Spinning reels are one of the time tested and most durable, versatile, and popular fishing reels on the market today. They were first develop in the 1870s and at the time were called open faced reels. The beautifully simple construction of these reels makes them a snap to use even or beginners. A spinning fishing reel is a reel that has a fixed spool and a mechanical line that is used to bring in the line once cast.
To operate a spinning reel all an angler needs to do is open the bail, the movable part which holds the line in the reel, while holding the line with his finger. When he is ready to cast, the angler lets go of the line at the right point to let the line fly out of the spool. Then, when the angler goes to reel the line back in to make it taut, the bail is automatically flipped down, trapping the line and allowing it to be reeled in.
Finding the Best Spinning Reels
There are several manufacturers that make very good quality and durable reels. The most prominent manufacturers are Daiwa, Pflueger, Quantum, and Shimano. However, a good reel doesn’t necessarily need to cost you an arm and a leg. To find the right reel for you there are several things you need to keep in mind. These are the amount of ball bearing in the reel, the position of the drag, the size of the spool, rod you own, and the fish you are stalking.
A Spinning Reel
Probably the biggest factor in what sets a quality spinning reel apart from other is the amount of ball bearings it has. The more bearings the better because it minimizes the play in the reel. Play is the amount of time it takes between when you start reeling until the reel actually starts bringing the line back into the spool. With no play the bail will immediately turn and bring your line back. This can be a matter of personal preference, but most anglers will want a rod that is more responsive to their actions.
The position of the drag setting dial is also important on a fishing spinning reel, but this is mostly a matter of personal preference. The drag dial can either be set on the top of the spool of the spinning reel or on its heel. One spot is not better than the other, but most people will prefer one setting to another. Figure out what works best for you so that when you go to buy an expensive reel you know what you want.
Two more important things to consider when searching for the right reel are the size of the spool and the size of the rod that you will be using. Generally, the larger the spool you can use, the better. With larger spools, you won’t have to respool as much and you can get better casts because the line will come out more fluid instead of in small, tight coils.
You also absolutely need to match your reel to your rod size. Reels will always have a size on them, classified as ultralight, light, medium, or heavy. You want this weight to match the weight of your rod for best performance. By doing this you can also buy your rod and reel separately instead of buying a combination set which will sometimes come with slightly mismatched or lower quality parts.
Finally know where you are fishing and the fish that you are going after. If you are going to be fishing for trout, you should most likely be using ultralight gear. However, if you are going to be fishing for pikes, largemouth bass, or any other larger predators you should be using heavier gear. Judge this based on the average size of the fish in the location you are going to be doing the majority of your fishing at. If you are planning on fishing the open oceans, make sure that you get a saltwater fishing reel. These are mostly made of aluminum or graphite and will hold up to the corrosive forces of saltwater and sandy conditions better than normal reels will.
Cleaning Spinning Reel Parts
At the very minimum, you should clean your reel once a year to get the maximum amount of performance and extend its lifetime. This is especially true if your reel gets lots of wear and tear. Luckily, this is a fairly easy process. All you need are a few clean towels, a screwdriver, and a can of WD-40 or some other lubricant.
The first step is easy, remove the reel from your rod and take off the handle. Take a paper towel and wipe your entire reel clean to remove any dirt and debris that may have accumulated on its exterior. Next you need to find the four screws that hold the reel plate to the rest of the reel. Remove these and remove the plate. Take special care to put the screws somewhere where you won’t lose them. Once this is done, find some Q-tips and remove all the dirt and sand from the inside of the reel. Now that your reel is completely free of any foreign substances, add a small amount of WD-40 or another lubricant to make sure that everything is turning smoothly.
There you have it, your reel is cleaned and in top condition for the coming fishing season. All that’s left to do is put the plate back and screw the screws and your handle back in.
Finding the right spinning reels doesn’t have to be a costly or time consuming experience. With just a little bit of research and time spend in your local tackle shop you can find the perfect reel that matches you, your rod, and the fish that you will no doubt catch with your brand spanking new gear.
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