Fishing reels have made the fishing process much easier. Indeed, with the help of this invention it is possible not only to conveniently store fishing line on the tackle, but also to perform a number of important functions that affect fishing technology. Actions such as casting equipment over long distances, controlling the progress of the bait when making retrieves and retrieving a caught trophy, manipulations associated specifically with the use of a fishing reel. For various fishing methods and, accordingly, the gear used for this, manufacturers began to produce specialized equipment that has certain performance characteristics that meet the requirements of the fishing process.
Today, every angler has ample opportunities to choose the types of reels needed for hunting conditions. The mechanisms, in addition to their functional features, also differ in price and are quite an affordable accessory for purchase, regardless of the angler’s income. Using a fishing rod and reel is not only convenient, but also practical. After all, the accessory saves time on assembling gear, can be configured to a specific distance for feeding the bait with a clamping clip, and through an adjustable brake and clutch, it will prevent the loss of equipment when hooking and fighting a large trophy.
The fisherman only has to correctly decide how to choose a fishing reel for the planned gear and fishing conditions, and having solved this problem, he can only enjoy the fishing process and enjoy the catches. It is about solving the problem of choosing an accessory for a fishing rod that this article will talk about.
Types of coils
Fishing reels today are classified into three main areas. Mechanisms, based on the principle of their operation and structure, are divided into inertial, inertial-free and multiplier types. The functions of each type are identical, the only differences are in the operating characteristics of the product, as well as in the technique and techniques for performing certain operations by the fisherman.
Simple inertial coil
The simplest in design and operating principle are inertial models. The operating principle of this type of accessory is based on the inertia of the mechanism’s drum spinning up from the force of casting the bait. In addition to the drum for storing fishing line, the mechanism of the product is equipped with a brake stopper, which serves as a dead stop for the unwinding mechanism. This function is not involved in the fishing process and serves only for the convenience of moving and storing gear.
Important! The braking of the inertial reel drum during the fishing process is carried out by the fisherman by pressing the rotating part of the mechanism with his finger.
Working with inertia requires a certain skill and preliminary training in casting bait and braking the drum.
Multiplier models
The multiplier reel for fishing, the prototype of which was the inertia reel, is gradually replacing the classic type of mechanism. After all, its device, although it has become more complex, has simplified the process of feeding bait and regulating the course of the fishing line using a friction clutch. In multis, there are no problems with tangling the cord or so-called beards, and you can learn how to work with this product in a couple of test throws.
Inertia-free inexpensive reel
The inertia-free system has become one of the fundamental elements of any equipment. Innovative solutions on the principle of dropping the line from the spool and the use of toothed gears to increase the gear ratio when winding up the lines have made the accessory an indispensable part of the spinning, feeder, match and Bolognese fishing directions. A finely tuned friction brake and a baitrunner function for preserving gear from loss add advantages to this type of reel and comfort for the angler in catching a trophy.
Best match reels
How many people, so many opinions. However, pure match reels are sold in limited quantities in some cities, so we will present the most common successful designs.
Aero GTM
This model is considered the champion among match reels; its manufacturer is the Japanese company Shimano, which produces several other similar modifications.
The spool is large in diameter, has a comfortable elongated shape and smooth running. The only drawback is the high price.
Syntec ST 330
The model is simpler and cheaper; the disadvantages include the bearings not always working correctly.
A smooth-running reel on three ball bearings, with very good friction brake performance and easy bail release.
ABRA 304, 404
Inexpensive models from Mikado are now in particular demand because they are of good quality and reliability.
If the above models are expensive for you or are inaccessible due to lack of availability in stores, then you can use ordinary spinning reels, only with a low side and the widest possible spool.
General requirements for reels for float rods
Reels for fishing rods for summer fishing do not have any special requirements for their traction force, gear ratio and the number of additional functions associated with braking systems. Float fishing does not overload the mechanisms either during casting or during manipulations with landing the caught fish. Therefore, for equipment they take the simplest product with the presence of three bearings in the transmission mechanism and an ordinary clutch, without step settings. As a rule, they buy a miniature-sized and inexpensive reel for a fishing rod. The size of the spool and its capacity do not play a special role. After all, using relatively small diameter monofilaments for storage does not require much space.
