As soon as you choose your fly rod, your next step will be picking out a fly reel. Although you might have heard that fly reel isn’t such a big deal when it comes to the fly fishing equipment, that’s not completely true. In fact, its quality is crucial when a big fish tags onto it. Then, you’ll realize that a fly reel is actually one of the most important pieces of your angling equipment. For that reason, I’ve gathered some tips on finding the best fly reels for your own angling needs.
Contemporary fly reels aren’t there just to hold the line. If you find the right reel, it can help you angle smoothly, balance the rod and, eventually, catch the big fish. Therefore, consider these tips when buying your next fly reel.
- Fly reels come in 2 types of drag systems: the spring-and-pawl and the disc-drag. Although both of these mechanisms make excellent choices, disc-drag fly reels are easier to find and somewhat more popular. If you’re buying a fly reel for all-around use, you won’t make mistake no matter which drag mechanism you select.
- Opt for a rust-proof fly reel. Fly fishing means a lot of water and moisture, so your fishing equipment needs to be made of non-rusting parts if you want it to last.
- If a fly reel costs under $30, chances are it’s cheaply made inside. The quality of a fly reel is essential, as I’ve already said, because if the drag isn’t even, it is going to break down very soon. Luckily, a good quality fly reel doesn’t cost a fortune; if you spend just a few bucks more, your fly reel could last for decades.
- When it comes to the retrieval systems, there are 3 types: the automatic, the multiplying and the single action fly reel. I would highly recommend a single action fly reel. Multiple retrieve and automatic fly reels are great for saltwater fishing, but if you’re using your fly reel for freshwater fly fishing, a single retrieve fly reel will make a better choice.
- Don’t forget to match up the weight of your fly reel and fly line. Don’t rack your brain about it; if you’ve bought a 4-wt line, opt for a fly reel (and fly rod) designed for 4-wt line and you won’t go wrong.
- When ordering your fly reel, make sure you order a spare spool too. Sooner or later, you’ll need it and, chances are, the type of spare spool you’d be looking for would be permanently sold out just when you need it badly. It’s happened to the most experienced anglers and that can be irritating, so don’t let it happen to you too.
- Right or left hand? The answer is not as simple, since there are no strict rules. Also, common reels are easy to convert from RHW to LHW. It’s, nevertheless, a good idea to set up all your fly reels the same way (once you realize which one works best for you).
Most amateur anglers choose the cheapest fly reel they can find. First of all, they don’t have enough money to invest in a piece of equipment they really don’t know a lot about and, in addition, a fly reel appears to be unimportant because it only holds the fly line. As soon as a fly reel fails them for the first time, they realize its importance. Don’t be among them; follow above mentioned tips and enjoy your fly fishing adventure.
