Spinning reels: what are the types, how to choose a reel

Spinning fishing is fundamentally different from other types of fishing, as its result depends on the skills of the spinner, as well as on the elements of gear. The effect of fishing depends on how correctly all the elements of gear are selected. This is the only way to get maximum pleasure from fishing, otherwise you can expect a lot of problems and some inconvenience. The thing is that the spinning player makes a lot of casts, and he travels long distances in search of fish, and these are loads both on the hands and on other muscles. At the same time, it is worth paying attention to both the spinning itself and the reel with fishing line, as well as the bait. If all of them meet all the requirements, then the spinning will work absolutely flawlessly, and most importantly, it will catch fish.

All elements of tackle are important, but the coil is the most responsible node. Why? Everything is very simple. The coil is designed to perform certain functions. Her device is quite complicated, since she has to turn the forward movement of the fishing line into a rotational movement to wind it on a spool. The outcome of all fishing depends on the reliability of this mechanism. Therefore, it is very important to choose the right coil so that it works quietly and without jerks. This is especially true in relation to beginner spinners who are just starting to master the technique of spinning fishing.

What are spinning reels

3 types of reels, which are known to spinningists today, are widely used. These are the coils:

Inertial

Although this type of reel is considered obsolete, some spinningists still use them when jig fishing. They explain this by the fact that inertial coils make it possible to make tackle more sensitive, which allows timely detection of bites. During wiring, spinningists fix the fishing line with their fingers, so bites are immediately felt by them. Of course, inertial coils have one, but a significant disadvantage: it spins by inertia even when the bait is at a given point. Therefore, the task of the spinner is to stop its rotation in time. If this is not done, then the fishing line is easily tangled, and fishing may end there. Fishing with this reel requires special skill.

Inertialess

They are very popular among anglers, as they are installed both on spinning rods and on other fishing gear. Its use does not require special practice: after the first casts, it is really possible to master the casting technique and carry out various types of postings. These types of reels are produced for various fishing conditions, different sizes and various materials are used. The spinning reel is very easy to use. Before casting, it is necessary to fold down the line-laying bracket and press the line against the rod with your index finger (fix). After that, the bait is cast. When the rod is at a certain point (somewhere at an angle of 45 degrees), the line is released, after which it begins to unwind from the spool under the weight of the bait and the acceleration given to it. The heavier the lure, the farther it can be cast. When the bait hits the water, the line-laying bracket is returned to its original position. After that, wiring is carried out. The spinning player begins to wind the line on the spool with the rotational movements of the handle, and the line layer allows you to do this carefully.

Multiplier

Such reels are also called sea reels, as they are designed for catching big fish. These are quite powerful reels with a long casting distance and line reeling speed. Recently, experienced spinningists have increasingly begun to install them on spinning rods. How much is right – it’s up to them. But this type of reel also requires experience and is not suitable for beginners. When mastering the wiring technique, it is not necessary to have a cool, expensive coil.

What to look for when choosing a coil

To choose the right spinning reel, you need to know what characteristics they have.

If you take experienced anglers, they already know which reel to choose for specific fishing conditions, but for beginners, this can be a real problem. As a rule, they do not understand why their spinning does not catch fish. Having no experience, they choose the reel at their own discretion, often without paying attention to its characteristics: they think that the more expensive the reel, the better it is.

When choosing a spinning reel, you should pay attention to:

• On the smoothness and ease of rotation of the mechanism.
• On the size of the spool, depending on the conditions of fishing.
• On the weight of the reel, since you have to keep the tackle in your hands all the time.
• On the line laying mechanism, on which the quality and distance of the casts depend.
• On the material of manufacture, on which the durability of the product depends.
• In the presence of frictional harassment.
• On the shape and method of attaching the handle.
• On the shackle of the stacker.

Smoothness and ease of movement of the reel

Such characteristics have a serious impact on the outcome of fishing, as it allows you to easily and correctly control the bait and evenly lay the line on the spool. Incorrect laying creates problems during fishing, as it is possible to tangle the line during casts, and this will not make it possible to cast the bait far and accurately, which is important.

The spool mechanism during operation should not create extraneous noise, as they are transmitted along the line to the bait and can alert the fish. The smoothness of the spool is also important, so be sure to check it by running your finger along its side. If there are even the slightest notches, it is better not to buy such a coil.

Spool and spool size

The size of the spool depends on the size of the reel and vice versa. The size of the reel indicates its ability to withstand certain types of loads: the larger the reel, the greater its power, which means you can catch big fish with it. Each spool indicates how much line and how thick it fits on the spool. The size of the reel is marked with the numbers 1000, 2000, 3000, etc. At the same time, it is easy, even by these numbers, to determine how much and what kind of fishing line fits on the reel. For example: a reel with the designation 3000 holds 100 meters of fishing line, 0,3 mm thick, or 300 meters – 0,1 mm thick.

For catching small predatory fish, for example, perch, it is enough to have a reel with the designation 1000-2500. You just need to choose high-quality coils. Reel sizes from 3000 to 5000 are more suitable for difficult fishing conditions when you have to catch large specimens of fish. Larger reels are rarely used, as large fish are found in the seas and oceans.