Important! One of the most important factors of the product is its low weight.
Match and Bologna fishing in their technology imply constant work with gear and excess weight during such actions will be a clear inconvenience. A clutch with different levels of settings is ineffective for delicate fishing with lightweight rigs, and in rare cases, trophies on float rigs exceed 2–3 kg in weight. Consequently, the functionality of the braking system is reduced to simplified parameters, which make it possible to save the equipment only in critical cases and most often the hook.
Spinning reels
Inertialess reels are characterized by universal properties , which has led to their widespread use. Their design is such that during casting the line does not experience any resistance (hence the name), and this allows you to achieve a high casting range of the bait.
The complexity of the device requires constant care in order for the product to retain the functionality intended by the manufacturer for a long time. Usually 1-2 scheduled cleanings and inspections per season are enough.
When talking about the design of a spinning reel, be sure to mention such a detail as the spool . It has a cylindrical shape and is designed for laying fishing line on it . Fixed to the product, the spool is not a rotating part. When casting, the fishing line falls off in rings, which eliminates the presence of resistance when unwinding.
To ensure that the line does not fall off the spool, a line guide is provided. The shackle and the pass ring are the main elements of its design.
Spool and clutch
The spool has a direct influence on the choice of “spinless”. Its size and how much fishing line it can hold determines which reel the fisherman will choose. Depending on what kind of fish and under what conditions you plan to catch, the diameter of the fishing line and the footage you will need for fishing will depend.
On “spinless” motors, the manufacturer indicates the following type of marking: 0.1:150, 0.2:150, etc.
Expert opinion
Knipovich Nikolai Mikhailovich
Zoologist, hydrobiologist. I am interested in fishing at a professional level.
Important! The first value means the section, and the second - the footage. The fisherman himself will select the appropriate fishing line thickness for the planned catch. Depending on the weight of the bait, the casting distance can also fluctuate, so you also need to pay attention to the second value.
Another feature that these types of spinning reels have is a friction brake or simply a friction clutch. It is designed to prevent line breaks if a large specimen is caught on the hook.
The clutch regulates the tension force of the fishing line , after exceeding which it will smoothly lower the fishing line from the spool. Thus, if the fish is too large and can break the line when jerking, then the clutch will avoid this and keep the catch and gear intact. Each section of the fishing line has its own strength limit and it is desirable that the force on it does not exceed 2/3 of this value.
Daiwa Megaforce 1500A
A development by engineers from the Japanese brand Daiwa, which is lightweight (270 g) and has excellent balancing.
“Inertia-free” is characterized by a smooth ride, which is achieved thanks to bearings in the amount of 5+1 pcs.
The location of the friction brake is front, gear ratio 5.3:1. A spinning reel for catching medium and small fish. The product is in the middle price segment.
Ruobi Zauber CF
Another masterpiece from Japanese manufacturers, known on the world market since 2004.
The product material is lightweight and high-strength titanium alloy. Anodized coating of the mechanical components of the product, as well as its elements. The result is high reliability and long-lasting attractive appearance of the Ruobi Zauber.
It is also a high speed reel as it has a 5.0:1 gear ratio. Precise computer balancing of the components ensures silent and reliable operation of the product under any load, including critical ones. The line lays perfectly, which eliminates the formation of beards and loops jumping off.
Main characteristics
The main performance characteristics of this fishing accessory include the capacity of the spool, the gear ratio of the gear mechanism and the pulling force of the product.
Spools must have volumes that allow storage and unhindered release of the required volume of cord in a certain diameter. As a rule, the spool is filled with a remaining free volume up to the upper edge of the element of about 3 mm . It is precisely this filling of the volume that guarantees easy-to-execute and at the same time long casts without uncontrolled cord coming off.
