There are two methods to adjust the drag on a spincast reel, depending on the model. The side of the reel can be augmented with a 'star drag', which uses two fingers to operate and is usually large and easy to see. Alternately, there can be an internal mechanism which is controlled by a wheel that sticks through the cover of the reel. A plus sign or a minus sign on both sides of this drag control wheel explain which direction to spin the wheel to control the amount of drag. Reel makers usually put this drag wheel where a fisher's thumb can conveniently operate it while they're reeling in a fish. Don't settle on one kind of reel without going out and trying both systems of drag control.

     The Daiwa Goldcast Spincast Reel is on sale now through this Amazon Link.

     Gear ratios on spincast reels read something like 4.3:1 or 2.6:1. The first number in the ratio expresses the number of times the line is wound around the spool for the number of turns on the left side of the ratio. A gear ratio of 2.6:1 would wind your line 2.6 times around the spool for each crank. Likewise, a spincast reel with a 4.3:1 ratio can be turned once for the line to wind 4.3 times around the spool. The higher this ratio reads, the quicker the line is wound back after a cast. Low gear ratios might be slower, but they're also more powerful, not unlike the gear ratios in a vehicle. Spincast reels have a fairly narrow range of gear ratios, unlike spinning or baitcasting reels, with numbers usually spanning 2.5 to 4.5:1.

     Spincast reels also tend to carry less line than other reels, usually housing around 80 to 120 yards of line, but this is a number which changes with the exact diameter of the reel and the type of line you're using. A spincast reel will usually already have the line pre-spooled inside of the reel. Occasionally, reels will feature spools that are interchangeable, allowing anglers to switch out lines quickly as the need arises.

     Like all reels, the more ball bearings your spincast reel has, the better. More ball bearings means a smoother operating reel, and spincast reels usually include up to six ball bearings.

     More fish are annually reeled in by spinning and spincast reels than any other kind of reel because of their ease of use, their availability and their low price. Spincast reels are excellent tools to teach your kids how to fish because they're so easy to use - but they're not just for kids, either!