posted by Alex on Jan 14
continued from “What Kind of fly Line Do I Want?”
So you’ve figured out what type of fly line will work best for the type of flies you’ll be using. You’re probably getting ready to throw your coat on and head up to your local fly shop, or to go to your favorite fly fishing retailer’s website to buy a rod. Step away from the wallet! Before you get a rod, you’re going to want a reel to hold that line.
There are many fly reels to choose from. The main differences will be price, arbor size, what it’s made from, how it’s made, drag type, drag adjustment, required maintenance, warranty, backing capacity, etc.
The first thing you’ll want to figure out is how much you’re willing to spend on a fly reel. You can spend anywhere from $15 to $750, and sometimes over $1000, on a new fly reel. If you can’t, don’t be intimidated into thinking you need to spend a week’s pay to get a good reel. Many of the reels on the lower end of the spectrum are fully capable of giving you what you need while fishing.
In-Shore Freshwater
If you’re a freshwater only angler who doesn’t fish for Salmon, Steelhead, or Carp, chances are good that you’ll never see your backing. Most freshwater fish such as Bass, Trout, Pike, etc., don’t take long runs, and most of the runs they do take, will happen while you’ve got a pile of line at your feet. Since, for the most part, you’ll be stripping the fish in, and using finger pressure, (holding the line against the rod, or between your fingers), for drag on these fish- your drag will rarely be tested. I prefer a large arbor reel in the $50-$100 range for these types of fishing.
In-Shore Freshwater, as well as Salmon, Steelhead, and Carp
If you plan to do a lot of in-shore, freshwater fly fishing, plus trips for Salmon or Steelhead, or if you plan to target Carp- you will face fish who take long powerful runs, or several short, powerful runs. This is where having a reel with a reliable disc drag comes in handy.
A few things I look for in a disc drag reel are:
Price- it’s gotta be within my budget
Arbor Size- How much backing do I need? I don’t have any freshwater reels with more than 150 yards of backing on them, and even 150 is probably overkill.
Drag Smoothness- I like a drag that doesn’t take a lot of force to start unwinding the line. Then once the line is coming out, it should feel smooth.
Drag Adjustment- I look for a reel with an easy setup for adjusting the drag. The adjustment on the reel below is that knob in the center of the spool. It’s easy to find, easy to feel, and audibly clicks as I tighten or loosen the drag.
Saltwater
Saltwater fishing is a whole different animal. I’m no expert on saltwater gear, but a few a few things you’ll want to consider are that some saltwater fish take substantially longer runs than most freshwater fish. So make sure you have a good drag, and load up on backing. Another key consideration is corrosion. Whether the reel you choose is corrosion resistant or not, you’ll want to thoroughly rinse it with freshwater after each day it’s used- that includes your drag. Some guys like a sealed drag where the working parts of the reel are sealed from salt, sand, etc. Then you have guys who prefer a non sealed drag because you can get at the reel’s guts to clean them out.
Now, let’s go find a fly rod to go with our line and reel
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