The gear ratio synchronizes the number of handle revolutions with the number of spool revolutions. Products with a high gear ratio with one turn of the handle make a five-fold turn of the spool, which increases the speed of winding the line. The traction force is also based on the specific operation of the gear shafts of the product, which, during reeling, allows it to withstand the resistance of struggling fish, preventing the line from spontaneously coming off. The more bearings there are in a product, the more complex and reliable the operation of the mechanism, but at the same time, these improvements significantly make the structure heavier.
Important! For float rods, three bearings are sufficient, which will provide all the criteria for this method of fishing.
Equipping a float rod with a reel
It is up to the fisherman to decide which reel to choose for a float rod. The choice should be made based on the type of fish that needs to be caught, the place in which the vertebrates live, and the funds of the owner of the float.
Sometimes, after purchasing new spare parts, fishermen are faced with the problem of rigging a fishing rod. By following the recommendations below, everything should turn out at the highest level:
- The reel is secured in the following way: the fastening nut is unscrewed, moved aside and a new element is inserted (between the stops), after which the nut is screwed into the reverse position.
- It is best to wind the fishing line around an already installed element; a premature procedure can lead to twisting of the material.
- The line should go all the way to the end of the reel spool. To do this, the free end is pulled through all the rings, starting with the top, smallest one.
- The resistance should be strong, this will ensure an even, not twisted line.
Whatever reel the fisherman chooses, he must install it correctly on the float rod and use it carefully, otherwise it will be very difficult to achieve a good result.
Regardless of the type of reel, it must be installed correctly on the fishing rod.
Do you need a reel on fly and plug rods?
It is worth noting that a fishing rod and reel is not always effective in terms of practicality of fishing.
It all depends on the method of fishing. For example, Bolognese and match fishing tackle, without exception, is equipped with a lightweight meat grinder, while at the same time, a plug fishing rod never uses reels in its equipment, no matter what type they are. The very design and technology of fishing in this way excludes the presence of this accessory, because equipment of a certain size is tightly attached to the fishing rod blank, and, if necessary, completely replaced with new, differently configured mounts.
The issue of equipping fly fishing gear with reels remains controversial among anglers. The principle of operation of the tackle also does not require a large storage of fishing line, and installations for such hunting are, as a rule, fixed and do not require radical changes in feeding distances. At the same time, during ambush and wait-and-see fishing, when the rod does not have to be held in your hands, and most of the time it is located on a stand, the presence of reels definitely does not affect the comfort of work. So the choice of equipment for a fly rod may vary from the preferences of the angler based on some of the fishing features. Sometimes in such situations, the fly blank is equipped with an inertia, similar in size to an ice fishing reel.
Bolognese fishing reel
Hunting with Bolognese tackle is a very mobile fishing method, which places special demands on the weight of the equipment set. Regular recasting of bait, reeling out the line to catch fish and change bait, as well as adjustable retrieves keep the angler in constant tension and movement.
With this fishing technique, heavy tackle quickly tires the fisherman’s hands, forcing him to take frequent breaks and stop casting, therefore, this creates the preconditions for wasting time and reducing the effectiveness of the catch. Based on these considerations, spinning reels for Bolognese fishing rods are chosen with the lightest weight, with bulky plastic spools and the same lightweight body with the presence of a rather rough adjustment clutch, the location of which on the front or rear of the accessory has little effect on the conduct of the fishing process.
Match fishing and reel selection
The technology of match hunting differs from bologna in the long distance of bait supply.
Match reels even visually differ from other types of mechanisms by the presence of a forked handle at the end, which allows the floater to reel in the tackle much faster. For the match, products are made with a high gear ratio of the mechanism, and such accessories also have spool design features. These features include low profile. The low side of the part allows you to wind a small amount of thin monofilament onto the spool without the use of substrates for the base or so-called backing among anglers. And even when casting, the low profile gives the advantage of unhindered escape of thin lines when feeding light rigs. It is these design improvements to the mechanism that provide the prerequisites for high-quality float fishing at long distances with match fishing rods.
