remember to apply constant tension on the fishing line while reeling it back in, as this will insure that it will spool evenly and consistently, which makes for a better unspooling later. You can apply this tension by holding the line between two fingers while you crank the reel's handle, especially with lighter lures that don't have too much drag of their own.

     Fishing with a spincast reel is as easy as pushing a button. Hold down the button as you bring the rod behind you to make a cast, and release the button as you cast forward to allow the line to unspool. Baitcasting rods are fitted with these button operated spincast reels, while spinning rods are fitted with trigger operated reels, also called 'triggerspin' or 'underspin' reels. They're attached to the underside of the rod similar to a spinning reel and are operated as a pushbutton reel, though pressure from your finger needs to be held until the moment of the cast. If you want to pick up spinning gear and drop your baitcasting rig, or if you have a kid who wants to make the switch away from spinning reels, an underspin is a cheap and efficient way to make the change.

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