Coil weight

The weight of the reel plays a very important role, since the spinner has to keep the rod in his hands all the time. The lighter the reel, the less stress on the hands, which means more comfortable fishing. But here, as they say, there are pitfalls. The lighter the coil, the weaker it is, since such a coil is made of light, not durable materials. But if this material is light, but strong, then such a coil can cost a lot of money. For non-professionals, this is a matter of principle, since sometimes fishing turns into a rather expensive hobby. As for professionals, they prefer light, expensive, branded reels so that they do not let you down at the most decisive moment. For amateurs, this is the golden mean: you should not take a cheap one for fundamental reasons, and an expensive one is simply not needed.

Line laying mechanism

Spinning reels can have one of two line laying mechanisms: with an endless screw or with a stage.

Both mechanisms, made of high quality, allow you to evenly lay the fishing line, without the formation of furrows and humps.

There are 2 types of line winding: straight and cross. The straight-line winding ensures tight and even laying, while holding more line on the spool. But this winding has its drawback: neighboring turns often cling to each other, which affects the quality of casting.

Cross winding is deprived of this disadvantage, but less fishing line can fit on the spool.

In addition, rectilinear winding can be cylindrical, in the form of a direct and reverse cone. With a cylindrical method, the cord is laid parallel to the spool, and in the case of a reverse and straight cone, at a certain angle.

Material for the manufacture of the main elements

The material of manufacture affects the quality and durability of the structure. Inexpensive coils are mainly made from the same inexpensive and low-quality materials. As a result of the active use of spinning, such a reel will last for two seasons, but if it is not possible to get out fishing often, then it simply does not make sense to buy a serious reel.

Expensive coils are made from light but strong alloys such as titanium, aluminium, bronze, brass and durable polymers. As a rule, such products serve for a long time, and the operation of the mechanism is uniform, light, without extraneous sounds, but they also cost accordingly.

Friction brake

A friction brake is an element that takes place in almost all reel designs, but spinningists do not always use it, since it is not always possible to catch big fish. However, it can be front or rear.

The front clutch is said to be smoother and more sensitive than the rear clutch, but the rear clutch is easier to adjust. In addition, the rear drag reel is easy to repair and can be easily replaced with a new one, along with the spool.

The work of the friction brake is evaluated by the smoothness of the line release.

Handle attachment types

The shape of the handle in the reel can be any, since this factor does not have a special effect on the fishing process. Despite this, designers are always working on the outer shape of the handle. At the same time, it can be attached in various ways, for example:

• The handle can simply be screwed into the reel frame.
• Can be attached with a screw.
• Can be fastened with a rivet.

Any type of attachment has its advantages and disadvantages, but this does not affect the fishing process in any way. If the handle is fastened with a screw or screwed in, then it is better to pay attention to the size of the thread: too fine a thread wears out quickly, as it is easy to rip off.

Shackle

There are no special requirements for its device, since its task is to ensure the correct winding of the fishing line (or rather, it must ensure that the fishing line hits the roller accurately) and the correct blocking, and a clear opening, and fixation. When buying a reel, it is better to inspect the shackle of the line-layer for the presence of burrs. Burrs significantly affect the durability and strength of the fishing line.

Other Features

In addition to the basic data, there are other indicators that you should pay attention to. For example, the gear ratio, which indicates the number of revolutions of the spool with one turn of the handle. On this basis, coils are divided into three types:

• Power. With a gear ratio of about 4.0-4.7.
• Universal. With the number of revolutions from 5.0 to 5.5.
• Expressways, providing the number of revolutions within 6.0-7.2.

This factor should be paid attention to if the conditions for catching fish are far from optimal. As a rule, power reels are designed for catching large individuals, while high-speed ones are more suitable for ultralight spinning rods.

If we talk about beginner spinning players, then a universal type is more suitable for them. While the spinner learns to feel the tackle, a lot of time will pass, so such products will have to be used for a long time.

The number of bearings is just as important, as bearings provide smooth running as well as product durability. At the same time, a high-quality reel can have only 4 bearings, and a low-quality one can have all 12. It all depends on the integrity of the manufacturer and his responsibility to buyers.

Manufacturer. This is also worth paying attention to, despite the fact that branded coils are somewhat more expensive. Although there are pitfalls here, but eminent, well-known manufacturers value their brand. As a rule, such coils differ markedly in quality, smoothness and durability, although you can easily buy a fake. This is especially true for Chinese products, which may simply be a copy of a well-known model. For beginners, this is not so important, because they can easily ruin an expensive and high-quality thing.

Coil selection by test

The rod and reel are either sold together or separately. In both cases, it may turn out that the choice was not made quite correctly, and the tackle does not work as we would like. Therefore, you need to know how to choose the right reel for your rod. It’s no secret that depending on the fishing conditions, the spinning rod is selected according to the test.

So:

• Spinning rods with a test of 10-12 g require a reel of size 2000, no more.
• If a rod with a test of 10-30 g, then a reel of size 2000-3500 will do.
• For spinning rods with a test weight of more than 30g, it is better to take reels of size 4000-5000.

If you are guided by such characteristics, then choosing the right reel for spinning is not difficult. This is especially true for beginner spinners.