Tackle for match fishing
Rods
For those who do not know what match fishing is, it is very simple to explain its difference - the current rods for this type of fishing are descendants of the well-known folding bamboo rods . Most match forms are also assembled literally on the shore using the plug-in principle, when the rod links are inserted sequentially into each other, and thus the desired length is achieved.
True, there are solid , with them there is less hassle on the shore, but their transportation presents certain difficulties, so they are very popular among lovers of such forms.
The main task of match fishing is long-distance, so-called sweeping casting, preferably to a given place. A telescopic Bolognese fishing rod is not very suitable for this fishing technique, but a match rod, and even on the open bank, is just right.
Match fishing is float fishing, but the technique of casting gear is very similar to spinning. And spinning fishermen themselves sometimes use these types of short rods, although quite rarely, because a large casting range is achieved through light and thin fishing line, which is not always suitable for spinning fishing.
fishing line
Match fishing is usually done in still water, so there is no need to worry about the current affecting the fishing line, but it must be sinking . Match line is usually monofilament (for the sake of strength), but not quite ordinary. Fishermen know that monofilament usually does not sink. special monofilament is produced for mast fishing .
On its packaging it says: sinking line , which means sinking. To make it sinkable, the manufacturer coats the fishing line with a special compound.
The diameter of the main line for this type of fishing should be 0.14 - 0.20 mm , the leader - 0.1 - 02 mm.
Coil
Most often, such tackle is inertialess .
Its main purpose is to provide convenience and efficiency for float fishing over long distances (from 20 to even 100 m), so over time these reels have turned into a separate type, which we will talk about in more detail in the next section.
How to choose a reliable fishing reel
Despite the relatively low requirements for the performance characteristics of the mechanism, when purchasing a fishing accessory, you need to pay attention to some structural features of the product, which, in cases of defect or poor quality, can radically interfere with the productive fishing process and deform the rest of the equipment.
Sellers of fishing equipment are guilty of supplying our market with low-quality, mostly Chinese, goods that do not even meet the low standards for the mechanism required in float fishing. When choosing a product, visually inspect the housings of the mechanisms for the absence of cracks and gaps between the connecting parts and their elements. The presence of play in connections and looseness in the clamping of fastening screws indicates low quality of the product.
When choosing, pay special attention to the spool and reel drum. The surfaces of these elements must be smooth, without abrasions, roughness or nicks. The edges are checked for cracks and burrs. The presence of these defects, even in small quantities, will definitely deform the fishing line and prevent comfortable casting of the equipment. The handle of the mechanism in a working product rotates evenly without slipping, braking or various kinds of extraneous sounds. Don't forget to check the friction brake. To do this, you will need to throw a piece of fishing line onto the spool and adjust the brake, followed by tensioning the cord.
Important! With excessive pulling force, the clutches should smoothly release the cord from the rotating spool with a characteristic crackling sound.
Finally, the reliability of the threaded connection is checked, which is important for types of spinning-free fishing reels, drive shaft and spool. The nut should fit tightly on the thread, and when assembled, the spool should have no play relative to the mechanism body and no free play when the line handler is closed.
Popular models
A fishing reel will last a long time if the purchase is made from a well-known and time-tested manufacturer. In addition, when purchasing this accessory, original products have a warranty period, which the seller will remind the buyer about during the sale and in the event of a breakdown, which happens quite rarely with branded products, he will organize a replacement or free repair of the failed part.
Shimano Rarenium 3000
Giving recommendations for the selection of mechanisms, we will introduce the most famous global companies in this field, which primarily includes Shimano. The brand presents an extensive line of inertial and spinning reels for various types of fishing gear.
- For example, the match Shimano Rarenium 3000 , although a relatively expensive fishing reel, but its service life of ten years will recoup all the initial financial costs spent on it.
- The equally well-known global brand Mikado is not inferior to the previous company in terms of quality and width of the line of all kinds of fishing reels. The ACE MATCH 4006 FD model is popular for float hunting .
- Floaters are also popular with accessories from Japanese Daiwa. The products of this company are distinguished by budget prices and excellent product quality. Particularly worth paying attention to is the Daiwa DF Cat 100 . Easy to maintain and operate, the accessory will last through intense float fishing seasons, even without annual technical events.
The reel models of the companies presented above can be a good example for selecting products from other lesser-known manufacturers, but practical experience in using this high-quality product will allow the angler to feel not only the comfort of fishing, but also gain confidence in his own abilities.
Popular varieties
If you are looking for a simple reel for a fishing rod, then it makes sense to pay attention to the classic inertial version in the form of a small drum. This tool can be used for boat fishing, and for coastal, and for standing water, and for intense currents. By the way, the reel is ideal not only for fly tackle, but also for lapdogs, which is due to its small size and light weight.
The base is made of metal, and the diameter of the spool is 3-7 cm. Of course, such an invention will not cope with a large trophy; the lack of a clutch will not allow you to gradually release the line and successfully retrieve the prey, but for catching small and medium-sized specimens of the “white” Fish will do just fine.
Another option for an inertial coil is the wired model. Unlike the previous version, it combines stronger and more complex materials, which make it a powerful tool for fighting real giants. The most elite designs are equipped with a spool on bearings, which is useful for fishing in currents. The principle of operation remains extremely simple, consisting in throwing a hook with bait into the water and then waiting until the current finally unwinds the line. When choosing such a reel, you need to pay attention to the smooth running and the absence of extraneous crackles, noises and other sounds.
Multipliers are also a popular type of reel. They represent a primitive, but quite high-quality modernization of inertial models, which are in demand among fans of spinning and trolling fishing. Multiplier products have maximum sensitivity, while they can cope with the heaviest loads, which is superior to inertia-free ones. Also, their weight remains minimal, and the casting range is much higher. However, unlike inertia-free models, multipliers require proper handling and adherence to certain techniques.
As for the design features , they consist of the following mechanisms:
- in the line counter;
- in the spool braking mechanism;
- in the gear ratio adjuster.
The structure is placed on top of the rod, which increases the sensitivity of the tackle and makes it easy to detect even the weakest movements of the fish. Among the disadvantages are difficulties in setting up.
How to equip a fishing rod with a reel
A fishing rod and reel should feel like a harmonious and balanced fishing tool to the angler. For mounting on gear, all types of mechanisms have a special bracket, the so-called mounting leg, the dimensions of which must correspond to the clamping grooves on the butt of the rod.
Immediately before installation, the grooves are moved apart using a threaded worm gear and the accessory bracket is inserted into them. The bracket must fit into the grooves without interference or obvious play. After installation, the grooves are brought together, applying adequate force to tighten the clamping mechanism. The installed accessory is checked for play. If they are present, the connection is pressed. Having installed the reel, proceed to installing the fishing line. To do this, it is pulled through the passage rings of the tackle and, using a self-tightening loop, and with the line handler open, it is tied at the base of the spool. The next operation is winding the fishing line.
Important! It is carried out with tension on the cord, which ensures tight application of dense rings to the base of the spool and relative to each other.
The tension of the cord is done by hand or by pushing the winding line through the pages of a heavy book. The handle of the mechanism is turned slowly, stopping the process to visually control the laying of the turns, which should not overlap each other.
Read more about the technique of winding fishing line on a spinning reel and other types.
Fishing rod reels for winter fishing
When considering the selection of a reel for winter fishing, they focus on the use of inertial modifications. The best reels have a small drum diameter, made of dense plastic or extruded polystyrene foam. The design of the product should be as simple as possible, and this is a shaft with a drum mounted on it through a sleeve and a spring stopper. It is advisable that moisture does not get on the shaft of the structure. Otherwise, the drum will constantly freeze to the shaft, preventing the free winding of the line from the drum.
Important! After fishing, the product must be thoroughly dried.
Inertia-free fishing rods are suitable for winter fishing, provided that measures are taken to prevent the lines from freezing, which is carried out by lubricating the lines with silicone compounds. These types of products position themselves as elements for hunting using winter spinning rods.
